Ecotality Life

I admit to a watch fetish. To me, they’re (well, some) are like little works of art. I am partial to the point of mesmerized over Skagen watches, a Danish brand. Those Scandinavians have a way with sleek, clean lines and understated elegance. Though I’m proud of my Irish roots and feel Irish in many ways, sometimes I think there must have been a baby swap at the hospital where I was born and that my real parents are named Ingrid and Sven.

I’m now wearing one of my Skagens as my “everyday watch,” while another is sitting on my dresser with the time stuck at about 3:38. If there were an accurate date function on it, that lucky thing would still be luxuriating in some balmy summer temps! Yes, the battery “went” last summer and I haven’t gone to the jeweler to get it changed — mainly because I have another watch that I’m enjoying wearing, so I don’t need it. The last time I had to get a new battery, they couldn’t do it on the spot so I had to leave it and then pick it up when it was done. Though it’s a local shop, it’s kind of a pain having to make two trips just to get a battery changed.

If you can relate, you may want to get yourself a solar watch. Not only are there some darn attractive ones — from cool sport to sleek dress watches, you’ll never need to bother with replacing batteries again! So you’re helping yourself — unless you like those little chores (I suspect I have a family member who does — oh, Ingrid and Sven, come and get me!) and helping the environment at the same time.

Oh, and there’s the cool or conversation piece factor; I mean how many people have you run across who have a solar watch? Ingrid and Sven could even get themselves one as most of the solar watches I’ve come across can be charged by exposure to indoor lighting, as well as by sunshine. So, even those, like Scandinavians, who live in areas with very short days during the winter (or people anywhere who don’t get outside much) can easily recharge their watches’ battery.

Another benefit just came to me: you’re at a party, family or work function, or wherever, and you want to escape a person, a happening, or everyone at least for a bit. You now have a built-in — rather, strapped on — excuse as long as it’s light outside: you need to get outside ASAP as your solar watch’s battery is low! (You may want to keep the fact that it can recharge by exposure to indoor lighting hush. I think I will if I get one.)

Watches shown in pic:

Far left: Casio GW500AJP-1AV G-Shock men’s atomic solar watch — $52.50. (There’s a similar women’s model.) Has all the features you’d expect from a sports watch, plus others.

2nd from left: Citizen Stiletto Men’s Eco-Drive — $213.50. When fully charged, this one’s advertised to run for 180 days without additional exposure to light. A neat push button deployment clasp, too.

2nd from right: Citizen Women’s Silhouette Eco-Drive Watch #EG2240-56L — $104.50. This one reportedly tops the above’s power reserve as it has a 240-day reserve, and it can be recharged with just 3 hours of exposure to light.

Far right: Another Citizen Women’s Silhousette Eco-Drive — $120.

It seems Casio and Citizen, both Japanese companies, own the solar watch space. Timex (a U.S. company) and Pulsar (was a U.S. company; now owned by Seiko, a Japanese co.) also have several offerings.

(I was curious so checked the stock of Citizen and Casio. Neither trade on U.S, exchanges, but not a big deal as neither look like good investments. That said, Citizen’s stock had a steady rise from 2002-late 2006.)

Like my simple and sleek design around the watches? Not bad for an Irish person — or one raised to believe she was Irish, huh? I might make Ingrid and Sven proud yet.

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