Alexei Volkov
Plastic watches are becoming increasingly popular as consumers become more conscious of the environmental impact of their purchases. While watches may not seem immediately recyclable due to their small size and numerous components, it is possible to recycle or reuse some parts of an old watch. Several companies now specialise in creating watches from recycled materials, such as ocean plastic, and even offer to buy back old watches for maintenance, reparations, or to create new products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclability of plastic watches | Plastic watches are recyclable, with some companies buying back old watches to reuse their parts. |
| Companies recycling plastic watches | Oris, Breitling, Nixon, Luminox, Shinola, Tom Ford, Armitron, Tifaney & Son, Renaissance, Perfect Timing, Chopard, Panerai, Ulysse Nardin, Circular Clockworks |
| Recycled materials used | Ocean plastic, leather waste, gold scraps |
| Other eco-friendly features | Solar-charging, long-lasting batteries, packaging made from recycled plastic |
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What You'll Learn
- Luxury watchmakers are creating pieces from recycled materials
- Watchmakers are using recycled ocean plastic for straps and packaging
- Some companies will buy your old watch for parts or repair
- Start-up Circular Clockworks makes watches from recycled consumer waste
- You can recycle some parts of your old plastic watch
Luxury watchmakers are creating pieces from recycled materials
While watches may not seem immediately recyclable, there are several ways to recycle or reuse old watch parts. Many companies, such as Renaissance Watch Repair and A. Tifaney & Son, buy old, non-working, luxury, vintage, or specialty watches to either sell to someone else or use for parts. Watchmakers like Oris, Breitling, and others have incorporated recycled ocean plastic into straps and packaging. However, some brands are going further and offering full watch cases made from recycled materials.
Ulysse Nardin, a long-time purveyor of high-end mechanical watches, has announced its latest Ocean Race Diver, a watch with a case that’s 60 percent recycled fishing net. The brand is partnering with French fishing net recyclers Fil & Fab. Omega, a global household name, has also released a new collection called the Planet Ocean Ultra Deep, a family of seven watches that can withstand water depths of 6,000 meters. One of them has a titanium case set on a black and blue striped NATO strap made from polyamide yarn sourced entirely from recycled fishing nets.
Start-up Circular Clockworks has also collaborated with Dutch recycling company Coolrec to create a line of circular watches made from post-consumer ABS waste and leather waste from the shoe industry. The line consists of three different watches in yellow, white, and black. The casing of the watch is made with recycled plastic (ABS and PS) sourced from discarded TV casings and refrigerators.
Other brands adopting recycled materials include Nixon, Shinola, Tom Ford, and Luminox.
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Watchmakers are using recycled ocean plastic for straps and packaging
Watchmakers are increasingly embracing sustainability and recycled materials, with some now using recycled ocean plastic for straps and packaging. This trend combines advances in watchmaking materials with ocean conservancy efforts, contributing to a circular economy. While plastic is not typically associated with high-end watchmaking, it is being used innovatively to create stylish and durable timepieces.
Some watch brands, such as Nixon, Luminox, and Shinola, offer fully ocean plastic watches with cases and straps made from recycled ocean-bound plastic material. These watches often feature unique designs and details that highlight their sustainable nature, such as a wavy pattern on the dial. Other brands, like Tom Ford, known for its expensive suits, have also ventured into watchmaking with collections featuring recycled ocean plastic straps and packaging.
The Swiss brand Triwa's Time for Oceans collection includes field, dive, and chronograph watch styles with cases and straps made entirely from upcycled ocean plastic. This collection offers vibrant colours, a cool wave pattern, and 100 metres of water resistance, giving the watches a casual, beachy feel. Similarly, the Australian retailer Armitron offers an affordable ocean plastic watch with a field watch aesthetic and a basic quartz movement.
In addition to straps and packaging, recycled ocean plastic is also being used to create watch cases. For example, the Maurice Lacroix Aikon #Tide watch is crafted from #Tide's composite material made from ocean-recovered plastic and glass fibre, resulting in enhanced hardness and resistance compared to standard plastic. The production process involves collecting, sorting, and shredding plastic bottles into granules, which are then used to form the watch's exterior.
The use of recycled ocean plastic in watchmaking not only reduces pollution and supports biodiversity but also raises awareness and contributes to a more sustainable future. Watchmakers are embracing this trend, demonstrating that recycled materials can be used to create high-quality, desirable products.
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Some companies will buy your old watch for parts or repair
Watches are made up of many small parts, most of which are not very valuable. This makes them difficult to recycle. However, there are companies that will buy your old watch for parts or repair. These companies are often looking for vintage, luxury, or specialty watches. For example, Renaissance Watch Repair and A. Tifaney & Son are two companies with a great online presence that buy old watches. Renaissance specialises in pocket watches, while A. Tifaney & Son accepts a wide range of luxury watches. People in Canada can send their watches to Perfect Timing, a watch repair business that recycles watches.
If you want to sell your watch without repairing or servicing it first, you still have options. Many companies will happily buy broken watches for spare parts. They will either use the spare parts for other repair work or buy your broken timepiece to repair and sell it. Both used and broken watches can be worth something. The value of a used watch depends on its type, brand, and whether it is collectible, vintage, or antique. Limited editions and discontinued timepieces can also be investment-worthy. Age, condition, and rarity are key. Models produced in large numbers are easier to come by and therefore less valuable.
You can also recycle a watch by giving it a new use. For example, you can detach the watch from its strap and wear it as a pocket watch, or convert it into a piece of jewellery or a keychain. Platforms like eBay and Gumtree are good places to sell old watches. You can also sell old watch parts to companies like Vintagecashcow.com and Usedjewelrybuyer.com.
If you have a Rolex, it is recommended that you organise any repairs through a certified Rolex jeweller. This will ensure that you do not void or impair your warranty, which is important if you plan to sell your watch later. An official manufacturer will use its certified spare parts to repair your watch, preserving its authenticity. If you do not want to go through the manufacturer, you can get your watch fixed with a certified repairer for companies like Omega, Longines, and Rolex. Choosing to have your watch repaired by a certified technician will ensure it sells better later on.
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Start-up Circular Clockworks makes watches from recycled consumer waste
While it is difficult to recycle watches due to their many small components, there is a growing trend of watchmakers embracing recycled materials in their designs. Start-up Circular Clockworks is one such company, aiming to bring the circular economy into the limelight by creating a line of circular watches made from recycled consumer waste.
Circular Clockworks collaborated with Dutch recycling company Coolrec to create their watches from post-consumer ABS waste and leather waste from the shoe industry. The design limits the number of parts and different materials, and no glue is used, making separation and reparation easy. The casing of the watch is made from recycled plastic (ABS and PS), with the colours derived from special batches of coloured plastics, such as suitcases. The black watches are made from recycled televisions, while the white ones are made from recycled fridges. The leather straps come from leftover materials from the shoe manufacturing process. The only new part is the timepiece itself.
Circular Clockworks offers maintenance and reparations, which can be purchased using "circular coins" earned when buying a watch. The company also buys back its watches when they have reached their end of use, offering cash or a discount on a new product. The old parts are then reused to make new watches.
The company's mission is to show that recycled materials are not a waste of time and that they can be used for high-quality products that people want. By doing so, Circular Clockworks hopes to give recycled plastics a high-quality image and demonstrate that consumer products made from recycled materials can be desirable.
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You can recycle some parts of your old plastic watch
Although watches have a lot of small parts, which can make them difficult to recycle, there are still ways to recycle some parts of your old plastic watch. For example, you can search online for companies that buy non-working watches, as they may be able to use your old watch for parts or fix it and sell it to someone else. Many watch manufacturers stop making parts for their older models, so recycling is often the best way for repair shops to get the parts they need.
Another option is to recycle your old plastic watch by sending it to a company that specializes in recycling watches, such as Renaissance Watch Repair or A. Tifaney & Son, which have a great online presence. People in Canada can send their watches to Perfect Timing, a watch repair business that recycles watches and never sends anything to the trash.
If your plastic watch still works, you could also consider donating it to a local school, as they may be able to use it for educational purposes. You can also recycle the batteries from your old plastic watch. Lithium watch batteries, in particular, can be recycled through local recycling companies.
Finally, you can also consider reusing your old plastic watch. For example, some companies, like Circular Clockworks, offer maintenance and reparations for their watches, which can be purchased using "circular coins" earned when buying a watch. When you don't want the watch anymore, Circular Clockworks will buy it back and offer either cash or a discount on a new product, reusing the old parts to make new watches.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, plastic watches are recyclable. Some companies, like Circular Clockworks, create watches from recycled consumer waste. Watchmakers like Oris, Breitling, and Nixon have also incorporated recycled ocean plastic into their designs.
Some companies that recycle plastic watches are Renaissance Watch Repair, A. Tifaney & Son, and Perfect Timing.
One way to recycle plastic watches is to search online for companies that buy non-working watches. These companies often use the watches for parts or repair them to sell to someone else. You can also look for local recycling companies that properly dispose of and recycle watch parts.
Recycled plastic watches are made from various materials, including ocean plastic, recycled plastic bottles, and apples. The casing of some watches is made with recycled plastic sourced from Dutch recycling company Coolrec, which uses discarded TV casings and refrigerators.
Yes, there are luxury watchmakers creating pieces from recycled materials, such as Ulysse Nardin's Ocean Race Diver, Chopard's L.U.C Strike One, and Oris's Aquis Date Upcycle.
