A greener future: sustainable luxury watches

This Global Recycling Day, help protect the planet by choosing a sustainable timepiece made from eco-friendly materials

Watches & Jewellery 18 Mar 2021

Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown

Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown

As part of its ongoing commitment to preserving the environment, and particularly our oceans, Breitling has enlisted the help of sustainable clothing company Outerknown, founded by star surfer Kelly Slater. Their latest collaborative piece is a stylish bronzed take on Breitling retro-inspired Superocean Heritage ’57, which takes inspiration from the iconic original diver’s watch from the 1950s. Notably, it comes fitted on an eco-friendly Nato strap constructed from Econyl yarn, a fabric made from nylon waste such as discarded fishing nets. And recently the watchmaker has taken its eco credentials a step further by introducing its first sustainable packaging made from 100 per cent upcycled plastic bottles and designed to reduce its overall environmental footprint.

£3,400; breitling.com

Baume & Mercier Baume Ocean Limited Edition

This contemporary design from Baume & Mercier highlights its partnership with Waste Free Oceans (WFO) and the Seaqual Initiative, two organisations that collect plastic debris from the seas and transform them into innovative materials. With this timepiece it takes a holistic approach, incorporating sustainable elements throughout its construction. This includes the case constructed from recycled plastic cap made up of 80 per cent recycled plastic gathered by WFO and reinforced with 20 per cent glass fibers to increase its resistance. This is then sheathed in blue or green anodized aluminium. The watch comes fitted with a stylish and modern interchangeable strap made from Seaqual yarn, crafted from an upcycled marine plastic, and presented in a box made from recyclable cardboard and lined with recycled polyester felt.

£1,290; baume-et-mercier.com

Carl F Bucherer Patravi Scubatec Black

Manta rays are among the several species at threat from overfishing, with UK charity Manta Trust highlighting the importance of conserving and protecting its natural habitat. Carl F Bucherer has supported the work of the organisation for years, with a special edition of its Patravi Scubatec diver’s watch taking inspiration from these incredible creatures. They take pride of place engraved on the back of the case, which is made from robust and ultra-lightweight DLC-coated titanium case. The watch is also water-resistant to an impressive 500 metres and comes equipped with all the essential features for underwater adventures, including a unidirectional rotating bezel, 60-minute scale and luminous markers. And reinforcing its dedication to the cause, it comes fitted with a black rubber strap made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles removed from the ocean.

£5,500; carl-f-bucherer.com

Panerai Submersible EcoPangaea Tourbillon GMT – 50 mm Mike Horn Edition (PAM01108)

Adventurer and Panerai ambassador Mike Horn has not only travelled to some of the most extreme places on earth, but uses his platform to highlight important issues surrounding the state of the world’s ecosystem. This special take on the Submersible, limited to just five pieces and the first in the collection equipped with a tourbillon, holds this same respect for the natural world at its heart. Its case is made from EcoPangaea high-tech steel, composed of recycled metal taken from the 35-meter drive shaft of the Pangea, Horn’s eco-friendly sailing ship. Meanwhile, the rugged diver’s watch comes with a black rubber strap and a second option made from recycled PET material, provided with a special tool to easily change between the two, all presented in a display box made from recycled plastic.

£169,900; panerai.com

Ulysse Nardin Diver Net

With the unveiling of its concept watch the Diver Net, Ulysse Nardin is demonstrating how seriously it takes its commitment to ensuring a more sustainable future through its business practices. It follows on from the establishment of a special research unit dedicated to studying materials from the sea, with the aim of creating pioneering approaches for future projects to address the growing plastic pollution crisis. Every element has been carefully thought through to make it as environmentally friendly as possible. The watchmaker enlisted the help of Fil&Fab to create the case, middle, back and bezel decoration; the French company recovers nets from harbors and transforms them into polyamide pellets, a material that is highly resistant to friction. Further innovations include replacing the traditional sapphire glass with transparent ceramic glass, which incurs a lower environmental impact during manufacturing, while it comes fitted on a strap made from PET plastic from the sea.

ulysse-nardin.com