5 Summer Watches That Make a Splash

Jun 20, 2023

When the heat is on, it’s time for fun-loving watches that go bold with color and sporty style, whether you are beach bound or spending summer in the city. From an F1 race to diving off a private yacht, summer activities call for watches that are rugged and water resistant without taking themselves too seriously—there’s plenty of time for that come fall. In the meantime, here are five stunners that will look cool all summer long.

TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue

TAG Heuer offers a refreshing take on its iconic Monaco racing watch, the Limited Edition Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue (US$9,200). Introduced in 1969 and made famous by Steve McQueen in the 1971 film Le Mans, Heuer’s unconventional square Monaco paid tribute to the famed Monaco Grand Prix and became a favored watch among the racing set. More recently, TAG Heuer’s Monaco has assumed an array of forms while preserving its retro rectilinear codes. The latest model, limited to 1,000 pieces, appears fresh in cool French Racing Blue, a shade used on early French race cars, including several Bugatti Type 35s. In that era, teams raced under their country’s official colors, such as British Racing Green. The lightweight 39mm sandblasted titanium case houses the Calibre 11 automatic chronograph movement, which can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back. The silvered sunray-brushed dial evokes the engine-turned dashboards found in Deco-era sports cars and features bright blue subsidiary dials and bright yellow accents, while a matching blue perforated calfskin strap serves as a fashionable finishing touch.

Bulgari Aluminium Capri Editions

Bulgari has expanded its Aluminium range, inspired by a late-1990s watch that paired an aluminum case with a rubber strap. Among the new special editions is a duo of Capri-themed pieces evoking one of the Mediterranean’s most picturesque and glamorous summer getaways. Available in a time-only model (US$3,350) or a chronograph (US$4,800), these sport-chic pieces with water resistance down to 100 meters make the perfect accessories for a private yacht excursion to any jet-set holiday destination. Each is limited to 1,000 pieces with a 40mm aluminum case contrasted with navy blue rubber bezels and straps and gradient blue dials that evoke the island’s famous Blue Grotto. Engravings of the landmark Faraglioni ocean rock formations adorn the titanium case backs.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Celebration

Rolex revealed an unexpectedly bubbly side this year with its whimsical new Celebration dial available for the Oyster Perpetual 31 (US$5,650), Oyster Perpetual 36 (US$6,100) and Oyster Perpetual 41 (US$6,400). The lacquered dial is festooned with an array of circles in shades of candy pink, yellow, coral red, and green outlined in black against a turquoise background. The selected shades reference the colors used for a 2020 collection with lacquered dials. Cases and bracelets are constructed of the brand’s tough, anti-corrosive Oystersteel, and the Oyster bracelet’s broad, flat three-piece links enhance comfort, while the brand’s luminescent blue Chromalight lights up the dial after dark.

Hublot Big Bang Unico Sky Blue

Hublot sees nothing but blue summer skies ahead with the 42mm Big Bang Unico Sky Blue (US$23,800), limited to 200 pieces. The brand’s expertise in producing colored ceramic cases endows it with the ability to produce almost every Pantone color, including this optimistic shade of light blue. Lightweight, hypoallergenic and scratch resistant, Hublot’s ceramic is perfectly suited for summer exploits as are the watch’s two straps in white-and-light-blue lined natural rubber and white calf leather with a Velcro sports fastener. But it’s not only about fun in the sun: the open dial reveals the column wheel of the HUB1280 manufacture caliber, a self-winding chronograph movement with a 72-hour power reserve.

Maurice Lacroix Pontos S Diver

Maurice Lacroix teamed up with Lidija Lijic, a world-champion freediver, to put its resurrected Pontos S Diver to the test in deep water. First launched in 2013, the original Pontos S Diver got the deep six a few years later as the brand pivoted to other models. This summer’s reboot comes in three automatic 42mm versions: two in stainless steel (US$2,050) and one in bronze, limited to 500 pieces with a distinctive blue grained dial (US$2,600). While staying true to the original’s bold design codes, the brand tweaked the dial with crisper indexes and faceted hour and minute hands, then treated them with luminous Super-LumiNova for enhanced legibility in the deep blue or out at night in the city. A dedicated crown, at 2 o’clock, adjusts the internal rotating bezel featuring a count-up scale for measuring elapsed time spent underwater. But, diving is not required to appreciate these stylish sport watches delivered with alternate straps to change up the look for summer and beyond.