Day 2 of our Christmas Countdown, and today, we’re looking at beach and summer watches, and we have both ends of the spectrum covered!
While the Northern Hemisphere enjoys a white Christmas, here in Australia, and anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere for that matter, it’s hot and summertime. This means lazing by the pool, trips to the beach and summer holidays. With this in mind, the team has picked 10 summer and beach-ready watches. Some are straight-up sports pieces designed for the ocean swells, and some are great options to go from the boardroom to the beach. Here we go…
Sam’s Summer Ready Watches
Seiko Prospex Sea “Kame” Australasian Edition
I can’t think of a summer watch without looking at a Seiko diver, especially the Australian limited-edition models. While there are quite a few to choose from, the latest Prospex “Kame” is a clear standout for me. So much so that I personally own one, no better testament than that! Launched during the Seiko x WatchAdvice event back in October, this special timepiece from the Japanese watchmaker is dedicated to turtle preservation.
The Prospex “Kame” continues Seiko’s global Save the Ocean Initiative, working closely with the team at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (CRTC) to rescue, care for, and release injured turtles back into the ocean. The stunning turquoise dial is inspired by Fitzroy Island and the Great Barrier Reef, and it’s one that truly needs to be seen in person. Up close, the texture beautifully mimics the ocean floor.
Beyond its looks, it’s affordable, features 200m of water resistance, and represents a great cause. A fantastic all-round summer watch dedicated to something even greater.
Australian Retail Price: A$995
Availability: Available now through Seiko boutiques, retailers or online at Seikoboutique.com.au
Hublot – Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve Yellow Magic
I’m on a bit of a yellow craze at the moment. It’s the perfect colour to capture summer, after all! With that being said, Hublot’s latest Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve Yellow Magic is a timepiece I’ve completely fallen for.
The yellow and black combination is truly something else, and the entire WatchAdvice team was blown away by how striking it looked, especially under sunlight.
While it’s not exactly the watch you’d take swimming, it fits the summer vibe perfectly. Paired with the black fabric Velcro strap, it’s comfortable for the heat thanks to its breathable material and lightweight feel. The tourbillon complication and skeletonised dial make it a mechanical marvel, while the vibrant yellow ceramic dial demands attention everywhere you go, elevating any summer outfit with a flash of bold luxury.
Australian Retail Price: A$155,000
Availability: Available now through Hublot boutiques, retailers or online at Hublot.com.au
Zenith – DEFY Chronograph X USM (Yellow)
Another yellow-dial stunner comes from Zenith with their latest DEFY Chronograph X USM. Unveiled during Geneva Watch Days 2025, the DEFY Chronograph X USM is a joint project with Swiss furniture manufacturer USM (Ulrich Schärer Münsingen). This timepiece reimagines the original 1969 DEFY with fresh design codes and four vibrant colours inspired by USM’s iconic 60s-style modular furniture.
The four variants include USM Gentian Blue, USM Golden Yellow, USM Green, and USM Pure Orange. After seeing them in person, each colour truly commanded attention in its own way, and while blue is normally my go-to, the yellow model steals the spotlight as the perfect summer companion.
The DEFY Chronograph X USM is offered on a stainless-steel “ladder” style bracelet, adding to the aesthetic flair of the timepiece. And standout details it certainly has. Beyond the vibrant dial colours, the watch features three overlapping silver subdials with a fine concentric circular finish, while the chronograph seconds hand is tipped with a miniature USM Haller Ball, a nod to USM’s signature furniture ball joints. Aside from housing one of the best chronograph movements in modern watchmaking, it’s also a design lover’s piece, a celebration of architecture, colour, and mechanical energy on the wrist!
Australian Retail Price: A$18,400
Availability: For more information, please head to Zenith-watches.com.au
Seiko – 5 Sports “SKX Redux (SRPL87) Ki-Lro Yellow
When I said I’m on a yellow craze right now, I wasn’t kidding! One of the latest Seiko 5 Sports models is the new SKX range, with this particular yellow dial SRPL87 being one of the standout models. Fortunately, I have had the privilege of owning this one and wearing it around for a few weeks before I gave an honest review about it (which you can read here!). This is one of those timepieces that reminds you that sometimes, watches are meant to be pure fun. The Seiko 5 Sports SKX SRPL87 does just that with a beautiful mango-yellow dial that adds personality and life to any outfit.
It’s not all about the yellow dial, either, when it comes to this latest 5 Sports SKX. For me, it represents great value for money. It’s an affordable divers watch with Seiko’s iconic SKX DNA. For mine, I switched out the rubber strap for a custom 5-link Seiko bracelet, which instantly enhanced the wearability of the timepiece into a fantastic daily wearer, while looking much more visually captivating on the wrist.
As I’ve mentioned in the review, “it’s the kind of watch that fits into your life without demanding any special treatment, not needing to have to worry about getting nicks, minor scratches, and desk diving masks.” It’s a great watch to just throw on when running errands, catching up with friends for coffee, and more importantly, for those sunny hot days in Australia! It’s a reliable mechanical watch that delivers vibrant energy and daily wearability whilst being affordable, and that yellow dial? It brings joy every time it catches the eye!
Australian Retail Price: A$650 (Black rubber strap). Enquire through Seiko for the bracelet option.
Availability: Available now through Seiko boutiques, retailers, or online at Seikowatches.com.au
Mario’s Summer Ready Watches
Ulysse Nardin – Diver [AIR]
Okay, hear me out for a second. I get that not everyone is going to have the cash to splash on one of these. I know I sure don’t. But given the sheer technical flex that the Ulysse Nardin Diver [AIR] brings to the table, it makes for an extremely compelling choice for a summer-themed timepiece for the man who has everything.
I mean, look at this thing. At first glance, you wouldn’t be remiss in thinking this is just another frothy piece meant to show everyone around you how cool you are. If that’s what you think, well, you’d be half right. In truth, the skeletonised Diver [AIR] works exactly as its name suggests, as the lightest dive watch in the world. With a mixed case construction of carbon fibre, titanium, and a specialised polymer called PA6, the Diver [AIR] is capable of 200 m of water resistance at a weight of just 52 grams. For scale, that means the watch weighs less than half a cup of rice.
To be fair, it is a bit of a niche record to hold. I’m not sure exactly how many people were chasing this title before Ulysse Nardin took the crown. Still, it’s a compelling example of the brand’s long-running pursuit of disruption and excellence. So if you’re on top of the world, why not enhance that with a watch that’s number one in its own field?
International RRP: €38,400
Availability: Available by inquiry only. Visit Ulysse-Nardin.com to find out more.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Beige
Sometimes it feels like the Rolex Oyster Perpetual is little brothered by the rest of the line-up. It’s a basic watch, without many remarkable features. And with everyone frothing at the mouth for a Daytona, Submariner, or a 1908, why does the Crown keep it around?
That’s easy: accessibility, simplicity, and adaptability. Case in point, the 2025 edition of the Oyster Perpetual 41 with the beige dial. Most watches in Rolex’s line-up excel at one specific thing. Daytonas are great for racing and timing, while Submariners and Explorers are built to take a beating.
But the humble OP 41? It can be whatever you want it to be. Is it amazing at one particular thing? No. But as the saying goes, “Jack of all trades, master of none, though oftentimes better than a master of one.”
The Rolex OP 41 Beige Dial excels at absolutely nothing, yet succeeds at absolutely everything. With this dial configuration, it becomes a perfect summertime watch, as the clean colourway evokes beach sand. If it’s a specialty timepiece you’re after, you’re free to look elsewhere. But if you manage to get your hands on one of these, you can rest easy knowing it will be with you through anything you choose to do with it.
Australian RRP: AU$11,300
Availability: By inquiry only, in-store or online at all authorised retailers. For more information, visit Rolex.com
Doxa – Sub 750T (Mario)
But what if the extravagance of the Diver [AIR] isn’t enough? What if the Rolex OP 41 beige dial just feels a little dull? Well, that’s where my next pick comes in. The Doxa SUB 750T is neither groundbreakingly innovative nor supremely versatile, but if you know Doxa’s history, then you know exactly what they’re good at. Of course, I’m talking about extreme performance in rough seas.
The SUB 750T is Doxa’s latest addition to its incredible and ever-expanding dive watch range. Rated to a whopping 750 m of water resistance, the collection has been designed to be nigh-unbreakable under pressure. There’s a reason why novelist and underwater explorer Clive Cussler has cited Doxa timepieces in so many of his works. When it comes to underwater adventuring, simply nothing else does what Doxa can.
But just because it has a serious nature doesn’t mean it can’t be seriously fun to wear, too. Summer is all about bright colours and good vibes, and the SUB 750T line continues the brand’s more colourful tradition. While rooted in practicality, the vibrant aquamarine, orange, and yellow dials make them perfect for a day at the beach! But for the more professional collector, elegant black, white, blue, and green dial options are also available.
Australian Retail Price: A$4290 (Bracelet) / A$4,250 (Rubber strap)
Availability: Available now through Doxa boutiques, retailers, or online at DoxaWatches.com
Matt’s Summer Ready Watches
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean
When I’m talking about the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean, I’m talking about the new releases from a few weeks ago. These are watches that scream, “Take me to the beach!” Or, if you have your PADI certificate, diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Especially the orange – it’s fire!
My personal pick has to be the orange variant on the orange strap, which retails for A$13,975. Yes, it’s a tad more than the previous generation, but I feel justified as Omega has completely overhauled these watches. The vintage-style design cues on the case take us back to the Omega Seamaster 300 models from the late 1950s and early 1960s. Gone is the helium escape valve, as is the date.
And if you’re not a strap person, then the bracelet has also been refined, too, with polished links, and an on-the-fly micro adjust in the clasp means that if you have wrists that change size as I do, this is a win, and makes the watch even that more wearable.
Australian Retail Price: A$14,575 on Steel / A$13,575 on rubber. Orange model: A$15,000 on steel / A$13,975 on rubber.
Availability: Available now through Omega boutiques, retailers or online at Omegawatches.com
Glashutte Original Seventies Chronographs
A seventies-style chronograph at the beach, you say? Yes, it’s a slightly left-of-centre choice, but hear me out. These are vibrant watches, with dial colours that are called Matte Plasma (Purple)/Fusion (Lime Green). The Fusion dial model is more summer than the Matte Plasma, but this is really about personal choice.
Now, they do come on either a rubber or a steel bracelet. Either is fine for those summer weekend adventures, but for me, personally, the rubber is the better pick as the bracelet has those brushed steel centre links, which makes it a little more elegant. However, with a folding clasp with a micro-adjustment, they could be just the thing for you. (See my point above about wrist size!)
With 100m water resistance, a flyback chronograph, panorama date and retro vibes, the Glashütee Original Seventies Chronograph is one of those watches that is fit to go from the boardroom to the beach, no need to swap for anything else!
Australian RRP: AU$25,150 (Bracelet) / AU$23,150 (Strap)
Availability: Limited to 100 pieces per reference. Inquire online at Glashuette-Original.com or at any Glashütte Original boutique and authorised retailer.
Parmigiani Fluerier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph
Another left field choice, but this is one of those watches that is designed for the more discerning watch lover in mind. Parmiagni Fleurier is one brand that has been catching my attention more of late. Ever since I checked out Zach Blass’s Rattrapante GMT at both Watches & Wonders and Geneva Watch Days, I’m liking them more and more – especially the chronograph models. The green Tonda PF Skeleton released this year was amazing, so are the new Tonda PF Sport models, especially the rose gold with the beige dial and strap.
However, the gold may not be the most robust watch to wear to the beach; however, the Tonda PF Sport in Cermet is. Made from a mixture of ceramic and titanium, Ultra-Cermet is super tough, but super light, basically impervious to scapes and scratches, and, being the Sport line, has a greater wrist presence thanks to the 42.5mm case size.
The two models available are not the brightest in colour, but that’s not the point here. They’re durable, COSC-certified sports watches that look great dressed up or down. Whether you decide upon the London Grey with the beige strap, or the Milano Blue, you’ve got a great higher-end piece on your wrist that you won’t have to baby. At least I wouldn’t. And would I wear a CHF 39,900 (approx. A$75,000) watch to the beach? Yes, I would, thanks to the Ultra-Cermet case, the textured rubber strap and the 100m water resistance.