Call them eco-warriors if you will, these watchmakers are conscious of environmental issues and provide innovative conservation solutions to make our planet better than it was yesterday.
Pictured above: Omega’s Ocean Rescue
Charged by the team’s mission statement, not-for-profit research foundation Nekton aims to support the protection of at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 through the use of cutting-edge technology to find out how the ocean is changing and why. These goals are realised through a collaboration with the University of Oxford and support from Omega, one of its committed partners uniting for a common purpose.
Given Omega’s rich history and connection with the oceans, it is supporting a series of missions to explore and conserve the Indian Ocean known as the First Descent. As a tribute to the organisation, Omega released the Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton Edition, dubbed the dive watch on a mission to save the seas.
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Blancpain’s Ocean Commitment
Our oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, while a staggering 97% of Earth’s water can be found in our oceans. Not only is the ocean a rich source of food and biodiversity, it provides fresh water and is also a critical component in the ecosystem that removes carbon and provides oxygen. Through Blancpain’s Ocean Commitment program, the Swiss watchmaker supports marine biologist Laurent Ballesta and his Gombessa mission on studying some of the rarest, most elusive marine creatures and phenomena on Earth.
In July 2019, the Gombessa project began its fifth expedition with aims to unravel well-kept secrets of the French Mediterranean. On the back of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, Ballesta and his team is studying the impact on marine vertebrate and invertebrate populations in light of human activity reduction due to the pandemic.
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Swatch’s Natural Solution
Mechanical revolution meets mother nature as the Swatch Sistem51 BioReloaded combines Swiss watchmaking precision and innovation with bio-based materials. A new grade of Swiss Made plastic — developed from castor plant seed extracts — is used for the watch case, strap and clasp which replaces the need for industrial ones. The use of eco-friendly materials extends past the watch itself as the packaging box is also made from home-compostable starches and natural fibres.
Within the biodegradable case sits an automatic movement made from a fully automated production line. 51 individual components made from ARCAP — an antimagnetic alloy of copper, nickel and zinc — are pivoted around a central pinion. The movement is laser regulated before being hermetically sealed in the case to increase longevity and reliability.
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Citizen’s Clean-Energy Technology
Quartz watches rely on batteries for power. However, improper disposal of batteries leads to harmful chemicals leaking into the soil, contaminating groundwater and surface water as it corrodes in landfills. As such, Citizen devised a clean-energy solution in 1976 as it created the world’s first light-powered analogue quartz watch. Eco-Drive as it is coined after, combines the Japanese watchmaker’s desire to protect the environment and drive environmental awareness to new heights.
The Citizen Eco-Drive technology found on the dial side of timepieces converts any light source into energy to power its watches. On a full charge, an Eco-Drive watch operates fully for six months even in darkness as surplus energy is stored in a power cell.
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Panerai’s Recycled Metals
Of the many desirable properties of metal, one of them is the ability to be recycled without degradation. Yet only 30% of metals are recycled with iron and steel accounting for the majority of them. As such, Panerai’s Laboratorio di Idee devised an innovative solution to recycle various metals to be used in its watches.
The Panerai Submersible EcoPangaea Tourbillon GMT 50mm Mike Horn Edition (PAM01108) utilises recycled metal from the Pangea, legendary explorer Mike Horn’s sailing ship. An older iteration of the Panerai Submersible Mike Horn editions (PAM00984 and PAM00985) feature Eco-Titanium in the case, crown protecting device, bezel and case back made from recycled titanium.
This article first appeared in our February 2021 issue, click here to read more.
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