Reusing discarded materials in diving products is fast becoming a more-regular occurrence, with the likes of Fourth Element and Tecline having products made from recycled waste in their range, and now a British watch brand is upcycling old wetsuits.
SDC Watches is the brainchild of Sean Clements, who ambitiously actually launched the brand in 2020. A self-confessed watch fanatic and scuba-diving enthusiast, he is a natural ambassador for the aquatic environment, and as he explains, he sought to ‘challenge the status quo by creating luxury dive watches and combining upcycled materials'.
To this end, his initial OceanRider range of four watches – Black Tip, Great White, Ocean Blue and Silky Grey – all feature straps made from upcycled wetsuits, which are collected from dive centres around the UK and then cut and stitched into silicone rubber to make the unique watch straps.
The watches (SRP: £425) all feature a 42mm case crafted from 316L stainless steel, and are powered by the fully automatic Japanese Seiko NH35 movement. They are also all depth-rated to 300m.
The watches come in box that uses 100% biodegradable and sustainable FSC sourced materials, including a natural water-based, vegan-friendly glue.
Not only is Sean using upcycled materials in his watches, but 5% of every sale goes to the Marine Conservation Society as well.
