Watches with excellent wearing comfort for the warmer season

It feels like summer is just beginning but daytime temperatures are already hovering around 30 degrees. While it is a timeless stereotype in the watch industry the time has come to take off leather strap watches and wear watches with bracelets. Sweat that runs down in hot and humid weather is not only sticky and unpleasant but also seeps into leather straps causing discoloration and unpleasant odors. Although you may want to rinse your watch with water like taking a shower it is difficult due to the nature of leather materials. For this reason watches that are comfortable to wear are the best choice for summer.

Slim Bracelet

At Watches and Wonders 2026 several new models with slim cases and bracelets stood out. Slim bracelet watches are an excellent option for easy wearing. A thin case fits closely to the wrist and is lightweight. Since it is a bracelet sweat accumulates less and it is easier to maintain.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronometre Date

The Master Control Chronometre which introduces the new in-house standard HPG (High Precision Guarantee) is a watch with an integrated bracelet style. The bracelet adopts a three-link structure with the center link in the middle and symmetrical links on both sides. The links on both sides are beveled at the edges and finished with polishing so the surfaces where the upper and lower links meet form a V-shape. This detail is intended to resemble the index design of the Master Control giving a familiar impression. With the date function the case thickness is only 8.4mm and the slim bracelet is optimal for easy wearing. Although it is more dressy than a typical sports watch it is water resistant to 50m so you can easily maintain it by gently rinsing the bracelet with water.

Master Control Chronometre Date
<br>ⓒ Jager-LeCoultre

Master Control Chronometre Date
ⓒ Jager-LeCoultre

https://teddybaldassarre.com

Santos-Dumont

This time the Santos-Dumont has introduced a bracelet version. Of course compared to the bracelets of sports watches it is somewhat different. The bracelet is a 15-row mesh structure made up of 394 very small links. Each link is a very small piece about 1.15mm thick so it is much thinner and more flexible than a typical sports watch bracelet. As a result it fits snugly on the wrist. The bracelet feels like silk or fabric and connects smoothly with the slim case of the Santos-Dumont. If you are looking for the best wearing comfort this new Santos-Dumont is the answer but since it is made of gold rather than steel or titanium you need to consider the weight.

https://www.hodinkee.com

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Self-Winding Ultra-Thin

The new ultra-thin Overseas with a thickness of 7.35mm has been introduced. This is thanks to the new in-house self-winding caliber 2550 which replaces the caliber 1120 that was responsible for ultra-thin self-winding at Vacheron Constantin. The new movement uses a micro-rotor to reduce the thickness to 2.4mm and with a double barrel it offers a power reserve of 80 hours. Although it may be a bit late as other competitors already have ultra-thin calibers it will serve as a base movement for thin watches and complications. As the thinnest Overseas ever the advantage of wearing comfort due to the slim thickness is clear. The range of motion of the bracelet inspired by the Maltese cross is not very wide and since the new model has a platinum case it is heavy. However a steel version is expected to be added soon and since leather straps or rubber bands are included there are alternatives to improve comfort.

https://www.hodinkee.com

Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5810/1G

Among the editions released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Nautilus the Ref. 5810/1G in white gold stands out for its wearing comfort thanks to its 6.9mm thickness and extremely flexible bracelet. Compared to the bracelet of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak the range of motion of the links is so wide that it is almost like a mollusk. In other words the bracelet is so flexible that some may have mixed feelings but the fit on the wrist is excellent. The Ref. 5810/1G is more than 1mm thinner than the current Ref. 5811/1G at 8.2mm and is closer to the original two-hand Nautilus. From the perspective of easy wearing the weight of white gold and the 30m water resistance are somewhat weak points. It is also difficult to clean comfortably under running water.

Rubber Band

Slim bracelets are sturdy and comfortable to wear and if the material is steel or titanium they are also easy to maintain. However bracelets require cleaning and thorough drying and if you are in the habit of keeping your watch clean you may worry about scratches on the bracelet surface. Rubber bands are comfortable to wear due to their elasticity and are far superior to bracelets in terms of maintenance. Since they are considered consumables there is less to worry about so it is no exaggeration to say they were made for easy wearing.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Le Petit Prince
Ref. IW389410

Although the collection started with military pilot watches the IWC Pilot’s Watch has greatly increased its convenience for modern times. One such convenience is the use of rubber bands. This year marks the 20th anniversary of IWC’s partnership with the foundation of Saint-Exupéry the author of The Little Prince and a pilot and IWC has introduced various commemorative editions. Among them the chronograph model which is the representative function of the Pilot’s Watch features the blue dial characteristic of the Le Petit Prince edition and an illustration from the story engraved on the case back. A white rubber band was matched to the white ceramic case that highlights the vividness of the blue dial for a unified look. Although the case is quite thick at 15.5mm the elastic rubber band and downward-curved lugs contribute to improved wearing comfort.

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M
Ref. 217.32.42.21.01.004

When it comes to genuine sports watches increased thickness due to functions such as water resistance and shock resistance is inevitable. Omega’s new diver’s watch the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M also has considerable thickness (13.79mm) due to its water resistance. For diver’s watches the wearing comfort can be improved with the fine adjustment of the clasp’s diving extension but the role of the rubber band is also significant. In particular the rubber band is outstanding in reducing weight. The new model continues the Planet Ocean tradition of using orange accents. The orange indexes at 3 6 9 and 12 o’clock and the bezel in the same color are examples. To meet the demand for a bolder look an orange rubber band version has also been introduced expanding the options. As a special color it is slightly more expensive than the black or blue versions.

https://www.europeanwatch.com

We have selected easy-wearing watches focusing on new releases this year. By looking at the features of the watches introduced I hope this gives you a hint for finding a comfortable watch to wear at the beginning of summer and in the upcoming midsummer. I will end this edition here.

Felix

Writer

Watch columnist