Discover the best summer watches for 2025. From bold dive watches to everyday favorites—perfect for pool days, beach vacations, and everything in between.
Summer is one of our favorite seasons for watches. While dress watches and thin, complicated pieces rule the colder months, it’s time to break out the sport watches when summer rolls around. With spontaneous summer trips and unplanned dives into pools, you need a piece ready for any adventure that won’t hold you back. So what makes a great summer watch? Let’s discuss.
Shop Bezel's entire curated collection of summer watches here.
Three characteristics make up a great summer watch. The first is water resistance. While information can range widely and terminology can change, generally speaking, 100 meters of water resistance is the minimum you want for a watch that will be frequently worn in the pool or any body of water. Ideally, 200 meters and above is best; even though most people won’t go more than a few feet underwater, the motion of diving or moving your wrist quickly underwater dramatically increases the pressure on the case.
While some say watches rated to 50 meters of water resistance are fine for swimming, we prefer to stay on the safe side. Another feature ideal for watches worn in the water is a screw-down crown, and if it’s a chronograph, screw-down pushers. While this doesn’t necessarily improve water resistance, it helps ensure these points are secured in a locked position.
The second thing that makes a great summer watch is color. Whether you are looking to spice up an ensemble or simply looking to have some fun, brightly colored dials and case materials help add a dash of intrigue to your wrist. Red dials, orange straps, or brightly colored ceramic cases simply make watches more fun.
Lastly, we love a great rubber strap or a metal bracelet with micro-adjustment capability in a summer watch. Both options are ideal for comfort when your wrist expands and contracts throughout the day with the heat. In the case of rubber straps, the ability to quickly change them out also allows options to better match your outfit.
With all this in mind, here are a few of our favorite summer watches.
The white ceramic Royal Oak Offshore Diver isn’t exactly subtle, but that’s part of the appeal. It’s built for summer days when blending in isn’t the goal. The 42 mm case feels bold yet wearable, especially with the lightweight ceramic build and integrated rubber strap. A mix of high-tech materiality and unmistakable Royal Oak geometry gives the watch serious character, and the inner rotating dive bezel adds a functional twist. Whether you’re beachside or pool-hopping, it’s a heatwave-ready statement piece that doesn’t miss a beat.
Tudor offers some of the most fun designs, with true watchmaking history in the industry. The Black Bay Fifty-Eight in bronze is the perfect example of that marriage. With a full bronze case and bracelet, this watch offers a unique feature–it'll develop patina and show its age within a few months. Similar to vintage watches, but far accelerated, the bronze will take on a beautiful hue as it’s exposed to the elements. The best part? You can easily have it cleaned to remove that patina at any time, making the watch look brand new once again.
There’s something unmistakably summer-coded about the Rolex “Hulk.” That sunburst green dial plays tricks in the light—mellow one moment, electric the next. The matching green Cerachrom bezel gives it a bolder personality than your average Submariner, while the 40 mm Oyster case and 300 meter water resistance retain the model’s tool watch DNA. It's discontinued, yes—but that just makes it all the more covetable when the temperatures climb.
Picture this, you’re in the south of France for the summer. You look down at your wrist to check the time before heading back to your villa. What is on your wrist? This watch, the Aquanaut Luce. The diamond bezel plays in the light with an unmatched beauty. The white strap and dial complement the steel case. This is the perfect watch for someone who doesn’t want to take their watch off for the entire summer. It looks just as stunning poolside as it does paired with your favorite summer outfits.
If you are a lover of the classics with a twist, this Rolex Yacht-Master in 37 mm is the piece for you. The traditional Oyster case is slightly scaled down to 37 mm for smaller wrists, but the watch still has a robust look and feel. The platinum bezel and rhodium dial perfectly highlight the light blue seconds-hand and “Yacht-Master” text on the dial. For those who enjoy watches like the Submariner but want to stand out, the Yacht-Master deviates from the traditional black dial and bezel combo to provide more visual interest. Thanks to the 100 meter water resistance rating, this can easily accompany you from the pool to the cocktail party with no issues whatsoever.
There’s always been something effortlessly summery about the Seamaster Diver 300M—but this “Summer Blue” edition dials it up with a cooler, more playful edge. Its wave-pattern dial, gradient navy finish, and matching ceramic bezel strike a perfect balance between sport and sophistication. The steel case measures 42 mm, giving it solid wrist presence without being overbearing, and the signature helium escape valve reminds you this isn’t just a pretty face. It’s rated to 300 meters, sure—but the real draw is how easily it swings from boardwalk mornings to evening drinks in a short-sleeve button-down.
For those who prefer their summer watch with a bit of edge and engineering, the Aquanaut 5968A is an easy contender. Patek Philippe’s take on a sporty chronograph feels unmistakably refined, from the bold orange accents to the squared-off case contours and matching rubber strap. Its 42.2 mm case houses a flyback chronograph complication, perfect for timing everything from laps in the pool to last call at the cabana. It’s fun, it’s functional, and it might just be the most vibrant Patek Philippe to bring to the beach.
Bezel is the top-rated marketplace for buying and selling luxury watches. We give you access to tens of thousands of the most collectible watches from the world's top professional sellers and private collectors. Every watch sold goes through our industry-leading in-house authentication process, so you can buy, sell, and bid with confidence.
Download the Bezel app on the iOS App Store or start searching for your next watch today at getbezel.com.
Bezel is available to download on the App Store now. Please reach out to our concierge team if there is anything we can help you with!
©2024 Bezel Inc.
All rights reserved.