It’s time for green wrist watches

Everyone knows that batteries aren’t meant for landfills. Many think of common ones like the AA that powers remotes but not watch batteries. Replacing these are not only a nuisance to owners but also to the planet. These old-school batteries contain harmful chemicals and their packaging and transport costs add up over time. Many well known and not so well known companies are using technology to find a greener alternative.

Seiko was one of the first to abandon traditional batteries with their Kinetic line back in 1988. Each watch is powered by the motion of your arm. The movement triggers an oscillating weight to turn, gear trains toss this movement to a rotor, and the rotor’s spin creates voltage across a coil block. So, each time you turn your steering wheel or reach for something at the store you are powering up the rechargeable battery. Kinetic watches are available for men and women in a multitude of styles.

Citizen’s Eco-Drive line is similar to Seiko but uses solar energy to power their green watch line. Each watch contains a solar panel that collects energy from any light source to charge the “special energy storage cell” or lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Citizen claims that the energy storage cell doesn’t contain any chemicals used in a normal watch battery and will last a “lifetime of use.” Since the Eco-Drive line is somewhat new this claim has yet to be proven.

The MTM Special Ops watch was previously sold only to law enforcement and the military but is now available to the public or Jack Bauer wannabes. The massive watch was featured on the TV show 24 and has suitable features for chasing bad guys. The interesting part of the Special Ops watch is its electromagnetic induction charger and rechargeable battery. The watch case is firmly seated on the dock or recharger while the bracelet hangs down. One eight hour charge gives the battery one month of power under normal conditions.

The greenest option for wrist watches may lie in the classics. Sure, things like the Victrola have been abandoned for newer technology but mechanical watches are still around. Their price point is a little higher than their battery powered brethren because of their intricate mechanisms. A sticker price of $500 may look like a budget buster but these green watches will last far longer than that Swatch watch you got back in the 80’s. Cool vintage or NOS (new-old-stock) watches are also available on eBay or at local estate sales. However, some argue that mechanical watches are inefficient and lose time each day. I’d much rather have my watch be a few seconds off than spend my valuable time at getting my watch battery replaced.