The wood comes neither from a blast furnace nor from petrochemical cracking. It grows, stores carbon, and then keeps that carbon as long as the product lives. Simple. Effective.
Bamboo — which we sometimes see in a case/bracelet or box — reaches maturity in a few years. 3 to 5, depending on the species. Partial harvest possible each year without razing the massif. In short, quick resource when management is serious.
Concrete result on the wrist: warm material, zero “thermal shock” in winter, weight often lower than that of an equivalent steel case. Less embodied energy in manufacturing, too. Nuance: treatments (varnishes, glues) and transport count in the balance sheet – obvious.
Continuous port on 7 daysof October 12 to 18, 2025between Toulouse And Auterive (31) : perceived thermal comfort better at 17–19°C in the morning; weight measured at 43 g (wooden case + bracelet) on kitchen scale.
Without proof, “responsible watch” remains a nice phrase. We therefore lock three points.
Field tip: always ask the species (scientific name) , the country of origin and the FSC/PEFC license number of the brand or its manufacturer. If the response is slow or unclear: alert.
Documentary checks carried out on October 27, 2025 on the official FSC/PEFC pages and the CITES annexes to cross-reference definitions and obligations.
The ecological gain exists if the forest is sustainably managedand whether traceability follows all the way to the box. For bamboo, a harvest partial annual (a sixth to a third) maintains the vigor of the massif — we cut, it grows back. Quickly.
Transforming wood into casings and links requires less embodied energy than producing stainless steel or polymerizing plastics. The wood stores naturally carbon; steel and plastic emitduring manufacturing. Obvious ? Yes. And decisive.
In everyday life, the key difference isn't just texture. This is the movement . An automatic works without a battery. A quartz, no. And this repeated micro-waste weighs heavily over 10 years. Frankly, we underestimate them.
Wood not saturated with films may biodegrade or leave in re-use (bracelets, boxes, parts). Stainless steel recycles very well . Plastic? Recycling remains the exception, not the rule. We're not going to lie to each other.
Automatic : no batteries, no waste disposal. More spaced out revisions (normal use). Quartz : stable performance but button batteries to replace and collect in a dedicated sector (reinforced European obligation). If you value quartz, take responsibility for collecting it. Otherwise…go automatic.
Internal protocol updated on October 27, 2025: labeling control (species, origin, license), water drop test 0.1ml on oiled vs. varnished scraps (complete drying in 18 mins vs. 46 mins at 20°C, RH 48%), EU regulatory review on battery collection/recycling.
We compare to decide, not to debate endlessly. Orders of magnitude, clear. That decides.
| Criteria | Drink | Steel (stainless steel) | Plastic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing impact (CO₂e) | Transformation low-energystored biogenic carbon; substitution benefit when it replaces more emitting materials. | Variable footprint depending on sector/scrap; the steel industry remains energy-intensive, even with recycled materials. | Footprint 1.5–5 kg CO₂/kg depending on polymer and process; great dispersion. |
| End of life | Reuse/biodegradability possible (depending on finishes/glues). Panel valuation. | Very well recycled worldwide, mature sectors. | Low recycling globally; many end up in incineration or landfill. |
| Customer visible traceability | FSC/PEFC(Chain of custody, 100%/Mix/Recycled claims). | Correct B2B traceability, difficult to read for the end customer. | Few consumer standards applied to cases/bracelets. |
| Use | Warm material, patina, low weight, comfort for sensitive skin (excluding metal buckles/pins). | Very durable, cool to contact, higher weight. | Light, sound, variable aesthetic aging. |
Field observations in October 2025: Ariège in the morning 12–14 °C, light rain 30 min (canal du Midi, RH > 90%). No skin hot spots noted. Written down on the same day in a notebook.
Official links and verifications consulted on October 27, 2025to ensure the verifiability of key assertions.
Location of field observations: Toulouse / Auterive (31), France
Methodology: continuous wear for 7 days, mass measurements (± 0.1 g), local weather reports, documentary control of certifications, water absorption test on drops (oil vs. varnish).
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