Nature in Time

Nature has always been a way for people to keep track of time. The sun rising in the sky is as old as the earth, and it was the sun that led the way in ancient days to keep time. Nature has always served humans as a timekeeper. Above all, time is as old as the hills and can’t be separated from nature. Moreover, as we know nature has so much to offer besides time. The more we explore its natural bounty the more we can work, hand in hand, with all it has to offer. Indeed, we now refer to this as bio-sourcing, the combination of nature and science to create biotechnologies. Yet Bio-sourced materials and Timekeeping are not words we often see or hear put together. However, these notions are closer than you may think. Discover more in Nature in Time.

Did you know that the first references of Humans to understand time were shadows, sun, seasons, moon cycles and tide cycles? To clarify, humans have always tried to find their bearings in time with the creation of calendars, clocks, watches, etc.

The first object which we used in Nature, to tell time and define precisely day and night, is the sundial. This object dates back to Antiquity. On a plate, there would have been a vertical stick, and dependent of the sun’s and moon’s position, the shadow caused by the stick would indicate the hour during days and nights. In fact, it was an early form of innovation showing how man-made creations can work hand in hand with nature.

Sundial

Over time, innovations have followed one another. From the sun to mechanical objects, watch making was born. To clarify, the watch below is the gusset watch which is the first watch, created at the beginnig of the 20th century.

Forward on several hundred years, from the pocket watch to the idea of wearing a simple timepiece on your wrist, much innovation has been seen. From sun and nature to digital watches many innovations happened. Passing by wristwatch to automatic winding watch, Nature and sun are at the very basis of today’s innovations.

Yet we will always be drawn back to nature as a inspiration for creativity. Therefore, watches are a perfect example of where nature and nurture comes together. In April 2021, new bio-sourced and ceramic materials have been used in the new product from the Swiss leading watch brand: Swatch.

Swatch was founded by Ernst Thomke, Elmar Mock and Jacques Müller in 1983. They offered a plastic watch with only 51 components. However, how did this idea emerge? It was during the Quartz crisis in the 1970s and 1980s to conquer the entry level market in Switzerland. Indeed, they stayed accessible and aware of their environment. They did not loose track of what Nature has to offer for example with their collection Swatch Bijoux with precious stones. Then, their innovations have led them to collaborate with creative designers. For instance, Olaf Hajek who created in 2014, a watch with colored design inspired by Nature.

Quartz

Furthermore, Nature and innovation are brought together in their latest product. In September 2020 the brand took a turn towards becoming more environmentally aware. Nature and time has always been at the heart of their projects. In fact their first Swatch collection was made with bio-sourced materials, “Swatch BIORELOADED”.

What does that mean ? Bio-sourced materials are partially or fully taken from biomass. That is to say, Swatch uses seeds and oil from the castor plant. Additionally to that, even the packaging became biodegradable. In short, the nature served the brand. It is a perfect example of how nature can be useful for humans innovations.

Castor plant

In their continuation of using and admiring Nature, they have launched BIOCERAMIC watches. Which is now available on their website.

You may ask, what is the difference regarding the previous collection? Nature is fully present in the product. Besides, the BIOCERAMIC collection is made of 2/3 ceramic and 1/3 bio-sourced materials. It permits the watch to be stronger and more resistant as nature offers. However, it is still flexible and keeps a soft touch. In addition, the brand used nature as a power for creation. In conclusion, nature is a blank canvas with which you can create beautiful innovations. 

Ceramic Plates Ceramic plates by freefoodphotos.com

You may wonder what does it look like? Firstly, the bracelet, glass and loops are made from bio-sourced plastic. Secondly, the body of the watch is bioceramic. That is to say, the entire product is new, comes from nature and shaped by man. Here they are combining nature and nurture to create their new product.

As you can see above, their advertising campaign is partially based on the idea of Nature and sun. In fact, it is a homecoming for the brand. Mother Nature and sun are the basis of all these innovations. On top of that, it is finally the artwork of Nature.

From an aesthetic point of view, the watch dial is named BIG BOLD. Its 47mm diameter highlights the sleek design and the visible mechanism. Most importantly, the design recalls the sundial, simple and functional. Furthermore, there are five colours. That is to say, the unavoidable black and white, grey as “the colour of the year”, sky blue for optimism and a powerful pink.

To conclude Nature in Time, these two notions have always been combining perfectly. They grew together and nature has nurtured our understanding of Time. From the sundial to Swatch watches now, Nature has not changed but innovations have. Furthermore, today’s world is constantly changing, environmental issues are at stake today. Swatch proves that they have taken it into account with its new collection Swatch BIOCERAMIC. In conclusion, Nature is the basis of everything, even man and time, which means that it is necessary to take care of it.

If you are inspired by Swatch’s commitment and their products you can discover more here.

Swatch BIOCERAMIC by Swatch brand.

If you liked the article Nature in time, you could read Power of Perfume.