Day 7 of our Christmas Countdown, and today, we’re looking at watches that would be perfect if we were in the Northern Hemisphere celebrating a white Christmas!
Being in Australia, we can only imagine a winter wonderland for a white Christmas. And while many watch brands are bringing out watches that celebrate a Northern Hemisphere White Christmas, we’re here boiling in the summer heat. So, to help, we assembled a list of 10 ice-cool watches that will help beat the summer heat, which are perfect for a Winter Watches buying guide! Plus all these (ironically) look hot on the wrist!
Mario’s Ice-Cool Picks
Grand Seiko UFA SLGB003 ‘Ice Forest’
I often feel bad for Grand Seiko’s watch designers. They can’t step outside the manufactory without finding more natural inspiration to note down, and this watch is no exception. Typically, if I were to pick one watch that personifies winter, I wouldn’t look much further than the SBGA211 Snowflake. I don’t really have to explain why, do I?
In any case, at this year’s Watches and Wonders, Grand Seiko dropped one of its greatest watches yet, and one that might even be better than the Snowflake. The easy-to-remember Ref. SLGB003 has otherwise been nicknamed the Ice Forest, thanks to its dial design, which evokes the literal ice forests seen in the Kirigamine (霧ヶ峰) Highlands during winter.
Not only is this a unique direction for Grand Seiko’s dial makers, but it also comes in a 37mm titanium case with a micro-adjustable bracelet, a monumental first for the brand. The cherry on top is the new Spring Drive movement inside, offering 72 hours of power reserve and an accuracy rating of ±20 seconds per year. That makes it more accurate than most quartz watches, and proves that Grand Seiko is really s-no-w joke.
Australian RRP: A$16,300
Availability: Available now, from Grand Seiko boutiques, retailers, or online at Grand-Seiko.com
Marathon Arctic OSAR-D
While Australians everywhere get matted in sweat during the Silly Season, our Canadian friends are experiencing quite the opposite. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if half the Canadian population is snowed in. I suspect, then, that their emergency services are on high alert to ensure everyone stays safe and warm this Christmas, and they have just the watch to help them do so.
Meet the Marathon Arctic OSAR-D. Standing for ‘Original Search and Rescue with Date,’ the OSAR-D is Canada’s premier field watch series. Although its manufacturing is largely based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the brand is still proudly headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario. From there, Marathon has supplied rugged, no-nonsense timepieces like the OSAR-D to United States and Canadian search and rescue personnel since the 1990s.
Naturally, that means the horological package is absolutely up to snuff. In practical terms, you get a stark white dial with red contrasting accents that echo the Canadian flag, a reliable Sellita movement, a robust 300 metres of water resistance, and a generous amount of MaraGlo lume. While it’s designed to remain legible in the event of snow blindness, for us Aussies it wouldn’t look too out of place in the surf.
International RRP: US$2,200
Availability: Available now, from Marathon retailers or online at MarathonWatch.com
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding 37mm
If you’re a man with money on your mind, you wouldn’t look much further than Audemars Piguet. One of the colloquial ‘big three’, the brand has become a major force in popular culture, regularly flexed by musicians, actors and other public figures around the world.
So while most people associate winter with snow, AP lovers are more likely to be thinking about ice. No, not frozen water, but diamonds. That’s something the Royal Oak Selfwinding 37mm, Ref. 15551ST.ZZ.1356ST.04 — memorable name, I know — has in spades. It still features that lovely pale blue Grande Tapisserie dial, but the bezel is also set with 40 diamonds.
Combined with the gorgeous in-house Calibre 5900, this Royal Oak reference is as functional as it is spectacular, and is guaranteed to attract attention wherever you go. Just don’t count on picking one up the moment you walk through the doors at Audemars Piguet. You may be waiting a little while yet.
International RRP: CHF 29,200
Availability: Available by inquiry only. See AudemarsPiguet.com for more information.
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time SSK037J ‘Skydiving’
Continuing along the blue theme, I’ve also picked out the Seiko Presage Cocktail Time SSK037J, nicknamed the Skydiver. The Cocktail Time series has always been one of the most accessible lines in Seiko’s roster, offering beautiful aesthetics and capable mechanics alongside a sensible price point.
While the SSK037J’s colour isn’t derived from ice or cold environments, its inspiration is arguably even better. The nickname comes from the Skydiving cocktail, created by Yoshiyuki Watanabe in 1967 for the Japanese Bartenders Association. Made with white rum, lime juice and curaçao, its radiant blue hue is exactly where the Skydiver watch gets its colour.
Complete with a GMT complication, the Seiko Skydiver is as reliable as it is deliciously good-looking. And as mentioned earlier, it remains an accessible timepiece at just A$950. You may have to go on the hunt to find one, though, as Seiko lists it as a store-exclusive model.
Australian RRP: A$950
Availability: Available in Seiko boutiques only. See SeikoBoutique.com for more information.
Sam’s Winter Watches List
Montblanc Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Exploration
It doesn’t get much more winter-themed, and especially Christmas-themed, than the Montblanc Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Exploration Limited Edition. While the name might seem like a mouthful, it’s justified, as the timepiece takes inspiration from South Pole explorations of the Antarctic continent.
If you didn’t already know, Montblanc’s Geosphere is a dedicated timepiece for mountaineers and those who love venturing into extreme conditions. One of the standout features of this watch is the world-time complication, or more specifically, the two rotating hemispheres displayed on the dial.
For this limited-edition timepiece, the dial is transformed into an ice-blue sfumato glacial backdrop, paired beautifully with a bi-directional anodised aluminium bezel. The caseback continues this glacial theme, featuring a 3D laser-engraved frozen landscape with the Aurora Australis.
This timepiece also doubles as a great traveller’s watch thanks to its GMT functionality and world-time complication. Not only is this a perfect watch for those who love winter and ice exploration, but it’s also a timepiece I can ironically picture Santa wearing on his various expeditions around the globe.
Australian RRP: A$13,750
Availability: Limited to 1990 pieces. Available from Mont Blanc boutiques, retailers or online at MontBlanc.com
Breitling Navitimer Perpetual Calendar Ice Blue
When you think of winter, you immediately think of the colour white for snow and ice blue for glaciers. Being a big fan of the colour blue, I’ve gone down the glacial route with this next pick: Breitling’s own Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar.
This timepiece forms part of Breitling’s latest high-horology collection, with the Navitimer collection serving as the base for the perpetual calendar complication. Matt had the chance to review this watch, and honestly, I can say the ice blue colour is absolutely stunning in person, shining beautifully when it catches the sunlight.
The watch retains the unmistakable Navitimer design language, including the iconic circular slide rule that has made it one of the most recognisable pilot’s watches ever created. The perpetual calendar complication only adds to the Navitimer’s complex-looking layout, yet it’s designed in a way that remains easy to read.
The day, date, month, moon phase, and leap year are all displayed across four separate sub-dials. Against the ice-blue background, the moon-phase complication at 12 o’clock adds a poetic winter touch, calling to mind clear winter nights and icy, moonlit landscapes. This is a watch that truly feels at home in winter — elegant, well-balanced, and quietly complex, mirroring the season’s calm and slower pace.
Australian RRP: A$44,490 (on leather strap) / A$45,190 (on steel bracelet)
Availability: Available from all Breitling boutiques, authorised retailers and online at Breitling.com
Tissot PRX Ice Blue
Tissot’s PRX is a revival of a 1970s classic, bringing back the integrated-bracelet sports watch design for the modern enthusiast. Upon its release, the PRX was widely popular, and it remains a great entry-level timepiece today, featuring a reliable movement with an 80-hour power reserve, a slim case design, and beautifully coloured dials that give the integrated bracelet a subtle, glimmering shine.
Tissot’s PRX is a revival of a 1970s classic, bringing back the integrated-bracelet sports watch design for the modern enthusiast. Upon its release a few years ago, the PRX was widely popular, and it still remains as a great entry-level timepiece today. It features a reliable movement with an impressive 80-hour power reserve, a slim case design, and beautifully coloured dials that pair seamlessly with the integrated bracelet and its glimmering shine.
The pale blue hue of the PRX perfectly reflects winter aesthetics. It has a clean, frosty, and minimalist look, much like snow-covered landscapes and clear winter skies. This makes it a perfect daily watch for those who love winter, appreciate the colour blue, or simply want to be reminded of snow-filled days. True to Tissot, the PRX delivers Swiss quality at an accessible price point, making it an excellent everyday entry-level luxury option.
Australian RRP: A$1,220
Availability: Available from all Tissot boutiques, authorised retailers and online at TissotWatches.com
Matt’s Ice-Cool Winter Watch Picks
Hublot Big Bang Titanium Winter Edition
So when I saw the Hublot Big Bang Winter Edition duo come out a few weeks ago, I took one look and absolutely loved them. While the Sapphire variant is very cool, the titanium version I feel, is a much more wearable everyday piece and also, from a price point perspective, a little bit friendlier on the hip pocket.
The combination of that blue dial, the white ceramic bezel on the brushed titanium, just looks fantastic, and in my article when I wrote about these, I felt that while these were winter editions from Hublot, they were great summer watches. Why? They are bright and fresh for summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
For me, I would swap the calfskin strap over to either a plain white rubber strap or if you use the Hublot strap configurator, the light blue strap really complements the dial, and it makes this watch look super fresh. The Unico movement is visible through the back, but is somewhat hidden by the snowflake-shaped rotor. I can overlook this, however, as I’ll be staring at it from the dial side anyway!
Australian RRP: A$39,400
Availability: Limited to 200 pieces. Available now through Hublot boutiques and authorised retailers, or over at Hublot.com
Czapek Antarctique Passage de Drake
As my tastes continue to evolve, I find myself increasingly drawn to the independent watch scene. In many ways, that’s also a by-product of attending Geneva Watch Days, which is predominantly focused on independent brands – albeit some of the larger names in that space. One brand I’ve grown to appreciate over the years is Czapek. They produce some outstanding integrated-bracelet watches, with the Antarctique Passage de Drake 40.5mm in Glacier Blue being a prime example.
The mix of brushed links and polished U-shaped centre links creates a look that’s both refined and contemporary, sitting beautifully on the wrist. The case itself wears exceptionally well thanks to its slim profile and well-executed proportions, making it easy to live with day to day. Czapek also allows a level of customisation, letting you configure the watch to suit your preferences, which is something I always appreciate.
From a technical standpoint, the in-house SXH5 automatic movement, which is finished beautifully, delivers a solid 60-hour power reserve and features a beautifully finished micro-rotor, keeping the overall case thickness in check while still offering something interesting through the caseback. Add in the textured Ice Blue dial – subtle in low light, but full of depth when it catches the sun, and it all comes together nicely. For me, the Antarctique Passage de Drake with the Ice Blue dial ticks all the right boxes and is a great edition for a Winter Watches buying guide.
International RRP: CHF 22,400 + Taxes
Availability: Available to order through Czapek.com
IWC Pilot’s Watch 41 Lake Tahoe
I had the good fortune of reviewing the IWC Pilot’s Watch 41 Lake Tahoe in white ceramic earlier in the year. This is the first time I’ve actually worn a pretty much full white watch on my wrist, and I thought it was a great, fresh watch to wear, especially coming into summertime. The combination of the dark black dial against the white case and strap makes this a standout-looking piece, and of course, it’s highly rugged and durable thanks to the scratch-resistant ceramic.
It is also a pretty easy-wearing watch, as well, thanks to the lightness of the ceramic case and the flexibility of the rubber strap. It has a massive 5-day power reserve coming out of the IWC-manufactured Calibre 32112, making it perfect for a weekend warrior, or it leaves you with the comfort of knowing that you can take it off for a few days, and it will still be running no matter what.
It is a fresh and bold look that is perfect for a winter-themed watch, and after all, this has been named the Lake Tahoe based on the snow-covered lake in winter time, so it makes a perfect fit for this buying guide.