The hypocrisy of the Swatchpain
Anyone else think it's hypocritical for the Swatchpain to have a NATO strap created from recycled fishing nets (cue: aren't we good, aren't we clever, aren't we responsible to the environment doing this?), yet the watch itself is a plastic thing, which can't be serviced, and is designed to wear out, look like crap, and be thrown away - more plastic in the bin. That seems to be the least environmentally friendly thing I can think of, myself...
If you're considering this watch, don't. Spend half the money on a real watch that, if cared for, will outlive you and not end up in some landfill. That is environmentally conscious.
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Rob
I've loved watches all my life, going back to the 1980s. Current watchbox: Seiko, Bulova, and Casio.
Sydney NSW, Australia
Member since
Last active: 10 hrs ago
7.87” / 20.00 cm
You are 100 percent correct. It makes no sense except to the Swatch Group profit team!
There is no way that watch repairability makes a meaningful impact on global waste. People throw away Dad's vintage automatic because they can't figure out how to change the battery all the time.
A larger issue is that many strange people are given to massive overconsumption of watches in general, a product that most regular people only own one of.
There is no way that watch repairability makes a meaningful impact on global waste. People throw away Dad's vintage automatic because they can't figure out how to change the battery all the time.
A larger issue is that many strange people are given to massive overconsumption of watches in general, a product that most regular people only own one of.
There would be FAR more stainless steel, and other metal, watches that aren't thrown out because there's a perception they can be saved / they have value / some other reason, versus how many plastic watches would be thrown out. And why? Because plastic watches do get scratched up and look crap and seem valueless to people. So just because you can imagine someone throwing out a metal watch, I think it's a complete nonsense to suggest it would happen at the same rate - or anything like the same rate - as plastic watches being chucked. Bottom line - what I said is on the money, and you're really reaching to argue it.
I am FAR from being a tree-hugging, granola-munching, zero-plastic, electrified environmental zealot let me tell ya! but MOST major corporations (and governments too IMHO) exercise more than a little hypocrisy in their attempt to "appear" environmentally friendly (I'm looking squarely at YOU, EV Industry!) ... Swatch Group is no different. Virtue signaling is all it is
There is no way that watch repairability makes a meaningful impact on global waste. People throw away Dad's vintage automatic because they can't figure out how to change the battery all the time.
A larger issue is that many strange people are given to massive overconsumption of watches in general, a product that most regular people only own one of.
Dad's vintage auto had a battery?
Was reading that they are serviceable - it's a snap on back & they replace the whole movement....
So not entirely disposable, but definitely a case of greenwashing.
And the crazy flipping starts…
There would be FAR more stainless steel, and other metal, watches that aren't thrown out because there's a perception they can be saved / they have value / some other reason, versus how many plastic watches would be thrown out. And why? Because plastic watches do get scratched up and look crap and seem valueless to people. So just because you can imagine someone throwing out a metal watch, I think it's a complete nonsense to suggest it would happen at the same rate - or anything like the same rate - as plastic watches being chucked. Bottom line - what I said is on the money, and you're really reaching to argue it.
I agree with your response here; however, @sagebrush's second point about consumption is one that resonates with me. The decision shouldn't be whether to buy this $400 plastic faux-environmentally-friendly swatch or some other $400 watch that is serviceable and will last longer. The most environmentally friendly thing to do would be to limit the consumption of watches and stop buying new ones every time there is a new release. Very few of us are one-watch people though, so this goes against our very nature!