Environmentally friendly and still delivering full performance – many watches can now do that

Environmentally Friendly Watches

In a world where climate change, pollution, and sustainability are on everyone’s lips, it is hardly surprising that the trend among watches is increasingly moving toward environmentally friendly models. After all, even small things can help make a contribution to climate and environmental protection. From classic mechanical watches to the latest solar watches, we want to show you a few ways to make a difference easily and in style.

Harnessing the Sun with Solar Watches

The oldest timepieces in human history, sundials, come from a time when environmental impact was not yet a concern. Of course, a sundial is only suitable for outdoor use and depends on sunlight, but it is still at least a stylish feature in your garden — and environmentally friendly.

The idea behind sundials was carried over with the development of solar cells. Thanks to solar cells, it is now possible to capture sunlight and convert it into electrical energy. Many wristwatches are already equipped with this type of movement as well.

Solar Watches

Solar Watches are available, for example, from well-known brands such as Casio, Citizen, Junghans, and Seiko. There is no need to worry that the watches will immediately give up if, for example, they are waiting in a drawer for their next use or the sun simply is not shining. Solar watches are equipped with a storage unit, the so-called power reserve or darkness reserve. Often, the storage capacity is designed so generously that even a whole year without exposure to light can be bridged. As a result, these models are not only more environmentally friendly, but also more reliable than conventional quartz watches.

Citizen and Seiko have even improved the concept of solar watches with the Eco-Drive movement. After all, many people spend most of their time indoors. So why not also use electric light as an energy source, the developers thought when the Eco-Drive movement was created. In fact, the practical Eco-Drive watches use the radiation from both sunlight and electric light. This means the watch can recharge almost all the time. Very practical and very good for the environment!

Mechanical movements do without batteries While solar watches contain a battery that is charged by light rays, mechanical watches do without a battery altogether. That also makes them very environmentally friendly watches. In fact, mechanical movements have been around much longer than battery-powered movements. The movement is powered by a winding mechanism. Popular manufacturers of mechanical mantel clocks include AMS, Hermle, and Kieninger. Mechanical movements are found not only in grandfather clocks and regulators, but also in wristwatches.

The alternative - automatic watches

If you do not want to wind the watch yourself, simply choose an automatic watch. It contains a mechanical movement that winds itself through the wearer’s motion. So-called watch winders are ideal for storing automatic wristwatches, as they ensure that the watch keeps running even when it is not worn. Automatic watches and mechanical watches are available, among others, from the brands Ingersoll and Junkers.

Ultimately, it does not matter whether it is a mechanical or automatic watch; both versions stand not only for a technical masterpiece, but are environmentally friendly watches and have no impact on the climate whatsoever.

Watches powered by body movement

The developers at Seiko were also inspired by automatic movements. In 1986, Seiko presented the Kinetic watch. What makes it special is that it converts kinetic energy into electrical energy and is therefore said to be more precise than a mechanical watch. The natural movement of the wearer is enough to generate energy. It happens almost by itself. A revolutionary development in watch technology that is also intended to help protect the environment. The Kinetic watches are, of course, also equipped with a power reserve that continues to supply the watches with energy even when they are completely at rest.

For the future of children

We also want to introduce a particularly lovely idea from Jacques Farel Kids. The manufacturer has set itself the goal of producing environmentally friendly watches for the future of children. Production is therefore sustainable and ecologically valuable. In addition, only ecological materials that are free from harmful substances are used for the children’s watches. Each of these children’s watches is powered by special mercury-free batteries. Even the packaging is made from environmentally friendly materials. The Jacques Farel watches are therefore not only environmentally friendly, but also completely safe, as they are free from harmful substances. Of course, the design is still imaginative and child-friendly. A good choice if you want to invest in the future.

So there are many ways and types of movement with which watch manufacturers themselves want to contribute to protecting the environment and the climate. As demand for these watches continues to rise, the development of new, environmentally friendly technologies will certainly also move forward. A trend we definitely want to support.