With the Australian summer season about to start next month, Watch Advice presents 5 timepieces suited for those outdoor adventures!
Australian summer is almost upon us, although it feels as though it’s started already, with some of the scorching temperatures we already faced in the past few weeks. For the watch aficionados out there, or even the new collectors, this can mean its time to start considering what watches to wear this upcoming summer season.
Australian summer is well worth enjoying, from the beautiful blue skies, hot beach days to the tropical rain. This brings about many outdoor activities too, ranging from hiking, hitting one of the many stunning beaches throughout the country, wine and wildlife, visiting national parks, snorkeling to camping with family and friends. With the many different adventures that lie ahead, the watch you want to wear should fit the occasion.
So what makes a summer watch? It definitely needs to be a timepiece that can take a shock or two, be durable and be able to swim with, meaning a decent water resistance rating is also a must. Rubber straps are not a necessity, but will be ideal as they will be the more comfortable wear during the hotter sweaty climates. Oh, and lastly, bright colours!
With this in mind, Watch Advice presents to you 5 timepieces that are ideally suited for Australian summer, with some watches even being dedicated to the Land Down Under. The price of these timepieces range from $2,000 AUD timepieces all the way upto $15,000 AUD, to help suit a variety of budgets.
Seiko’s Prospex Whitsunday SPB429J (AUD $1,800)
Starting off the list is the Seiko Prospex Whitsunday Limited Edition timepiece. Australian’s have been very fortunate in 2023, with Seiko releasing multiple limited edition timepieces dedicated to different parts of the country. Ranging from the Prospex Eucalyptus and Noosa, Grand Seiko Pink Flannel Flower to the Presage Cocktail Time Irori Moments (In conjunction with Lark Distillery in Tasmania), the Japanese brand has taken a fond of what Australia has to offer.
The latest in these Australian dedicated limited edition releases is the Whitsunday edition. Based on one of Queensland’s stunning holiday locations, located a short trip away from the iconic Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays is full of beautiful waters, sandy beaches, and luscious rain forests.
The Seiko Prospex Whitsunday Limited Edition perfectly encapsulates all of this into one watch. The navy blue on the bezel refers to the deeper parts of the ocean, the light blue shows the shallower parts of the ocean, the teal colours refer to the reefs, and lastly the darker green on the bezel showcases the rain forests. While it comes on a stainless steel bracelet, a secondary white silicon strap and a third blue silicone strap is also supplied, to give a much more sporty and summer look. The timepiece also comes with 200m of water resistance and the in-house Seiko 6R35 movement powering the watch to 70 hours of life.
Specification:
- Case: 45 mm and thickness 12.9 mm
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Dial: Blue, teal and green colours
- Crystal: Sapphire with an anti-reflective coating
- Water resistance: 200 meters / 20 ATM
- Movement: Automatic caliber 6R35
- Movement Frequency: 3 Hz / 21, 600 VpH
- Movement Power reserve: 70 hours
- Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel bracelet or white and blue silicon strap.
Australian Recommended Retail Price: AUD $1,800
Availability: Limited to 1000 models. Purchased through Authorised Dealers or online at Seikoboutique.com.au
Oris Aquis Date Oceanic Blue Automatic (SS) 39.50mm (AUD $3,600)
Sitting well under the $5,000 AUD price point is Oris’s Aquis Date. This 39.5 mm stainless steel model comes equipped with a matching sturdy 3-link stainless steel bracelet, that like the Seiko can also be swapped out for a dial-matching rubber strap if needed.
A fantastic summer-time watch, the Oris Aquis Date is a timepiece that captures the heart and soul of the ocean, all depicted on the beautiful sunburst aqua blue dial. The case size of 39.5 mm means it will fit on the wrist nicely, ideal for those adventures throughout the Australian terrain.
The Oris Aquis Date Oceanic Blue comes with the Oris 733 base SW 200-1 movement, which operates at a frequency of 4hz (28,800 VpH), and powers the watch to a decent 38 hours. What’s impressive about this timepiece is that it’s rated to a water depth of 300m and still comes with an open case back, which you can see the movement through the sapphire crystal. Perfect if you really enjoy deep-sea diving!
A watch mimicking the ocean’s waters, does it get more of a summer piece than that?
Specification:
- Case: 39.5 mm
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Dial: Sunburst blue dial
- Crystal: Sapphire, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating inside
- Water resistance: 300 meters / 30 ATM
- Movement: Automatic caliber Oris 733, base SW 200-1
- Movement Frequency: 4 Hz / 28, 800 VpH
- Movement Power reserve: 38 hours
- Bracelet/Strap: Multi-piece stainless steel metal bracelet, security folding clasp with extension
Australian Recommended Retail Price: AUD $3,600
Availability: Through Orise Boutiques, Authorised Dealers or online at Oris.ch
TAG Heuer Carrera 44mm Steel & Ceramic (AUD $8,950)
Next on the list is TAG Heuer’s brand new Carrera 44mm steel & ceramic timepiece. This timepiece captures everything that the iconic Carrera is in a modern day design. This racing-inspired chronograph has a rich deep history that extends all the way back to the 1960s.
Image Ref: Prestigetime.com 
Although it is a motor-racing inspired timepiece, that doesn’t mean it can’t also double as a fun summer piece. With this latest release from TAG Heuer, it does just that. This new Carrera now comes in a intense and captivating shade of green as the brand calls it. The watch does play well with light, as from different angles it takes on either a lighter shade of green or a more darker shade, thanks to the finishing on the dial and the ceramic bezel.
This model does sit a bit larger, ideal for those that like to wear their watches a bit bigger. Sitting at 44mm, the watch comes in a fine-brushed steel case, which has a open case back revealing TAG Heuer’s in-house Calibre Heuer 02 movement inside. The movement operates at a high frequency of 4hz (28,800 VpH) and gives out an impressive 80 hour power reserve. The finishing of the movement is just as nice, with the skeletonised winding rotor and Geneva stripes taking centre stage.
The timepiece is rated to a depth of 100m, and comes with a dial colour matching green rubber strap. This rubber strap, however, is not like a standard flat rubber design. Instead, TAG Heuer has chosen to design links into the strap, making it seem like a steel bracelet design from afar!
Specification:
- Case: 44 mm
- Case Material: Steel & Ceramic Fine-Brushed/Polished
- Dial: Circular brushed green dial
- Crystal: Sapphire with an anti-reflective coating
- Water resistance: 100 meters / 10 ATM
- Movement: Automatic Calibre Heuer 02 Automatic
- Movement Frequency: 4 Hz / 28, 800 VpH
- Movement Power reserve: 80 hours
- Bracelet/Strap: Green rubber strap with stainless steel clasp.
Australian Recommended Retail Price: AUD $8,950
Availability: Through TAG Heuer Boutiques, Authorised Dealers, or online at TAGheuer.com
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Co-Axial Master Chronometer Summer Blue 42mm (AUD $9,850)
One of Omega’s own summer dedicated timepieces is the Seamaster Diver 300m Co-Axial 42mm in summer blue. As the name suggests, the watch comes with a beautifully designed ceramic dial in summer blue colours. The dial comes with the Omega 300M iconic wave pattern, that, you guessed it, depicts ocean waves. The gradient colour finish on the dial is done to reflect the timepiece’s level of water resistance, which in this case is an impressive 300m!
The movement sitting inside is Omega’s Calibre 8800 movement. This self-winding movement comes with Omega’s Co-Axial escapement and is resistant to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss! Turn the watch over, and what you’ll find is a stunning stamped commemorative Seamaster logo depicting a trident-bearing Poseidon and two hippocampi: the mythical part horse, part fish that OMEGA’s has used since 1956 as the Seamaster’s hallmark.
The timepiece comes with a “Summer Blue” enamel (Grand Feu) bezel which is colour matched to the outer parts of the dial, referencing the deeper parts of the ocean. The scale inscriptions on the bezel are done in light blue, which also matches nicely with the light blue hour indices on the dial. Finally, to finish the aesthetics of the watch, a dark blue rubber strap, which not only provides comfort but also looks great colour matching with the dial and bezel.
Specification:
- Case: 42 mm and thickness 13.6 mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Dial: Blue gradient dial with Omega’s iconic 300M wave pattern.
- Crystal: Domed scratch‑resistant sapphire crystal with anti‑reflective treatment on both sides
- Water resistance: 300 meters / 30 ATM
- Movement: Automatic Calibre Omega 8800
- Movement Frequency: 3.5 Hz / 25, 200 VpH
- Movement Power reserve: 55 hours
- Bracelet/Strap: Blue rubber strap with stainless steel pin buckle
Australian Recommended Retail Price: AUD $9,850
Availability: Through Omega boutiques, Authorised Dealers, or online at Omega.com
Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Night Mission (AUD $12,990)
It doesn’t get more summer-inspired than a bright yellow timepiece! The Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Night Mission is just that, with an aesthetic yellow dial with a matching yellow military leather strap. This timepiece, however, is designed and built for jet pilots, probably the furthest thing from a fun summer watch. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be used as one. The watch has all the right credentials to be an adventurer’s watch. In fact, Breitling’s re-designed Avenger collection which you can read about here has some other great summer pieces!
The bold design starts with a 44mm black ceramic and titanium case that is rated to an impressive 300m water resistance. The easy-grip functionality along with the corrosion-resistant construction of the case makes this an ideal watch for the outdoors. The black on the case, and also on the sub-dial counters contrast perfectly against the rich deep yellow of the dial and leather strap.
The watch comes with Breitling’s own movement, Breitling 01 (Manufacture), which operates at a frequency of 4hz (28,800 VpH) and has a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Night Mission is certainly a stand-out piece and in a good way. The yellow and black aesthetic combination, sturdy movement, and 300m of water resistance make it the perfect summer watch.
Specification:
- Case: 44 mm and thickness 15.2 mm
- Case Material: Ceramic and titanium combination
- Dial: Yellow with contrasting black sub-dial counters
- Crystal: Cambered sapphire, glareproofed both sides
- Water resistance: 300 meters / 30 ATM
- Movement: Automatic caliber Breitling 01 (Manufacture)
- Movement Frequency: 4 Hz / 28, 800 VpH
- Movement Power reserve: Approximately 70 hours
- Bracelet/Strap: Yellow calfskin leather with titanium buckle.
Australian Recommended Retail Price: AUD $12,990
Availability: Through Breitling Boutiques, Authorised Dealers & can also be purchased from Breitling’s online store.
There you have it, some great summer watch options ranging in price that are sure to tick a few boxes when it comes to what’s on your wrist this summer. Now get out there and enjoy it!
