Seven Sub-2K Watches Perfect for Summer

Temperatures are rising, the sun is out earlier and brighter every day, birds are chirping their merry songs again, and people are getting into a more relaxed state of mind. Yes, summer is fast approaching! It’s only May, and we have a bit of time to kill before we can enjoy a much-deserved summer holiday, so plenty of time for some watch shopping. Today we’re looking at some of the best watches for this coming summer. And for the occasion, we’ve capped the budget at EUR 2,000, a level that is attainable to most. Here are seven sub-2k watches perfect for the summer!

Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver 200M NB6021

We start things off with the refreshingly humble and honest Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver 200M NB6021. Quite the name for such a simple yet excellent little diver, right? Starting at EUR 650, it is the most affordable of the bunch, but it comes with pretty impressive specs. It has a 41mm wide Super Titanium case with Duratect hardening, a glossy bezel insert, a decent mechanical movement and an overall cool retro-vibe. It comes with a black or blue dial and a rubber strap or titanium bracelet. Our choice? The colour is up to you, but go for the bracelet and add the rubber strap as an optional extra. You can’t really go wrong with this one!

For more information, please visit CitizenWatch.eu.

Quick Facts – 41mm x 12.3mm – Super titanium case with Duratect hardening – unidirectional rotating bezel with glossy black insert – bevelled flat-top sapphire crystal – screw-down crown – solid caseback – 200m water-resistant – glossy black or blue dial – embossed indices with luminous filling – white minute track – Mercedes-style hour hand, sword-shaped minute hand, lollipop seconds hand – date window at 3 o’clock – calibre 9051, in-house – automatic winding – anti-magnetic up to 16,000a/m (approx. 200 Gauss) – 24 jewels – 28,800vph – 42h power reserve – black rubber strap with waffle-like embossing – Super-titanium three-link bracelet with folding clasp – EUR 650 (rubber strap) or EUR 750 (titanium bracelet)

Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional

Moving up the ranks is another formidable dive watch, a category that we’ll touch on a couple more times for obvious reasons. The Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional is a large diver with a 46mm steel or black PVD-coated case. The dials and bezel inserts come in a few different styles. Backing up its impressive specifications is the Powermatic 80 movement. With its anti-magnetic hairspring housed in a 600m water-resistant case, the Seastar 2000 Professional is ready for summer action. And priced between EUR 1,025 and EUR 1,095, it provides excellent value for money. Our choice? The cool black and blue!

For more information, please visit TissotWatches.com.

Quick Facts – 46mm x 16.25mm – stainless steel case, optional with black PVD coating – unidirectional rotating bezel with ceramic insert – domed sapphire crystal – sapphire crystal caseback – helium-escape valve – screw-down crown – ISO 6425 compliant – 600m water-resistant – gradient black or blue dial with wave-like pattern – applied indices and hands with Super-LumiNova – Powermatic 80 Calibre – automatic winding – 23 jewels – 21,600vph – 80h power reserve – non-magnetic Nivachron balance-spring – black rubber strap or bi-material black rubber and blue textile strap – EUR 995 (steel) or EUR 1,095 (black PVD-coated steel)

Certina DS Action Diver Titanium

Next up is another diver, which is surely not much of a surprise. We’ve recently spent some time with the quite impressive Certina DS Action Diver Titanium. This retro-modern dive watch comes in full titanium, with a glossy black dial and beige indices and hands. With its full titanium case, it feels extremely comfortable on the wrist. Certina gives you a choice between a full titanium bracelet, but we feel the black and beige NATO strap (made from #tide ocean materials) is the better look. Inside ticks Swatch Group’s Powermatic 80 movement with a healthy 80 hours of power reserve. And the price? A very reasonable EUR 1,020 (NATO strap) or EUR 1,115 (titanium bracelet).

For more information, please visit Certina.com.

Quick Facts – 43mm x 13.10mm – full titanium case – sapphire crystal – screw-down crown – 300m water-resistant – glossy black dial – applied beige-coloured indices and hands with Super-LumiNova – applied double-C logo – calibre Powermatic 80.611 – automatic winding – 21,600vph – 80h power reserve – anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring – black and beige NATO strap made from #tide ocean material – full titanium bracelet with folding buckle – EUR 1,020 (NATO strap) or EUR 1,115 (titanium bracelet)

Nomos Club Campus Deep Pink

Bear with us; we know that bright pink watches aren’t for everyone. But we can imagine this one on your wrist while strutting down the beachfront boulevard, or wandering through a picturesque Mediterranean village. The Nomos Club Campus Deep Pink is a bright and cheerful watch and one that has “summer” written all over it. With 36mm or 38.5mm polished steel cases, it fits the trend for smaller watches. The movement is Nomos’ Alpha calibre hidden from view by the closed caseback. Worn on a light grey velour strap, it just looks so cool, but do keep it away from the pool and ocean. Retail price is EUR 1,100 (36mm) or EUR 1,200 (38.5mm). And for those not feeling the pink, there’s a purple alternative too.

For more information, please visit Nomos-Glashuette.com.

Quick Facts – 36mm or 38.5mm x 8.2mm or 8.5mm – stainless steel case, polished – domed sapphire crystal – closed caseback – 100m water-resistant – Deep Pink California dial – Arabic numerals & Roman Numerals – Super-LumiNova elements – sword-style hour and minute hands – recessed small seconds sub-dial with neon orange hand – Nomos Alpha calibre, in-house – manual winding – 17 jewels – 21,600vph – 43h power reserve – blued screws, Côtes de Genève, perlage – light grey velour strap with steel pin buckle – EUR 1,100 (36mm) or EUR 1,200 (38.5mm)

Seiko Prospex Black Series SPB253J1

When it comes to summer watches, it’s natural to look at divers. And when it comes to divers, it’s impossible to ignore the Seiko Prospex series. With countless editions to choose from, our pick would be the recently launched Seiko Prospex Black Series SPB253J1. This “62Mas”-inspired diver comes with a black-coated steel case with vibrant orange and subtle grey details. It’s robust, it’s legible, and when worn on a brown textile strap, it looks hyper-cool. Powered by the calibre 6R35, it will not let you down. Limited to 5,500 pieces and retailing for EUR 1,250, it’s our choice of the series of three (the others being the SPB255J1 and SPB257J1).

For more information, please visit SeikoWatches.com.

Quick Facts – 40.5mm x 13.2mm – stainless steel case with black coating, brushed and polished – unidirectional rotating bezel with two-tone grey and orange 60min scale – screw-down crown at 3 o’clock – sapphire crystal – 200m water-resistance – black dial with beige LumiBrite markers – black hands with beige and orange LumiBrite inserts – Seiko calibre 6R35 automatic – 24 jewels – 21,600vph – 70h power reserve – brown textile strap with rubber strap alternative – limited to 5,500 pieces – EUR 1,250

Doxa SUB 600T Whitepearl

Doxa has embraced the colour white for the summer of 2022 with a series of Whitepearl watches across its collections. With five new releases all with stark white dials, we take a closer look at the Sub 600T Whitepearl. The Sub 600T was reintroduced last year in a titanium limited edition first, and a complete collection of 24 references in steel later. This rugged dive watch comes with a chunky steel case, white dial, steel or white ceramic bezel and rubber strap or steel bracelet. So, even within the SUB 600T Whitepearl sub-collection, you can choose from four different combinations, priced between EUR 1,350 and EUR 1,490. To us, the go-to look would be an all-white model with a white dial (obviously), a white ceramic bezel, and a white rubber strap.

For more information, please visit DoxaWatches.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm x 47.60mm x 14.15mm – stainless steel case – steel bezel with optional ceramic insert – sapphire crystal – 600m water-resistant – white dial with black hands – black hour hand and oversized black minute hand – central seconds hand – Super-LumiNova elements – Sellita SW 200-1, automatic – 28,800vph – 38h power reserve – white rubber strap or three-link stainless steel bracelet – CHF 1,350 (steel bezel, rubber strap) – CHF 1,390 (steel bezel, steel bracelet) – CHF 1,450 (ceramic bezel, rubber strap) – CHF 1,490 (ceramic bezel, steel bracelet)

Oris Big Crown x Cervo Volante

Last but not least, we’ve selected the fetching 38mm Oris Big Crown x Cervo Volante. It’s right at the top end of the budget cap we set, but don’t let that deter you. The Oris Big Crown is an absolute classic yet still feels fresh and comes in a range of colours and materials. One of the best is the Cervo Volante, with a bright blue gradient dial. The cathedral hands are paired with a blue-tipped pointer date hand. The strap is made by Cervo Volante and is made from sustainably sourced deer leather. Round the back, the signature red-lacquered rotor drives the Oris Calibre 754 (Sellita SW 200 base). At EUR 2,000 it’s the most expensive one here, but it’s worth every penny.

For more information, please visit Oris.ch.

Quick Facts – 38mm x 12.5mm – stainless steel case – sapphire crystal front and back – screw-down XL crown – 50m water-resistant – gradient dial in blue, grey or green – pointer date on periphery – cathedral-style hands – indices with Super-LumiNova – Oris calibre 754, Sellita SW-200 base – automatic winding with signature red rotor – 28,800vph – 38h power reserve – Cervo Volante deer leather strap with quick release pushpins – EUR 2,000