Here’s a collaboration we didn’t see coming. Swiss watchmaker Hublot has teamed up with Nespresso to build a limited run of timepieces made from recycled coffee pods.
The aluminium pods themselves become the case, bezel, crown (complete with Nespresso logo) and pushers of the watch, while coffee grounds are transformed into a pair of straps made from rubber and Velcro fabric.
Of course, there are more ingredients here. Nespresso and Hublot say 28% of the aluminium used to make the case comes from Nespresso capsules, while the rubber strap is made up of 4.1% coffee grounds and 8.2% recycled white rubber. The additional Velcro strap is made from 95% recycled polyester and 5% coffee grounds.
The striking green case measures 42mm across and is 14.5mm thick. It's powered by the same Big Bang Unico automatic chronograph movement as other watches from Hublot, with its inner workings visible through the open, skeletal-style dial.
The watch has 10 metres of water resistance, although there’s no word on what happens when it’s submerged in a mug of boiling water with a splash of milk...
The intricate automatic movement, which is also visible through the exhibition case back, has a date complication at the three o'clock position, 43 jewels and an impressive power reserve of 72 hours. That means you could take the watch off on a Friday evening and it’ll still be keeping the correct time through Monday afternoon.
Nespresso CEO Guillaume Le Cunff said: “This exceptional watch is the result of a partnership between two Swiss companies who both have the same values of innovation, quality, sustainability and the Swiss spirit as their mainspring and within their DNA. As a B Corp certified business, this collaboration also aligns with Nespresso’s commitment to continue its transition to a circular business model by giving a second life to coffee grounds and the aluminium of our capsules.”
Limited to 200 individually numbered pieces, the watch is available to buy exclusively online and is priced at £20,800.
