The Best Summer Watches — Nacho’s Picks From Vaer, Doxa, Omega, And More

Summer is officially here! My colleagues have all been writing in anticipation of the official start of the year’s warmest season, but I have the privilege of being the first to report from within. And things have kicked off to a sweltering start. This week, temperatures are set to reach the mid-30s Celsius here in Europe, with plenty of sunshine. Since I’ve already had my share of time in the sun during my visit to Mexico earlier this year, I think I’ll be staying in and keeping cool in the shade. What better time to daydream about some of the best summer watches out there?

To me, a summer watch needs a special X-factor to suit the season’s lifestyle changes. It’s something that can’t truly be measured in specs. These are watches that, for the most part, put me in the summer mood, whether that’s spending time by the pool with a good book in your hand or dipping into something a little more daring. Bright dials are preferred, though not a must. And ideally, these watches are versatile enough to go from a great steel bracelet to rubber and NATO straps. I also prefer a healthy water resistance of 200 meters or more. So, let’s have a look at my five favorites. Just like my colleagues, I’ve stuck to the budget structure, kicking it off with a sub-€1k option and working my way up to a no-budget pick.

The best summer watch under €1k: Vaer G5 Pacific Polar GMT

I’ve been spending some time with the Vaer G5 Pacific Polar GMT lately while working on a comprehensive hands-on review. You’ll be able to read my full impressions on this one soon. But for now, let me tell you, it’s a seriously impressive package at less than €1,000. What do you get for the money? Well, it’s a 39mm mechanical GMT with a Miyota 9075 movement, 200m water resistance, a creamy white dial, and tasteful orange accents. The bracelet has been revamped with nicely chamfered edges, a perfect taper, and tool-free micro-adjustment in the clasp. This is the pinnacle of the brand’s achievements over the past 10 years, and it shows.

The Vaer G5 is also available in a black-dial variant. For summer, though, I feel like the off-white dial is a must. Nothing is going to look better as it leaves a watch tan on your wrist. Now, whether you opt for the bracelet (which will bring you right up to the price limit), the rubber strap, or a NATO-style strap, you really can’t go wrong. I’d be the kind of crazy person to take all three on vacation and swap between them as I see fit. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous this summer and don’t want to blow all your budget on a new watch, the Vaer G5 Pacific Polar GMT is a solid choice. You’ll still have plenty of gas money for a long road trip, or even enough for a far-flung journey to an exotic destination (and plenty of cold drinks once you get there).

The author’s Doxa in the Caribbean waters off Cozumel

The best summer watch under €2.5k: Doxa Sub 300T

Up next is the Doxa Sub 300T. You really can’t have a bad summer with a Doxa on your wrist. With brightly colored dials and all the “sea cred” in the world as (one of) Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s go-to timepieces, it’s hard to go wrong. This is also a case of me putting my money where my mouth is, as I bought a Sub 300T Professional earlier this year. This was a long-overdue venture into the brand. Having had Doxa on my mind for a long time, and with a course set for the Caribbean, it made sense to pull the trigger at last. Oh boy, did it ever live up to expectations! It’s hard to describe the feeling. There’s a certain magic to the weight, combined with its shiny, polished surfaces and late-’60s design. It’s not something you can really get from any other watch.

The only challenge with Doxa these days is picking “the one.” In my case, this was the Sub 300T with an orange dial. But there are a few more models available at sub-€2.5k, not to mention the seemingly endless colorways. So, whether you go with the €1,990 Sub 300T or the slightly smaller €1,590 Sub 200T, you can’t really go wrong. Both models are available in enough colorways to give you a small existential crisis, but nothing beats the feeling of finding the perfect one for your summer. Whether you’re scuba diving or just chilling by the pool, a Doxa will get the job done in style.

The best summer watch under €5k: Omega Seamaster Professional 300M 2254.50.00

Is anyone surprised to see this familiar face make its way into the list? I guess not. RJ opened the door to pre-owned watches in his selection, so I felt it would be proper to include at least one. I went with what I consider to be one of the best dive watches of all time. Do I need to say more?

Okay, I’ll say a couple of things regardless. To me, this slim 41mm diver hits a real sweet spot. Similar to five-digit Rolex references, it’s from a time when these already “luxurious” watches felt a bit less in-your-face. I also love the small-wave dial and aluminum bezel, a combination which Omega brought back in a recent Seamaster release. The only thing the brand hasn’t brought back is the sword hands. This small detail goes a long way, especially since the modern Seamaster Diver 300M’s skeletonized handset isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I also love the dial layout, with the oversized lume markers, especially the one at 12 o’clock, which I once referred to as a “large slice of lume pizza.” If you’re looking for a great dive watch for the summer with a budget just over €3k, look no further.

The best summer watch under €10k: Tudor Black Bay Chrono 39 “Bumblebee”

For my sub-€10k pick, I’ve chosen the new Tudor Black Bay Chrono 39 “Bumblebee.” It comes in well under the budget limit (as usual). I also had a chance to spend some time with it this week and found it seriously impressive. The 41mm BB Chrono models never quite caught my eye. But thanks to its reworked proportions, the Bumblebee has become a serious contender in my “watch list.” Now, the dial color has proven to be quite divisive, but I like it quite a bit. The black-dial bases are covered in my collection, especially in the chronograph department, with my Speedmaster holding that position. However, I could see the Tudor coexisting with the more classic (and significantly less water-resistant) Speedy.

Also, as I said at the start, a bright dial isn’t a must for a summer watch. In the case of the Tudor Black Bay Chrono 39, though, it’s definitely a welcome element. Also, did you know that the watch’s “Bumblebee” nickname supposedly comes from the name of the Pantone shade of yellow (14-0958 TPG) used for the dial? Well, now you know! If I were looking for a perfect watch for summer and had €10k to spend, it would be this €6,200 bee that I’d try to catch. Now, on to the no-budget pick.

Cannonball! My no-budget pick: Doxa Sub 200 T.Graph 18K Gold

That’s right, folks. I’m doubling up on Doxas. After some hemming and hawing and serious thoughts about a black-dial gold Rolex Submariner 1680/8, I chose another gold diver. It’s the 2019 18K gold Doxa Sub 200 T.Graph. I got to try it on my wrist in 2022, and since then, it has held a special spot in my heart. It’s a bit like a supercar. There’s an utterly ridiculous, boisterous, and impractical side to it. But at the same time, it’s a functional object. And a damn good-looking one at that. Priced at around €70k at its debut, I have it on good authority that at least a couple of the 13 made are still available. If I ever won the lottery, my first move would be to call the folks at Doxa and ask them to set one aside for me. And I mean it.

Now, I’d definitely want the watch on the 18K gold bracelet. But having tried it on in the rubber-strap configuration, I’d need to have that option as well. Call me crazy, but this watch is, to me, the pinnacle of high-budget summer watches. In fact, in my mind, Doxa is just the brand for summer watches in general.

What do you think of my picks for the best summer watches, and do you have any favorites of your own? Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments below!