It is the warmth of sunlit shores, the vibrant pulse of cities in full bloom, and the quiet moments that linger long after the day has faded. For me, certain watches become inseparably tied to these destinations, capturing their colors, moods, and spirit. Each piece I have chosen is not just a timekeeper but a travel companion, embodying the essence of the places I long to visit or return to.
Rather than selecting watches that simply “work year-round,” I’ve embraced the more indulgent approach of curating replica watches with a distinctly summer soul. That means bold dials, playful straps, and a readiness to step away from the strictly sensible. When paired with the right setting, a watch can become a tangible memory of the journey itself.
Istria, Croatia – Tudor Pelagos Ultra
Few places charm me as much as the Istrian coast, where the deep blue Adriatic meets rugged limestone cliffs and medieval towns spill down toward sparkling harbors. Pula, with its ancient Roman amphitheater, and the storybook beauty of Rovinj are places I return to year after year. The water here is so impossibly clear that it seems to refract time itself.
In such a setting, I want a watch that thrives in salt, sun, and spontaneity. The Tudor Pelagos Ultra fits that brief perfectly – rugged enough for cliff diving in Verudela and refined enough for an evening seafood feast by the marina.
This latest addition to Tudor’s professional diving lineup feels sleeker than its predecessors, despite its 43mm diameter. The titanium case keeps it feather-light, and the bracelet’s spring-loaded clasp offers subtle adjustments for hot summer days. What truly wins me over, however, is the dial – a crisp reinterpretation of the Pelagos design with oversized luminous markers and a delicate wash of light blue, echoing the waters off the Croatian coast. It’s not ostentatious, but just enough to pull the sea into every glance at the wrist.
North Carolina Coast, USA – Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer Glacier
Summer in North Carolina is a softer, slower kind of beauty. From the windswept dunes of the Outer Banks to the pastel sunsets over Wilmington’s beaches, the state has a coastal charm that invites lingering. My visits there have been filled with fresh seafood, craft beer, and the kind of local warmth that makes leaving difficult.
For this journey, I would wear the Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer Glacier – a watch that, despite its icy name, radiates summer elegance. The dial’s powder-blue tone mirrors the Carolina sky on a clear July afternoon, framed by an off-white ring of city codes. A clever 24-hour display at three o’clock injects a splash of red, like the final kiss of sunset before night falls.
Inside, the in-house DUW 3202 caliber makes time-zone jumps seamless – a welcome feature for any traveler. On its steel bracelet, the watch is sturdy and precise, but paired with a fabric strap, it takes on a breezier, more relaxed personality. It’s a reminder that true summer style is as much about versatility as it is about beauty.
Amalfi Coast, Italy – Laventure Marine Type 3
The Amalfi Coast is an Italian daydream made real: winding cliffside roads, lemon groves spilling fragrance into the air, and villas cascading toward the Tyrrhenian Sea. I have yet to make the trip, but it has lived vividly in my mind for decades – ever since my early days working at a travel magazine.
For this imagined road trip in a vintage Alfa Romeo 1300 GT Junior, I would choose the Laventure Marine Type 3. At first glance, its wide bezel and densely marked dial seemed almost too bold, but like the Amalfi itself, it rewards a closer look. The titanium case, impossibly thin at 8.9mm, disappears on the wrist, while the domed Plexiglass adds a romantic distortion to the lume-filled dial.
Paired with a mint-green rubber strap, the watch feels as fresh as a sea breeze off Positano. The sandblasted black hands play beautifully against the luminous surface, ensuring perfect legibility whether you’re navigating sunlit coastal curves or strolling under the stars on Capri. It is a watch of character – one that feels at home in both the playful and the poetic moments of travel.
New York City, USA – Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 126518LN
New York in late summer hums with an energy all its own. It’s the season of rooftop evenings, seaside escapes to Long Island, and, for tennis fans like myself, the electric atmosphere of the US Open.
To accompany me through this city at its peak, I’d wear the replica Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 126518LN with a turquoise dial. In press images, I admired it; in person, I was captivated. The 18K yellow gold case might sound ostentatious, but the black Cerachrom bezel and Oysterflex bracelet lend a grounded sophistication. The black sub-dials and refined hour markers bring balance, transforming what could have been flashy into something tastefully audacious.
It’s the kind of watch that turns heads without demanding attention – much like the city itself. I’d wear it courtside at Arthur Ashe Stadium, following in the footsteps of Carlos Alcaraz, who sported it during Grand Slam appearances. Between matches, it would transition effortlessly to an evening at a Manhattan jazz club or a sunlit ferry ride to Fire Island. In a city of icons, it holds its own.