Our guide to the best watches for every season by Extropian

Every season has its own characteristics. And so, of course, does every watch. Searching out watches that perfectly evoke the qualities of spring, summer, fall, or winter is great fun for any watch fan, and the perfect excuse to add to your collection!  The choice is huge, but we’ve come up with a few suggestions that should point you in the right direction, so you can find the ideal watch to match your seasonal wardrobe!

The most joyous Spring watches

Spring is a time of renewal, so it's the perfect season for fresh colors and heading out of doors after a long winter. Dive watches and Chronographs are great for getting back to water sports or motoring trips, but anything with a relaxed, informal vibe is bound to suit this time of year.

Dufrane - Travis ($699)

As winter recedes and nature begins to flourish again, what could be better than heading for the water? Dufrane’s Travis is a fun, robust Diver ideally suited to basking in the spring sunshine. Named after Austin’s Lake Travis, which doubles as the city’s reservoir and a major recreational spot, it was designed to embody the spirit of this unique place and comes in four distinct colorways which reflect different aspects of its personality. They're all great, but we especially love the Juniper edition with its fresh green linen textured dial and matching bezel which recall the trees surrounding the lake coming back to life as spring takes hold, along with a flash of vivid orange on the second hand. 

Dufrane Travis - Juniper

Stella - Breslin Classic Blue ($1,085)

There’s a wonderful informality about Stella’s whole catalog that somehow fits the spring vibe perfectly, and the Breslin is a prime example. Maybe it’s the classic ‘50s retro style or the great mix of finishes on the case (combining brushed and polished stainless-steel with a black PVD body), along with little touches like the aluminum red accent around the crown or the cool signature pointer hand with its red arrow tip. Mostly, though, it’s probably the wonderful linen textured dial which makes us think of casting off our thick winter layers and relaxing in the spring sunshine in a lightweight shirt. It’s hard to choose between the vibrant Raspberry version or the Classic Blue, but we’re opting for the latter with a brown leather strap adding to the laid back feel.

Straton - Syncro - Green ($499)

Spring is a great time to head out on the road, so we had to have a Racing Chronograph on the list. And what better than something by Straton, whose entire catalog is inspired by iconic cars and motor racing? The choice is huge, but we’ve gone for the Syncro as, whichever version you choose, it has a bright, vibrant look which is perfect for this time of year. Inspired by classic cars of the ‘70s, as well as Chronographs from the same period such as the Breitling Datora and Heuer Autavia, it has a sleek Tonneau case and distinctive twin subdials that recall dashboard readouts. And you can add a checkered sapphire bezel and leather Rally strap for that final touch of racing flair. Choose from Red & Yellow, Purple & Black, or (our favorite) Green & Orange color schemes, all of them ideal for a spring drive in the country!

Straton Syncro Green

The sunniest Summer watches

Summer is vacation season of course - a time for bright, vivid colors to match the blazing sun, and the laid back feel that comes with a few weeks of freedom. A good Dive watch is an essential for the beach or pool, and rubber straps really come into their own at this time of year. But it’s also a very social time, so having something to impress or stand out from the crowd is never a bad thing either.

BOLDR - Odyssey Freediver Citrus Orange (€570)

A Dive watch is an essential addition to any summer vacation list and, while there’s a huge range of choice out there, we’re opting for the BOLDR’s Odyssey Freediver. Its informal style, compact case, and eye-catching contemporary design make it an ideal choice whether you’re lounging on the beach or plunging into the pool. We especially love the Citrus Orange version, with its vibrant summer color, radiant Sunburst dial, and sturdy-but-lightweight matching rubber strap. It has a great relaxed vibe, but if you want to get active it’s also water resistant to 300m!

Boldr Odyssey Freediver Citrus Orange

Marloe - Tay 35mm - Itten (€485)

Summer doesn’t only revolve around the pool and the beach, however. If you want something a little dressier, but which still captures the laid back feel of the season perfectly, we’d recommend the Itten from Marloe’s Tay series. Its slender profile, elegant design, and lively primary colors make it a great all-rounder, but look closer and the details take it to another level. The matte white dial is circled by a bright yellow chapter ring, vivid as the morning sun, with red and blue accents on the indices and handset. There’s also a clear-printed map-line motif radiating out from the center which subtly evokes the idea of summer travel. And be sure to pair it with an embossed grain leather strap in matching yellow for the complete summer package!

Marloe Tay 35mm - Itten

Studio Underd0g - Bicompax ST-1901 - Watermelon (€540)

Studio Underd0g’s Bicompax might not seem like an obvious choice for this list. There’s no doubting its obvious qualities or the originality of its design, which blends vintage aesthetics with playful and idiosyncratic modern touches. But is it really a summer watch? Well, take a look at the glorious Watermelon version and tell us otherwise! The elegantly simple Stainless-steel case, textured dial, and Tachymeter bezel are complemented by a bright pink and green color scheme which instantly evokes the ultimate summer thirst quencher. Look even closer and you’ll notice that the indices are shaped like tiny watermelon seeds. It’s almost good enough to eat!

Studio Underd0g Bicompax ST-1901 - Watermelon

The coziest Fall watches

As summer draws to a close and fall sets in, the tone of the landscape begins to change. The need for bright colors gives way to warmer hues such as leafy greens, earthy browns, and rusty oranges or reds. Bronze seems to suit the season perfectly with its rich yellowish-brown tones and unique patina, while a leather strap, especially with a bit of wear, is the ideal complement to any fall watch. But it's also a great time for outdoors pursuits before winter sets in, so think about adding a Field watch to your collection - the ideal country companion!

Selten - Salvage Bronze - Terrarium ($659)

Selten’s Salvage Bronze collection includes some great fall options, but our favorite is the Terrarium, which literally translates as “a receptacle for earth”, or in other words a kind of self-contained mini-garden. It's a lovely idea, and one that this model manages to capture perfectly with the earthy bronze tones of the case and bezel surrounding a hand-patinated dial which blends unique patterns of mossy greens with flecks of orange and yellow. It instantly conjures images of a long, relaxed hike in the damp woods, even if you’re stuck in the office waiting for the day to end! 

Selten Salvage Bronze Terrarium

Signum - Siege (Green Copper/Turquoise) ($639)

A Field watch is an essential companion for any outdoors adventure, whether you’re an old hand or a total amateur. Tough, simple, resistant to the elements, and easily legible in any weather conditions, it's a great choice for the fall. The Siege takes the classic Field format and gives it a modern twist which perfectly complements the season, with a green copper turquoise dial which recalls fresh leaves scattered on the ground. Match it with an olive green canvas strap to complete the package.

Signum Siege - Green Copper/Turquoise

Aerotec - Ace (Vintage Brown Dial) ($399)

But let’s be honest, not all of us want to spend the fall in the great outdoors. We might prefer to spend the season safely at home, tucked up with a good book, a warm drink, and a roaring fire. If that’s the vibe you’re going for, we’d recommend Aerotec’s Ace with its reassuring blend of warm bronze tones, vintage design, and worn leather. It’s technically a Pilot/Dive watch, but don’t let that stop you - this is great choice for the stay-at-home adventurer, and it look great too, with a gorgeous Sandwich dial, stylish Cathedral hands, and a minimalist bronze case which will develop a unique patina over time.

Aerotec Ace - Vintage Brown Dial

The coolest Winter watches

Winter is all ice and snow and cold dark nights. But it’s also party season, so we’ve come up with a few choices which offer the best of both worlds. Bright, snowy whites with silvery accents and even a few icy diamonds - ideal for whatever special occasions you’ll be attending over the holidays - along with something a little more rugged to stand up to the elements during the winter months.

Borealis - Bull Shark V2 White Dial Snowflake Hands ($325)

It’s unlikely that many of us will want to get anywhere near the water during winter, but there’s no harm in having a rugged Diver on your wrist during the coldest season of the year - something guaranteed to withstand the elements! The Bull Shark is about as classic as they come, directly inspired by the Rolex 6538 Submariner from the ‘50s, but this edition adds a great seasonal twist with its white textured dial, matching ceramic bezel, and Snowflake hands. If there’s such a thing as a Winter Diver, this is surely it!

Borealis Bull Shark V2 White Dial Snowflake Hands

Feynman Timekeepers - Feynman One “Snowflake” (€1,098)

The perfect choice for a glitzy Christmas or New Year’s Party, the Feynman One is a super-stylish Dress watch that’s sure to impress. The Snowflake edition brings a touch of seasonal glamor with its white dual-textured, multi-level Guilloché dial with heat-blued Skeleton hands and matching handmade Lizard strap with blue stitching. This gorgeous package is rounded off by a highly polished Stainless-steel case and a seconds subdial at 7 o'clock featuring Feyman’s signature wavy indicator.

Feynman Timekeepers - Feynman One Snowflake

Norqain - Freedom 60 34mm (€2,190)

Winter is a party season after all, so let’s finish the year with another sublime Dress watch. Norqain’s Freedom 60 certainly fits the bill with its elegant vintage-inspired aesthetics, shimmering, silvery Mother of Pearl dial and diamond indices which look like tiny chunks of ice floating under the sapphire crystal. Match it with a classic Milanese mesh bracelet for the ultimate blend of sophistication and refinement. The polished case even has a small plaque on its side which can be engraved with a personal message, so it would make the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one!

Norqain Freedom 60 34mm Mother of Pearl

Conclusion 

These are just a few suggestions from the huge number of watches to be found on Extropian’s database. Why not take a closer look and come up with your own perfect seasonal timepiece?