Brands and watch buyers often refer to watches as “a great summer watch”. These comments are invariably reserved for watches with bright coloured dials.

Why do people often refer to bright, often garish dialed watches as “summer watches”?

Please discuss…

From my perspective I am no more or less likely to wear a coloured dial in summer than at any other time of year.

Neil

The case could be argued that a bright "summer" watch is just as well suited to brightening up those miserable, dark winter days. Maybe even moreso?

Most of the watches I've worn on holiday during the past few years have either been white/silver, black and blue. I like the idea of a bold-coloured watch if just for a bit of variety, but as with Iain, the reality is that they tend not to hang around long.

I guess the same could be said of all my watches though ...

I would say this is my summer watch, it's very comfortable on those hot days, it goes with my choice of summer clothing, and it's good for swimming and the beach.

Well, beyond the style, it's a g-shock so should be up to most activities. I'd be interested to see how well the printing holds up. If you can get one in a colour that you like, the S2100 range is very good for those who prefer a slightly smaller watch. I really like the look of the "manga" 2100's but was too slow to get one - and too tight to pay well over the odds for one.

Whilst several people have mentioned brighter summer clothes, I think the other factor is the probability of a sun-tanned arm also affects colour choice. Of course if you have dark skin anyway, then you can pull off this look all year round.

magicman wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 1:51 pm goes with my choice of summer clothing

I think this nails it. Summer (for me anyway) brings lighter, brighter colours to wear, so a summer watch goes with that theme. Light, bright colours such as oranges, yellows etc. I don't tend to wear anything too garish in winter, so watches during that season tend to follow the same theme.

A lot of people associated summer with brighter more vibrant colors. Fashion in general gets bolder in the color department for summer (whites, reds, oranges) and the winter is generally more muted and earthy in tone (browns, navy, gray).

I don't have any 'summer' watches either myself. Although, I think the Super Compressor blue dial might fit that description. I still wear it in the winter months too though.

For my own requirements a watch should just be comfortable to wear in the heat. Other than that all bets are off.

I dress differently in the summer vs other months (I don't think I'm in the minority here...) - in summer I'm more likely to be in shorts and a T-shirt, or even better a garish flowery shirt, which might well be quite colourful.
In winter, I'm likely to have a big cozy jumper on (I love a big cozy jumper almost as much as I like garish flowery shirts!) - these jumpers are often more 'autumnal' colours - I like a good brown or dark green!

Most of my watches would probably quite happily sit alongside either of these, but some like my bright orange G-Shock: ...definitely look less out of place with shorts and a pina colada* than they do with a wooly jumper and scarf. So for me, that's a 'summer watch' - one that is more suited to the sunshine.

As mentioned though, I think the vast majority of watches are comfortable in any of these circumstances, but there are definitely some that just feel more right when the sun is out!

*I have never actually tried a pina colada...

I have “summer” watches that I wear throughout the year. They are colorful accents (or even foci depending on my mood at the time), but I like color so I don’t stop because it is after Labor Day. I note, however, I don’t wear my blue dialed watches as often in the summer perhaps as a nod to slightly subdued color choices in winter and leaving more space for more color in summer.

From having fairly strict “dress codes” for watches (self-imposed and daft) and moving away from the jacket and tie work environment, I’m now very much in the “wear what you want, when you want” camp.

I tend, for reasons of comfort, to wear the watches that live on leather straps in cooler weather, and these tend to be the dressier types like vintages, Tank and C9SS. Bracelets and the occasional hybrid strap are worn in summer.

Having said that, I dislike brightly coloured dials, preferring black, blue, silver and white (all with appropriately contrasting hands). Not sure why, because I love lairy shirts.

No doubt about my brightest watch, and I do love wearing it when the sun shines. Technically it was only spring, but it did look good in the glorious weather we had in Valletta! So I guess the Twelve Ti is my best shot at a summer watch (along with the C63 GMT which gets the fly & flops).

I'm on my first "serious" watch, a recently purchased blue marine trident that I love. But as we roll towards the cooler more muted but beautiful colours of the season ahead, I've been thinking of a watch more suitable in colour to that feeling the season brings. I certainly change with the seasons in respect to my clothing, activities and unfortunately, eating. It's a melancholic time I think, but in a reflective, relaxed positive way. It's the winter that I find mentally more challenging. Maybe watch wise I'll just go for a straight forward aqua terra (a big investment for me) a watch that appears timeless all year round or perhaps something in brass with a darker or muted face. Any ideas welcome.
Pat

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 8:13 pm

nbg wrote:Brands and watch buyers often refer to watches as “a great summer watch”. These comments are invariably reserved for watches with bright coloured dials.

Why do people often refer to bright, often garish dialed watches as “summer watches”?

. . . . .

Neil

It's simply a watch brand's marketing department's tag line by which they try to get you / me / us to buy more watches.

Guy

Oh I get that Guy

Judging by the number of folk that buy such watches, it clearly works

Neil

Tide strap installed and now I have my summer watch !