Sustainable vegan watches (time to make the change!)
The days of animals being killed to make watches and straps are over. Here are some of the best sustainable vegan brands, when time comes to replace (most also sell just the straps if you have a watch already). They cost a bit more but often run sales, and last for years.
How to look after your watch
Clean the head and strap with mild soapy warm water and a soft brush, then dry and store in its box. Remove for bathing, swimming and saunas.
Where to recycle watch batteries
Recycle them at jewellery shops. Send broken watches and straps (with odd earrings, broken jewellery and any currency bank notes) free post to Animal Free Research UK. Or War Paws (to help animals in war zones).
Votch sustainable vegan watches
Votch offers pretty vegan watches for women, and thicker neutral watches for men. One of the best brands out there on both ethics and sustainability, you can also just buy the straps.
The founder of Votch had a serious skin condition, which resulted in her spending time in hospital. With nothing much to do, she ended up reading about how animals suffered for the leather industry.
So she vowed that when she got better, she would found a company that helped animals keep their skin, as she had firsthand experience.
She did just that. And today her brand sells beautiful vegan watches, handbags, wallets and belts! And a portion of profits each month go to chosen animal welfare charities.
What makes Votch watches sustainable?
All the watches are vegan, but many make use of fruit waste to make apple leather watches etc. Others run on solar power, so don’t even need batteries. Plus if you don’t need a new watch, you can just buy a strap, to save waste.
Style for every occasion
Votch offers a wide variety of designs. Whether someone prefers classic black, elegant rose gold, silver finishes, or contemporary colour combinations, there are options available for men and women.
Popular styles include:
- Classic minimalist watches.
- Modern monochrome designs.
- Rose gold collections.
- Mesh strap options.
- Colourful vegan leather straps
The Sustainable Watch Co (from recycled wood)
The Sustainable Watch Co (free delivery worldwide – also sold on Etsy) makes vegan wristwatches (and straps for Apple Watches) out of recycled furniture and old railway tracks! Each one has a unique grain pattern.
Sent in zero waste packaging, a tree is planted for each watch sold.
By using reclaimed wood, the company gives discarded materials another life. Recycled wood also provides each watch with a unique appearance. Natural variations in colour, texture, and grain make every timepiece different.
Mechanical watches (no batteries required)
The Rosewood Vegan Watch has exposed gold mechanics and a rich olive wood body, with a glass back and wood band. There are gold links through for added durability.
The Sycamore Vegan Watch showcases browns of olive wood with a bright grey face, and subtle exposed mechanics on the face, and a glass back, with contrasting reinforced black links on the strap.
These watches have mechanical movement with the hands sweeping gracefully around the watch face. Uses no batteries! Movement automatically winds the watch, which will stop after 38 to 40 hours in a static state. To fully re-wind, just turn the 360 degrees (20 times).
Hurtig Lane vegan watches (from Barcelona)
Hurtig Lane (also sold at Shop Like You Give a Damn) is a Spanish brand that creates beautiful watches combining minimalist European design with sustsainable materials.
It sends out watches in zero waste packaging, many are made from plant-based materials like cactus leather.
Popular collections include minimalist everyday watches, sporty designs, elegant dress watches, and interchangeable strap models. Customers can choose from:
- Silver or black cases
- White or black dials
- Multiple strap colours
- Vegan leather straps
- Rubber straps
A popular feature of Hurtig Lane watches is their quick-release strap system. Instead of buying a new watch, just change the strap for a fresh look, no specialist tools needed.
Detrash vegan watches (made from ocean waste)
As concern about plastic pollution and environmental sustainability continues to grow, many consumers are looking for products that combine style with purpose. Detrash makes watches from ocean waste, along with other materials (one watch uses up Budweiser beer waste, another a leather made from apple waste in Italy).
These watches are sold with a 1-year guarantee, and many are water-resistant. In colours inspired by the sea (blue, green, grey), the range includes a a California dial mix (Arabic & Roman numerals).
Why make watches with ocean plastic?
Each year, millions of tons of plastic enters our oceans, and this harms wildlife – plastic bottles, fishing waste and packaging, which lasts hundreds of years. This breaks down into microplastics that are ingested by marine creatures and also enters the human food chain.
Fjordson (premium Swiss-made watches)
Fjordson (Belgium) has emerged as a refreshing name in the watch industry. Combining Scandinavian-inspired aesthetics with Swiss craftsmanship and a strong commitment to sustainability. All the watches are vegan, proudly Swiss-made with strict quality standards.
The collections include options for both men and women, as well as unisex models, with a range of dial colours including classic white, black, blue, and increasingly popular green variations.
Premium materials built to last
Fjordson incorporates premium materials throughout its collections, including corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel cases and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. Many models also feature reliable Swiss Ronda quartz movements known for their accuracy and long-term dependability.
Several collections offer water resistance up to 50 metres (5 ATM), making them suitable for everyday wear and protection against rain, hand washing, and occasional water exposure.
Solios (solar-powered watches from Canada)
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, Solios has built its reputation around minimalist design, solar-powered technology, and ethical manufacturing practices. These watches run on solar batteries (including solar mini watches in smaller sizes for women). Plus it sells watch straps.
This brand was founded by two university friends, who wished to create a business that made a positive environmental impact. And caught on the idea of making watches without disposable batteries.
How do solar powered watches work?
Unlike quartz watches that need batteries replacing every few years, these harvest energy from both natural sunlight and indoor lighting, so you never need batteries.
With minimal maintenance, one charge should last for months. The watches feature clean dials and elegant hour markers, in neutral Scandinavian-inspired designs.
Choose from:
- Solar Classic
- Solar Mini
- Solar Curve
- Solar Curve Mini
- Sunseeker
Each collection offers various case sizes, strap options, and finishes to suit different preferences.
