Fratello Favorites: The Best Summer Watches At Three Different Price Points — Lex’s Picks From G-Shock, Tudor, And Patek Philippe

What should you take with you on your quickly approaching summer holiday? Well, as little as possible, meaning just one watch to do everything you do on a vacation. “Travel light, easy, and carefree” is my motto. Picking the best summer watches at three different price points to accompany me on my vacation is a mostly hypothetical exercise. Still, I managed to select one practical watch under €1,000, another under €10,000, and an unlimited-budget option, with the last two being the hypothetical ones. Although I might not wear the two more costly picks on my upcoming summer trip, I still chose them based on hands-on personal experience.

Don’t race what you can’t replace. The same principle applies to vacation watches if you ask me. I always stay realistic when picking the one watch I’ll take with me to go swimming, riding, dining, drinking, lounging, etc. Full disclosure: I always take a watch in the sub-€1,000 category. But that doesn’t mean I can’t form a thought about vacation watches that are far more costly. The watches I picked in the sub-€10,000 and money-is-no-issue categories made it onto the list because I had the pleasure of experiencing and wearing them in real life. I wore the sub-€10,000 Tudor in harsh and tough conditions and the sky-is-the-limit Patek Philippe in far more relaxed circumstances.

The best summer watches —Sub-€1,000: Casio G-Shock GA-B2100C-9A

It’s as bright as the Sun, and just like the star our planet spins around, it will rise in the morning. I’m talking about the Casio G-Shock GA-B2100C-9A (€159), the striking yellow “CasiOak” that survived a tough-testing session last year. From a functional perspective, you can’t go wrong by taking this watch on a summer vacation. The G-Shock GA-B2100C-9A has practical functions, including world time, alarms, and a stopwatch. Plus, with its solid build and 200m depth rating, this watch is certainly appropriate for summer activities.

The high-quality resin that Casio uses feels great and keeps the total weight down to just 52 grams for a comfortable wearing experience. It’s also comforting to know that the 45.4mm × 48.5 × 11.9mm watch case is reinforced with carbon (Casio’s Carbon Core Guard). Additionally, there’s strong mineral glass over the dial, revealing analog hands and a small diamond-shaped display for digital functions.

As you can see in the pictures, this CasiOak shows some battle scars. It has a unique look you could call “accidental” or “random custom.” I know how it happened. I was there. I’m also responsible for how the watch looks today, which has created a bond between us. When I take the solar-powered, Bluetooth-equipped GA-B2100C-9A with me on my vacation, we will experience new adventures, and our bond will probably become tighter.

Sub-€10,000: Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono “Cycling Edition”

There’s one thing I know: the Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono “Cycling Edition” (€5,390) wouldn’t waver if I took it on vacation. It can take anything you throw at it and look good while taking a beating. I write this confidently because I wore this watch while riding the Chasing Cancellara bike race in challenging conditions. The chronograph dealt with large amounts of rainwater. Its 100m-water-resistant, 43 × 13.2mm featherweight carbon composite case with a titanium back proved very comfortable too. Its lightness made me forget I was wearing a watch when not looking at it. The single-pass fabric strap always felt comfortable and secure, contributing to the watch’s excellent wearability. Importantly, the high-contrast black dial and large white Snowflake hands made the watch easy to read in murky conditions as well.

Yes, Tudor made a functional watch, but its dark looks are without gimmicky details, making it a stylish companion for summer. With its fabric strap and bold aesthetic, this Pelagos FXD Chrono “Cycling Edition” looks best with casual attire in a relaxed setting. Sure, it would look good while enjoying an aperitif on a terrace, but I’d probably just want to take it riding all the time.

Money is no issue: Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980/1A-001

Because we’re now in the category where money is no issue, why should I bother telling you that when the Nautilus 5980/1A-001 cost around €25,000, it was considered rather expensive for a steel chronograph with an odd, not very “Patek-ish” dial design? There’s also no point in telling you that the once-unloved chronograph now goes for an average price of around €100,000 on Chrono24. Instead, I will tell you that this blue-dial chronograph introduced in 2006 and discontinued in 2014 looks like a million bucks on the wrist.

I think the ref. 5980/1 does the impossible: it makes a chronograph complication look good in an iconic watch. Imagine two or even three sub-dials on a Nautilus’s horizontally embossed blue dial. That would result in a distorted and cluttered look. The single chronograph sub-dial at 6 o’clock, however, makes sense. The two concentric circles that display the elapsed minutes and hours elevate the classic Nautilus to a complicated athlete.

The steel 40.5 × 12.2mm case is water resistant to 120 meters and shows a distinct bezel featuring a brushed top and high-polished edges. The combination of the “winged” case shape, rounded octagonal bezel, and the high level of finishing makes this ultra-sports watch a desirable looker. But it’s not just handsome on the outside. The sapphire window of the exhibition case back allows a nice view of the exquisitely finished Patek Philippe caliber CH 28‑520 C outfitted with a 21K gold central rotor, a Breguet-overcoil hairspring, and a four-arm Gyromax balance.

Playing with your Nautilus 5980/1A-001 while overlooking the ocean will be a most satisfying, zen-like experience. How the 4Hz caliber CH 28‑520 C functions and feels under the fingers when operating the pushers is phenomenal, crisp, precise, and ever so subtle.

Choosing the best summer watches: which watch would you wear?

Putting this eclectic shortlist together sure was a fun exercise. Please let me know your thoughts on the three summer watches I picked. Which one would you wear? Enjoy your summer, everyone, whatever it has in store for you.