Borna Bosniak
Everywhere you look these days, brands are happy to tell you how “green” their products are. I’m hoping this will help alleviate some of the damage we’ve done to the environment and come up with a new marketing term called “plastic.” Much of watchmaking is the same. EliExpress dropshipping specials that cut out the middleman claim to have straps that happen to be made from “unethical” vegan leather (i.e. the quality is terrible, but now it’s easier to get around the problem) I’m doing it. My personal favorite is that it is environmentally friendly. Digging deeper into its semantics, any mechanical watch can be considered sustainable. There are no batteries to pollute the environment and it only needs to be serviced every five years, unless the service center throws away the old movement and replaces it with a new one to save on labor costs. That’s a bit of a cop-out, so here are some watches that are made from sustainable materials, or by brands dedicated to protecting the environment, or both.
toriwa subocean plastic
First, Triwa, a brand with a commitment to sustainability, whether it’s using recycled ocean plastic for watches like the Sub, or making watches using steel that has a negligible carbon footprint during production. Start with Our pick for this list is the former, a chunky, fun diver with a case and strap made entirely of recycled plastic. Although powered by Miyota 2015 quartz, its 100 meter water resistance and low entry price make it a smart choice. Price: $159
Mondaine Essence
Before you can even pick up your new Mondaine Essence, it will be delivered in a pouch made from recycled plastic bottles. Mondaine wants people to upcycle it into cell phone and eyeglass cases. The watch itself is cased in a castor oil and glass powder composite and incorporates a classic Mondaine dial with a red lollipop seconds hand. The case is fitted with a recycled rubber strap, but the movement is quartz only, and the battery is replaced every few years. Mondaine’s eco-friendly efforts extend beyond its products, with its entire production being carbon neutral, making it the first watchmaker to achieve that goal. We also support reforestation programs through the GulaGula Forest Program, Fairventures Worldwide, and Oak. Price: $275
Almost all Seiko “Save the Ocean”
While these watches aren’t as directly environmentally friendly as the others on this list, it would be remiss to not mention Seiko’s “Save the Ocean” initiative and all its divisions. By donating a portion of sales from the Save the Ocean collection, Seiko supports projects such as the PADI Marine Debris Program, a citizen science movement that is compiling the most comprehensive database on marine debris. . Furthermore, as a company, Seiko is moving towards carbon neutrality by 2050, recently installing giant solar panel arrays at its Sendai and Navanakorn factories, which have the highest CO2 emissions in the entire Seiko group. And the beauty is, you can buy a Save the Ocean Monster for as little as $525, a mid-range Prospex model for about $1,200, and the high-end Seiko-equipped SLA055 mentioned above for up to $4,600. Brand GS movement. Price: From USD 525
maurice lacroix icon #tide
I’ll be the first to admit, when I saw Maurice Lacroix release a plastic-cased watch a few months after the Moonswatch, I wondered if it was more than just an affordable(ish) plastic watch. I was very skeptical. I’m also human, so it’s safe to say that I make mistakes from time to time. Such was the case this time. Aikon #tide was launched as part of a collaboration with #tide, another Swiss company working to clean up ocean plastic and turn it into useful materials. Bottles are collected in the oceans around Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, shredded by #tidal currents, cleaned and compressed before being processed into useful granular plastic. As part of this collaboration, Maurice Lacroix has committed to removing 10 million plastic bottles from the oceans through collection efforts. For more information on the material, Buffy has written a great overview. Price: from USD 760
Alpina Sea Strong Diver Gyre
The Seastrong Diver Gyre collection is actually the result of a collaboration between Alpina and Gyre, a Kickstarter brand dreamed up by Watching magazine owner Bernard Werk. The Dutch brand created its first watch in 2020, inspired by the five great ocean cycles that collect all the trash we dump. Alpina wants to join in the effort, using recycled plastic and fiberglass materials for the case, while replacing the Solar Seiko movement with a Sellita automatic, available in either 36mm or 44mm sizes. Provided. Price: $1,595
Oris Aquis Date Upcycled
Oris is far from one of Switzerland’s largest manufacturers, but it has been at the forefront of eco-friendly initiatives when it comes to luxury watches. Oris, famous for its upcycled and New York Harbor editions of Aquis diving watches, proudly announces the publication of its first sustainability report in 2022, marking the brand’s move to become a climate-neutral company I did. Rather than resting on its laurels, Oris is committed to reducing the brand’s carbon footprint by 10% over the next three years. Price: $2,800 (Selita), $4,200 (Caliber 400)
Ulysse Nardin Diver Net
Ulysse Nardin isn’t the first to experiment with watches made entirely from recycled materials, but they’ve gone a step further. The Diver Net is a concept watch introduced in 2020 with a recycled fishing net case, a PET plastic strap, and a crystal made from clear ceramic rather than sapphire, which uses less energy in production. To extend its influence into the sector, Ulysse Nardin is sponsoring the Plastic Odyssey ship. The ship will now sail 40,000 miles during its three-year journey, stopping in countries most affected by plastic pollution.
The next step was recently taken when the brand unveiled its Diver Net Azure and OPS models, following a concept piece with a composite case made from a number of recycled materials. And it’s a watch you can actually buy! Price: $13,300
Time+Tide Timeless Picks: All Vintage (Mechanical) Watches
You saw this coming, right? Although there is no specific recommendation, watches that have already contributed to your carbon footprint in the past are the best choices for your next purchase. This is a common theme for people looking to buy more sustainable clothing, but given that watches are meant to last a lifetime and be passed down through generations, watches, especially in the luxury segment This is even more true for watches. Similarly, if you buy a mechanical watch, you won’t have to worry about changing batteries, further reducing your environmental impact. No, it doesn’t have to be a unique Patek Philippe 1518.
