Conserve water, save marine life and recycle plastic with these luxury watchmakers who are making a difference

Breguet

Breguet has taken their commitment to saving marine life one step further with the announcement of its five-year partnership with Race for Water Foundation.

Breguet’s founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet, made sure the maison stayed committed to maritime timekeeping after being appointed horologer to the French Royal Navy by King Louis XVIII in 1815.

Acknowledging that the ocean is under massive threat–largely from plastic pollution–Breguet has collaborated with Race for Water with the intention of raising awareness of ocean preservation.

See also: Louis Vuitton's Spin Time Watch Gets A 10th Anniversary Makeover

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Above Breguet has announced a five-year partnership with Race for Water Foundation (Photo: Julien Girardot, courtesy of Breguet)
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Above The newly unveiled Marine Chronographe 5527 by Breguet (Photo: Courtesy of Breguet)

As part of the brand's sustainability efforts, German art-activist Liina Klauss, who lives in Hong Kong, also created the largest art installation the city's ever seen, named “Trash-Land-Art”.

Alongside Klauss and the charity Plastic Free Seas, Breguet rounded up students and volunteers who collected rubbish from the shores of Hong Kong, including Butterfly Beach at Tuen Mun.

Overall, the effort saw 10,000 pieces of ocean rubbish, including plastic bottles and bags, recovered from the ocean. If that’s not a good enough excuse to indulge in the watchmaker’s latest additions to La Marine collection–perhaps the Marine Chronographe 5527 or Marine Equation Marchante 5887–then nothing is.

See also: At 302.37 Carats, The Graff Lesedi La Rona Is The World's Biggest Square Emerald Cut Diamond

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Above German art-activist Liina Klauss, with Breguet's backing, created an art installation from plastic recovered from Hong Kong's shores (Photo: Courtesy of Breguet)

H. Moser & Cie.

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Above The Moser Nature Watch by H. Moser & Cie. (Photography: Courtesy of H. Moser & Cie.)

Earlier this year, H. Moser & Cie. unveiled a truly spectacular one-of-a-kind timepiece, named The Moser Nature Watch.

Unfortunately this mechanical piece isn’t available for purchase. It was, instead, created to remind collectors of the brand’s commitment to eco-friendly and sustainable watchmaking developments.

Swiss made using plants grown in the gardens of H. Moser’s Schaffhausen-based manufacture, the watch also reminds its creators to stay true to three commitments: the fulfilment of certification conditions imposed by the Responsible Jewellery Council; the use of Fair Trade materials as often as possible; and to guarantee a zero carbon footprint by using more efficient methods of watchmaking.

See also: Travels In Time: The Inspiring History Behind H Moser & Cie

Ulysse Nardin

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Above Skeleton X in Carbonium Gold by Ulysse Nardin (Photo: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin)

The Skeleton X boasts a new movement that shines a light on Ulysse Nardin’s exquisite technology. 

Its open-worked dial allows the wearer to see the watch’s painstakingly cut and finished inner-workings, and most notably comes in a new and light, sustainable material called Carbonium Gold.

The production of Carbonium has 40 per cent less environmental impact than other carbon composites because it uses offcuts from aeronautical pieces. Not only does this mean the Skeleton X is environmentally friendlier than most, it also comes with a stunning marbling effect due to the fusion of carbon and gold.

See also: Bare Bones: 13 Luxury Skeleton Watches We Love

Panerai

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Above Submersible Mike Horn Edition by Panerai (Photo: Courtesy of Panerai)

The Mike Horn Special Edition has been talked about a lot since its unveiling at this year's SIHH.

The timepiece was made in collaboration with–yes, you guessed it–Mike Horn, a South African-born Swiss adventurer. The solo explorer has done it all, from walking the North Pole (and during the dark season!) to swimming the Amazon River and trekking the Arctic Circle.

The professional diver's watch is limited to just 19 pieces worldwide, and comes with a personalised case back that's engraved with Horn's signature. Its crown protecting device, bezel and case back are all made of Eco-Titanium, and its light, but strong, bracelet is made of recycled plastic.

Chopard

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Above Photo: Courtesy of Chopard

The new L.U.C Flying T Twin made headlines this year because its Chopard’s first calibre equipped with a flying tourbillon.

A sophisticated timepiece, it’s also notable for its use of ethically certified Fairmined rose gold. Limited to 50 pieces and designed for the most elegant watch-wearing gentlemen, its further certified by the “Poinçon de Genève” quality hallmark.

The fact that this piece’s hand-guilloché dial and ultra-thin case is made from 18-karat ethically certified Fairmined rose gold isn’t surprising considering Chopard’s history as the world's main purchaser.

Since July 2018, the maison has been using 100% ethical gold for the production of all its watches and jewellery, which is all responsibily sourced from artisanal mining cooperatives, where both the environment and workers are treated properly.

Nevertheless, here at Hong Kong Tatler, the L.U.C Flying T Twin is worth celebrating.

See also: Chopard's Journey To Sustainable Luxury

Breitling

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Above Superocean 48 by Breitling (Photo: Courtesy of Breitling)

It’s been more than 60 years since the first Breitling Superocean models hit boutiques in 1957, but the collection remains a favourite, having been added to throughout the years with upgraded editions that reflect the brand’s deep-water DNA.

“Our Surfers Squad and our partnerships with Outerknown and Ocean Conservancy speak volumes about our affection for the seas,” said Breitling CEO Georges Kern. “With the new Superocean collection, we have created watches for people who want to explore the oceans, whether they are active in water sports or in clean-up initiatives.”

Breitling's partnership with non-governmental organisation Ocean Conservancy works towards achieving and maintaining healthy oceans and clean beaches. The brand supports the agency's coastal-cleanup operations, which occur in over 153 countries.

See also: The Dior Watch With 200 Million Possibilities

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