Summer is in full swing again.
The WatchTested team shares their top summer watches, and I'm kicking off the hottest series of the year. I've selected the best summer watches I could find, ranging from models under €1,000 to watches over €10,000. The sun is up - time to bring out the watches!
I'm not sure if it's an honor to start the series on the best summer watches. However, I have complete freedom of choice and don't need to consider my colleagues' preferences. To be honest, none of my favorite summer watches in the five categories would likely make their lists, as our tastes differ significantly. For me, summer watches should be fun, make you smile, and perform their function during the hottest months. Versatility is important here, but in the list of five favorite WatchTested models, I allowed myself to choose a few more specialized options. I imagined what I would put in my imaginary waterproof travel case, and here's what I came up with.
Best Summer Watches Under €1,000: Dennison ALD Dual Time Malachite & Green Sunray In Gold
My most elegant summer watch is also the most affordable of the selection. The Dennison ALD Dual Time Malachite & Green Sunray In Gold, priced at €780, won't be joining me on the beach or by the pool, nor will it go hiking or cycling. During the day, I might not wear a watch at all, forget about time, avoid a watch-shaped tan on my left wrist, and just relax, recharge, and even renew. If I need to know the time, I'll ask the cold beer vendor on the beach, and if that doesn't work, I'll look at my phone. But in the evening, I'll wear my "golden" Dennison with its chic malachite dial and look like a million dollars, having spent much less.
The watches have a casual retro chic that is best revealed over a relaxed dinner by the sea with a glass of chilled Chablis, not worrying about what the night will bring. According to acquaintances, these ALD Dual Time watches look great on the dance floor too, so perhaps an open-air disco on a Mediterranean island is a fitting place to test them. I hope there's a disco ball.
Best Summer Watches Under €2,500: Certina DS Action Diver 38mm Titanium
For this amount, I could buy two of these models and still stay within budget. The recently released Certina DS Action Diver 38mm Titanium costs €1,095. Yes, I could look for something closer to €2,500, but I've loved the previous version of these lightweight dive watches and might love the new one even more, so why ignore it? Thus, hypothetically, I’d buy two - one to wear, another as a backup.
Why do I like this titanium diver so much? It's all about the titanium construction, value for money, and design. It's no wonder I chose this exact model - its predecessor was on my list in 2023.
The new version has received several improvements. For instance, Certina replaced the aluminum bezel insert with a ceramic one. Normally, I would see this as a downside because a ceramic bezel, especially a bright one, often looks artificial or dull. But not here. The matte black bezel looks discreet, functional, and not at all fake. The extreme shock resistance has also been improved according to the DS Concept. This slightly increased the thickness of the watch from 12.2 mm to 13.2 mm, but for summer, that's not critical.
If you want to explore the underwater world - no problem. Like its predecessor, the DS Action Diver 38mm Titanium is water-resistant up to 300 m and meets the ISO 6425 standard. These lightweight watches combine reliable functionality with the classic look of a diver, making them an excellent everyday companion on vacation.
Best Summer Watches Under €5,000: Watch Angels × Alpina Startimer Pilot Chronograph Automatic IFR
I'm not planning to fly on a plane for vacation, but I'll take the Watch Angels × Alpina Startimer Pilot Chronograph Automatic IFR just in case the captain needs help landing. I won't explain how these serious yet stylish pilot watches work - you can read about that in my introductory article. I was impressed by the concept of the watches, designed as real pilot's watches rather than just resembling them. According to pilot reviews, they succeeded.
In the case of the Watch Angels × Alpina Startimer Pilot Chronograph Automatic IFR, form is fully subordinate to function, yet the design impresses. Special thanks to designer Thomas Funder, who admitted it was challenging to understand the functionality and turn it into a practical and pleasant design, but in the end, he did it magnificently. The blue sunburst dial is more functional than decorative, but it looks great with its metallic sheen and Arabic numerals with bright lume.
The chronograph with a 12-hour counter for long flight stages and a separate UTC hand for simultaneous universal time display in aviation standard is housed in a 43mm steel case with an impressive ceramic bezel insert measuring 44.5mm in diameter. The water resistance is 100 m - quite sufficient for a vacation. Inside is the Swiss automatic caliber AL-570 (Sellita SW531 b) with a 62-hour power reserve.
If you want to take the Watch Angels × Alpina Startimer Pilot Chronograph Automatic IFR on vacation, it's important to know: this is a limited edition of just 300 pieces, available for pre-order on the Watch Angels website for €4,295, with delivery in December 2026. This means these watches will be our summer watches for 2027.
Best Summer Watches Under €10,000: Panerai Luminor PAM01731
For a long time, I didn't think about Panerai, the collection didn't spark interest, but after getting to know some new releases at Watches and Wonders, my attitude changed. The watch I chose for the summer is based on the 1960s reference 6152/1. The Luminor PAM01731 is a 44mm steel watch with a matte dark brown sandwich dial. The large polished case with strap holes is noticeable, but the sculptural design and signature crown protector soften the shine. Imagine how these watches will gleam under the summer sun.
Artificial patina isn't for me, but the tobacco brown dial with beige Super-LumiNova is an exquisite and obvious choice. It gives the numerals at 12, 3, and 6 o'clock, as well as the small seconds subdial at 9 o'clock, a noble look. The absence of a date is a plus for a vacation when you want to forget about time and tasks. Under the domed sapphire crystal, the pink hour and minute hands, along with the small seconds hand, show the time. Inside the 300 m water-resistant case beats the hand-wound P.6000 movement.
If you want to take a closer look at the watch, you can unbuckle the trapezoid clasp of the dark brown calf leather strap, turn the watch over, and admire the movement through the sapphire case back. The movement with 19 jewels operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and has a 72-hour power reserve. The price for this model at a local dealer is €8,900.
Best Summer Watches Over €10,000: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Diver
My most coveted summer watch is undoubtedly the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Diver. But which one exactly? The recently released model with reference 15720ST.OO.A403CA.01 is the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Diver with a turquoise dial, pink gold hands, and a turquoise rubber strap. The version with the turquoise dial is my favorite among the three new releases.
With a black-and-white inner scale and pink details on the hands and crown, these ROOs look sporty and masculine, yet elegant. Blue with pink gold can sometimes seem too bright and harsh, but turquoise is a more subdued shade of blue with light pink accents in a steel case that looks timelessly stylish.
The case, measuring 42 mm in diameter, 14.2 mm thick, and 55 mm long, immediately inspires confidence. The weight of 165 grams adds a sense of luxury, but it also makes you want to jump off a cliff into turquoise water. Before that, it's worth taking a close look at the beautifully finished case. Despite the protruding bezel, it feels soft and smooth. The matte surface of the bezel is pleasant to the touch, and the eight polished screws accentuate the appearance. The watch sits comfortably on the wrist, and the large XXL clasp on the rubber strap securely fastens it.
You might want to take off the watch to avoid a distinct white mark on your wrist. Then you can examine the movement through the transparent case back. Audemars Piguet has updated the latest generations of ROO Divers with its own automatic caliber 4308. This top-notch movement matches the serious color scheme of these exclusive summer watches priced at €30,000. That's serious money for seriously fun watches.
Which watch would you take on a summer vacation? Share in the comments.