Seiko SNKD99 to replace the “electric” Swatch?

The extra time and energy used to make mechanical watches offsets any benefit from not replacing batteries. I'd look at the entry level Citizen Eco-Drive range, they use light as a power source, and don't require servicing like a mechanical watch. Solar is likely the most environmentally friendly way to own a watch. 

This Vaer is reasonably priced for a solar watch with sapphire. 

VAER | D4 Meridian Solar Diver: 38mm, 20ATM, Sapphire Glass, USA Assembled– Vaer Watches

“The extra time and energy used to make mechanical watches offsets any benefit from not replacing batteries,”

That’s is a good point!

Is it true when compare a Seiko 5 to a Citizen EcoDrive?

The other point is, when there‘a no more lithium to produce batteries, the automatics will  still running…

I don't have charts and figures, but the extra processing required to make hundreds of complex parts is significantly more energy intensive than making fewer simpler parts. 

I'm not sure we'll run out of lithium, but I agree that being less wasteful is always a positive thing. 

I would suggest that the cost of replacing a battery is significantly less than the cost of servicing a mechanical watch. Even in terms of the environment. 

I agree. You need to remember, though mechanical doesn't require lithium for batteries, for servicing solvents and petroleum oils are needed. And the solvents won't last forever and need to be replaced.

The best thing you can do for the planet with your watches is use the old ones till they break,yes your batteries cost the environment but they are nothing compared to buying a whole new watch, you would probably have to have 100 battery changes to equal the energy used for a whole new watch. Mass production of the batteries means lower energy consumption (still not great but far better than a new watch).

As for watches,your spot on with the swoonmatches and the like, disposable toys only last till the buttons fall off,and smart watches are just as bad,built in redundancy,new ones every 2 years if that. Mechanicals,yes but as others have said more complex manufacturing, so more energy. But with manufacturing technologies I don't think there's a lot of difference (as more energy used means more money spent, so less margin for profit), you could try and find out how much energy,waste etc for each watch but you'll only get lied to. And yes servicing,god help you if it's air freighted to a service centre on the other side of the world 'there you are sir your watch all serviced but you've just killed two penguins and an eskimo'.                                  Quartz,yes building one will use a bit less, batteries more,but they are miniscule in the grand scheme of things,think of all batteries in phones and everything rechargeable,shavers,radios,cars etc. You could do your own battery change,but that requires a tool, so hopefully you've got somewhere local you could walk to or combine the journey with another task. Don't worry about lithium running out,sea water is full of it,but there's not enough green energy available at the minute to make extraction environmentally viable (lithium will be superceded soon,as its energy density is a bit crap compared to other materials).

OK I bit long winded,but the best thing for the environment is use something till it can't be used no more,there's no such thing as carbon neutral and anything we do damages the environment. And if you do want something 'new' that you consider less damaging,buy 2nd hand re-use,recycle and all that, your not producing any nasties that way,and if batteries are involved there's coming soon many places where you can dispose of them in a greener way. I Like the way your thinking on this and a good question to put to us,watches are only a tiny part of the destruction of our planet and we'd be better off walking a bit more,public transport etc  and not buying so much 'new' stuff.(I'm doing my bit, I've got a box full of 'reused' watches,and I walk to the shops).

I don't have a lot to add here except that you need to remove the dead batteries from the watches you aren't going to wear so the batteries don't rupture and ruin them.

I appreciate your concern.

But I don't think the tiny battery has much of an impact.

There are other things we can do that make a big difference like food choices and travel choices. 

Solar is great anyways though. Accurate, durable, slim and lightweight.

Add titanium from Casio or Citizen and you have a winner. 

Personally, I go out, harpoon a whale, strip it of it‘s blubber, try (render) the blubber into oil and burn carefully measured amounts in order to measure time.

Did you get the SNKD ?

seiko 5’s are not exactly in my firing line normally but I have been looking at a Sarb35 to scratch my white dial itch but the prices are silly……I have looked at alternatives and the SNKL41 seems to get most votes but the SNKD97 seems better so I snagged it instead, I’m very impressed….. the bracelet is integral but adds to the design of the watch and wrist presence.

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