What makes for the perfect summer watch? If you spend your time at the beach or lake, perhaps a dive watch is your choice. Swimming not really your thing? Maybe a bright or funky colored dial is more your speed. Something that will stand out for those weekends in the Hamptons or on the Cape. Whatever your summer style, we put together a list of 10 of our favorite watches for you to wear when the weather gets warm.
Rolex Submariner Ref. 126610LN
Price: $10,000-$15,000, Case Size: 41mm, Thickness: 12.3mm, Lug-to-Lug: 48mm, Lug Width: 21mm, Water Resistance: 300M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Stainless Steel.
When thinking of a summer watch, the first thing that comes to mind is probably some kind of diver. And no diver is more famous than the Rolex Submariner. Arguably the first modern dive watch ever made, the Submariner has a long and storied history dating back to its release 1954. If you are looking for a go anywhere, do anything watch, or for a “one watch collection”, the Rolex Submariner, modern or vintage, is the first suggestion we’d make. It’s as classic as it gets and with 300 meters of water resistance, it’s perfect for that summer beach vacation.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Turquoise Ref. 126000
Price: $12,000-$18,000, Case Size: 36mm, Thickness: 11mm, Lug-to-Lug: 43mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Stainless Steel.
A summer watch in spirit more than any specific functionality, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual with turquoise (or Tiffany blue) dial is just a fun everyday wear that doesn’t take itself too seriously. When we see light blue dials, we just think summer. If you are looking to get yourself into an entry level Rolex, the Oyster Perpetual is the way to go. That being said, the turquoise dial sells for well above its retail price on the secondary market. Worth it in our opinion!
Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167/300G
Price: $280,000-$300,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 8mm, Lug-to-Lug: 46.5mm, Lug Width: 19mm, Water Resistance: 120M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: White Gold.
With a name like Aquanaut, you would assume that this Patek Philippe is a dive watch. Well, it isn’t. It is Patek Philippe’s most casual watch, though, and the perfect model to wear during the summer. The integrated rubber strap has a unique grenade-esque pattern that is also mimicked on the dial. The Ref. 5167/300G shown here is a very rare, special order variant encrusted with diamonds on the bezel, case and lugs. Did you score an invite to Michael Rubin’s famous white party? This is the watch for the job.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 15720CN Diver Limited Edition
Price: $38,000-$42,000, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 14mm, Lug-to-Lug: 53mm, Lug Width: N.A., Water Resistance: 300M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: White Gold.
Most don’t think of a dive watch when they think of Audemars Piguet, but the Royal Oak Offshore Diver is one of the most attractive luxury dive watches on the market today. Limited to just 300 pieces, the Ref. 15720CN combines a white gold case with a black ceramic bezel and black dial. The coolest part? In order to maintain the iconic octagonal Royal Oak bezel but still give the watch added utility, the Offshore Diver has an internal rotating bezel controlled by a crown at 10 o’clock. If you are looking for a diver that is a step above the rest, the Royal Oak Offshore Diver 15720CN is a great choice.
H. Moser & Cie Venturer Concept Arctic Blue Fume Dial
Price: $21,000-$25,000, Case Size: 38.8mm, Thickness: 9.3mm, Lug-to-Lug: N.A., Lug Width: N.A., Water Resistance: 30M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Manual Winding, Material: White Gold.
In addition to divers, when we think of summer watches, we think of bright, bold dials and perhaps no brand does them as well as H. Moser & Cie. The Venturer Concept Arctic Blue features a completely sterile dial, except for the wild blue fume finishing which truly speaks for itself. It’s bright, fun, and the perfect watch to bring on your travels. It’s sure to be a conversation starter no matter where the summer breeze takes you.
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Summer Blue
Price: $5,000-$6,000, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 13.6mm, Lug-to-Lug: 50mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 300M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Stainless Steel.
It would be horological blasphemy to create a list of the best summer watches and not include an Omega Seamaster. There are more variants of the Seamaster than we can keep track of, but we decided to go with the most summery of them all, the ref. 210.32.42.20.03.002 Seamaster Diver 300M “Summer Blue”. I mean, the watch has summer in the name… Beyond that, it’s just a great looking watch. The summer blue dial and bezel lie somewhere between baby and royal blue and has a sort of iridescent quality. The indexes are also a light blue, giving the watch a monochromatic look that we really like. Capable and good looking, the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Summer Blue has it all.
IWC Ingenieur 40 Aqua Dial
Price: $15,000-$17,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 10.8mm, Lug-to-Lug: 45.7mm, Lug Width: 14mm, Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Stainless Steel.
When IWC released the refreshed Ingenieur line last year, you might have expected them to start with a model with a deep blue dial to compete with other iconic Genta-designed pieces, like the Royal Oak and Nautilus. But instead, they went with a summery “aqua blue” (green? turquoise?). We definitely think that was a wise choice as in a proverbial sea of stainless steel sport watches, it’s easy to get lost (even if your design actually came from the pen of Gerald Genta himself). Releasing a watch with a unique and interesting dial color is a smart move and it seems that collectors would agree. The IWC Ingenieur 40 with aqua dial is the hardest of the collection to come by, and is not readily available at the boutique.
Tudor Pelagos FXD Marine Nationale Ref. 25707B
Price: $3,500-$4,500, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 12.75mm, Lug-to-Lug: 52mm, Lug Width: N.A., Water Resistance: 200M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Stainless Steel.
The Black Bay (in all its many forms) is the first thing that many people think of when they think of Tudor, but the Pelagos is actually Tudor’s most serious diver. The FXD Marine Nationale Ref. 25707B seen here is the most summery of the bunch. It has lugs with a fixed bar meaning it is most at home on a NATO strap and the titanium case makes it light, but also an incredibly durable tool watch (and it has super bright lume). If you want something that you can really beat up, the Pelagos FXD is a great choice.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 50th Anniversary Ref. 2200A-1130
Price: $10,000-$12,000, Case Size: 40.3mm, Thickness: 14mm, Lug-to-Lug: 46mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 300M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Stainless Steel.
Since we included the Rolex Submariner, it only makes sense to include a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, (arguably) the other first modern dive watch. With a long history involving Jacques Cousteau and a number of other interesting characters, the Ref. 2200A-11300 seen here is probably our favorite variant. This piece was limited to just 150 pieces in honor of the model’s 50th anniversary and while the most common criticism of the model regards its size at 42mm, the 50th Anniversary model is a much more wearable 40mm. Because of this, the Fifty Fathoms 50th Anniversary has been a hit in collector circles.
DOXA SUB 300T Professional
Price: $1,800-$2,000, Case Size: 42.5mm, Thickness: 13.4mm, Lug-to-Lug: 45mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Water Resistance: 300M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Stainless Steel.
If you are looking for something summer-themed in both color and functionality, and a little more entry-level in price, the DOXA Sub 300T Professional is a great choice. DOXA has a long history in the dive watch category and the Sub 300 was first released in 1967. It was even famously worn by oceanographer and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau. Besides the heritage of the Sub 300, it just has a unique design. The recessed tonneau case is unlike any other watch on the market and the orange dial is a nice pop of color for the summer. For around $2,000 on the secondary market, we’re not sure you can do any better when looking for a watch to pair with your summer exploits!
Conclusion
So there you have 10 of our favorite luxury watches to wear this summer. Some are dive watches, perfect for taking with you to the beach (whether you’re lounging or actually diving). Some are a little more ostentatious with fun, bright dials, perfect for that summer party. Whatever your aesthetic, make sure to check out our full catalog of watches at europeanwatch.com.