Top 10 Best Solar Watches [Solar-Powered Watches]

Solar watches have increased in popularity dramatically, but despite this, they have actually existed for several decades.

If you’re looking for a solar watch, you have come to the right place. Today, there are many different watch brands that make solar watches, but Seiko and Casio have for a long time been two brands that have specialized in the making and developing of these timepieces. Seiko with its Solar system, and Casio with its Eco-Drive system.

What is a solar watch?

A solar watch is, as the name suggests, a watch that is powered by solar (and ambient) light. Solar watches feature quartz movement with batteries. In turn, they have solar panels which are positioned behind the dial. The dial is then designed in a way that it lets light through it and to the solar panel. The solar panels then convert this light into energy and charge the moment.

Unlike what many people believe, solar watches aren’t only powered by direct sunlight. Instead, they get energy from both solar and ambient light, both indoors and outdoors. This also means that you can expose a solar watch to incandescent or fluorescent bulbs to recharge the battery.

Our favorite part about solar watches is that nowadays, they are so well-made that you won’t even notice that they feature solar panels. You could think that solar panels have ugly solar panels visibly displayed on the dial, but in modern solar watches, they are discreetly hidden behind beautifully finished and decorated dials. As such, just because it is a solar watch doesn’t mean its appearance is negatively affected.

The benefit of a solar watch is therefore that it eliminates the need for replacing the battery. And there are obviously several benefits to this. First and foremost, it is great from a practical standpoint. In theory, solar watches will last forever, and this will save you time and effort by not having to visit a watchmaker to replace the battery when it runs out of energy. Secondly, solar watches are also great for the environment since you can use one single battery and not have to replace it all the time.

And lastly, it saves you money by not having to buy a new battery and have a watchmaker change it.

With this said, it’s easy to see why solar watches are increasing in popularity. They are simply extremely practical and convenient.

Solar watches also offer a great power reserve. Whilst a mechanical watch generally only has a power reserve of one or two days, solar-powered watches have power reserves of several months until they need to be charged by light again. This makes them extremely practical.

Best Solar Watches (Solar Powered Watches)

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Casio Tactical Rangeman G-Shock Solar GW9400-1B

The Casio Tactical Rangeman G-Shock solar is, as the name suggests, a tough, robust, and durable watch meant to handle the toughest and most demanding situations. It also happens to be a solar-powered watch.

The watch features a tough resin case with the classic G-Shock design and is presented on a black resin band. This watch is developed for the most demanding wearers and is made to be worn out in the field where you need a watch that you can truly depend on.

It has a shock-resistant triple sensor that can measure altitude, barometric pressure, temperature, and direction readings. Its tough design ensures that water or mud does not come into the case.

In terms of functions, it has a full Auto Calendar function with 12/24 Hour Formats Button operation tone on/off and has a battery life of 7 months on a full charge if it is not subject to any light. It also incorporates atomic timekeeping and receives time calibration radio signals for perfect accuracy at all times.

Specifications

Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
Movement: Solar-powered quartz, digital
Battery Life: 7 months on a full charge

Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium BL5558-58L

Next up is the Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium BL5558-58L which is designed as a sporty everyday watch, made in titanium, and treated with Duratect which is Citizen’s proprietary surface-hardening coating that creates a material that is 40% lighter and five times more scratch-resistant than stainless steel. In other words, this watch is tough and built to last. The titanium construction allows for very light and comfortable wear.

The case has a diameter of 43mm and an anti-reflective mineral crystal on top.

The watch incorporates a chronograph function, and on the sub-dials on the dial, you’ll also notice it has a solar function if you look closely, as the sub-dials are semi-transparent. The solar function ensures that you do not have to replace its batteries.

The watch is water-resistant to 100m/330 feet which is ok, meaning you can go swimming with it without any issues.

As for the functions, it has a 1/20 second chronograph that measures up to 60 minutes, 12- and 24-hour time, a perpetual calendar, dual time (a second-time zone), a tachymeter, a date display, and an alarm. In other words, it has more functions than you may think at first.

All in all, the design of this watch is quite nice too, with a dark blue dial with large Arabic numerals and hands. It offers excellent legibility in a stylish and sporty execution.

Specifications

Diameter: 43mm
Movement: solar-powered quartz
Water resistance: 100m/330 feet

Seiko SSC141 Stainless Steel Solar Chronograph

The Seiko SSC141 is a sporty and masculine chronograph, of course solar-powered.

It features a 42.5mm stainless steel case with a Hardlex crystal on top. It is powered by a Japanese quartz movement with solar technology, and an analog display.

The water resistance is 100m/330 feet which means you can go swimming with it which is practical for an everyday watch. The dial is what makes this stand out, with its dark blue color and subtle striped pattern. This is an alarm chronograph which means that in addition to the chronograph function and its three sub-dials, it also has an alarm that can be set on a 12-hour basis. As for the chronograph, it measures up to 60 minutes in 1/5 second increments and incorporates split time measurement.

Around the reheat, it also has a tachymeter scale which enables you to measure average speed, as well as a date function at 3 o’clock for convenience.

With its sporty case design and beautiful blue dial, this is a perfect everyday watch that works for many different occasions and with many different outfits.

Specifications

Diameter: 42.5mm
Movement: Japanese Solar-powered quartz
Crystal: Hardlex
Water resistance: 100m/330 feet

Citizen Eco-Drive Stainless Steel Dress watch AW1236-03A

If you’re looking for a sleek and elegant dress watch with solar function, the Citizen Eco-Drive AW1236-03A is definitely a great choice.

This watch is presented with a 40mm stainless steel case with a mineral crystal on top, and to achieve an elegant appearance, it has a polished bezel and polished lugs.

Powering this watch is a Japanese quartz movement with Solar technology. The water resistance of 30m/100 feet isn’t the best, but it doesn’t really matter in a dress watch anyway. For a more classic appearance, it is presented on a black embossed leather strap.

The dial of this watch is simple, clean, and beautiful with a brushed silver background and rose gold-tone applied Roman hour markers and pointy, slim hands.

All in all, this is a watch that complements your outfit without stealing the show, perfect for formal occasions to enhance your appearance.

Specifications

Diameter: 40mm
Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
Movement: Solar-powered quartz

Seiko SUP880 Rectangular Solar Dress Watch

If you’re looking for an extremely classy and elegant dress watch, you can’t go wrong with the Seiko SUP880. For a traditional appearance, it features a gold-tone rectangular case with a diameter of 28.5mm. The crown has a black stone on its tip which is obviously inspired by the iconic Cartier Tank.

Complementing the beautiful rectangular case is a white dial with a striped pattern and printed black Roman numerals. The hands are leaf-shaped and painted black which provides excellent legibility and contrast against the white background.

The watch is a solar-powered timepiece, so naturally, it features a Japanese Solar quartz movement.

The water resistance is 100 feet which essentially just means it is splash-proof, but for this type of watch, the water resistance isn’t a big deal.

The case is designed to be slim in order to slide under a cuff without any issues. The bottom line is that this watch will enhance any formal outfit in a beautiful and classic way.

Specifications

Diameter: 28.5mm
Movement: Solar-powered quartz
Water resistance: 30m/100 feet

Seiko SNE039 Solar Watch

Next up, we have the Seiko SNE039. This is one of Seiko’s most popular affordable solar watches due to its versatility, attractive price, and stylish design.

It features a stainless steel case with a diameter of 37mm which suits both men and women and has a Hardlex crystal on top.

The design of this watch is executed to make it very versatile and work perfectly for everyday wear. It has a beautiful black dial with a sunburst finish and

Applied rectangular hour markers with applied luminescent material. The hands are slim and carry a sword-shaped design. For versatility, it has a day and a date window positioned at 3 o’clock.

Powering this watch is a quartz movement with solar technology, so you won’t ever have to think about replacing its batteries.

The water resistance of 30 meters/100 feet works well for everyday wear, but it’s not advised to go swimming with it. And with its thickness of only 9.6mm, it doesn’t feel huge on the wrist either.

Specifications

Diameter: 37mm
Movement: Solar-powered quartz
Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
Thickness: 9.6mm

Timex Expedition Scout Solar-Powered

For a sporty and versatile affordable solar-powered field watch, look no further than the Timex Expedition Scout Polar.

This watch features a 40mm brass case with a mineral crystal on top. It uses a classic sporty field watch design with an emphasis on a large dial and good legibility.

It has a matte dark dial with large sword-shaped hands and large Arabic numerals printed on the dial. Since this is a military-inspired field watch, it also has 24-hour markers around the dial as well. At 3 o’clock, you find a date window which can always be convenient to have. The solar-powered movement offers a four-month power reserve when fully charged. The water resistance is 50m/165 feet.

For someone who is looking for a sportier timepiece that can be worn as an everyday watch, you can’t go wrong with this one. And solar power technology certainly contributes to making this watch more practical.

Specifications

Diameter: 40mm
Movement: Solar-powered quartz
Water resistance: 50m/165feet
Crystal: Mineral glass

Citizen BM8180-03E Military Field Watch

The Citizen BM8180-03E is one of Citizen’s most popular watches, and it also happens to be a solar watch.

It features a case with a diameter of 37mm which is very reasonable and works for many different wrist sizes. The thickness of 9mm makes it sit slim and comfortably on the wrist. This is a military-inspired field watch, and so its military green canvas strap makes for a perfect match.

The dial features all of the classic elements that you would expect to find in a field watch such as a matte black dial, large printed Arabic numerals, and large hands for excellent legibility. Speaking of the hands, it has broad sword-shaped hands with luminescence applied to them and a red seconds hand which adds some sportiness to it and keeps it from being completely monochrome. It is a subtle but important detail.

At 3 o’clock, it has a day and date window which can be convenient for everyday wear.

The water resistance of 100m/330 fetes quite good and means that you can go swimming with it. After all, this is a watch that is built to be tough and handle all kinds of different hardships.

And, as you know, it is powered by the Citizen Eco-Drive movement, meaning solar-powered quartz.

Specifications

Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
Movement: Solar-powered quartz
Diameter: 37mm
Thickness: 9mm

Timex Expedition Gallatin Solar-Powered Watch

As the name suggests, the Timex Expedition Gallatin is built to be a tough and robust explorer’s watch. It features a 45mm resin case and has an acrylic crystal on top. For a sportier appearance, the case has been made completely black. The bezel is a unidirectional rotating bezel that enables you to measure elapsed time.

The solar quartz movement can be charged by any light and has a two-month power reserve.

The only downside to this watch is its water resistance of 50m/165 feet, but this isn’t a dive watch, so you shouldn’t use it as one.

The black dial has a nice but subtle honeycomb pattern at the center and a small and discreet date window positioned at 3 o’clock. The hands are rectangular and have luminescence applied to them. This watch certainly looks just as tough as it is meant to be, making it great for everyday wear, but not the least for exploring and expeditions.

Specifications

Diameter: 45mm
Water resistance: 50m/165 feet
Movement: Solar-powered quartz

Citizen Eco-Drive Racing Chronograph CA0649-06X

Last but not least, we have the Citizen Eco-Drive CA0649-06X solar watch.

This watch is designed as a racing chronograph and has a classic, retro-inspired design. It is presented with a 44mm stainless steel case with sporty, straight, and rectangular lugs.

It is powered by a Japanese quartz movement that offers solar technology. It incorporates a 1/5 Second chronograph that measures up to 60 Minutes, 12/24, and displays Hour Time, and date.

The water resistance of 100m/330 feet is actually quite impressive for this type of watch. But considering that it is presented on a brown racing-inspired perforated leather strap, it is not advised to go swimming with it.

The bezel has a tachymeter scale on the bezel for measuring average speed, and the dial has a cream-is color which gives it more of a vintage look.

Specifications

Diameter: 44mm
Movement: Japanese Solar Quartz
Water resistance: 100m/330 feet

Benefits of a solar watch

There are two primary benefits of solar watches. First and foremost, it is convenience. When you have a quartz watch, you need to replace the battery occasionally. If you cannot do it yourself, you need to take the watch to a watchmaker, pay for a battery and pay for it to be replaced. You also need to wait for it to be done. In addition, due to the fact that solar watches are quartz, they have very low maintenance in comparison with mechanical watches. Quartz watches do not need to be serviced in the same way as mechanical watches, leading to lower maintenance costs.

The second benefit of solar watches is that they are good for the environment. When your battery runs of out energy, it needs to be replaced and then disposed of. With solar watches, you avoid having to buy new batteries that are bad for the environment and then throw them away when they run out of energy.

Another reason why people choose solar watches is that they appreciate the technology behind them. Solar technology is on the rise with the increased interest in renewable energy, and whilst solar-powered watches have existed for a long time, the interest in them is certainly growing.

Solar watches also offer a great power reserve in comparison with mechanical watches. Solar watches usually have a power reserve of a few months. Compare this with mechanical watches that often have a power reserve of 1 and a half or 2 days.

How Solar-Powered Watches Work

The concept behind solar-powered watches is quite simple. Solar watches have photovoltaic solar cells, normally placed behind the dial which accumulates energy from solar and ambient light and converts that into energy that is stored in the watch battery/rechargeable cell. Because the energy is stored, it means that the watch does not need constant light to function properly and can function in the dark.

Do solar-powered watches only charge under sunlight?

No, solar watches are charged by artificial and natural light. With this said, they can charge under any light, including a regular lamp.

How long do solar watches last?

Solar watches normally have a power reserve of at least a few months when fully charged. This means that you can leave your solar watch for a few months and then come back to it and it is still going. Different watches have different power reserves, but most watches have a power reserve of approximately 3 to 8 months.

What watch brands are solar?

As you have seen, there are many different watch brands that incorporate solar technology. Even some luxury watch brands have hopped on the solar watch “trend” in recent years such as Cartier.

The biggest watch brands that focus most on solar technology include Seiko, Citizen, Timex, Casio, and G-Shock.

Solar watch buyer’s guide

When buying a solar watch, mostly the same criteria applies as when you are buying any watch. Some of the most important factors to take into consideration are:

Power reserve

With a solar watch, the power reserve is in particular something worth considering as different watches have different power reserves. In general, the power reserve is however not an issue as it is usually between a few months, and the watch will rarely run out of energy since most people wear their watches more frequently than that. But if power reserve is important to you, make sure you look at the specifications to see what the watch offers.

Size

The size is always a factor that you should consider when buying any watch. Different people have different preferences when it comes to watch sizes, but you also need to think about your wrist size and see what size will work on your wrist. If you have a smaller wrist, you should naturally opt for a smaller watch, and if you have a large wrist, you should look at larger watches.

The style and design

The purpose and occasions at which you’ll wear your watch also come into play when choosing a watch. As you have seen, solar watches come in all kinds of different designs, shapes, and forms, so ultimately, the type of watch you choose depends on how you will use it. If you want something that works great on formal occasions, you should look for an elegant dress watch that pairs well with formal attire. But if you are going to wear the watch on casual occasions, you should look for a casual sports watch.

Water resistance

The water resistance may or may not be important to you depending on how you intend to use it. If you plan on going swimming or diving, you obviously need a watch that can withstand water. But if you’re going to wear it on formal occasions and won’t come anywhere near water, you won’t really have to worry about this.

Top 10 Best Solar Watches [Solar-Powered Watches]