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AS CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY BECOME BURNING ISSUES, WATCH BRANDS TOO ARE DOING THEIR BIT TO SUPPORT CAUSES, BOTH THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL THE TIMEPIECES THEY ARE CREATING AND THE INITIATIVES THEY ARE UNDERTAKING

- Preetika Mathew

1 ZENITH DEFY EXTREME E 'ENERGY X PRIX'

LAST YEAR, Zenith partnered with the annual electric rally Extreme E, a race that aims to raise awareness about the fragility of our planet’s ecosystems. With different legs held in terrains all over the world, to accompany each leg Zenith released a watch inspired by the location where the race was taking place. The latest — also the last one of 2022 — is the Zenith Defy Extreme E ‘Energy X Prix’, inspired by Uruguay and its lightning-lit skies. The 45mm watch is crafted with carbon fibre and titanium with striking purple accents that evoke streaks of lightning in a stormy sky. Sporting a 1/100th of a second chronograph, partially visible through the dial and the sapphire caseback, the watch’s rubber strap is infused with materials from upcycled Continental CrossContact tires that were used in the first season’s races. A limited edition of 20 pieces, the watch also comes in a waterproof and crushproof case, whose lid coating is made from E-grip recycled tires, and the plate covering from parts of an Extreme E racing tarpaulin.

While sustainability and watchmaking might not seem overtly linked in the way, say, fashion and sustainability may be, there's a lot that watch brands are doing to support the environment. From incorporating environmentally friendly materials in their designs to aiding eco-initiatives in different parts of the world, the horological industry is stepping up in its own way. And these watches are proof.

2. ORIS AQUIS DATE UPCYCLE