Essential summer watches

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Essential summer watches - Selection
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This year, watchmakers are pulling out the big guns in a bid to dress every wrist on the beach. We take a look at their weapons of mass seduction.

There’s something for (almost) everyone. As we approach the end of June, watch companies are already focusing on the models they are going to be promoting throughout the summer. For most of them, it’s the watches they launched at Baselworld. But not in every case. There are also some models designed specifically with the warmer months in mind. Hublot, for instance, a few weeks ago unveiled a Big Bang Unico Teak Italia Independent, in Capri, with Lapo Elkann. The watch bezel is made of teak, and it has a carbon kevlar strap to give it a nautical touch.

Essential summer watches

Women can enjoy the seaside spirit with the help of the new Happy Fish by Chopard. Its navy blue mother-of-pearl dial shimmers like the ocean depths. A fish in the centre of the dial remains discreet in the daytime, but glows at night. Five mobile diamonds, which also shine in the dark, and a small white gold fish swim around the dial as if in an aquarium. It is a playful and poetic watch, like the latest Mini Bubble models by Corum, which present a shot of concentrated audacity in a diminutive 17 mm package.

Essential summer watches

Essential summer watches

Deep sea diving

In the nautical register, diving watches still hold sway. Alpina, for example, is pushing its Seastrong Diver GMT, 44 mm in steel with titanium PVD coating. The luminous markers and hands stand out strongly against the blue or grey dial, with a pop of colour from the bezel in navy blue, burgundy, grey or orange.

Essential summer watches

Buy a Seastrong Diver GMT watch?

Seiko has brought out a new Prospex, which was unveiled at Baselworld in the presence of brand ambassador Patrick Cousteau. With its depth rating of 200 metres, and 47 mm case with silicone strap, this is an unapologetically technical watch for serious diving. The Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver can also cope with depths of up to 300 metres, and offers the unique feature of being the only modern diving watch with a square case, which comes in either blue or bronze flavours.

Essential summer watches

Essential summer watches

Two queens of the oceans

It would be unfair to wrap up without mentioning two essential pieces. First, the Italian diving watch: Panerai. This year the Neuchâtel manufacture has decided to focus on the new Luminor Submersible 1950 Amagnetic 3 Days Automatic Titanio. It is a reissue of the first anti-magnetic watch ever made by Panerai. Inside its very slender case sits the new automatic calibre P.9010 with a three-day power reserve.

Essential summer watches

Then there is that icon of the deep: the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe three hands by Blancpain. For the first time, it comes in a plasma grey ceramic case with non-deforming Liquidmetal markers. It is one of the rare dive watches to be fitted with a silicon balance spring (which makes it amagnetic), and three barrels that guarantee five days’ autonomy.

Essential summer watches

Land ahoy!

For those who prefer dry land to ocean spray, Anonimo is currently advertising its Epurato Safari model, with a black matt case and antelope leather strap. Just the thing for the savannah.

Essential summer watches

Buy an Epurato Safari watch?

But if you don't fancy being so adventurous, you can stick to the coastline and consider one of the many fine mechanical watches that are “nautically inspired”. Take a look at the limited edition Runabout, a tribute to the legendary Riva motor cruisers, designed by Frédérique Constant for its partners in the Riva Historical Society.

Essential summer watches

And for a few final options, the three Richard Mille RM 67-02 models dedicated to Alexander Zverev (tennis), Alexis Pinturault (Alpine skiing) and Fernando Alonso (F1) provide a touch of summery bling for devotees of extreme sports and haute horlogerie.

Essential summer watches

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