Seas The Day

Capitalising on the popularity of diver’s timepieces, many watch companies are actively promoting marine conservation, writes Christian Barker

- Christian Barker

SCIENCE TELLS US THAT more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, with the oceans holding almost 97 per cent of the planet’s H2O. Casual observation and conjecture, meanwhile, indicates that the vast majority of watch brands’ environmental initiatives are focused on the oceans.

It makes sense, what with water-resistant diver’s watches being among the most popular timepieces on the market. Protecting the seas—and the many life forms that dwell within them—from the damage posed by threats such as litter, oil and chemical contamination, industrial and agricultural waste, sewage and plastic is a vital cause, and watch brands can contribute in a very meaningful way via schemes linked to or supported by their aquatic products.

Tied in with its iconic Super ocean diver’s series, Breitling created #squadgoals for the conservation of marine resources. In March this year, the brand announced the formation of two three-person teams—one comprising explorers David de Rothschild, Inge Solheim and Bertrand Piccard, another featuring top surfers Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons—both of which are focused on the goal of cleaner oceans. Reducing and alleviating the huge problem of marine trash is one of the squads’ key objectives. “At Breitling, we believe in the power of a team, the strength of a group, and the mutual identification of a common target, which ultimately leads to success”, says CEO Georges Kern.