As temperatures increase, watchmakers are embracing the carefree mood of summer with a clutch of new releases. Some of the leading trends this season? Cool-toned pastels, with shades of mint blue and blush pink take the lead amongst the freshest designs, a new wave of dive watches ready for the plunge, and sunny novelties like photochromic dials.
Colour is one of the simplest and most effective ways to create a mood, and Hublot and Audemars Piguet are the front runners this summer when it comes to playful pastel shades. Hublot’s signature Big Bang takes on the season with colourful new ceramic models in a peachy shade, and a multicolour novelty that evokes the swirls of Paddle Pop ice cream.
The Swiss haute horlogerie brand Audemars Piguet, on the other hand, has refreshed its Royal Oak Offshore collection which first debuted in the 1980s. Ripe for summer, the watchmaker has dreamt up the Offshore in seafoam, sunset pink and ocean blue colourways that draw on the spectacles of a day out at sea. At Norqain, the watch brand has taken inspiration from the colourful ice cream and cupcake sprinkles of our childhood, a series of watches with pink or blue berry-hued dials dotted with glow-in-the-dark Super-LumiNova ‘sprinkles’—a treat reminiscent of childhood days.
The category of dive watches is receiving some renewed attention too. Originally conceived for the sport of diving, these water-resistant watches make for swim-ready companions in time for the summer sun and days in the pool. Longines, for instance, refreshed its Hydroconquest collection earlier this year, with a selection of new elegantly-sized 39mm models. A standout model: the frosted blue sunray dial with a steel mesh bracelet. With its 30 bars, or 300m, of water resistance, the watch wears just as easily out at sea and back on shore.
And then there are those watches that incorporate fascinating techniques. Rado, for example, has crafted a True Round Open Heart with a photochromic dial that comes into effect when it’s been drenched in sunlight. The watch absorbs light, and transforms in colour—like a chameleon on a plant—from a pale rose shade to vibrant magenta.
On the more artistic end of the spectrum: a pair of new Bvlgari Bvlgari designs take inspiration from the house’s Roman roots, with artistic mosaic dials that evoke the joys of gallivanting in Italy. Offered in blush pink and lagoon green, the iridescent dials are each crafted from roughly 400 mother-of-pearl fragments.
From pastel tones to interesting stylistic features, here is Vogue’s edit of summer watches to reflect carefree exuberance.
1 / 10
Hublot Big Bang One Click Mint Green Ceramic 33mm, $21,000
Available from The Hour Glass.
2 / 10
Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer 2026 42mm in ceramic, $46,300, limited to 200
Available from The Hour Glass.
3 / 10
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 37mm in titanium with diamonds, $61,200
Available from Audemars Piguet.
4 / 10
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 37mm in titanium, $54,800
Available from Audemars Piguet.
5 / 10
Norqain Freedom Chrono Enjoy Life "Sprinkles" in stainless steel, $7,800, limited to 20 in Asia Pacific
Available from Norqain.
6 / 10
Longines Hydroconquest 39mm in stainless steel, $3,000
Available from Longines.
7 / 10
Rado True Round Open Heart in ceramic, $3,900, limited to 888
Available from Rado.
8 / 10
Bvlgari Bvlgari in steel and yellow gold with diamonds, $10,550
Available from Bvlgari.
9 / 10
Bvlgari Bvlgari in steel and rose gold with diamonds and mother-of-pearl, $10,550
Available from Bvlgari.
10 / 10
Big Bang One Click Peach Ceramic 33mm, $21,000
Available from The Hour Glass.
