Extending Summer With Six Light-Blue Beauties

I don’t know about you, but I am not built for +40°C heatwaves. With an endless string of blazing hot days over summer, I struggled to keep myself cool, calm and collected. So as things are finally a bit back to normal for the time of year, I am very much looking forward to extending the summer a bit into September and onwards, with days filled with a bit less heat, good people, good food and drinks, and of course: watches! And what better way than with light blue dials for a bit of wrist-worn chill? With that in mind, here are six of this year’s finest, so far.

IWC Ingenieur Automatic 35 Pool

Just last year, IWC treated us to a smaller 35mm-wide Ingenieur Automatic in three references, followed by two more earlier this year. And just before summer, there was this one, the Ingenieur Automatic 35 Pool. And to be honest, it might just be the best of the bunch! The grid-like pattern on the dial looks lovely in this fresh blue tone, with applied markers and hands with luminous inserts, and an applied lightningbolt Ingenieur logo. It uses the brand’s 47110 automatic calibre (based on Cartier’s 1847 MC), with 42 hours of running time. The integrated steel bracelet completes the iconic Ingenieur look, and it retails for EUR 11,300.

For more information, please visit IWC.com.

Quick facts – 35mm x 9.4mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – steel bezel with functional screws – sapphire crystal front & back – 100m water-resistance – “Pool” blue dial with grid-like pattern – applied markers & hands with SLN – applied lightningbolt Ingenieur logo – framed date window at 3′ – Calibre 47110, automatic – 28,800vph – 42h power reserve – integrated steel bracelet, brushed & polished – folding clasp – IW324902 – EUR 11,300

Longines HydroConquest 300M Diver

We could have opted for the Heritage Central Power Reserve, or the Master Chronograph Monopusher, but Longines’ best summer-ready watch with an ice blue dial has to be the HydroConquest 300M Diver. Available in 42mm or 39mm sizes, it’s the perfect companion for hot weather. The ice blue dial, matched with a dark blue ceramic bezel insert, just looks the part, and given the watch’s 300 meter water-resistance, it’s a case of put it on and forget about it. It comes on either a stainless steel three-link or a Milanaise mesh bracelet, both fitted with a micro-adjustable folding clasp, and retails for CHF 1,850 or CHF 1,950 respectively.

For more information, please visit Longines.com.

Quick facts – 39mm or 42mm x 11.70mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – unidirectional rotating bezel with ceramic insert – sapphire crystal – solid caseback – 300M water-resistance – ice-blue dial with sunray brushing – applied markers & hands with SLN – bevelled & outlined date window – Calibre L888.5, Longines exclusive – automatic – 25,200vph – 72h power reserve – H-shaped or Milanaise bracelet with adjustable clasp – EUR 1,850 (H-link) or EUR 1,950 (Milanaise)

Bulgari Aluminium Ice Blue

Keeping things light, and not only by colour, certainly goes for the Bulgari Aluminium Ice Blue launched just before summer. The lightweight material is perfect for hot weather, especially when paired with the hallmark segmented rubber strap and rubber-clad bezel, this time in bright white. While this year’s edition also comes with a frosted white dial, the sunray brushed ice blue version is our preferred choice. The execution is refreshingly original, with blue varnished hands and hour markers, and a hint of red on the seconds hand. Powered by the Sellita SW300-based Calibre B77, it is limited to 500 pieces and retails for EUR 3,700.

For more information, please visit Bulgari.com.

Quick facts – 40mm x 9.4mm – aluminium & titanium case – white rubber bezel – sapphire crystal – solid caseback – 100m water-resistant – ice blue dial, sunray brushing – blue varnished markers & hands – red tipped seconds hand – date window – Calibre B77 (Sellita SW300) – 28,800vph – 42h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, date – limited edition of 500 pieces – segmented white rubber strap with aluminium pin buckle – EUR 3,700

Czapek Antarctique Frozen Meteor

When launched in 2020, the Antarctique put Czapek very much in the spotlight of the integrated sports watch podium, and six years later it’s still going strong. The latest is the Antarctique Frozen Meteor, with a translucent light blue lacquered slice of Gibeon meteorite for its dial. Available in 38.5mm or 40.5mm sizes, the Frozen Meteor relies on the familiar elements to make it shine, and only adds to it through its dial. Powered by the brand’s own SXH5 micro-rotor automatic, you have something to enjoy should you get bored of the dial (which we deem unlikely). Limited to 25 or 38 pieces depending on the size, both retail for EUR 27,500.

For more information, please visit Czapek.com.

Quick facts – 405.mm or 38.5mm x 10.6mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – sapphire crystal front & back – 120m water-resistant – Gibeon meteorite dial with light blue lacquer – applied markers & hands with SLN – red-tipped seconds hand – Calibre SXH5, micro-rotor automatic – in-house – 193 components – 28,800vph – 60h power reserve – integrated bracelet with brushed & polished links – limited to 25 pieces (38.5mm) or 38 pieces (40.5mm) – EUR 27,500

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph Ultra-Cermet Mineral Blue

Next on the list is Parmigiani Fleurier’s formidable Tonda PF Sport Chronograph in Ultra-Cermet with Mineral Blue subdials and matching integrated rubber strap. Here, we’re not dealing with a light blue base dial, but rather with light blue accents in the chronograph counters and small seconds indication to freshen things up. The material used for the case and bezel is also ultra-resilient to scratches, dings, heat and corrosion, so it’s a perfect summer watch all around. The Calibre PF070 in-house integrated chronograph movement is an absolute joy to behold. As part of the permanent collection, it retails for CHF 40,400 before taxes.

For more information, please visit Parmigiani.com.

Quick facts – 42.5mm x 13.3mm – ultra-cermet case, bezel, crown & pushers – polished & brushed – sapphire crystal front & back – 100m water-resistant – vertically brushed blackor dial with Mineral Blue subdials – applied markers & hands with SLN – Calibre PF070, in-house automatic chronograph – column wheel & vertical clutch – 36,000vph – 65h power reserve – textured Mineral Blue rubber strap – ultra-cermet pin buckle – permanent collection – CHF 40,400 (excl. VAT)

Chopard Alpine Eagle Rhone Blue

Inspired by the blue shades of the source of the Rhone River, Chopard’s new Alpine Eagle Rhone Blue looks all kinds of invigorating. It comes in a diameter of either 36mm or 41mm, with a height of 9.75mm for both, so it sits nice and flush regardless of which one you opt for. The iris-like dial is finished in a lovely bright blue, with a mix of baton markers and Roman numerals. The movement is covered by a sapphire crystal caseback, with the image of an eagle and the Alpine mountains to remind you what you have on the wrist. Worn on an integrated Lucent steel bracelet, it’s priced at CHF 12,400 in 36mm, or CHF 15,400 in 41mm.

The 36mm model comes without a date indication.

For more information, please visit Chopard.com.

Quick facts – 36mm or 41mm x 9.75mm – Lucent Steel case, brushed & polished – bezel with functional screws – sapphire crystal front & back – 100m water-resistant – Rhone Blue dial with stamped sunburst pattern – applied baton markers & Roman numerals with SLN – date (41mm) or no date (36mm) – 36mm: Calibre C09.01-C, 25,200vph, 42h power reserve – 41mm: Calibre 01.01-C, 28,800vph, 60h power reserve – integrated Lucent Steel bracelet – CHF 12,400 (36mm) or CHF 15,400 (41mm)