[F]Summer Watch Pick 2025: Nacho’s Favorite

The days are long, the sleeves are short, and there are scor hybrids! Grab your favorite watch and apply a loose layer of sunscreen to make the most of this season’s sunlight. Like the Frater tradition, members of the editorial team are tasked with compiling a list of summer watch picks. Well, if you’re still wondering what a “summer watch” is, I’m here to tell you there are no complicated rules here. Essentially, it should be a watch that will make you feel summer and complement all of its activities (slowly and extreme like that). For me, it should be an equally affordable, easy-to-use, easy-to-understand, reliable watch.

Come in September, you should have some great memories with your summer watch and the evil tan lines left by it on your wrist. So let’s take a look at three things that will not waste your time and willing to spend the summer.

Summer Watch Picks2025: Citizen Aqualand 40th Anniversary JP2008-06E

My first pick is the Citizen Aqualand JP2008-06E, also known as the 40th Anniversary Limited Edition. I wrote this when it was published in early June. I spent one summer (two years ago) at Aqualand JP2000. For a few days on the northeast coast of Spain, I snorkelled my watch and freediving. The new JP2008 is not that capable. I think he will also be maintained in the same way as his predecessor. Ultimately, when you spend quality time in the sun, there’s nothing better than an affordable, low-maintenance unpretentious watch. There’s no need to worry about attracting unnecessary attention or being executed on time. Place it before you remove the jet, screw the crown, and you’re better off going.

Civic Aqualand appeals to me for its strong diving legacy. And as someone who uses every opportunity to liven up your kit and put in diving, having a watch that is both carefree and serious kits feels like a home run. With a two-tone colorway, JP2008-06E (479 Euro) has a strong retro charm, and doubles its cool element, especially when worn on a tanned wrist and accompanied by a refreshing look with your favorite Hawaiian shirt. Well, it’s summer!

DOXA SUB 250T GMT

Without Doxa, it would not be like summer. The 250T sub-GMT carves the regular dive watch box that the brand is well known for. Better yet, it doubles as a travel watch. If you are jumping across your time zone, there is no better way to track it than GMT. You may have seen your phone at a glance, but with that, there is the risk of notifications that are not the right time to kill your summer mood completely. Turn off your phone (or even better, leave it at home) and enjoy all the information you need thanks to the charming, fully proportional, multifunctional diving watch from Doxa.

Now, one thing that Citizen Aqualand doesn’t give you is a lot of colour. However, DOXA currently offers 9 colors of 250T GMT, so there’s one that’s right for everyone. You can lean on it with a bright dial of diving stars and professionals, or keep it modest with the Caribbean and Ciarambler. For me, the journey is a Beaded Squirrel bracelet (2,590 euros), but if you want to put everything in, you can opt for a dial-matching elastic strap (2,540 euros). I said it before, but it doesn’t hurt to repeat it: it’s not a question of whether I own a doxa, but rather a question of it. Recently, the Sub 250T GMT has been the most powerful competitor and can be sure that when the time comes, it will become my wrist watch for the summer.

Baltic Sea Hermetique Summer Collection

Finally, we reach the non-dive watch pick on my list. Now I understand that divers are not everyone’s tea. Not everyone who reaches within Spittan distance from the coast is overcome by the urge to wear a red beanie and head to the nearest dive shop. That’s fine. You guys are definitely missing out, but I’ll get it. So, to include a fancy watch that captures the essence of summer (not a diving watch), I’m going to the new Baltic Hermetique summer collection. These Hermetics are (quite literally) made for summer, as four bright and lively colorways line up traditional field meat dress watch designs.

If you’re planning on jumping in the pool, there’s good news. These valtics are water resistant to 150 meters, so please go ahead. Water is warm and as long as you remember to push the crown back, water will not appear in the clock. Another good news comes at the price (Tropic style rubber straps include 665 euros with VAT), and the fact that if the summer collection is a little too bold for your blood, there is an alternative to tone-down limbs. My advice? Go for it and choose the perfect Hermetique for your towel, a swimming trunk, or a cocktail of your choice.

Final Thoughts

Well, you have it, people – my summer watch will be chosen for 2025. I promise to never use the “word of s” again for a while today. That said, I hope you enjoy my choice. There are so many great things out there that it’s hard to settle for just three watches. If you need me, I will do my best to log in to my Aqualand with some dives. In the meantime, I’d love to hear what your summer watch picks will look like and what you think. Be sure to leave it in the comments section below.