The Ultimate 4th of July Watch: 2021

We made it.  Well, we think?  At the very least compared to one year ago this Independence Day celebration feels… lighter.  Brighter.  Apocalypse-miter.

And if you enjoy a classic, feel-good pairing — chocolate & peanut butter, bbq ribs & Malbec, or today apple pie & 4th of July — then you might indulge my yearly devotional to our nation’s birth where we decide: which watch to wear this 4th of July?

Over the last few years I’ve presented these criteria to narrow down worthy patriotic pairings to one ultimate 4th of July selection:

1. It should feature red, white, and blue
2. Ideally waterproof or water-resistant for a day splashing about in pools, lakes, and beaches
3. It should be American, especially now with so many stellar entries
4. And the ultimate distinguisher: this silly contraption sitting on your wrist should somehow convey a deeper meaning, bringing an American story or ethos to your regular time-checks

The original champion crowned in 2019, and still my surest overall answer, was the MKII Key West with Pepsi bezel and white dial.

It’s waterproof to 200m, adorned in non-obnoxious red, white, and blue, tells a story of the United States’ enterprising spirit that launched the iconic GMT watch, and is born in Philadelphia.  God Bless America.  And it wears beautifully in real-life poolside BBQs.

In 2020 (deep breath — it’s almost over… maybe? Ah Delta…) when Earth starting looking less inviting for us humans and we were forced to look elsewhere for inspiration — scientific discovery won the day with its ability to land us on other rocks and forge new definitions of human independence.

No watch captured that moment and that sentiment better than the Xeric Trappist-1 NASA Edition Apollo II: the ultimate 4th of July watch in 2020.

Yes, it’s red, white, and blue, born in America’s epicenter of innovation in Silicon Valley, and connects legacies of past exploration and discovery with modern experimental design.  Plus at night it pairs so well with the rockets’ red glare (shown against a multitude of independent fireworks shows on the 4th of July, 2020).

Which brings us to Independence Day 2021.  Finally.

Ok, we may carry a seed of doubt on our trips to beaches and theme parks and baseball games; the weight of 2020.  Still — the world on July 4, 2021, feels different when different is needed.  A welcome sense of freedom.  Maybe even a carefree spirit, for a little while, that recalls the exuberance of youth and yes, apple pie and 4th of July.

So what does that look like in a watch?  Well for starters the red, white, and blue should be bold. Playful.  Nostalgic if possible.  Bright primary colors straight from Crayola’s original pack.  No 64 shades or muted tones; Sienna can be burnt another time.

This year one watch captured that free-flowing Americana with flying colors: the aptly named Freestyle watches Surfin’ USA.  Just look at this thing.  Heck, you can probably hear this thing… USA! USA! USA!

For those not familiar with the brand, Freestyle USA makes the perfect partner to evoke this vintage American charm in a helpfully waterproofed package. Founded in California in the 1980s as a water sport brand primarily for surfers, these playful watches became “first watches” for many of us growing up in the 80s and 90s, and continue to hold both sentimental and real-dollar value.  Typically coming in around $50 and perfect for the beach or the pool.

Specific to the 4th of July connection there’s one final tail-kicker.  This watch, one of many Freestyle USA collaborations with female athletes, honors Caroline Marks as she leads a team of US surfers introducing the American sport for the first time at the Olympics in Tokyo this month.

Go get ’em, Caroline!  And tell the world we’re surfing… surfing USA!

There it is, the ultimate 4th of July watch 2021: a star-spangled surfer’s watch bringing a bit of Americana, and a new wave of leaders, to the world stage.