FeatureHere’s How Your Favourite Watchmakers Help The Oceans
With the earth's oceans on the verge of an ecological collapse, the horological world has stepped forward to try and help save it. Here are a few recent initiatives made by the watch industry, as brands try to do their own bit for the seas and its creatures
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Let’s not beat around the bush here. The ocean is in a great deal of trouble and it needs our undivided attention, or else dire consequences will follow. From over-fishing and great garbage patches to mercury poisoning, human beings have contributed more than their fair share towards the destruction of the oceans. Watchmakers, however, are beginning to realise that we can’t be having any of this. The horological world’s tryst with vast bodies of water dates back centuries—from being an essential part of diving to exploring new lands through sailing. This ocean-saving mindset makes sense too. Luxury watch brands have the financial means to support worthy causes. And on the other hand, it also wields massive social influence, by itself, or through various channels and collaborations. Without further ado, here are some of your favourite watch brands that help the earth’s oceans in their own way—either through collaborations with marine-conservation organisations or in the form of watches that support various relevant causes.
Oris Aquis Date Upcycle
Ocean conservation is a pressing issue, and the world is finally waking up to the importance of sustainability. Swiss watchmaker Oris has a long-standing commitment to environmental causes, particularly the preservation of reefs and marine environments, and their latest release, the Aquis Date Upcycle is taking commitment to new heights. The watch retains the iconic integrated Aquis design but features a speckled, multi-coloured dial made from upcycled plastic materials. The dial is visually stunning and a testament to the brand’s dedication to reducing waste.
Oris has partnered with Swiss recycled-goods specialist, #tide, to create the dial and box from recycled marine plastics. An estimated 13 million tonnes of plastic end up in our oceans every year. By transforming plastic waste into a beautiful, unique watch dial, this partnership is a bold step in raising awareness and inspiring change. The Aquis case shape is a popular performer, with the muted grey ceramic bezel perfectly complementing the speckled dial. The watch features the classic 733 movement, a more economical choice that balances style and function. By using only Swiss-made materials, Oris ensures that every aspect of the watch is of the highest quality.
Oris Whale Shark Limited Edition
The Aquis Whale Shark Edition watch is specially designed to support the conservation efforts for whale sharks. Based on the 43.5mm Aquis GMT, this collection features a captivating gradient shark-skin-effect dial and a two-colour ceramic 24-hour GMT bezel. The exquisite dial, features a unique deep blue-green shade with orange accents, as a tribute to the beauty of the whale shark and its importance in the ocean’s ecosystem.
Powered by the Oris Calibre 798 that is based on the Sellita 330-1, the Whale Shark Edition boasts a 42-hour power reserve, 300-metre water resistance, and an independently adjustable 24-hour hand to track additional time zones. The steel caseback and sapphire crystal ensure durability, while the full steel bracelet is a secure fit. The watch’s limited production number, 2016, represents the alarming decline in the global whale shark population due to human activity. Proceeds from the sales are directed towards the research and production of short films on whale sharks by Oris ambassador Gerardo del Villar. The watch symbolises the partnership between Oris and del Villar, and their dedication to studying these magnificent creatures for over the last 15 years.
Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Limited Edition SPB385
The Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean Limited Edition SPB385 timepiece is a symbol of Seiko’s commitment to ocean conservation. To mark the 110th anniversary of Seiko’s first wristwatch, the Laurel, Seiko has created a watch that pays homage to the fast-melting polar glaciers of the Arctic and Antarctic. The ice-blue texture dial, inspired by these majestic ice formations, is a reminder of the fragility of our oceans.
The SPB385 comes with an additional grey NATO strap, crafted using recycled plastic bottles and the traditional Japanese Seichu braiding technique. Seiko’s dedication to sustainable practices is evident in every aspect of this watch. The watch is part of the Save the Ocean series that supports the mission to promote the preservation of our oceans. This special timepiece joins the 1968 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation SPB299 as part of the same series, highlighting Seiko’s unwavering commitment to ocean conservation.
IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition “Galapagos Islands” Charles Darwin Foundation & Cousteau Society
The Galapagos Islands may have been the destination of Charles Darwin’s scientific expedition, but now this remote island faces a fresh set of problems that put its rich and distinctive biodiversity—both on land and in the surrounding ocean—in jeopardy. These ecosystems are threatened by introduced species, illegal fishing, tourism, and poaching. The Charles Darwin Foundation has been working relentlessly to develop strategies for long-term conservation since it was founded to research and save the flora and fauna of the islands.
In partnership with the foundation, IWC has also been doing its part in preserving the Galapagos Islands’ ecosystem. By donating proceeds from sales of its Aquatimer watches, IWC supports ongoing research on the islands, including the protection of marine life. The limited-edition IWC Aquatimer Galapagos Islands watch is not just a timepiece, but a reminder of the urgent need to conserve our biodiversity.
The watch’s design, as unique as the Galapagos itself, features a stainless-steel case covered in black vulcanised rubber and a monochrome dial with hints of yellow. The marine iguana, native to only on the Galapagos Islands, adorns the caseback, and the internal/external rotating SafeDive bezel ensures that the watch even functions underwater.
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton Edition
Omega has teamed up with non-profit scientific organisation, Nekton, devoted to preserving our oceans. Its “First Descent” series employs cutting-edge technology and public interaction to conserve the Indian Ocean, and the brand hopes to achieve 30 percent ocean preservation by 2030. Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of Omega, finds an ally in Nekton’s strategy and is pleased to play a significant supporting role in the next missions.
The Seamaster was a natural choice to represent this partnership as it has been integral to OMEGA’s oceanic legacy. Nekton’s research submersible was named Seamaster 2, a tribute to the late Sir Peter Blake’s boat, a close friend and passionate advocate for ocean conservation. The Nekton Edition of the Seamaster boasts a black ceramic dial with polished waves and a titanium bezel with a laser-ablated diving scale in positive relief. The caseback features an embossed Nekton submarine medallion and is engraved with ‘NAIADLOCK, DIVER 300M,’ a testament to the hard work and dedication of the foundation.
Powering the Nekton Edition is the Master Chronometer Calibre 8806 with a Geneva waves finish and rhodium-plated rotor plus bridges. Certified by METAS, this watch can resist magnetic fields of 15,000 gausses.
Panerai Submersible eLAB-ID
Panerai’s Submersible eLAB-ID is a groundbreaking example of ocean conservation. Made from 98.6 percent recycled materials by weight, the watch represents the highest percentage of recycled-based material ever used in watchmaking. With their environment-friendly timepieces, Panerai has set a new standard for other watch brands to follow.
The Submersible eLAB-ID features a recycled titanium alloy case, sandwich dial, and movement bridges, along with a Grigio Roccia fabric strap with light blue stitching and a trapezoidal EcoTitanium buckle. The watch is also the first to use 100 percent recycled Super-LumiNova for its dial and hands and 100 percent recycled silicon in its escapement. Panerai officials worked tirelessly to create a sustainable supply chain to produce the watch and have even made a list of eco-friendly suppliers available for other watch brands to use.
By creating the Submersible eLAB-ID, Panerai has set a new precedent for the watch industry. The brand’s commitment to ocean conservation and sustainability is unparalleled, and the Submersible eLAB-ID is proof that it’s possible to create exceptional products, while still being mindful of the environment. This concept watch will be available for purchase as a 30-piece limited edition in 2022, encouraging other watchmakers to follow suit in conserving our oceans.
DOXA SUB1200T Project AWARE II
When it comes to brands having a deep connection with the diving community, DOXA tops the list. Their watches have been embraced by the Cousteau family and countless professional diving teams worldwide, making them an ideal partner for Project AWARE—an organisation dedicated to protecting our oceans. Originally founded by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) in 1989, Project AWARE is now one of the largest ocean conservation organisations in the world. Their mission is to promote responsible diving practices and other initiatives that protect our oceans.
The DOXA Project AWARE II watch with a vibrant teal dial is specifically designed for ocean conservationists. With a task-focused steel construction, a helium release valve, and a sawtooth-edged bezel for easy use when wearing a wetsuit, this timepiece is the perfect choice for those who are dedicated to protecting our underwater ecosystems.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Tide
Maurice Lacroix, a renowned watch brand, has teamed up with #Tide, an ocean conservation specialist, to produce a range of watches that are both stylish and environmental friendly. The Aikon Tide collection is a product of their partnership, and it comes in vibrant colours made entirely of upcycled plastic composite. Maurice Lacroix aims to save 10,000,000 bottles from polluting the ocean by using 17 bottles to make each watch.
The composite material used in the watches’ construction is a combination of plastic and glass, making the bezel, case, case back, crown, and buckle five times stronger than regular plastic. Moreover, the process of manufacturing the watches reduces carbon footprint by six times compared to standard PET. The materials used in the watch’s construction are sourced from plastic waste collected from Thailand and the Philippines and are then processed and crafted into colourful watches.
The Aikon Tide watches have a distinctive appearance with lume-filled indices and a unique “Vague du Jura” design, imitating ocean waves. The watches come in various styles, from masculine to feminine, and each is equipped with Maurice Lacroix’s quick-change strap system. The rubber straps are marked with the brand’s iconic “M”, allowing the wearer to mix and match, depending on the occasion. The Aikon Tide watches are a fun and practical way to show support for ocean conservation while enjoying a stylish accessory.
Panerai x Mike Horn
Adventurer and explorer Mike Horn has seen more of this Earth than we ever will in our lifetimes. He has skied around the Arctic Circle in the dark winter, crossed Antarctica via treacherous paths, and has even seen the depths of the oceans. So he feels a sense of responsibility to raise awareness for whatever is going wrong with planet earth. Panerai has been one of Mike Horn’s longest supporters and has often taken up the task of creating watches tailor-made to Horn’s needs for an expedition. But the watch that is closest to Mike Horn is the Panerai Submersible Mike Horn Edition. What makes this watch special is that the 47mm body is built from eco-titanium—obtained from recycled scraps of titanium—while the nylon strap is actually woven from fibres obtained from plastic bottles retrieved from the ocean. This is a thoughtful approach that Panerai has chosen to take, and one that shouts louder than just donating to the cause or engraving something on the watch.
To learn more about this special edition watch, click here. And to read our conversation with Mike Horn himself, click here.
Oris x Pacific Garbage Screening
Oris, a true value-for-money luxury Swiss watchmaker, has set the ball rolling with its many tie-ups with various organisations, all working towards a good cause. One particular iteration that stood out was the watchmaker’s collaboration with the Pacific Garbage Screening (PGS) organisation. With more than 700 tons of plastic waste entering the oceans every hour, there is a dire need for a solution. And PGS claims to be exactly that. The PGS device looks like a curved comb. Water flows through the teeth of the comb, which stretch 400m wide and go 35m deep. The specially-designed apparatus collects the waste, and slows and calms the flow of water. The whole thing works without nets, meaning that no fish or other sea creatures are likely to be harmed. To raise awareness on this issue and fund the organisation further, Oris released the Clean Ocean Limited Edition watch. This limited edition is based on the Aquis Date, but features a unique aqua blue colourway.
In-depth review of the Oris Clean Ocean here.
Oris x Reef Restoration Foundation
Oris also teamed up with the Reef Restoration Foundation (RRF), an NGO that helps regenerate high-value corals on the Great Barrier Reef with coral planting projects to counter the effects of coral bleaching. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most bio-diverse reefs in the world, playing host to amazing tropical fish, turtles, sharks, rays, and hundreds of different corals. The long-standing partnership between Oris and RRF has already resulted in two charity watches earlier. The watch featured here is a 2019 release—the Oris Great Barrier Reef III. The watch has a robust 43.5mm stainless steel case, which houses the Oris 735 calibre. The new aqua blue theme turns this piece into quite the looker. However, what really catches the eye is the radial date display. With a water resistance rating of 300m, venturing into the deep end of the reef wouldn’t be a problem.
Favre Leuba x Arctic Mission
Favre Leuba is well-known for creating solid, durable tool watches that cater to the outdoorsman. So it came as no surprise when, on its 280th anniversary, the watchmaker announced its association with the Arctic Mission, led by renowned Arctic explorer—Pen Hadow. The mission, which took place in 2017, was an amazing expedition by yacht to explore, discover and share the previously unseen wildlife and ecosystem of the ocean around the now-ice-free North Pole. This voyage of discovery also showed us why the survival of its wildlife faces serious threats as the ice no longer protects it from commercial exploitation.
Read more about the Arctic Mission here
Carl F. Bucherer x Manta Trust
Carl F. Bucherer does its bit in helping the ocean by with initiatives to protect the creatures that live in it, and their surrounding habitat. More specifically, the Manta Ray. It does so by creating timepieces made in partnership with, and to benefit, the Manta Trust, which is a non-profit conservation organisation based in the Maldives and the UK, and whose mission is to study and protect these giant fish. The watch we’re featuring here is the second watch by Carl F. Bucherer for this cause, and proceeds from sales will be donated to the Manta Trust. And adding to its contribution towards the sea is the strap, which has an overlay that is made from recycled plastic bottles retrieved from the ocean. The Patravi ScubaTec Black Manta Special Edition is an ode to the black manta ray, which is evident with the gorgeous silhouette of manta rays on the dial. The watch features a 44.6mm DLC-treated titanium case within which beats a COSC-certified movement. With a water resistance of 500m, this is a serious diver’s watch too. Limited only to 188 pieces, this is a special watch dedicated to a truly special animal.
In-depth review of the Patravi ScubaTec Black Manta Special Edition here.
Breitling x Ocean Conservancy
In 2017, Breitling restructured its portfolio to create watches for ‘air’, ‘land’ and ‘sea’. And to save the latter, the watchmaker paired up with an environmental advocacy group, Ocean Conservancy. This partnership resulted in the creation of the Breitling Superocean Heritage Ocean Conservancy Limited Edition. The watch was launched at a special event on a beach in Bali as part of a massive, brand-sponsored beach cleanup initiative. Committing towards healthy oceans and clean beaches, a fixed part of the profits from each sale of the watch will go to Ocean Conservancy. The very handsome watch has a 44mm stainless steel case, is water-resistant to 200 meters, and has a rotating dive-scale bezel in ocean blue. It also has a NATO-style strap made from ECONYL®, a material produced from recycled ocean waste. And it’s the perfect recipe too. As Tim Sayler, Breitling’s chief marketing officer says, “NATO straps are all about flexibility, durability, and obviously nylon. And ECONYL® is all those things, except that it’s fully-recycled nylon, which makes it ideal.”
Breitling x Outerknown
ECONYL® has become an important material for Breitling. And this is primarily owing to the partnership between the watch manufacturer and Outerknown, a sustainable clothing company co-founded by 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater. This partnership led to the creation of a Superocean that is not only capable of diving deep into the ocean but helping it too. The Breitling Superocean Heritage II Chronograph 44 Outerknown is the watch created from this collaboration and features a black DLC-coated 44mm stainless steel case paired with an exquisite Outerknown ECONYL strap. “We consider ourselves to be experts in preferred fibres and how to use recycled materials. So we said that the strap was an area where we could participate. And that’s when Outerknown introduced ECONYL® and Breitling to each other. And we said that it would be great if the launch could have a sustainable attribute. Instead of using rubber or metal, we thought of NATO. So the design for the NATO strap and the concept of making a NATO strap out of ECONYL® was something that Outerknown brought to the table,” articulates Mark Walker, CEO, Outerknown.
Read more about Breitling’s commitment to the ocean here.
Blancpain’s Ocean Commitment Programme
Blancpain is the company that first brought the modern dive watch to the masses with the original Fifty Fathoms in 1953. It was only fitting that the watchmaker establish deep connections with the world’s oceans and the communities dedicated to their preservation. It does so with a multi-prong approach to the world of ocean conservation—financing National Geographic Society’s Pristine Seas Expeditions and Laurent Ballesta’s Gombessa Project, working with freediver Gianluca Genoni, partnering with The Economist for its World Ocean Summit, and more. This affirms that Blancpain’s Ocean Commitment programme is more than just a slogan. The watchmaker’s motto trickles down to its timepieces as well, like Blancpain’s charity piece, the Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III. Of course, a portion of the benefits linked to the sale of this limited edition is given to the cause of ocean protection. That aside, the Fifty Fathoms is an excellent watch in its own right. Limited to only 250 pieces, the timepiece pays homage to the model’s DNA and the main characteristics of the 1953 model. With a 40.3m case size, and a respectable 300m water resistance rating, this is a perfectly good diving watch. But what makes it great is the greater causes it supports.
Discover more about the programme here
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Oris Aquis
01 733 7766 4150-Set
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Oris Aquis
01 798 7754 4175-SET
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Omega Seamaster
210.30.42.20.01.002
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Panerai Submersible
PAM00985
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Oris Diving
01 733 7732 4185-Set
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Oris Diving
01 743 7734 4185-Set
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Breitling Superocean Heritage
A133131A1G1W1
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Breitling Superocean Heritage
M133132A1C1W1
