With the warmth of summer beginning to form, I can’t help but reminisce and imagine the timepieces that will accompany me throughout this season. Before wearing anything on my wrist, there are a few determining factors I use in choosing the right timepieces.
The first is design. I like to explore timepieces with a whole new idea of what a timepiece can and should be made of. The design aspect of a timepiece goes hand in hand with the limitations of the materials it will be made from. The most common choice of materials for a timepiece is usually stainless steel or gold, therefore the outcome of the finished timepiece will reflect the limits of such materials.
Next, let’s look at functionality. When speaking of functionality I want a timepiece to fit my lifestyle for any given set of circumstances I may find myself in during the summer months. I may end up traveling abroad for a summer getaway and may need to have a second-time zone to stay in tune with the New York stock exchange or with personal business.
Lastly and most importantly I always consider brand heritage. History and legacy are so important to understand when selecting your next timepiece. I want to know why this timepiece exists and why I should value it enough to own it. Now with that being said, I want to introduce you to my selections for the top five timepieces for your wrist rotation this summer.
Rolex Yacht-Master 42
It’s virtually impossible not to love a Rolex Yacht-Master. This beauty is a real head-turner, and easy to recognize thanks to its awesome feature: a bidirectional rotatable 60-minute bezel. It’s a nod to Rolex’s love affair with the thrilling world of sailing. The Yacht-Master range is all about adventure, precision, and elegance, perfect for sailors and watch enthusiasts who appreciate the finer things in life, but this Yacht-Master 42 is unique. You get a true yachting timepiece made from light and beautiful RLX titanium. Why you ask? Well, it’s both lighter than steel and denser than aluminum, yet harder and more resistant than either of these metals. Using RLX titanium reduces the weight of the watch by about one-third compared with the same watch in Oystersteel. The dial is an intense black with applied white circular hour markers and displays a convenient date window at the 3 o’clock position. The movement is of course an in-house Rolex 3235 perpetual, mechanical, and self-winding. Crafted with impeccable style and attention to detail, this watch is not only ready to accompany you on daring seafaring expeditions but also adds a touch of maritime sophistication to your everyday look. So, whether you’re hitting the open waters or just want to rock that maritime vibe, the new Rolex Yacht-Master is the timepiece that’s got you covered.
Price $14,050
Tudor Black Bay 58 925
On a casual trip to my local Tudor boutique one day, I was in search of another timepiece. The new “Black Bay 54”. I found myself getting caught up in the beautiful plethora of timepieces Tudor has to offer. But none stood out and captivated my attention more than the Tudor Black Bay 58 925. In all my years as a timepiece enthusiast, I’ve never seen a modern timepiece made of 100% silver. Silver is a relatively soft material, yet when presented to you in the form of a Tudor Black Bay 58 you can’t help but to admire all of the effort and detail put into this work of art. With a simple 58 gray dial, and white hour markers resting atop it. The Black Bay 58 is elegantly housed in an all-sterling silver (925) case equipped with a very useful screw-down crown. Paired with a casual yet elegant gray tone fabric strap, with a white vertical stripe delicately running down the middle, and to top it all a powerful sterling silver buckle complimenting the silver case and dial. Measuring 39mm in case of diameter with a sterling silver screw-down crown and coming in at only $4550. This timepiece will easily become your go-to wrist wingman.
Panerai Lab ID Carbotech
The actual title for this piece is “Panerai ID Carbotech Ref PAM01700”. Let’s start with the case for this piece. The Carbotech case is made from a composite material based on carbon fiber introduced by Panerai, with wavy lines found throughout the case resembling those of a carefully crafted Damascus steel knife. Looking at the dial of the Panerai LAB ID, it has your standard 12, 3, and 6 with a separate seconds hand at the 9 o’clock position. All are illuminated by beautifully muted green fluorescent shade accents all around. The fabric of the Panerai Sportech band features sleek side accent stitching in a great black-on-black appearance. Coming in at $70,000 you need to appreciate and enjoy every unique feature of The Panerai LAB ID Carbotech. This piece also includes the special ultra lightweight Carbotech case, a Swiss mechanical movement with a three-day power reserve, water resistance of 100 meters, and the heritage of a brand founded in 1860 in Florence makes this top 5 picks extra special.
Seiko 5 Sports Automatic GMT
This is a newcomer to my collection. A down to earth piece that looks like it should cost more than it does. At only $475 bucks Seiko hits this one out of the park. The Seiko GMT sits comfortably at a 42.5 mm case diameter and has a very satisfying clicking from the unidirectional bezel. Normally these pieces are matched with a stainless steel bracelet, which is nice, yet a bit noisy for my taste so I recommend switching to a beautiful NATO strap in black with a gray stripe down the middle. Seiko was founded in 1881 and has a rich heritage of quality timepieces. They introduced the world to the very first commercially available quartz. Now offers an innovative and diverse selection of timepieces that are affordable and exceptionally crafted. Another interesting addition to this timepiece is the GMT function. This is the perfect tool to help keep you in the know when traveling abroad, especially when you find yourself keeping track of time zones for business or pleasure.
Alsta Nautoscaph Superautomatic
This microbrand dive watch is not only easy on the eyes but offers the wearer a glimpse into the past. The Alsta Nautoscaph is a nostalgic piece of movie history that has been resurrected by a true vintage watch collector by the name of Angus McFadden. At first, Angus began collecting vintage Alsta pieces such as the well-known “JAWS” watch which is the original Nautoscaph Superautomatic from the ’70s. The New rendition of the “JAWS ” watch kept its heritage intact as far as styling and quality of materials, a true dive watch with a unidirectional bezel to measure time underwater and a screw-down crown to keep it water-tight. With all the underwater functions of the Alsta Nautoscaph Superautomatic and its 38mm diameter case, it’s the perfect summer daily wear piece. Coming in at slightly over $1,000 plus the added value of being a limited collector piece and a true dive watch you really can’t go wrong bringing this one along on your summer outings.
Words by Oscar Munaz
