Words: Josh Lee
Creative Direction: Freya Anderson
Photography: Benjamin Swanson
Set Design: Anne-Sophie Keen
Fans of all things horology very well know that it’s the season to take stock of the watch drawer and change up the look of your timepiece – namely the part that affixes case to wrist – in order to adjust to the current conditions. Of course, when it comes to a leather strap, the elegant patina developed over years of wear is a beautiful thing – a mark of an arm well embellished – but such a thick-skinned material facilitates perspiration rather than breathability.
For all the technical prowess of a diving watch, issues with its rubber bracelet sticking to the skin will also crop up during the swelter of a fine August afternoon.
Then, there’s metal, and, though its allure can be found in its robust build – the butchness of silver, the pure elegance of rose gold – such a chunky, bulky makeup is often a lightning rod for heat.
Accordingly, for the months when you get a little hot under the collar, we always advocate reaching for a fabric strap, an accessory whose myriad benefits include a lightweight construction that allows for airflow and an easy-on-the-Amex price point. But, perhaps the biggest appeal is that such an option can arrive in hues that are either playful and vibrant or toned-down and classic (here, we’ve opted for a more conventional run of blue and khaki variants) – after all, when the climes become close to unbearable, and you’re wearing little more than a Supima cotton T-shirt and some tailored shorts, a considered accessory with a bit of texture and verve is perhaps the only way to round out your getup.
To get the ideas for your wishlist ticking, here are some of the coolest options that’ll help you time-keep in the heat.
Tudor Pelagos FXD
Case in point:, Titanium, steel caseback, satin-brushed finish, 42mm diameter, 12.75mm thickness
It’s what’s inside that counts:, Self-winding Manufacture Calibre MT5602 mechanical movement with bidirectional rotor system, Power of 70 hours
For the pool:, Waterproof to 200m
Strap in:, Navy (with grey central thread) with self-gripping fastening system
The damage:, £3,420
Breitling Superocean Heritage Chronograph 44 Outerknown
Case in point:, DLC-coated stainless steel, caseback screwed in, 44mm diameter, 15.6mm thickness
It’s what’s inside that counts:, Self-winding mechanical, with 28,800 v.p.h., Power of 48 hours
For the pool:, Water-resistant to 200m
Strap in:, Blue with DLC-coated, tang-type, stainless-steel buckle
The damage:, £5,950
Longines Pilot Majetek
Case in point:, Stainless steel, 43mm diameter, 13.3mm thickness
It’s what’s inside that counts:, Self-winding mechanical, with 25,200 v.p.h., Power of 72 hours
For the pool:, Water-resistant to 100m
Strap in:, Green synthetic strap
The damage:, £3,400
Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Neomatik Atlantic
Case in point:, Stainless steel, with bipartite sapphire crystal glass back, 36.3mm diameter, 9.6mm thickness
It’s what’s inside that counts:, Automatic calibre DUW 3001, Power of 43 hours
For the pool:, Waterproof to 200m
Strap in:, Blue-black woven-textile strap, with winged clasp
The damage:, £3,440
Panerai Luminor Marina ESteelTM Blu Profondo
Case in point:, Brushed steel, 44mm diameter
It’s what’s inside that counts:, Automatic mechanical P.9010 calibre, 28,800 v.p.h., Incabloc® anti-shock device, Power of 72 hours
For the pool:, Water-resistant to 300m
Strap in:, Blue PET strap
The damage:, £8,100
Chopard L.U.C XP
Case in point:, Stainless steel, 40mm diameter
It’s what’s inside that counts:, Self-winding mechanical L.U.C 96.53-L movement, Power of 58 hours
For the pool:, Water-resistant to 30m
Strap in:, Blue-fabric strap, with stainless-steel pin buckle
The damage:, £8,560
This feature was taken from Gentleman’s Journal’s Summer 2023 issue. Read more about it here…
Want more watch content? Read why the Longines L2.828.4.73.0 Men’s Heritage Classic Automatic feels like a timepiece that’s triple its cost…
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