Fratello Summer Watch Picks 2025: Nacho’s Favorites From Citizen, Doxa, And Baltic
The days are long, sleeves are short, and it’s a scorcher out there! So grab your favorite watch, apply a generous layer of sunscreen, and make the most of this sunniest of seasons. As is the tradition of Fratello, the members of the editorial team have been tasked with putting together a list of their summer watch picks. Now, if you’re still wondering what a “summer watch” is, I’m here to tell you that there are no complex rules. In essence, it has to be the kind of watch that gets you in the mood for and complements summer and all of its activities (leisurely or extreme as they may be). For me, it has to be a watch that is equally affordable, easygoing, lighthearted, and reliable.
Come September, you should have some great memories with your summer watch and a wicked tan line left by it on your wrist. So, let’s waste no time and have a look at three that I’d happily spend my summer with.
Summer watch picks 2025: 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 about it when it came out in early June. I spent one summer (two years ago) with my Aqualand JP2000. During those few days on the northeastern coast of Spain, I took the watch snorkeling and free diving, where it shone in its natural habitat. The new JP2008 is no less capable, and I expect it will keep up just as well as its predecessor did. In the end, nothing quite beats an affordable, low-maintenance, unpretentious watch when spending quality time in the sun. You don’t have to worry about attracting unwanted attention or ensuring it’s running on time. Just set it before you jet off, screw the crown down, and you’re good to go.
The Citizen Aqualand appeals to me because of its strong dive heritage. And as someone who takes any opportunity to kit up and get some dives in, having a watch that is both a carefree companion and a serious bit of kit feels like a home run. With its two-tone colorway, the JP2008-06E (€479) has strong retro appeal, doubling its cool factor, especially when worn on a suntanned wrist and accompanied by your favorite Hawaiian shirt and refreshment. Now, that’s summer!
Doxa Sub 250T GMT
It doesn’t truly feel like summer without Doxa, and the Sub 250T GMT ticks off the usual dive-watch boxes that the brand is well known for. Better yet, it also doubles up as a travel watch. If you’re jetting off across time zones, there’s no better way to keep track of it than with a GMT. You could glance down at your phone, but with that comes the risk of a poorly timed notification completely killing your summer mood. Switch off your phone (or even better, leave it at home), and enjoy all the information you need courtesy of a charming, perfectly proportioned, multifunctional dive watch from Doxa.
Now, the one thing that Citizen’s Aqualand doesn’t give you is much color. But with Doxa currently offering the Sub 250T GMT in nine colorways, there’s bound to be one that’s right for anyone. You can lean into it with the bright dials of the Divingstar and Professional, or you can keep it low-key with the Caribbean and Searambler. To me, the way to go is the beads-of-rice bracelet (€2,590), but if you want to go all in, you can opt for the dial-matching rubber strap (€2,540). I’ve said it before, and there’s no harm in repeating it: it’s not a matter of whether I’ll own a Doxa but, rather, of which one. Lately, the Sub 250T GMT has been the strongest contender, and when the time does come, you can bet it’ll be the watch on my wrist all summer long.
Baltic Hermétique Summer Collection
Finally, we arrive at the non-dive-watch pick of my list. Now, I get that divers are not everyone’s cup of tea. Not everyone who gets within spititng distance of the coast is overcome by the urge to don a red beanie and head for the nearest dive shop, and that’s okay. You guys are definitely missing out, but I get it. So, to include a no-frills watch that captures the essence of summer (without being a dive watch), I’m going with the new Baltic Hermétique summer collection. With four bright and peppy colorways juxtaposing their traditional field-meets-dress-watch design, these Hermétiques are (quite literally) made for summer.
If you plan on jumping in the pool, I have good news: these Baltics are water resistant to 150 meters, so go ahead. The water is warm, and none of it will end up inside your watch as long as you remember to push the crown back in. Another good bit of news comes in the price (€665, including VAT, on the Tropic-style rubber strap), and the fact that if the summer collection is a bit too bold for your blood, there are a handful of toned-down alternatives that also warrant a look. My advice? Go for it and choose the Hermétique that best matches your towel, swimming trunks, or cocktail of choice.
Final thoughts
Well, there you have it, folks — my summer watch picks for 2025. I promise I won’t use the “S word” again for a while after today, and hope you’ll excuse my abuse of it today. That said, I hope you enjoyed my selection. It’s hard to settle for just three watches since there are so many great ones out there. If you need me, I’ll be doing my best to get some dives logged into my Aqualand. In the meantime, I’d love to hear what your summer watch picks would be as well as your thoughts on mine. Be sure to leave them in the comments section below.
