In my previous article in our series on our favorite summer watches, Robert Jean took the slightly different approach I loved. Connecting the clock to its destination made it even more personal. Additionally, it sparked lively debate on various topics in the comments. But my brain is wired just like he does. Every time I think about summer watches, I associate them with the places I have been and where I want to visit. So it’s based on a list of your favorite summer watches and a combination of summer and locations.
Unlike Robert Jean, he offers direction in terms of colour, so he limits the season to summer. Instead of a bracelet, a nice strap will add some extra summer look. That’s my usual preference. And I choose a nice dial color that I don’t usually do. That’s the perk of creating a list like this. We are not bound by financial instruments or wise choices in real life. I will be happy to use it for my benefit. So, in the end, sticking to summer for this list will make my life easier. But that’s enough. Let’s see where I travel and which specific watches are on my wrist.
Destination: Croatia, Istria – Tudor Pelagos Ultra
I have spent quite a bit of time on Croatia’s coast. In particular, the city of Pra and its surroundings were a great place to spend time in the summer sun. It’s a place I fell in love quickly thanks to its beautiful scenery, magical clear waters, great food and truly lovely people. After my fifth visit just a few weeks ago, I already plan to return late this summer.
Over time I learned that the best watch to take there is a sturdy diver who can worry about whether they plunge into the magical blue Mediterranean waters or exploring the stunning ancient city of Rovinj and its surroundings. For me, the new Tudor Pelagos Ultra is exactly that type of watch.
I love Tudor’s latest addition to the Pelagos lineup. Because its design is more modern than the standard Pelago. Additionally, despite the impressive improvement in the 43mm width specs, the watch is only 1mm larger. When Pelagos Ultra was first revealed between clocks and wonders, I was not blown away by it. It felt like a logical and solid addition to the lineup. But when I got it and first put it on my wrist, I was sold. Despite its size, it is extremely wearable thanks to the smartly designed case and the use of lightweight titanium. These two specific features give you a worry-free summer watch.
Mediterranean water blue
Furthermore, the dial design is very similar to Pelagos, but feels fresher and more crisp than the two counterparts of the same name in the collection. This is due to the multi-layer dial construction and the oversized gloss time markers. In addition to the functional properties that make it ideal for the Istria coast, the light blue touch on the dial is the perfect reminder for the Adriatic Sea.
I only need that small touch of colour to transport me to the beautiful seas of the Verdera Peninsula. It is also present in spring load clasps with adjustable level light blue lamina indicators. It’s a subtle but nice touch. The bracelet is perfect, but I find a similar blue tint of elastic strap to suit the Pelagos Ultra summer vibe and the weather in Istria.
Destination: North Carolina, USA – Nomos Club Sports Neomatik WorldTimer Glacier
One of my favorite new watch series is the sextet from the Nomos Club Sports Neomatik WorldTimer Limited Edition. I enjoy the regular model, but the limited edition of six 175 pieces is something people were hooked. Nomos shows off his stunning eyes with his gorgeous dial colour. A good example is the series of 31 Tangente models released last year. I ask for the question of why Nomos doesn’t use such excellent colors in their regular collections, but that’s another day’s discussion. Of the six club sports Neomatik Worldtimer Les, I admire the Glacier Model the most. Despite the winter meaning of its name, it is the perfect summer watch.
This watch also offers multiple features, so you can choose to travel through different time zones. More specifically, I wear this on a lovely summer trip to the North Carolina coast. Over the past few years, I have visited the beautiful beaches of the American nation several times.
Some of the amazing places I saw during those trips made me fall in love with North Carolina. A trip to the beach just south of Wilmington was some of the most relaxed beach holidays I’ve ever had. Combined with great food, delicious craft beers and the many amazing people I came across along the way, they are a trip to remember.
Despite the winter name, it feels like summer
For future trips, I would like to visit the Outer Banks and I would choose this Nomos Club Sports Neomatik WorldTimer Glacier. Its powdery blue dial perfectly matches the blue sky and the turquoise ocean. I love the way Nomos designers matched it with the city code and the off-white outer ring. Additionally, the 24-hour 3 o’clock indicator comes in two beautiful shades of red, with lighter shades during the day and darker at night. It’s a lovely injected color that goes well with crown tubes.
The watch was introduced into a stainless steel bracelet, making it comfortable for daily wear. However, add a two-piece Nomos fabric strap to mix things well. I adore this version of Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer. It was a favorite of many who saw the series during the watches and wonders, so finding it might be a challenge. However, the incredible combination of features offered by the in-house caliber DUW 3202 and the attractive colour scheme makes this a great companion to explore more of the North Carolina coast.
Destination: Amalfi Coast, Italy – Lavenzia Marine Type 3
I know that I also made a list of Rex’s summer picks. However, if the watch is fun and handsome to wear, it’s difficult to remove from such a list if you’re just as handsome as the Marine Type 3. And, as Dern stated, if Rex “not stolen” it, it would have been one of his choices. To be clear, we’re talking about a version with a white light dial and a mint green rubber strap. A stunning combination of colors that make this watch my pick for a road trip along the Amalfi coast of Italy, which ends in just a few days on the beautiful island of Capri.
I have not been to that part of Italy yet, but have only heard praise from everyone who has traveled there since my internship in a travel magazine 22 years ago. Pull out the Alfa Romeo 1300 GT Junior. Try using this watch on your wrist. I have to admit that my first impression of the Marine Type 3 was not the best. I’ve come to love Laveture’s design style, but I didn’t know about this case because of its wide bezel. Plus, the dial looks small and the large 60 minutes/second scale design was a bit busy.
First impressions didn’t last long
But I also know that Laventure founder Clément Gaud has a big eye for design. The brand TransAtlantique GMT is one of my favorite designs these days. Gaud is able to design watches that have stylistic influences from some industry greats, and is now instantly recognized as a Laventure model. With Marine Type 3, that’s not different, but it took me a little time to get used to it. However, as soon as the watch landed at Darn’s desk for review, I was sold. The combination of the Super Slim Grade 23 Titanium Case, Full Room Dial and Mint Green Rubber Strap is the winner.
The impact was even greater when I put down the clock. With an 8.9mm profile, the titanium case sits very well on the wrist, with a 2.3mm thick dome plexiglass on top adding a large amount of character. It protects the full room dial that makes the smile on my face even bigger. The first time I saw the image on the dial, I was confused. The black numbers outside the minutes seemed almost more pronounced than the time scale.
However, Clément Gaud ensured that the hierarchy was appropriate, and the hours were not only large, but also thick. The details I worship are sandblasted matte black handsets. It works very well against white room dials. I was able to continue singing this admiration for a bit, but the Laventia Marine Type 3 is the watch I want on my wrist as I explore the Italian Amalfi coast of the Alfa Romeo 1300 GT Junior.
Destination: New York, USA – Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 126518ln
My final pick is the fantastic turquoise dial Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 126518ln. I was able to give it a try and it impressed me very much. I wrote an introduction article based on press images, and I liked the watch as much as I could.
But if I had the opportunity to put it on my wrist, it had a much greater impact than I could have imagined. The colour of the luxurious dial is an acquired taste, and I know that, but the combination of elements makes it much more refined than expected. The dial is located in an 18k yellow gold case topped with a gold bezel with a black Cerachrome insert. Its bezel insert and black oysterflex bracelet help to adjust the flashiness very effectively.
Adding black subdials, refinement of time markers, and text on the dial makes the composition much more layered and balanced than my initial impression suggests. Before I put this Daytona on my wrist, I would never have chosen a Rolex for my black Oysterflex bracelet. But besides its great comfort, it’s incredible to keep this a stylish watch.
Off to watch professional play at the open in New York USA
You know, I’m a huge tennis fan. I’ve been playing sports since I was seven years old and I still enjoy watching professional play. After Nadal, especially Federer, said goodbye to playing on the big stage, I thought my dedication to the game might be reduced. Thankfully, there are plenty of talents to create an exciting new era of sports along with Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, João Fonseca, Flavio Cobolli and Jakub Menšík. The end of the summer is the time for the US Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year.
In the footsteps of Carlos Alcaraz, who wore a watch during Roland Garos and Wimbledon, I wore this at Arthur Ash Stadium in Queens and watched two weeks of exciting tennis. Well, it’s probably not been in two weeks in a row. Because I also need Long Island Beach time to balance the potentially burnt New York heat. However, as it is one of the most impressive watches I’ve worn recently, I hope that this colorful Daytona will be on my wrist during a lovely tennis-themed trip to the US.
Final Thoughts on My Favorite Summer Watch
Here are my four watch picks for the summer of 2025. Before heading out to comments to write about the possible dangers of wearing a Daytona in New York, don’t forget that this is a list of watches that I love to wear in purely imaginary summer situations. That being said, I love all four of my picks and I’m excited to add them to my collection and wear them all year round. How good it is for me, but it shines brightly especially during long summer days!
