"Solar-powered" is quickly becoming the green marketing buzzword of tech and gadget companies. While some of these devices are outlandishly expensive, others are just downright impractical. Just because you slap a solar panel on it doesn't make it eco-friendly. But Q&Q proves that some designers really do get it. The firm recently made its gorgeous line of solar-powered watches available to the world (previously limited to Japan). Not only is the SmileSolar line eco-friendly, it also comes with a price tag regular people can afford. And buying one actually helps to make the world a better place for someone you've never met.
We discovered Q&Q’s solar powered watches during Sight Unseen Offsite, a shoppable two-story exhibition that took place recently in New York City. Our team was instantly drawn to the colorful timepieces that sport a variety of textures and patterns sure to please even the most fashion-forward hipster.
Related: The Solar-Powered Seiko Astron Watch Even Boasts a Mini GPS Receiver
Then we learned that there was much more to love. Like the fact that the SmileSolar line features recycled materials and reduces waste by eliminating the need for a battery; the watch also made a not-so-brief cameo in Katy Perry’s latest music video, “Birthday.”
The watches transform the sun’s rays into time-keeping energy via a razor-thin solar panel hidden around the inside rim of the watch casing. According to the designers, an hour of sunlight gives the Smile Solar around three months of battery life–so as long as you go outside at least an hour a day, it will never run out of power! Best of all, when you purchase a Q&Q SmileSolar watch, a portion of the proceeds is donated to Table for Two to deliver school meals to hungry children in Africa and Asia.
All for just $40 a pop.
