Elite Traveler Summer 2022

PANERAI This year at Watches & Wonders Geneva, Officine Panerai unveiled its new Submersible QuarantaQuattro collection,with watches made using its proprietary eSteel™ composed of predominantly (95%) recycled steel scraps. CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué also announced that in the coming five years, the brand will be phasing out its use of regular steel and replacing it with e-steel. This 44mm Panerai eSteel™ Submersible QuarantaQuattro automatic watch in green (also available in blue or gray) is water resistant to 300 meters and boasts a strap composed of fabric made entirely from recycled PET. It is sold with a second strap made from recycled rubber. $11,300, panerai.com CHOPARD Another brand that is working with its own recycled steel (called Lucent Steel), Chopard is releasing several new models this year made of the hypo allergenic alloy. In fact, Lucent Steel A223 is made with 70% recycled steel. This 41mm Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon watch is powered by the L.U.C. 96.24-L mechanical movement with tourbillon escapement that compensates for errors in timekeeping due to the effects of gravity on the watch when the wrist is in certain positions. $112,000, chopard.com

MAURICE LACROIX Earlier this year, Swiss watch brand Maurice Lacroix announced its partnership with #tide and its ‘That’s What a Drop Makes’ campaign. The point of the campaign is to emphasize that every effort made to help the environment adds up, no matter how small. Teaming with #tide, the brand releases the Aikon #tide watch collection that showcases colorful timepieces made using upcycled materials found in the oceans and combining them with glass fiber. The composite case material is harder than plastic and has a carbon footprint that is six times less than PET. The material is also used for the caseback, crown, bezel and buckle end pieces. It takes 17 bottles to make one watch. Even the packaging is

made of #tide composite. $950, mauricelacroix.com