Gold glitters in the summer sun

When the heat hits, we tend to wear stainless steel sports copy watches over bracelets or breathable NATOs, but there’s no denying that gold watches have an undeniable appeal in summer. It may seem counterintuitive at first glance – gold is for dress watches, right? But that paradigm has been upended many times, with sports watches made of gold and slender steel numerals that offer extra discretion. Today, we’re taking a look at four gold watches you’ll want to wear this summer, excluding rolled linen shirt sleeves.

Zenith El Primero G381 Revival Limited Edition
The Zenith El Primero G381 Replica pays homage to the precious metal version of the first wave of high-beat automatic chronographs from the renowned manufacturer. Made to the original size, this faithfully reproduced limited edition features different sundial sizes, a tachymeter display and a 4:30 date window that are Zenith El Primero’s calling cards. In the realm of automatic chronograph movements, there are only a handful of classics that really matter, and at the top of the pyramid is El Primero.

Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18238
The Golden Sunday date on a presidential bracelet is one of the ultimate modern watch classics, and it’s easy to see why. Of course, this is known as the watch worn by the President of the United States, and it’s also one of the most effortless and fluid timepieces one can buy. At 36mm, it’s compact and discreet in its own way, but that factor itself is mitigated by the fact that it’s made from solid 18K gold. Wear it all year round, especially in summer with a tee. Day-Date always looks correct.

Cartier Tank Américaine
Cartier makes timepieces for all seasons, while Tank Américaine evokes a sense of ease, which is most popular during the hot summer months. It’s definitely your go-to watch for formal occasions, but there’s no limit to where it can go, including of course poolside this summer.

Rolex Daytona Ref. 16528
This is actually our second gold watch with an El Primero movement. In 1988, when Crown’s flagship chronograph transitioned from a manual-winding Valjoux to an automatic movement, it looked like Zenith and its legendary El Primero. Sure, steel watches on racing straps might come to mind when people think of automotive chronographs, but the golden Daytona has a made-for-summer feel to it.