Two French designers are leading the charge against plastic pollution with a new high-tech watch made from recycled bottles.
It’s about time — the watch is called Awake and it promises to be the most sustainable ever made: a sleek, luxury watch made from recycled fabric and stainless steel, powered by solar energy. It’s been 18 months in the making, and when it launched on Kickstarter last month it was fully funded within an hour.
Here’s what makes it tick.
Strap in
Awake comes with four different wrist straps: the standard one, Phoenix, is made from recycled plastic bottles from South-East Asia and Japan — the plastic is turned into pellets and then into nylon yarn, which is rolled into straps without using any chemical dyes.
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Alternatively, upgrade and you can choose from a vegetable-tanned leather strap, made in France using a fine Italian leather with no added chemicals, or a flexible, waterproof strap made from 100 per cent natural rubber.
It’s scented with vanilla so it doesn’t smell rubbery and is ultra-durable for withstanding the elements.
For a vintage look, choose the recycled stainless steel mesh band, which comes in gold, silver or black, and no need to worry about changing straps — each has a quick-release system so you can change your band in less than 10 seconds.
Bright ideas
The smartest aspect of the watch is that it’s powered by solar energy, rather than a battery.
The movement is made by Japanese company Seiko to ensure perfect accuracy.
It’s “perpetual energy on your wrist”, say founders Lilian Thisbault and Fred Ly: just three hours wearing it on your wrist (indoors or out) is enough to provide six months of charge.
Deep dive
Awake’s sustainable credentials are impressive — even the packaging is made from 100 per cent recycled paper that’s 15 per cent lighter than a standard box to minimise carbon impact — but there’s also practical appeal.
The luxury watch has a premium ultra-resistant glass, much more durable than standard mineral or plastic glass, and there’s an anti-reflective coating to minimise glare.
The watch face features luminous numbers and hands that are clearly visible when it gets dark, which is essential when you’re diving deep: while the average watch is water-resistant up to 30m, Awake’s resistance stretches to 100m, so you can wear it in the ocean at the same time as saving the oceans.