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Stephen Alan's Jewellers - The Jewellery Blog
Here we go again, the vegans are deciding which types of watch straps we’re allowed now! What’s happening to the world?
Actually, vegan watch straps have been around for a long time, they just weren’t called vegan watch straps – think stainless steel, nylon or silicone watch straps.
But there is a movement happening in the world of watch straps, where people are moving away from leather, and demanding similar materials that are animal-cruelty-free.
To help you make a little more sense of the watch industry’s approach to the demand for vegan watch straps, we’ve created this short blog post, which we’d love you to share.
Contents
Is leather cruel?
What is ethical leather?
What is veganism?
What do vegans eat?
What has vegan food got to do with watch straps?
What are the types of vegan watch straps available?
Conclusion
Is leather cruel?
Before going into detail about vegan watch straps, it’s important we begin by saying this article isn’t designed to disparage responsible leather producers, or the ethical leather used by top watch brands to produce their straps.
This article has simply been written to answer the question ‘What is a vegan watch strap?’ and other questions that might arise when providing an answer, including ‘Is leather cruel?’, and ‘What are the alternatives?’.
What is ethical leather?
Let’s not pretend - some level of animal-cruelty has to happen i.e. an animal has to be slaughtered for any leather product, including watch straps, handbags, shoes and trousers to be produced.
And the cruelty within some parts of the leather industry, particularly in developing countries, doesn’t stop at animals, as its production relies on cheap labour, where workers are forced to work in life-endangering conditions.
Thankfully, many of the world's top watchmakers opt for ethical leather, a product that although it essentially relies on the death of an animal, the process prior to slaughter is far kinder to the animal and the environment.
For leather to be classed as ethical, it will mean amongst other things:
Its production hasn’t relied on the cheap unethical labour of children and/or adults (usually in developing countries)
It was produced exclusively as a byproduct of the meat industry, where animal welfare was a top priority
Responsible practices were used with regard to chemical use, water management, emissions, waste and energy use.
Two sides to every argument
If you’re not sure which side of the leather argument you’re on, to help increase your knowledge follow this link to check out a series of videos from Leather UK about some of the common misconceptions about the leather industry, and how the vegan alternatives might not be the better choice.
What is veganism?
To start with the basics – vegans don’t eat meat, dairy or eggs, or any other products of animal origin. And, although people who don’t consume animal products have been around for millennia, the term ‘vegan’ wasn’t coined until 1944 by a group now known as the Vegan Society.
What do vegans eat?
A vegan diet is plant-based, which as the term suggests is food derived from plants, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, seeds, nuts, herbs and spices, and absolutely excludes anything that comes from an animal, such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, honey, and all dairy products.
What does vegan food have to do with watch straps?
Veganism is a way of life, where the vegan stays clear of anything that involves the cruelty or exploitation of animals, which extends to (amongst many other things) the jewellery, including the watches, they wear.
So, it follows, a vegan watch strap i.e., a watch strap that hasn’t relied on animal exploitation or cruelty for its production, will certainly be something a vegan watch-lover will be on the lookout for.
And, with the growing number of people opting for vegan lifestyles, watch brands and watchmakers alike are filling the market with leather alternatives, using a whole range of materials, some of which mimic leather perfectly.
What are the types of vegan watch straps available?
Metal
Naturally, any type of metal from stainless steel to gold, silver or titanium will be high up on the list of a material for a vegan watch strap. And the benefits of a metal watch strap are numerous, and include:
Durability – A decent metal watch strap will be designed to withstand all the day-to-day knocks and scrapes a watch suffers throughout its life, and in the event of damage can easily be repaired by a skilled watch repair specialist.
Style – It’s hard to beat the look of a metal watch strap with its glittering reflective quality, its stylish accent, and the fact it will complement most outfits including those worn on formal occasions and everyday occasions.
Weight – As any dedicated watch wearer will know, when you have a watch with that satisfying weight and heft, it somehow just feels like a better timepiece with a metal strap, than one with a flimsy alternative.
Rubber
When you think of a rubber watch strap, luxury might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But, with the fairly recent increase in demand for alternatives to leather, rubber watch straps have excelled in performance and style.
And, when you think of the benefits of rubber watch straps, it’s easy to see why people are choosing this product over leather or metal. Some of the benefits include:
Water-resistance – This means you can wear your watch when swimming in the pool, a lake or the ocean, and not worry about strap deterioration.
Sweat-resistance – Although rubber in itself doesn’t allow your skin to breathe that well, the textured underside of a modern rubber watch strap is designed for increased airflow, helping to keep your wrist sweat-free.
Durability – Rubber watch straps can take knock after knock and literally bounce back without any damage, making them a great choice as a sports watch or a watch to wear at work.
Vegan leather
True leather enthusiasts might make all sorts of noises and faces when told that leather doesn’t have to come from animal hide, but vegan leather is seeing a huge rise in popularity, particularly in the younger market.
What is a vegan leather watch strap made from?
Although often made from polyurethane, vegan leather watch straps can also be made from pineapple leaves, apple skin, teak leaf, wood, cork, paper, mushrooms, grapes, and even upcycled coffee grounds and plastic bottles.
Conclusion
It’s easy to brush off the rise in veganism and the demand for vegan products as a fad, but, with online searches for ‘vegan food near me’ increasing by 5000%, and the vegan leather market set to be worth $90 billion by 2025, it would be a big mistake for watchmakers to ignore the movement.
Of course, leather is still a great (biodegradable) product, but with more information on the leather production process (and its downsides) available to us, added to our rising interest in animal welfare, could we be witnessing the beginning of the end for leather watch straps?
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