Square watches are a bit of rare beast these days. Considering the bastions of this glorious form, you'd be remiss to pass on the aesthetic when searching for your next timepiece. From the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso to TAG Heuer's Monaco, horological history is filled with contrarian offerings that went on to become iconic.

Take the Cartier Tank, for example, whose slim, dressy vibe has been adored by such luminaries as Mohamed Ali, Truman Capote and Andy Warhol – as well as modern-day red carpet stalwarts a la Jake Gyllenhaal and Rami Malek. For those brands who've truly understood the assignment, a square watch often forms a timeless fixture of their collection. That's a massive boon for any would-be owner, since you know your next investment won't be slipping out of style anytime soon.

What's the difference between square watches and round watches? The obvious aside, square watches tend to marry their external charms with a bespoke square movement to power their internals. Their bigger size also lends itself to a greater number of features and complications, so it was no surprise that the multi-functional Apple Watch went square from the off for its launch in 2015. Simply put, it's always hip to don one of these classics.