The Solar Watch

Our original solar offering was introduced on Earth Day in a bid to both celebrate and protect the planet we live on. The Solar Watch uses an Epson VS42 quartz movement. Unlike most quartz movements, however, the VS42 relies on solar energy to power the movement. This energy is absorbed through the perforated dial of the watch for quick charging: At maximum charge, the Solar Watch can last for six months. The perforated dial is not the only unique aspect of the Solar Watches design. The watch also features a cast recycled stainless steel case and comes with a strap made by our collaborators from recycled ocean plastic. The strap, whose velcro allows it to be resized for maximum comfort on a wide range of wrists, is specifically designed for long-term use with the hope that the recycled plastics will be in circulation for years to come. In fact, every aspect of the Solar Watch is made with the assumption that it will be in circulation far into the future. The rechargeable solar-powered battery has the potential to last beyond its single-use contemporaries. Water testing at 100 meters and a strong sapphire crystal make this a competitive sports watch. The Solar Watch also features a distinctive visual language. The tri-patterned perforated dial, a vibrant purple, is complemented by a black strap with orange velcro. The bold colorings, inspired by outdoor retro camping gear, make an ideal companion for the equally bold adventurer. You’ll never be totally lost, with the help of the manual compass bezel, whose button is a bold orange set against the silver case, built into the Solar Watch. Additionally, a surprisingly subtle date window at the 6 o’clock position adds an extra layer of functionality to an already effective offering. The caseback completes the image of the watch: The north-facing side of a compass sits in the center, alongside snow-capped mountains and the gleaming rays of the sun, as if to announce the mission the Solar Watch sets out to complete. Highlights: The Solar Watch presents a unique combination of form and function. A nontraditional visual style creates a watch that is truly original, and the recycled components let the wearer support humanitarian efforts while pursuing their love of horology.

The Overland Solar

The original Solar Watch has a bold, vibrant visual style. However, for those who may prefer a watch more appropriate for formal settings or with more conservative colorings, Jack Mason has introduced the Overland Solar. The Overland Solar features many of the same capabilities as the original solar watch but tweaks them to make them milder. Functionally, the Overland Solar is much the same watch. The Overland Solar uses the same water-tested metric and durable sapphire crystal, as well as the manual compass bezel and date window. The watch distinguishes itself from its predecessor, however, when it comes to its particular visual language. The purple perforated dial has been replaced with two options: The first is a softly shimmering navy, and the second is a sleek matte black. This substitution keeps some of the fashion-forward stylings of the original while making it appropriate for any context. The three-patterned dial of the original has also been replaced with a single, uniform honeycomb perforation. Both watches use the same cast-recycled case but swap the velcro strap for a matching stitched Italian leather strap. Quick-release pins make it so that the watch is compatible with any 20mm Jack Mason strap. The final distinction the Overland Solar has is on its caseback. At first, it may appear to be the same partial compass embossed on a background of lines. However, the eager-eyed watch-enthusiast may quickly realize what the background is, in fact, representing: The contour lines of a topographic map. Highlights: By keeping the same functionality and environmental message while adjusting the visual appearance for a more traditional styling, the Overland Solar creates a wonderful alternative, or addition, to our solar watches. Both the Solar Watch and the Overland Solar come with one additional feature, which we will discuss below in tandem with our collaborators.

Our Collaborators

We would be remiss to discuss the watches we have provided without discussing the collaboration which has made it possible. While we created the recycled steel case ourselves, the velcro strap included with the Solar Watch was created by Tide Ocean Materials. Tide Ocean Materials, also known as #tide, was founded to combat the proliferation of ocean plastic. They are a Swiss organization that has developed a special process for the recycling of plastics in the ocean into electrical parts, automotive parts, and watch components such as our velcro strap. Each velcro strap purchased removes a significant number of water bottles from the ocean. So far, our combined efforts have removed over one million water bottles this year alone. #tide is not our only collaborator in this field. In order to organize their plastic gathering endeavors, they have enlisted the Jan and Oscar Foundation. This group was founded after the 2004 tsunamis, which struck the coasts along the Indian ocean, killing hundreds of thousands, including a 12-year old boy named Jan and his brother, Oscar. This nonprofit focuses its humanitarian efforts in Thailand, and #tide collaborates with them in order to train and pay local fishermen to clear plastic from the surrounding area.

The Benefits of our Solar Line

Beyond the visual appeal of the watches listed above, there are two key ways that buying a solar watch helps fuel our ecological goals: Recycled Materials: The materials used to create both the Solar Watch and Overland Solar cases, as well as the velcro strap included with the former, are recycled. The more watches we are able to produce, the more we can positively contribute to a global epidemic. Charitable Donations: Ten percent of the profits from both models are donated directly to the Jan and Oscar Foundation, meaning we are able to support the humanitarian efforts to reduce waste which made this collaboration possible in the first place.

Watching Sunrises: Solar Power

Originality is a word often used but rarely often truly meant. By combining retro aesthetics with modern solar technology, Jack Mason has created a truly original line of solar watches. A watch, well taken care of, can last for an incredibly long time. The same is true of our planet. By improving the way we interact with our environment, we seek to create a watch that allows one to be conscious and caring in every aspect of their life. Ideally, the day will come where recycled materials are the status quo and not something that is viewed as out of the ordinary. But until then, we are here, devoted to our craft and the possibilities of its future.