Fratello Summer Watch Picks 2025: Henry’s Top Choices From Seiko, IWC, Rolex, And More

When the opportunity arose to tackle a Fratello Summer Watch Picks 2025 feature, I jumped at the chance. My managing editor Nacho and I did have a chuckle, though. You see, here in Sydney, Australia, it is currently winter. Southern Hemisphere, represent!

When the discussion first occurred to write this feature, I looked up the temperature in my hometown. It was sitting at 11° Celsius (51° Fahrenheit for the Americans among us). Sure, Sydney is famous for its wonderful beaches and beautiful harbor, but it’s not just a beach paradise. Sydney is also a city that has true seasons.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Fratello Summer Watch Picks of 2025: Henry’s edition 

Winter can be downright brutal here, with severe storms bringing air from the South Pole. Some years ago, during one such storm, a massive container ship called the Pasha Bulker ran aground a couple of hours’ drive north of Sydney, near the city of Newcastle. Large waves pounded the mighty ship, as you can see in the photo above.

We get massive downpours too. These can cause flash flooding and can be a real headache for the state emergency services with downed power lines and flooded homes, not uncommon in these moments of natural fury. That said, when the Sun is out and Sydney is enjoying calm days without a blistering wind, it does feel like we live in a “lucky country.”

Somewhat different from the European experience…

These beautifully calm and crisp days don’t feel like the sort of winters you would get on the European continent. It’s easy enough to strip down and head to the beach even in the middle of winter when we have these sorts of days. Frankly, it seems nothing like the sort of winter experience my Fratello colleagues based in the Netherlands get to experience. Those dark, grim, and rainy spells would make a vitamin-D-addicted Australian weep.

So, there’s absolutely nothing standing in my way when it comes to picking some summer watches that I’d gladly wear year-round here in Sydney. This is because, if you’re a winter swimmer, as I am, you’re lucky enough to experience the beautiful Pacific Ocean year-round. You could even get away with wearing an enjoyable horological companion on these wintry dips. There is no consistent theme here except that these are watches I would like to own this summer. Now, without further ado, let’s dive into my picks.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 “Pistachio”

When Rolex announced some new colorways for its iconic Rolex Oyster Perpetual line, I knew there’d be something interesting in it for me. My hunch was right, as the press images of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 in pistachio emerged. As my colleague Lex noted, these new colors from Rolex could be described as “muted lavender, a warm sandy beige, and a fresh pistachio green.” The 36mm Rolex Oyster Perpetual is easily one of my favorite lines in the modern Rolex catalog. Of the new colors released, the pistachio green stands out to me, and I think it would make a great summer watch.

We get the classic Rolex DNA, excellent 3230 movement ticking inside with 70 hours of power reserve, and a 100m water resistance rating backed up with a screw-down crown. The markers have plenty of luminous Chromalight, and the entire watch wears incredibly well. This, to me, is peak Rolex. To top it off, with the pistachio colorway, we get a watch that just begs to be in the sunlight, which will bring this somewhat muted shade to life. Plus, when I think of pistachio, I think of gelato. What could be more summery than that?

The IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Lake Tahoe

It’s no secret that I am a fan of IWC Schaffhausen. I have a family history tied to the brand, and I enjoy many of its vintage offerings. Of those, I own an IWC Mark XV pilot’s watch, a 3706 Pilot’s Chronograph, a vintage Caliber 89 dress watch owned by my grandfather, and a gold IWC Calatrava. When I saw the release of the IWC Top Gun Pilot’s Watch in white ceramic, I instantly loved how it brought more focus to the simple, legible dial. It’s as if the case is now an elegant white noise surrounding a classic dial design.

We get the IWC/ValFluerier 32112 caliber with a 120-hour power reserve, 10-bar water resistance, and a 41mm case in ceramic with a titanium crown and case back. Speaking of the case and having tried the IWC RAAF, which shares the Top Gun platform, it offers a relatively slender 11.4mm thickness.

My criticisms of modern IWC pilot’s watches remain relevant with the Lake Tahoe model. Namely, the use of a handset associated with the Big Pilot’s Watch DNA and not the true Mark series, which traditionally used a different baton handset. I also struggle with the font style used. It’s a little less elegant (to my eye) than the fonts on the neo-vintage Mark XV and vintage Mark XII.

I’ve done a hands-on with the impossible-to-buy IWC RAAF watch, which has the perfect combination of modern IWC specs and design elements that pay true homage to the original Mark Series. The problem is, of course, that you can’t buy one! This white ceramic version does provide a huge amount of fun, though. There’s something refreshing about seeing the white case with the black dial. It just works. I could certainly see myself rocking this while on holiday.

There has to be a Seiko on this list 

Seiko is one of the watch brands that got me started in this hobby. This is a similar tale for so many fellow enthusiasts, who started with something like a Seiko SKX007 dive watch. For me, it was a vintage 7002 dive watch from the 1990s. Nowadays, Seiko has a harder field to play in, with the surge of microbrands over the last decade or so putting a lot more competition into the entry-level playing field. A Seiko or a Citizen used to be almost the default choice when it came to buying one’s first mechanical watch. Now there are so many options from different brands and designers to choose from.

Created under the Sportsmatic 5 line in 1963, the Seiko 5 Sports collection was designed for younger, active generations. Revived with models that echo many of the design traits of the SKX dive watches, the Seiko 5 Sports collection rarely garnered my interest.

An original black-dial version of the Seiko 5 “Gene Kranz” 6119-8460 Sports Diver

Seiko 5 SRPL93 “Gene Kranz”

Enter the recently released limited-edition Seiko 5 SRPL93 “Gene Kranz.” This is a reissue of one of the earliest Seiko 5 designs, the 6119-8460. This watch became known as the “Gene Kranz” because it was worn by a man by the same name, who was a space engineer, pilot, and NASA’s Chief Flight Director during the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. While many of the astronauts would be wearing an Omega Speedmaster, it’s cool to think that one of the most important guys on the ground at NASA was wearing this cool little Seiko.

The re-editions each have a 38.2mm case with a 12.3mm thickness, a 44.7mm lug-to-lug. With dimensions like that, it will wear like a dream, and it also provides a 100m water resistance rating. Topping the case is a bidirectional 60-minute bezel, and inside it beats the reliable (though hardly accurate) 4R36 caliber. There’s a silver-dial version, the SRPL91, but my eyes are set on the SRPL93 and its inky black dial. It simply looks gorgeous.

The Doxa Sub 250T GMT Sharkhunter Vintage

Doxa’s new Sub 250T GMT has already made its way onto Nacho’s list. This is for good reason as it provides not only a lot of bang for your buck spec-wise but also leans on the iconic Doxa cushion-cased design language. Given the added GMT functionality, this watch is a compelling choice in the field of options we have with Doxa. What we get is a watch with a stated 250m depth rating, a Swiss GMT caliber, and a design language that is truly characteristic of the brand.

I got to spend time with the Sharkhunter Vintage version recently and admired its fit on my slender wrist. This is a watch with almost perfect proportions for a cushion-cased design. The dash of red on the GMT hand adds some playful fun to what is, in some ways, quite a restrained watch. The tobacco sunray effect on the dial is a nice touch as well. Bravo, Doxa.

Image: Cressi

Honorable mention: The Cressi Neon Dive Computer Watch (and motivation to get your scuba licence)

This might seem like heresy as Cressi is not a dive-watch company. Nor is the Cressi Neon, strictly speaking, a dive watch. Rather, it’s a wearable dive computer with a watch function. But I am mentioning it anyway because I hope it encourages people to consider getting their scuba diving licence. What better way to spend summer than to get a new skillset that involves traveling to beautiful underwater locations and witnessing the beautiful aquatic world? The Cressi Neon provides a simple digital display that showcases the time in large, blocky numbers. This allows for easy reading, even in dark or murky conditions. The Cressi Neon series comes in some wonderful color options too.

The 48mm case has a 38mm screen aperture and a 120m depth rating. This device also allows one to log up to 50 dives. It’s powered by a user-replaceable CR2450 battery with a roughly four-year lifespan. The Cressi Neon should set you back around €299, which is quite reasonable given its wide array of features. The best thing? It’s a bloody good motivator to go out and get your scuba licence so you can log your first dives! Yes, this is an unusual example to put on my list of summer watch picks for 2025, but I think it could spark some discussion!

Honorable mention 2: The Favre Leuba Sea Sky

When Favre Leuba came back with a bang during Watches and Wonders this year, I was intrigued. I was familiar with some of the vintage watches this brand had produced during its heydays of the 1960s, but it had all but fallen out of my mind as a brand name in the modern context.

Enter the Favre Leuba Sea Sky, and we have a handsome ocean-going chronograph with a caliber from La Joux-Perret. The designs look like they’d be a lot of fun to wear on the wrist, and fun is what I want to experience over summer! A 40mm ocean-capable chronograph should fit the bill.

Concluding thoughts

There you have it — my summer watch picks for 2025. Yes, one of them is strictly not just a watch. To me, the best thing about summer is the opportunity to spend more carefree time in the ocean. The idea that we could perhaps tie a purchase in with something that would further encourage those endeavors, like the purchase of a wearable dive computer, makes sense in my mind.

But what do you think, Fratelli? What would you choose, and why? I’m looking forward to reading your suggestions in the comments.