"Beach Formal" Attire - What Would You Wear?

I don't always buy a watch for a special occasion, but when I do, I turn to the WC community for insight, ideas and options.

My wife and I will be traveling to Brazil in 2023 for a destination wedding!!!  Last month, a longtime friend who lives in Brazil, made an unexpected trip back to the US and announced the exciting news.  As luck would have it, we are able to make the trip down and celebrate together.  

This will be a major trip for us, and I am hoping to purchase a watch to commemorate the entire event.  I plan to wear it during the ceremony.  This is where all your expertise come in...

The wedding with be "Beach Formal" attire.  Whatever that is...😉

What recommendations do you all have for a dress watch that will fit the look of a wedding in the sands of a Brazilian beach?  I am not opposed to considering a real statement piece (for me), like a Cartier or JLC reverso, but ideally, I am staying under the $5k mark. Let me know what ideas you all have please.  (35-40MM)

Hoping to learn about and see a few options I might have never considered or even heard of before.  

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Sand and watches... Mmm... Salt water.... Vintage omega constellation are my go to for awesome dancing occasions, and a Casioak comes to mind for the beach part...  I think a multi watch day is in order.... If the bride can change several times you can change your watch several times too... I have a condition.... 

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A beach calls for the dressiest diver that you can think of, preferably white dial. And with that deep thought, we are out of my comfort zone and I leave you to the expertise of others.

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WWGCW? What would George Clooney wear?

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When I think of beach formal, images of light colored Lenin comes to mind. Leather sandals or boat shoes. 

This is a man that wears an Aqua Terra     
 

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mortalenema

WWGCW? What would George Clooney wear?

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He’d wear an effing Aqua Terra!

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cornfedksboy
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He’d wear an effing Aqua Terra!

And linen. Lots of linen. And he wouldn’t be wrong. 

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Will give the exact opposite advice of @Aurelian . Linen suits look really good with dark faced dress watches.

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Edge168n

Will give the exact opposite advice of @Aurelian . Linen suits look really good with dark faced dress watches.

Fair. I live near a beach, but never have I been to a formal occasion at one. I like the blue idea above.

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George Clooney is the Chuck Norris of Watch Nerds. 
 

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Aurelian

Fair. I live near a beach, but never have I been to a formal occasion at one. I like the blue idea above.

I'm channeling all my mid to late twenties spent in DC and Northern Virginia.  Lots of weddings, many by the water.

Entirely too much seersucker and lots of dark watches and light suiting.  It worked for me then, though I've learned well that what worked then frankly may not work now....

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I might choose a Nomos like this Ahoi. Water resistant to 200m Quick drying strap.  Size and color options.

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I wouldn't wear a terribly fancy or expensive watch just because of crime issues unless there is security around the wedding, but that Nomos looks great. If you want something a little more flashy, but not too over the top, look into a Carrera "Gray Man." I prefer this dial, but they also have other colors. 

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Sinnguy

I might choose a Nomos like this Ahoi. Water resistant to 200m Quick drying strap.  Size and color options.

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Great call!

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moemoe

Sand and watches... Mmm... Salt water.... Vintage omega constellation are my go to for awesome dancing occasions, and a Casioak comes to mind for the beach part...  I think a multi watch day is in order.... If the bride can change several times you can change your watch several times too... I have a condition.... 

"I just checked in, to see what condition, my condition was in"

love it!

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mortalenema

WWGCW? What would George Clooney wear?

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Brazil you say?

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thekris

Brazil you say?

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Gosh!  I am going to look great in one of those, with a nice watch of course 😂🥺😭

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Well this a perfect answer…

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Go naked!! Oh yeah… oh yeah.. or thongs

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All the "beach formal" you need, right here.

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And they're having a big sale.

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TheCianinator

All the "beach formal" you need, right here.

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And they're having a big sale.

That Tropic Diver in the 39MM - 😍😍😍 - Definitely a contender

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Ichibunz

Well this a perfect answer…

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Go naked!! Oh yeah… oh yeah.. or thongs

Dude reminds me of myself, but I am certainly a better dancer!

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The Omega Seamaster Diver 300 is a beast for beach formal, I think, but doesn't fit your dimension requirements.

I think any dress diver with a white or blue dial works if you want to stay classy and understated.

That said...show off with something different and cool!

Minase Divido Ice Blue:

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https://minase-watches.com/world/divido

Or if you could find one of these Namica Shirahama Cherry Blossom Candy watches:

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https://www.namicawatches.com/product-page/shirahama-cherry-blossom-candy

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Wow!  Great recommendations and thank you for sharing.   Had not heard of either of these before (great to learn).  The story and history with Minase is very interesting.  I will keep my eye out for one of their ice blue dials ❤

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Lavrugix

An obvious one : Omega AquaTerra 

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A more refined option : Cartier Pasha (maybe secondary market)

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An outsider : Breitling Chronomat 40 GMT

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Liking that Breitling 

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I vote a blue or black dial JLC Polaris…

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For 5k these GS are the best deals out there. So many dials to choose from, excellent craftsmanship. Bracelet over strap as well, you'll be sweating. Ciao!

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guitarrory
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For 5k these GS are the best deals out there. So many dials to choose from, excellent craftsmanship. Bracelet over strap as well, you'll be sweating. Ciao!

I was wondering when a GS would be recommended!!!!  I do want one of the SBGA series, maybe this is the time to pull the trigger.  Thank you.

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501s_Watches

I was wondering when a GS would be recommended!!!!  I do want one of the SBGA series, maybe this is the time to pull the trigger.  Thank you.

Yes then you could join the club- GS9 one. Looks like fun! I really like sbga series 465 morning frost, 373 champagne dial and the 009 white birch ($9k for that beauty!). GS is next on my list for sure.

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I’m sure others have mentioned, but my girlfriend is from Brazil and told me explicitly that when I go there all my watches should stay home.  Rio and São Paulo are not safe places for anyone with a watch.  She said even the g-shock

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something with screw down crown bc of sand