The climate emergency has led fashion and accessory brands to reinvent themselves and focus on sustainably made products using recycled materials.
One of the most used and essential accessories for most people is the watch, and the watch industry is increasingly committed to the environment. We’ve talked several times about changing our habits towards a more sustainable world. If you’re looking for a watch and want to support this cause, here are some of the latest developments:
Tom Ford goes beyond using recycled materials
The American brand Tom Ford also unveiled its first range of sustainable watches. The collection is named ‘Ocean Plastic‘.
According to Ford himself: “In my opinion, ethical luxury is one of the greatest luxuries of all”. Each watch in this collection permanently removes the equivalent of 35 plastic bottles from the ocean. This watch is made from 100% recycled plastics from the sea and coasts, as well as from uncontrolled landfills.
Tom Ford’s 002 watch is made 100% from ocean plastics. Photo: Ted Morrison
The American company has collaborated with 52HZ in the framework of the Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize. This prize aims to encourage innovation to fight pollution from plastics. The cash prize is $1 million awarded by a panel of judges from leading companies.
For now, these watches can be reserved through their website and are priced at $995.
Chopard bets on recycled steel and fair mining
The prestigious brand Chopard has also joined the work with sustainable materials. In its case, the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono is proof of this. It is the only watch in the company’s lineup that has used Lucent Steel A223, made with up to 70% recycled steel and the remaining 30% from steel extracted from 100% traceable sources. As it has been forged twice, it has greater hardness than the 316L steel used by almost all manufacturers. Since 2018, Chopard has been using 100% fair-mined gold and investing in local mines in Latin America. One of the models of this watch is made precisely with ethical rose gold.
The sport-chic watches Alpine Eagle XL Chrono 44 mm in diameter, automatic. The left one is in rose gold and steel with a Black Absolu dial. Right total steel look with Aletsch blue dial
The name ‘Alpine’ already indicates that the Alps have been a source of inspiration, as well as the eagles that inhabit them. This year, it received the award for best design from Revolution Watch Magazine. The price of the watch is around €19,100. Find out where to find it through their website.
Woodenson and its challenge to move towards sustainability
Woodenson is a Spanish brand that uses materials such as wood and bamboo to make its watches. On their website, they highlight the benefits of using wood, such as its biodegradability, quality as a lightweight, resistant material, and its hypoallergenic properties. Bamboo, on the other hand, is also resistant, flexible, and as strong as steel. The material comes from sustainable forests with FSC, PEFC, or Rainforest Alliance certifications. Since some parts of the watch cannot be made of wood, such as the buckle, mechanism, or hands, Woodenson ensures that they are below the use of harmful substances as determined by the EU.
Customize your watch with wood and recycled steel.
Their range of watches is very wide, and their price range goes from €49 to €169, and they can be purchased through their online store. This Christmas, they have launched an offer that allows you to benefit from a 10% discount.
Ulysse Nardin tries with a concept watch
On the other hand, Ulysse Nardin has created Diver Net, a concept watch. It has been created in conjunction with three French designers who are creators of the first fishing net recycling industry in France, FIL & FAB.
Provided by media.ulysse-nardin.com
This company is responsible for recycling discarded nets from ports to transform them into polyamide granules, a material very resistant to friction and used for decorating the case, the middle, the back, and the bezel of the new watch. As for the strap, it is made of plastics extracted from the sea by the company TIDE. In turn, the sapphire crystal has been replaced by a transparent ceramic crystal, which has a lower energy impact during its manufacture.
Extracted from media.ulysse-nardin.com
It is a concept watch that will not be for sale as the launch is still being worked on.
