WoodWatch: The Eco-Friendly Watch & BlueBlock Lense Review
When you start down the path of eco-friendly and sustainable living, you begin to notice the things that are staring you in the face that aren’t. One I noticed happened to be on my wrist.
I had gotten a compostable phone case from Pela when I needed to replace my old one, and started buying Allbirds sustainable shoes over anything else so when it was time to get a watch, it was time for WoodWatch to step in.
Because wood is free of harmful toxins and artificial materials, a wooden watch is not only the sustainable and eco-conscious choice, but it’s also better for your body. If you’re looking for a great gift for someone, a wood watch is also a beautiful and stylish option and you don’t have to worry too much about sizing. I love that about watches. Easy gifts for anyone. If you’re looking for one of the best wood watches on the market that is also affordable, then WoodWatch is where to shop.
What to know about WoodWatch watches and more:
- The WoodWatch Story
- My Nordic Sun Amber Watch Review
- My Clear Soho BlueBlock Lenses Review
- Final Thoughts
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)
The WoodWatch Story
Three friends from the Netherlands got together in 2013 with the goal of starting a sustainable company. WoodWatch was initially a side project for the trio that hoped by producing sustainable products they could change people’s perception about the impact they have when purchasing products. By the time the first prototypes were prepared, WoodWatch was born.
The company is actually the first Dutch brand to create affordable wood watches. The friends who had started working on the design and sustainable initiatives in the evenings after work eventually had to go into full-time operation. Today, there are over 150 different WoodWatch designs sold worldwide and they include watches, eyewear, and bracelets. The company grew quickly and even won the prestigious FD Gazellen Award by the Financieel Dagblad.
My Nordic Sun Amber Watch Review
I got the Nordic Sun Amber watch from the WoodWatch Aurora Collection. The description is as follows:
The AURORA Collection breaths the fresh air of Scandinavian nature and the astonishing views of the sky. This light weighing watch is made of European Olive Wood, accompanied by a light stainless-steel dial with a golden highlight and shining golden details. The Amber Band is made of genuine leather and a metal buckle clasp and is naturally died with a yellow hue.
When the package first arrived, I loved the eco-friendly packaging from the start. WoodWatch sends their products in simple cardboard box material with just their logo printed on top. Inside, the watch is wrapped in a piece of paper with a little string around it. Simple, chic, and just what you want to see in a company that’s sporting the sustainable attitude.
The next thing I noted was the beautiful dial and wooden ring of my watch. The WoodWatch site goes into a lot of detail on each of their products so that you know exactly what you’ll get when it arrives. For this particular watch, the information on the site explained that the olive wood was from Southern Europe and went further to say, “Olive Wood comes from the fruit-bearing olive tree and is a strong and durable wood type with a fine uniform texture with moderate natural luster. It has a distinct, fruity scent when being worked. It has a range from light to deep brown tints and has a distinguishable feature of an oil-like grain pattern.”
All of that to say, it will be beautiful and indeed in person, it is. I chose the lighter wooden option from the others on their site because I thought it would suit me and it really does.
Pros
- Eco-Friendly
- WoodWatch is committed to replanting forests and do this for every single purchase. Together with Trees For The Future, 3 trees are planted for each product that is sold in the Forest Garden Program. They do this to compensate for their wood usage and carbon footprint but also to support local communities in Senegal, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The Forest Garden Program is a proven successful approach. By planting specific types of trees in a systematic manner over a four year period, families can positively change their lives forever.
- When it comes to creating products made from wood, research points to the significant advantage that wood has over comparable materials. Carbon emission, effect on water quality and overall environmental impact when measured over the complete life cycle of the structural material is one of the examples. The energy that is needed for creating wooden ‘shapes’ is lower than that of the same shape in steel, meaning that making a WoodWatch is way less energy intensive than a comparable watch made of metal and steel.
- Lightweight
- While some beautiful metal watches can be quite heavy, you don’t have to worry about that with a wooden watch. They’re not only lightweight but they are also very comfortable.
- Unique Look & Design
- When I first saw the WoodWatch designs, I was intrigued. It’s definitely eye catching.
- FREE Engraving Options
- Adding a personalized touch is just the right touch especially if this is a gift. WoodWatch has a FREE engraving option
- It only takes 2 days for them to process the engraving before shipping so it’s a quick and easy way to add a unique touch to your watch.
- Affordable
- The watches range in price from $89.00 to $209.00. (If you click on this link to WoodWatch though, you can get 10% off when you order.)
- 2 Year Warranty
- If you’re worried about wear and tear, WoodWatch has your back with a 2 year warranty.
- Free International Shipping
Cons
- Not Made For Sports
- I wouldn’t suggest wearing this watch when you’re getting ready to get sweaty. At those times, a sturdy silicone watch is probably better, but every other time of the day, this would be a nice addition to the outfit and your holistic lifestyle.
- Durability
- While I think that my watch is definitely durable, metal will always be more durable in the end than wood. That said, a well-maintained wooden watch can last for more than a decade so just take care of yours when you are wearing it.
My Clear Soho BlueBlock Lenses Review
Since I was already getting a watch, I also wanted to try out the BlueBlock lenses I’ve been reading so much about the past couple of years. These clear specs are meant to help keep the excess blue light from screens that can cause eye strain, headaches, and cause poor sleep out. I got the Soho Clear frames that are made with durable Italian Mazzucchelli bio-acetate with hand-finished natural senna siamea wood temples and nude acetate tips. I’ve been wearing them for a month as I work at my computer and when I’m using my phone in the evenings.
The glasses are really comfortable on and that’s from someone who doesn’t wear glasses usually so my ears tend to be a bit more sensitive when I do wear glasses. I’ve had no issues with these rubbing. I love the style and think they really suit my face. I’ll definitely keep using these. They’ve now became a staple on my desk so I put them on as soon as I sit down. Protect those eyeballs!
Pros
- Sustainability
- The bio-acetate is made from cotton and organic resins making the frames oil-free, sustainable, and biodegradable.
- The wood used is all sustainable just like in their watches.
- Lightweight
- These are very comfortable lightweight frames. As someone who doesn’t usually wear glasses and could easily end up with uncomfortable ears, I’m glad to say these don’t bother my sensitive ears at all.
- Nice design
- There are multiple options for frames on the WoodWatch site which is great, but I’m personally very fond of these clear frames. They really suit me.
- Multiple style/size options available to suit different faces.
- 2 Year Warranty
- WoodWatch stands behind their products and offers a great warranty on their glasses as well as their watches.
Cons
- None that I’ve found so far.
Final Thoughts
WoodWatch is a fantastic company with great products that make for great gifts for yourself or for others. They have affordable sustainable products and I love that they plant three trees for every product that is purchased. If you’re looking for a wood watch for yourself or for someone else, definitely check out this company. They have FREE International shipping and it comes very quickly so jump on it if you want your own now.
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