Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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styling by terry lewis Sea Change As Boston celeBrAtes eArth DAy, leADing wAtch BrAnDs Are creAting timepieces thAt sAlute those working to protect our oceAns. by roberta naas photography by jeff crawford Our oceans face a host of pressing issues, including overfishing, pollution, and widespread destruction of the wetlands and other coastal ecosystems that support sea life. Numerous environmental organizations are working to address these problems, and a select group of watch brands has joined them in the fight. Omega Watches created the Seamaster Planet Ocean in 2005, and eight years later it produced a special edition in partnership with the GoodPlanet Foundation, with a portion of its proceeds funding the preservation of sea grasses and coral reefs in the oceans of Southeast Asia. In the same spirit, Jaeger-LeCoultre has a partnership with Unesco that supports the protection of nearly 50 crown-jewel marine sites on the organization's World Heritage List; a recent project safeguards the habitats of sea lions and humpback whales in Alaska's Glacier Bay. Girard-Perregaux contributes to the efforts of Susan and David Rockefeller, detailed in her short film Mission of Mermaids, to increase awareness of the plight of the oceans. The Rolex Awards for Enterprise honor entrepreneurial individuals trying to improve lives around the world or protect the environment. Perhaps the brand's most high-profile initiative is the Deepsea Challenge, in which Rolex funded filmmaker and explorer James Cameron's expedition to the deepest point in the world's oceans—more than seven miles down— aboard the submersible Deepsea Challenger, an effort that culminated in Cameron's 2014 documentary Deepsea Challenge 3D. For more watch features and expanded coverage, go to boston common-magazine.com/watches. BC from top: In partnership with the GoodPlanet Foundation, Omega has released the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Co-Axial GMT 44mm GoodPlanet watch ($8,100). It has an orange aluminum GMT hand for tracking the time in two time zones and a helium escape valve that makes it water- resistant to 600 meters. Natick Mall, 508-545-2398; omegawatches.com This Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic 1958 watch ($9,800), crafted in stainless steel and housing an automatic self-winding movement, pays tribute to the original Geophysic watch, which was created in 1958 for the International Geophysical Year. The new models are water-resistant to 100 meters. Shreve, Crump & Low, 39 Newbury St., 617-267-9100; shrevecrumpandlow.com In honor of James Cameron's Deepsea Challenger voyage, Rolex has built the 44mm Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea watch ($12,350). A COSC- certified chronometer that is water-resistant to 3,900 meters, this stainless steel timepiece features the brand's Ringlock system, with a rotatable black ceramic bezel, a helium escape valve, a titanium back, and a Glidelock Oyster bracelet. Lux Bond & Green, 416 Boylston St., 617-266-4747; rolex.com From Girard-Perregaux, this Sea Hawk Mission of Mermaids watch ($11,750) is water-resistant to 1,000 meters. It is crafted in stainless steel and rubber and features a self-winding mechanical movement and 46 hours of power reserve. Royal Jewelers, 58 Main St., Andover, 978-475-3330; girard-peerregaux.com 44 bostoncommon-magazine.com STYLE Time Honored