Are Solar Watches Worth it?

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These days, solar power technology has become more and more popular amongst consumers. After all, it’s a great way to be environmentally friendly. Solar panels are beginning to pop up on homes and solar-powered cars are being developed as we speak. Now, solar-powered watches are making their way onto the market and into the hands of watch enthusiasts everywhere. Although becoming increasingly popular, there are both advantages and disadvantages to solar watches, both of which will be discussed here.

What Are Solar Watches?

A solar watch is just like any other type of watch except for the fact that it contains a number of cells called photovoltaic cells. These cells, otherwise known as PV cells, are the same type of cells found in solar panels. It is through these cells that solar watches are able to transform light into electrical energy and thus power up your watch.

Best of all, solar energy can be stored in your watch’s rechargeable batteries, making it easy for you to recharge it. Once your battery charge starts to get low, you’ll be able to tell via a power level visual indicator on the watch itself.

Shockingly, solar-powered watches have been around for several decades with the first ones being introduced in the 1970s. Since then, experts have worked to try and perfect the watches that we now see on the market today.

Casio Men ProTrek PRW2500R-1 Water Resist Watch w/Compass, Press
Casio Men ProTrek PRW2500R-1 Water Resist Watch w/Compass, Press
200M Water Resistance; Chronograph Display; Tough Solar Power; Multi-Band 6 Atomic Timekeeping
Seiko Men's SNE325 Dress Solar Black Stainless Steel Watch
Seiko Men's SNE325 Dress Solar Black Stainless Steel Watch
Round solar-powered watch with logoed dial and magnified date window at 3 o'clock; 41 mm stainless steel case with Hardlex dial window

Advantages of Solar Watches

With a regular watch, people have to worry about having to constantly switch out their batteries. This is not only a pain but can get pretty expensive. Solar watches, on the other hand, have the ability to charge not just with sunlight, but with any type of light source regardless of whether you’re inside or outside. This means that even if the sun isn’t out but you need to charge your watch, you can do so by simply putting it up to any light source. Even better, most solar watches can hold a charge for up to six months, which means that you won’t need to worry about charging them very often.

Another advantage of solar watches is the fact that they’re pretty low-maintenance. These types of watches don’t need to be wound up on a regular basis and simply need light to work. This means that if you’re someone who is always on the go, you’ll benefit from owning a watch that requires very little upkeep.

Solar watches are also eco-friendly as they reduce the use of disposable batteries, thus helping save the environment. Solar watches are a great way to go green; if you’re someone who cares about pollution and reducing the amount of waste you put out, solar watches are right for you.

Disadvantages of Solar Watches

Watches aren’t cheap to begin with; unfortunately, solar watches tend to be on the pricier side of things. Unless you’re looking to make an investment, a solar watch may not be for everyone.

Although solar watches don’t require a lot of light, they still rely on it to charge. The more light they get, the more accurate they are. This means that once your watch starts to lose battery life, it may begin to act up. More expensive watches tend to hold a longer battery life, while the more cost-effective ones may not be able to hold a charge as long and will require more exposure to light.

Another thing that some people may not like about solar watches is that they contain visible PV cells that may not always be aesthetically pleasing. As a result, your solar watch may not always go with your attire, particularly if it’s formal.

Conclusion

Solar watches are certainly something worth considering, especially if you’re someone who is intrigued by anything powered by solar energy. Solar watches are a great way to reduce pollution and don’t require a lot of maintenance. However, they can also be incredibly costly and may not always hold as much of a charge as you would expect them to.

Regardless, it’s important to weigh your options and choose what you’re willing to give up and what characteristics you’re looking for in a watch before you make a decision.

Last update on 2024-03-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API