5 luxury watches that support a worthy cause
Nov 12, 2020
This year’s been rough, but what better way to turn things around than to support a cause that’s close to your heart? Whether it’s to protect the oceans and rainforests, combat climate change, or help minorities and socially disadvantaged groups, investing in these timekeepers is a great—not to mention stylish—way to make a difference:
OCEAN CONSERVATION
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M x Nekton
Omega has partnered with Nekton, a not-for-profit research foundation that aims to speed up scientific exploration of the ocean to be able to protect up to 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030. Nekton is working with companies and governments to make this happen, and a multi-year partnership with Omega which started in 2018 has led to a series of missions to explore and conserve the Indian Ocean. This year, Omega released a special edition timepiece as tribute to these missions.
The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton features the automatic Master Chronometer Calibre 8806 with 55-hour reserve power. The dial has been specially finished with arabesque Geneva waves and the rotor and bridges are rhodium-plated. Water-resistant to 300 metres, the watch comes in a laser-ablated black ceramic dial (ZrO2) with a unidirectional bezel in grade 5 titanium. A Nekton submarine medallion is engraved on the caseback. The METAS-certified watch can resist magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss, and comes with an integrated black rubber strap or stainless steel bracelet.
Learn more at Omega
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III
The Blancpain Ocean Commitment (BOC) is a continuing project that aims to conserve and raise awareness for the oceans through exploration. Blancpain has supported major scientific undertakings such as the Pristine Seas and Laurent Ballesta’s Gombesta Expeditions to gain insight on how to protect various marine life, and expand protected marine areas around the world, co-financing 18 major expeditions to date. Each year, Blancpain releases Edition Fifty Fathoms, a publication that documents these expeditions, in an effort to increase people’s knowledge and concern about the ocean.
The brand has also introduced a limited-edition series of Blancpain Ocean Commitment timepieces, the latest of which is the Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III, a 40mm stainless steel watch with blue dial that features the BOC logo at 6 o’clock. Powered by the automatic calibre 1151, the timepiece offers a 4-day power reserve. The purchase of an Ocean Commitment watch gives the owner membership to the Blancpain Ocean Commitment Circle for exclusive access to related events.
Learn more at Blancpain
SUSTAINABILITY AND REFORESTATION
Breitling Chronomat x Sugi
Actress Charlize Theron, dancer Misty Copeland and actress Yao Chen are the faces of Breitling’s first women’s collection under its Chronomat range. Apart from their successful careers, these ladies are also known for their humanitarian work, with Theron and Chen both UN ambassadors, and Copeland recently partnering with Entertainment Industry Foundation to launch #SwansforRelief, which aims to help ballet dancers whose sources of income have been affected by the Covid crisis.
Breitling’s Chronomat range for women comes in two sizes: a 36mm automatic and a 32mm quartz (battery operated), with an option of stainless steel, bicolour, or 18K pink gold cases with or without diamonds. The Chronomat Automatic 36 features the Breitling Calibre 10 with a 42-hour power reserve. There are ten versions to choose from, with special lacquered dials in white, pale green, midnight blue, or copper. The Chronomat 32 is fitted with Breitling Calibre 77 and has a battery life of three to four years. It comes in seven versions.
Purchase of the watch will include Breitling’s new, first-of-its-kind foldable, reusable watch box created entirely from upcycled PET bottles. Those who opt for the classic Breitling watch box will be encouraged to make a voluntary contribution to SUGi, which aims to restore biodiversity and regenerative ecosystems around the world.
Learn more about Breitling
GENDER EQUALITY AND SOCIAL ISSUES
De Bethune 25 Starry Varius x The Womanity Foundation
De Bethune pledges support for The Womanity Foundation, an organisation that promotes gender equality through a variety of programmes that educate and empower women, including a computer literacy project for girls in Afghanistan, and a global search for social enterprises to support. During Womanity’s 15th year anniversary gala, De Bethune auctioned off one of its prised DB25 Starry Varius timepieces, which comes in a 42mm titanium cases showcases a truly personalised feature: the dial shows the starry sky during the time and date that the wearer wishes, for instance on their birthday, making each watch unique.
The stars are created using gold pins fitted one by one and the Milky Way pattern is achieved using a traditional gold leaf technique combined with laser micro-milling. The watch is powered by De Bethune’s DB2105 manual-winding calibre which promises reserve power of up to six days via a self-regulating twin barrel.
Learn more about De Bethune
IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Monopusher x Laureus Sport for Good
IWC has been a partner of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation since 2005, which uses sport to help children and young people combat violence and discrimination. Laureus Sport for Good currently supports over 200 projects in 40 countries, examples of which are a special Olympics programme in China, and a football club to integrate socially disadvantaged girls throughout Germany. The foundation is also behind the Laureus World Sports Awards – the Oscars of the sporting world.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the awards this year, IWC presents the Portugieser Hand-Wound Monopusher, limited to 500 pieces, which is the first monopusher chronograph in the collection. The 46mm timepiece comes in stainless steel combined with a Laureus blue dial. Fitted with the IWC hand-wound calibre 59360 the watch offers an eight-day power reserve. The caseback is engraved with the winning design of an IWC drawing competition from one of the Laureus beneficiaries, a 15-year-old boy from China who is part of the special Olympic programme.
Learn more at IWC
See also: Wrist takers: Top luxury watch trends of 2020
