Kevin van der Veer, Daniel Salimian, and Jeroen Westerbeek The two met while they were both students at the University of Groningen. Jeroen and Daniel were studying Econometrics and Operations Research and Kevin was studying Business and Marketing intelligence. The three friends were inspired by the popularity of wooden sunglasses to start making wooden watches.
“On Pinterest, we discovered a watch made of wood. We thought: hey, how cool!” remembers Daniel. “With side jobs, we scraped together 7,000 euros and set up WoodWatch in 2013. The first watch was packed in cardboard folding in the garage. The shipping packages were delivered to the post-office by bicycle. It was ten year ago. We are all now twenty-nine, and wooden watches have become timely.”
Plans for obsolescence are decreasing. Waste is managed and reduced. Zero Waste timelines and corporate social responsibility pledges have been made. Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword. It’s become a necessity.
Ethics is just as important to aesthetics. The world’s well-known and not-so-well-known watchmakers are trying to make the Earth a better place.
Chopard uses fair-mined Gold since 2018. The Alpine Eagle watch is made of 70% stainless steel. Baume is a brand that avoids animal products. Other top brands such as Seiko, Hublot and Hublot are also doing their part. Many watch companies support conservation. Oris supports Florida’s Coral Forest, and Cleaning Up of South Korea’s Hangong River. Carl F. Bucherer supports Manta Rays.
As well as using materials like hemp and cork, many companies such as Canada’s Solios are also embracing solar power. Two hours of sun can charge an watch for six months. These watches can be charged using artificial light. Each year, three hundred millions disposable batteries end up on landfills.
Many watchmakers work with ocean plastic litter. Each Maurice Lacroix AIKON ® Tide Swiss watch is made of seven plastic bottles.
Rotterdam-based Wood Watch has just released its Legacy X Collection made from ebony and tigerwood to add to its best-selling men’s walnut Mariner and ladies’ Kosso Ocean Lights. The ThEach watch sold will result in the planting of a tree. Each watch will have the coordinates for the planting of the tree on the back. says CEO Jeroen, “We work with Trees for the Future. They plant fruit trees in different areas of the planet which is not only great to make the planet greener but also to help families with food and resources.”
Sustainability is not a new concept. It all began with straps. It began with straps. British firm, VotchSome straps are made from cactus leather. Some straps have been made from cactus skin. Watches are made of recycled boat propellers and car parts. REC produces them out of old motorcycle parts and Spitfires. The Danish firm created a limited edition collection of watches out of the Triumph motorcycle Steve McQueen, in The Great Escape, drives and jumps.
Some modern watchmakers make use of bio-ceramics and other materials, such as military ammunition boxes and barrels for bourbon or beer, or even unwanted seats from sports stadiums. Stockholm’s TRIWA (Transforming The Identity of Wristwatches) employs a Humanium meal made from deconstructed illegal firearms from El Salvador. It has just launched its new TRIWA x SSAB, the world’s first fossil-free stainless steel wristwatch. Nordgreen uses sustainable sapphire and conflict-free stainless. Ksana transforms silicone straps from its products into solar panel.
They are comfortable, lightweight and durable. They are hypoallergenic. They can cause skin irritation when exposed to high temperatures.
That’s not the case with wooden watches. They’re breathable. Your watch can be more than an accessory. It is a reflection of your values and style. When it comes to choosing between wooden and metal watches, ultimately it depends on an individual’s style and preference. But wooden watches have a special quality that makes them standout. Wearing wood allows you to be in touch with nature. The beauty of wood and the engineering genius of the movements combine for a unique experience. The purpose of a wooden watch is to remind you of the importance of sustainability.
The following are some of the ways to get in touch with each other:The time is changing. Once we used to look at our watches for the time. It is now to verify that it is still the same time. The straps are free of PVC, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals. They also pass the CAL 01350 test, emit low VOCs, contain no antimicrobial chemicals and are PFC-free.Our wrists are eco-friendly, and we wear wristwear that is earth-conscious.
How much time do we have left?