Summer Delights: Top Watches for Men and Women

Soak up the rays and ride the waves with these summer-ready timepieces

If you thought summer watches weren’t a thing, you thought wrong. There’s a timepiece for sipping a cool beer in a taverna and one for taking a dip in the pool. There’s one for deep-sea diving, rockpooling and even snorkelling. In general, there is a timepiece for any summertime pursuit, because selecting a wristwatch for the warmest season of the year has nothing to do with the weather itself (although that certainly helps). Buying a specific watch for the warmer months is actually about embracing adventure and enjoying that summertime vibe.

When the warmer months arrive, we change the way we do life. We get adventurous. We wear what we want because we can. Our routines are replaced with a little spontaneity. We stay out for that one extra drink. And – we buy a new watch…

The great thing about investing in a timepiece for the summer is that you get to put your statement piece on show. It takes centre stage alongside short-sleeved attire and can often constitute a great talking point amongst fellow watch nerds. If all that sounds like you, you’re going to love the list of options we’ve created for this guide to the best summer watches. Before all that though, it’s helpful to know what styles are popular this season.

How to up your watch game this summer

Watch trends can come and go like the changing of the seasons, so it makes perfect sense not to put too much emphasis on any one watch design for the purpose of a few weeks of the year. But there are things to look out for when choosing any watch and if you stick to those, you’ll likely have a timepiece that you can enjoy all year through.

1. Universal Sizes

Generally speaking, a 40mm watch case is considered universal for a male wrist and a size that will complement most attire. If you have a smaller wrist size, anything from 38-39mm will suffice as a nice summertime companion. For ladies – daintier cases tend to do better over the summer. Watches that measure on the smaller side also wear lighter on the wrist, constituting a handy timepiece for those outdoor pursuits you may find yourself partaking in when the sun comes out.

2. Lighter Nights, Lighter Dials

Light-coloured dials tend to do well in the summer, but they’re great for springtime too. White and silver dials are also the preferred choice for the winter months. And so it becomes easy to see how a watch for one season can easily be worn during another. You could also consider subtle colours. Pinks, salmons, mint greens and champagne tones are a tasteful addition to summer attire, yet many collectors prefer a more subtle nod to colour like the accents of a strap’s stitching or the trims around a set of chronograph counters.

3. Go Bold, Go Gold

Gold-coloured elements are another great choice for the warmer season. Yellow gold and rose gold cases share the colours of sunsets and sunrises, so it makes perfect sense to add these tones to your wardrobe. As a nice alternative to a leather band, a metal bracelet incorporating yellow or rose gold with stainless steel is a nice subtle way to add a touch of luxury to a watch. Speaking of straps, textile bands are perfect for the warmer months, providing a sweat-free alternative to thicker, heftier straps. Rubber bands are also a preferred option, especially for those spending lots of time in and out of the water, particularly perforated ones that provide skin breathability.

Although the above pointers tell us what styles are in vogue this summer, any watch, provided you love it, can be your guilty pleasure this year. Now let’s put some of our personal favourites under the spotlight.

Bulgari Bvlgari Watch 23 mm Reference: 102970

Ladies looking to extend their current watch collection with a touch of panache won’t go wrong with the Bulgari Bvlgari 102970 model in steel and rose gold. The collection debuted in 1977 when it showcased a bezel complete with the brand’s name engraved into its surface in the classic Latin alphabet. The esteemed collection demanded the attention of celebrities and spoke to the confident, empowered woman. This brand’s current collection includes models that measure a mere 23mm to a larger 37mm.

This particular model showcases an opulent design crafted from stainless steel and 18ct rose gold. The quartz-powered watch is 50-meter water resistant and measures a diameter of 23mm making it an ideal size for the slenderest of wrists. If you’re a woman and you’ve not yet explored the Bulgari Bvlgari watch range, it’s definitely recommended that you do, particularly if you’re partial to a glamorous design or two. The design of this watch is elevated by a total of 12 scintillating diamonds around the hour track. These are set against an iridescent mother-of-pearl dial and accompany a set of rose gold-coloured hands. Attached to the side of the case is a rose gold crown set with a pink cabochon-cut stone that catches the light majestically. This element also compliments a stainless steel bracelet with 18ct rose gold links, creating a luxurious and resolutely modern take on the classic lady’s dress watch.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner Reference: 116610LV-0002

Who doesn’t love the Rolex Submariner? The iconic watch is stylish, timeless and incredibly robust thanks to its 300-meter water-resistant case. The model we’ve chosen to join our summer watch guide brings a splash of colour to the wrist with a vibrant green dial and bezel. Rare and highly sought-after on the market, many models warrant a high price tag but are sure to appreciate in value over the years. If you’re planning on going all out this summer, you may be contemplating adding the Rolex Submariner 116610LV-0002 to your collection. The watch is a great value proposition and is considered one of the industry’s all-time greats. Its nickname, “The Hulk”, is owed to the colour of its bezel and “Super Case”, complete with wider lugs, a heftier crown guard, higher sides and a generally all-around beefed-up design. That said, it still measures the standard 40mm diameter.

The watch is powered by the Calibre 3135. It sits inside an Oystersteel case equipped with a 300-meter water resistance. In 2020, Rolex discontinued the production of the Rolex Hulk model and since then the watch has more than doubled in value. This highly coveted collector’s item also features a Chromalight display, a Cerachrom bezel insert, and a unidirectional rotating bezel. The latter can be used for measuring elapsed time. It also features a screw-down case and crown for superior protection from water damage. The crown is also equipped with a Twinlock double waterproofness system. To finish, it wraps around the wrist with an Oystersteel bracelet and an Oysterlock safety clasp for ultimate comfort.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Watch Reference: 5015-12B30-B52

Ready for spontaneous dips in the ocean and a fair amount of diving (if that’s what takes your fancy) – the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique is a black and stealthy water baby that ticks all the dive watch credentials. It belongs to a watch collection that was first launched in 1953 but has since become a diverse series of versatile diving watches. When you consider the model’s robust case construction and superior water resistance, it’s clear why this watch is so great for the summer. The Le Brassus brand first developed the watch for the French navy, with its rotatable bezel and water-resistant rating equal to fifty fathoms (or 300 feet). It was a superb achievement for its time.

One particularly popular design was the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe watch from Blancpain. It was released in 2013 and offered a more austere design compared to some of the brand’s classic models. The watch is offered in a 38mm or 43mm option for those with a wider wrist. In addition to those features that made it a great watch for diving, it was also the first watch ever to be produced by Blancpain in ceramic. Like all Blancpain watches, it was fitted with an in-house movement, secured inside a 300-meter water-resistant case, boosting its popularity even further.

Although the Fifty Fathoms watch has been around since the 1950s, its handsome and rugged aesthetic has never aged. It is now a huge collection of models that spans the simple three-handers to tourbillons, moon phase displays and flyback chronographs. The key features of this reference 5015-12B30-B52 are its impressive 120-hour power reserve combined with a lightweight titanium case for added comfort on the wrist. The 45mm model is built for the larger wrist, creating a huge presence. It features a legible black dial with an hour track that represents itself in a mix of Arabic numerals and indices that stand out for perfect legibility in dark conditions. The hands are also coated in luminous material, while a date window at 4:30 enables you to keep track of the passing days of each month. Inside the lightweight yet robust case of this Blancpain watch is the automatic 1315 calibre, which performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour. It also offers the wearer a unidirectional rotating bezel, making timekeeping underwater super easy. This watch for summer is completed on a black sail-canvas strap and a titanium folding buckle.

Omega Seamster Aqua TERRA 150m Small Seconds Watch Reference: 220.12.41.21.03.005

Another dive watch makes our summer watch list, this time from Swiss manufacturer Omega. The watch belongs to the Seamaster collection – an incredibly diverse range of underwater tools. The Omega Seamaster is home to a vast array of water-ready timepieces, including the Aqua Terra – a robust everyday watch with superior features for water sports, swimming and snorkelling. The watches from this collection are fitted with Master Co-Axial calibres that are protected from magnetic damage. As their name would suggest, watches from the Aqua Terra collection promise a 150-meter water resistance. The hands on the dial, as well as the hour markers have all been treated with lashings of luminous material too, making them great for wearing at night, not just during the day. Triangular hour markers are combined with an arrow-tipped minute hand to create an instantly recognisable look throughout the entire collection.

If you like the look of the dive watch but don’t need the dive bezel, the Aqua Terra is a pretty nice option. It offers a classic take on the dive watch but can easily double up as an everyday watch thanks to its simple layout and unadorned bezel. This Omega Aqua Terra 150M Small Seconds watch reference 220.12.41.21.03.005 is a 41mm steel-on-rubber design that brings the hues of the summer waters to the wrist on a simple two-handed dial. The addition of the small seconds function is a welcoming attribute to this model since it adds a subtle touch of technical finesse. A blue-grey dial is executed in a stylish sun-brushed finish and a horizontal “teak” effect. The date is combined with the small seconds sub-counter and the hands and hour markers have been tastefully finished with a layer of Super-LumiNova. Other features that make this Omega Seamaster such a great daily watch for the summer include a sapphire crystal glass front, a master-chronometer-certified movement that produces a power reserve of 60 hours, a sapphire-backed case to witness the movement performing, and a screw-in crown.

Buying a summer watch isn’t just about choosing something practical to match the weather. It’s about embracing a more adventurous spirit and harnessing our inner confidence. Browse some more watch options for the summer here at Watches World or get in contact with our sales team for more assistance.