Fratello Favorites: The Best Summer Watches At Three Different Price Points — Daan’s Picks From Seiko, Ressence, Rolex, And More

Yes, it’s time to talk about watches for summer because that is indeed the season we’re in right now. This series is a nice reminder of that because the weather gods haven’t shown us any summer yet here in the Netherlands. I keep telling my six-year-old daughter that we’re actually in the middle of summer right now, but she simply won’t believe me and says summer is supposed to be warm and sunny. I hope our vacation in the south of France and the north of Spain in two weeks will convince her that summer is here. Anyway, let’s talk about summer watches!

For this series, we have to pick one summer watch under €1,000, one under €10,000, and one with an unlimited budget. Thomas and Jorg already picked theirs and took the liberty to highlight more than just three watches. I completely agree with their approach because picking a summer watch isn’t such a rational and organized process. It’s about watches that make you smile, perhaps provide a splash of color, are comfortable, and withstand whatever you throw at them. With that liberal definition in mind, there are a lot of appealing summer watches out there.

Summer watches under €1,000

Let’s take a look at the more accessible summer watches first. We published a similar series about summer watches last year, and two of my picks back then would perfectly qualify for this more affordable price bracket. I think both the Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver 200m and the Tissot Sideral (in yellow) are still great options. But another year has gone by, and many new ones have entered the market.

Inspired by the overwhelming amount of MoonSwatches I see on people’s wrists, I think my Blancpain × Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Arctic Ocean is a great option for a summer watch. Like the MoonSwatch, it comes in fun color combinations, and a nice additional feature is its water resistance. Now that I think about it, I should start looking for a matching rubber strap for mine. You can pick up a Blancpain × Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms for €400.

Another great option I came across a few months ago is the new Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80. It now comes in a 40mm case size, has some nice design details, and wears very well. For €795, I think this is a really good deal. However, if you want an even more carefree watch, the solar-powered Seiko SNE573 is an absolute winner. At 38mm wide, it’s not too big, and it will always keep running as long as you give it some light. Plus, at €510, it certainly doesn’t break the bank.

Summer watches under €10,000

All right, let’s move on to the next price bracket of summer watches under €10,000. Last year, my Rolex Explorer ref. 114270 served as my full-time vacation watch during the summer. It worked perfectly, and it’s a great option for less than €10,000. I think you can even get one for around half that sum these days. But which new watches would I consider buying if I were in the market?

I know the Seiko SJE093 limited edition is already sold out everywhere. However, I do see it popping up for sale on forums every once in a while for around €3,750. I often wear my Seiko SPB317 during the summer, but I sometimes get jealous when I see people walking around with the higher-end 62MAS re-edition. It’s very well done and could very well be the go-to dive watch in your collection.

The TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox was a total hit at last year’s Watches and Wonders. My favorite is the one with the black dial and the silver sub-dials. Since then, though, TAG Heuer also released a new Carrera Skipper based on the new Glassbox design. The orange highlights and mint green on the sub-dials make it very suitable for summer. I can easily see myself wearing this on my imaginary yacht while circling the Balearic Islands. It can be yours for €6,850.

Dreaming of summer watches over €10,000

To my surprise, I’ll start the higher-end price bracket with another watch I own. Now that it’s getting warmer outside, I catch myself wearing my Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duoface more and more. It’s small and light, and it looks great on its Casa Fagliano summer strap. I got this watch for well under €10,000, but since JLC increased its prices quite drastically, it now costs €14,300. That might be a bit steep, especially compared to what it used to cost. However, it’s still a fabulous watch.

Ever since I tried on the Rolex GMT-Master II in two-tone and full gold at last year’s edition of Watches and Wonders, I’ve been dreaming about these two watches. I’ll admit the two-tone Rolesor version is a bit more accessible at €17,850, and I love the way it looks. But as we’re dreaming along here, why not go for the all-gold version instead? At €42,000, it’s more than double the price of the two-tone model. I’m sure it’s not more than twice as good of a watch, but boy, it would look ace on my wrist while I’m enjoying a vermouth-tonic on a terrace in Spain.

My final suggestion for this category will be the outspoken Ressence Type 1° Round Multicolour. I’ve always admired Ressence’s unusual way of displaying the time. The brand certainly isn’t shy about using color in its designs, but these watches often feature just one color and white. By contrast, this Type 1° Round Multicolour perfectly highlights Ressence’s unique dial layout using five colors. Conceptually, this could all be a bit too much. However, it works perfectly because of the chosen color tones. At CHF 18,150 (excluding taxes), it’s above my budget, but after going hands-on with it, I just can’t get it out of my head.

What’s your favorite?

There you go! I’ve given you plenty of options in each price bracket to help you find your perfect summer watch. Which is your favorite, and do you have any additional suggestions? Let me know in the comments below.