Fratello Favorites: The Best Summer Watches At Three Different Price Points — Nacho’s Picks From Citizen, Zenith, and Singer Reimagined

It’s summer, and while the Swiss watch industry takes the month off, we’re picking our favorite watches once again! This time, however, we’re not sticking to a specific budget. Instead, we’re keeping the theme consistent but aiming at three different price categories — sub-€1,000, sub-€10,000, and a no-holds-barred, unrestricted category. The goal is to see how varied our picks are while showing some of the best summer watches out there today.

One thing to note is that we’re not sticking to a stringent definition of “summer watch.” We’ve decided to play it by ear and leave the interpretation of the term up to each writer. You may see anything, from bright and colorful dials to capable divers or even just versatile, easy-wearing GADA watches; there are no right or wrong answers. You’ve already seen picks from several writers, including Thomas, Jorg, Daan, and Mike. Those guys went all out with many great choices and even some honorable mentions. Today, I’ll keep it simple and jump into my three picks. What are my criteria for a great summer watch? I’ll also keep it simple, but I’m aiming for dive watches you can wear all summer long, with a little bit of charm and a dash of color as a bonus.

Sub-€1,000: Citizen Promaster NY0040-09W

This first pick is one I’m confident about as I recently added it to my collection. It’s the lume-dialed variant of my beloved NY0040 (the first watch I ever took diving). Thor mentioned it not long ago in his list of fun summer watches under €500, which clues you into the fact that this pick comes in well under budget. Though not as widely available as other models, this glow-in-the-dark diver is available for around €250 from a handful of online retailers in Europe. It’s also not hard to find pre-owned for a decent chunk below its list price.

For a mere fourth of the €1,000 budget, you get a Citizen classic with a twist. Better yet, it will withstand everything you throw at it all summer. If it was good enough for the Italian Navy’s divers, it’s good enough for me. But if you’re not a fan of the vented black rubber strap emblazoned with the diver-friendly no-deco tables, that’s okay; plenty of great options are out there. This full-lume version pairs well with a white FKM rubber from Montreaux, a lumed NATO from CNS, or even one of our white Tropic-style straps for a refreshingly laid-back look. So, set that 60-click bezel to the start of your dive (or your afternoon nap), and hop into a relaxing summer with this affordable yet no less charming and capable diver.

Sub-€10,000: Zenith Defy Revival A3648 Diver

My next pick is perhaps more what some of you might have in mind when you hear the term “summer watch.” The Zenith Defy Revival A3648 — introduced earlier this year at Watches and Wonders — transports us back to an era when summer days were selectively captured on 35mm film and Polaroids rather than through the lens of a smartphone. And though wearing this charming retro dive watch won’t actually take you back to those days, you can always leave your phone at home and pretend. Its bright orange accents will shine in the sunlight and brighten the occasional (though not so rare here in Holland) overcast day.

Though some may be immune to the appeal of this quirky dose of ’70s design, others couldn’t help but fall head over heels for the Zenith Defy Revival A3648. It’s just like your favorite Hawaiian shirt in the back of your closet. It may not make the most sense on a formal occasion, but when the weather gets warm, the Sun is shining, and the mood is right, there’s nothing you’d rather wear. Unlike said shirt, this Zenith will set you back €8,000. It’s a bit outside my comfort zone, but for today’s challenge, it comes in €2,000 under budget. That’s plenty left over to cover the tab for you and a couple of friends through most of the summer.

Jackpot pick: Singer Divetrack

For my final pick, no price restrictions apply, so I’m going with the mind-blowing Singer Divetrack. I first encountered this watch during Geneva Watch Days last year. As you can see in the pictures, I had a hard time letting go of it. But I wasn’t the only one. RJ was also smitten by this weird and wonderful blend of purpose-built dive equipment and high-end watchmaking. In a recent article, he even called it “one of the most impressive watches [he’s] seen in 2024.” I can’t help but concur. As a tool-watch nerd and an avid scuba diver, this watch ticked all the boxes for me (including a generous helping of lume).

Would I gladly take this watch on an extensive dive trip in a tropical location? Absolutely! Would it work just as well for lounging by the pool or timing a pizza in the oven back at home? Sure! It’s quirky yet capable and has the renegade hyper-functional looks to boot. It was special enough to stop a handful of the Fratello team in its tracks during that meeting in Geneva, so it’s worthy of this spot on my list. The Divetrack is limited to 25 units produced annually, each with a price of CHF 85,000. Could you break the bank more spectacularly? Perhaps. But this is the way I would choose to do so.

Final thoughts

I believe that a great summer watch doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. But leaving the usual suspects behind (except the Citizen) was a lot of fun. Of course, being limited to three watches means many great options didn’t make the cut. However, I’m still pretty pleased with my picks. All three watches are slightly quirky, plenty charming, and built to withstand my kind of summer. What do you think of my picks at these three price points, and what would yours be? Let me know in the comments section below!