Today, June 8 is World Oceans Day—designed to celebrate and protect our oceans and their sea creatures. Proposed in 1992, and officially recognized by the United Nations since 2008, World Oceans Day is celebrated by more than 200 countries, all geared toward raising awareness of ocean conservation, sustainability and preservation. The focus this year is on cleaning up plastic pollution and many global efforts will support beach cleanup. Additionally, certain watch brands agree that ocean conservation should be an every day occurrence, not just one day a year, and are taking steps in that direction.With water temperatures rising steadily for the past half a century, affecting currents and levels, and with the oceans becoming more acidic due to carbon dioxide levels, our oceans are taking a beating. The changing conditions have led some brands to try harder to save our oceans. Brands such as Oris, IWC, Audemars Piguet, Omega, Blancpain, Carl F. Bucherer and others are implementing programs that are helping to clean up our oceans, reforest coral, tag and study sharks, manta rays and other sea creatures, and so much more.

Scientific Exploration and Research

A host of watch brands go above and beyond when it comes to ocean life and several have started their own foundations, or have gotten deeply involved in scientific studies. Swiss watch brand Blancpain, for instance, is all about funding scientific expeditions to help expand the surface of marine-protected ocean areas, or to work with pioneering divers to help with research and other initiatives. In fact, Blancpain supports underwater scientist and photographer Laurent Ballesta, who has taken photos of some of the most unusual sea life imaginable. For the past few years he has focused on studying the bottom-dwelling sea creature known as the Coelacanth, or Gombessa. The nearly six-foot marine animal is considered the “transition” animal that connects back-boned fish to the earliest four-legged man. Three separate expeditions funded by Blancpain have helped to shed light on the creature. Like the other brands who create watches that honor the seas, Blancpain also creates special editions of its famed Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Ocean Commitment watches to benefit the cause.

Similarly, Rolex supports exploration via its Deepest Dive and polar water expeditions, among others. This brand has long been associated with pioneers, and, in fact, was the inventor of the first water resistant watch in 1927. One of its key partnerships today is with James Cameron, filmmaker-turned-explorer. Cameron directed Avatar and Titanic – where he became enthralled with the oceans. Rolex supports Cameron’s DeepSea Challenger submersible scientific explorations, and even equipped an outside camera with a Rolex watch. That camera went to different depths, taking samples of the ocean floor for further study.

Easily one of Rolex’s biggest initiatives is its partnership with National Geographic. Together the two organizations are working on an enhanced partnership to raise awareness of Earth’s challenges in conservation, with particular attention on the oceans, the poles and mountains. Rolex has also implemented the Rolex Awards for Enterprise, wherein the brand helps fund scientists and explorers around the world.

Partnering With Organizations

Essentially, many of the brands involved in ocean conservation typically partner with organizations, foundations and other facilities to work together. IWC Schaffhausen, the first Swiss watch brand to issue a sustainability report, has been partnering with the Charles Darwin Foundation since 2009 to help preserve the fragile eco-system of the Galapagos Islands. More than a hundred researchers and scientists work from Santa Cruz Island to protect the fauna and flora of the Galapagos. To benefit the cause, IWC also regularly creates new Aquatimer watches, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Foundation and Research Facility.  Additionally IWC has been a long-time supporter of Jacques Cousteau and the Cousteau Society, which is dedicated to protecting marine life. The organization works to protect against over fishing and poaching.

Similarly, Omega has worked side by side with GoodPlanet Foundation since 2011 to raise public awareness about sustainability of our oceans. The brand has created several timepieces in honor of GoodPlanet, with part of the proceeds from sales helping to fund projects. Here, again, the brand creates a Planet Ocean watch, with a portion of the proceeds of sales of these watches helping to fund different causes, including preserving the mangroves and seagrass in Southeast Asia.

Oris also gets involved in ocean conservation and reforestation. Among its other projects, the brand has partnered with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) to support its efforts to grow and replant coral reefs. Essentially, CRF harvests small pieces of strong local coral and relocates it to the organization’s underwater nurseries. In those nurseries, which are usually about 20 feet deep, divers track the growth of the new coral and, when it is strong enough, replants it on coral reefs. Oris also sponsors the Clipperton Expedition, designed to clean up one of the world’s most polluted atolls. A portion of the sale of the sales of the Clipperton watches help raise funds for initiatives that protect our oceans.

The list goes on, as well, and continues to grow as more and more environmentally conscious watch brands make concerted efforts to protect our oceans and our Earth.

 

Sunday, April 22 is Earth Day, a day designed to celebrate Earth’s riches. Begun in 1970, nearly 200 countries around the world participate in celebrating Earth Day. The thing is, we should be celebrating Earth’s beauty and bounties every day, not just on Earth Day. Some watch brands do exactly that. In fact, a host of brands including IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, A. Lange & Sohne and more are building sustainable facilities or adding conservation efforts to their repertoire in their efforts to go green.

While some brands support important causes that include saving our oceans (more on that coming in time for World Oceans Day in June) to reforestation, animal preservation, clean water efforts and other visible initiatives, some brands offer less visible efforts. Those initiatives run the gamut from responsible sourcing to utilizing alternate materials and creating sustainable workplaces – all commitments that the average consumer may never even hear about.

Creating ‘Clean” Workspace

A key element in sustainability revolves around manufacturing processes and creating clean, environmentally sound work places. Many of the watch brands updating and refurbishing their Manufactures and workspaces, particularly those in Switzerland, are engaging in important environmental practices that include air and water re-purification systems, geo-thermal heating systems, solar windows and power, and more — all in an effort to protect our Earth.

Most brands are making a concerted effort to adhere to the Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC) Code of Practices and to receive either re-certification or newly issued certification attesting to their commitment to  the promotion of ethics, human and social rights and environmental practices.

Watch Group Efforts

LVMH:

Additionally, large jewelry and watch groups have developed their own internal programs. LVMH (which owns TAG Heuer, Hublot, Bulgari, Zenith, and more), for instance, established its LIFE program to encourage its brands to become more environmentally aware and active. LVMH is a member of the Business for Social Responsibility Network, and is committed to sustainable practices within its many factories and new constructions.

Richemont Group:

Richemont Group, owners of brands such as Cartier, IWC, Panerai, Montblanc and many more, also has insisted that its brands make concerted efforts to go carbon free and follow RJR Codes. Many of the Group’s brands are making great strides in creating environmentally sound facilities.

IWC Sustainability Goals

IWC Schaffhausen, based in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, for instance, just issued its first sustainability report regarding its use of “best-practice” standards according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). In addition to current efforts, the brand has set sustainability targets for 2020 that underscore its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It should be noted that this brand has had essential sustainability and energy-effective practices in effect for some time now. Some of those efforts include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent, reducing volume and weight of primary packaging by 30 percent, and more.

A. Lange  & Sohne Carbon-Free Commitment

Sister brand A. Lange & Sohne, based in the Saxony region of Germany (both brands are owned by the Richemont Group), also has a host of important practices in place in its ongoing refurbishing of its facilities. In fact, the building of a new complex that began in 2012 represents cutting-edge green efforts. The two-building structure boasts 253 inclined atelier windows to assure proper lighting, and there is an impressive geothermal energy system in place to ensure climate control, air control and more. This represents Saxony’s largest geothermal effort, with 55 heat exchanges that keep the indoor climate regulated year round. Its operation also ensures a   carbon free environment.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Preservation Efforts

While more and more brands are looking for energy efficiency, and reduction of a carbon footprint, some are also helping the local environment. Jaeger-LeCoultre, for instance, integrates a bee-keeping operation in its natural environs in the Vallee de Joux, Switzerland. The Manufacture — which has  implemented a host of clean initiatives over the past decade — produces honey on-site, with a beekeeper overseeing ten hives on Manufacture property. Bees are a vital part of the healthy environment in this valley, as they transport pollen from flowers and contribute to the reproduction of plant species. In fact, several other brands in the cantons of Geneva and the outlying valleys are beginning to establish hives and other initiatives to help the bees flourish in their natural environment.

Certain privately owned watch brands, including Audemars Piguet and Rolex, have foundations that look explore and help with environmental causes, even offering awards and grants to those pursuing conservation efforts. Throughout the year, we will bring more green initiatives on the part of watch and jewelry brands to the forefront.