Summer has an official start and end date. But is that what defines it? Hell no. Summer starts when you first feel the sand between your toes, or the night you sit on your back deck with a friend and drink a beer and don’t need a sweater; it ends when those opportunities go into hibernation.
It’s the same with watches. People say “summer watches” and we think divers and field watches and NATO straps—the stuff you’d wear to the beach. But there is no set definition, no start and end, to the summer watch. The summer watch isn’t a style, it’s a feeling. Here are the watches we’re feeling this summer.
Timex Navi Harbor
If you can get your hands on the instantly sold-out Timex Q Reissue, you should—it screams summer style. Otherwise, any of the subtly styled Navi watches (the Harbor in blue, black, or olive, or the Ocean in orange if you want that funkiness) should do the trick.
Price: $135
Diameter: 38mm
Water Resistance: 100m
Movement: Quartz
Mr Jones Cyclops
Want to tell time without telling the time? Crispin Jones has a few options for you. This one, which indicates the hours and minutes quite brilliantly using stationary circles rather than markers and a moving circle rather than hands, has color, unique style, and the right price tag.
Price: $210
Diameter: 37mm
Water Resistance: 50m
Movement: Ronda 513 quartz
Seiko Prospex SNE535
These are modeled after the iconic 1975 “Tuna Can” Seiko diver, with a summery twist: all three models have a low-key, monotone design, in either camo green, gray, or deep blue. They’ve got street style, plus a solar-powered movement that’ll run forever given some sun, and the unbreakable addition of a stainless steel case covered in a protective shroud. If you can wear a 51mm watch, this ought to be your go-to for adventures.
Price: $450
Diameter: 47mm
Water Resistance: 200m
Movement: Seiko solar caliber V157
Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical White Dial
The Hamilton Khaki Field’s been around since 2017. But the white dial — a seemingly innocuous touch — adds a whole new element. This one’s available through Topper Jewelers, who worked with Hamilton to make it happen. $650 gets a Swiss-made watch with two straps that’ll have most all of summer wear covered.
Price: $625
Diameter: 38mm
Water Resistance: 50m
Movement: H-50 automatic
Alpina AlpinerX 2019
The AlpinerX debuted at 2018, and the ABC watch has done well since. The 2019 models are the four models most often created in the original customizable Kickstarter campaign, and show off Alpina’s aggressively styled dial and bezel, with heart rate monitor, and sleep, UV, temperature tracking and more.
Price: $995
Diameter: 45mm
Water Resistance: 100m
Movement: Cal. MMT-283-1
Zodiac Sea Wolf Automatic Rubber
A fun ‘60s throwback to one of the first dive watches (ever!). Yes, the original’s 35.5mm has ballooned up to 40mm, which is bad news for the small watch lover—but everybody ought to love the wild white, orange, and blue colorway.
Price: $1,095
Diameter: 40mm
Water Resistance: 200m
Movement: STP 3-13 automatic
AnOrdain Model 1 Pink
This Scottish brand makes beautiful enamel dials (which are notoriously hard to manufacture) at a relatively affordable price. The pink is the most stunning of its six colors, a statement piece that matches a summer sunset.
Price: ~$1,711
Diameter: 38mm
Water Resistance: 50m
Movement: Selitta SW200-1
Sinn 206 ST AR on Silicone
Sinn’s new chronograph is water-resistant to 300 meters, and resistant to low pressure and humidity. But its best asset may be how damn cool its toothed bezel and black dial look on a black silicone strap.
Price: $3,390
Diameter: 43mm
Water Resistance: 300m
Movement: Valjoux 7750 self-winding
Tudor Black Bay Bronze Manufacture Caliber
Tudor updated the beloved not-quite-a-Rolex diver at this year’s Baselworld. The slate dial and bronze case combo makes it even more handsome, and the perfect watch to wear to the beach.
Price: $4,050
Diameter: 43mm
Water Resistance: 200m
Movement: Tudor manufacture calibre MT5601 (COSC)
NOMOS Sport Neomatik Tangente Date
An asymmetric crown guard adds a perfectly sporty touch to the dressed-up NOMOS Tangente Sport. The new version, with either a black or white dial, has “vault-like” proportions and build, extra SuperLuminova, and most notably, a beautiful, extra-segmented bracelet. Think “fancy, cool art gallery opening.”
Price: $4,980
Diameter: 42mm
Water Resistance: 300m
Movement: NOMOS DUW 6101 automatic