Adventure Ready: The Best Solar Powered Watches In 2022

Why Trust Us

We have researched all about what makes great solar watches, from the durability to the power reserve to the watch material. Then we scoured the internet and learned from testers about what makes the best solar watches on the market. We chose the best options to include in this guide and give you all the information you need to know to make an informed purchase.

Who This Is For

If you're tired of dealing with watch batteries or rewinding your mechanical watches, then you may be ready for solar watches. Solar watches use a power reserve to last for months to years without needing to charge it. If you spend a lot of time outside, or just don't ever want to worry about your watch's battery, check out this list of solar watches.

How We Picked

We picked the solar watches in this guide based on quality, power reserve, and other important features. We chose some dress watches and some outdoorsy rugged watches so that there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking for your everyday watch or something to take to the depths as a dive watch, you will find lots of options and information in this guide to the best solar watches.

Features To Look For In Solar Powered Watches

When deciding on the best solar watch for you, it is important to consider what features you need in your watch. Here are a few considerations when choosing from our list of solar-powered watches.

Technology - Technology is always evolving so picking a current watch can help you from feeling left out when the newest solar technology comes out. But, many of these watches are time-tested so do your research and choose the best watch for your lifestyle. The solar watches on this list are designed to last for a long time.

Budget - The best watches are typically the most expensive. The super-expensive solar watches are really only bought by collectors and people who really know their solar watches, so if you are new to the game, there is no point in spending a ton of money. Make sure to buy within your budget, so you don’t have to explain to anyone where the rainy day fund went or what that fancy timepiece is on your wrist.

Waterproofing- If you spend time outside you'll need a waterproof watch. Purchasing a watch that is adequately waterproof will prevent any unnecessary damage that could ruin the watch forever. For those who love snorkeling, swimming, diving, or other water sports, you will need a watch that is more than just splashproof. Most of the watches on our list are water-resistant up to at least 100 meters but double-check in case you fall in love with one that isn’t.

Functions - Consider just what you need the watch for. It might feel like the more functions the better, right? But this is not always the case. Unless you frequently go on hikes or need GPS tracking to find your way, you probably don’t need the best solar GPS watch. If you just need a watch to wear to the office every day, then something that can just tell the time and date will suffice. Of course, if you need timers and stopwatches, thermometers, a chronograph function, access to different time zones, and both digital and analog readings, then, by all means, go for a watch that has all these features.

Design - Is the watch you want to buy really you? We know you want a watch that looks cool, but if the face is too large, it might get in the way and catch on things during the day. Are your wrists too thick or too thin for them to even look and feel good? Can you even tell the analog time? (Just kidding, we’re sure you can). But seriously, taking the design of the watch into consideration and how it will look on you is something to think about.

Quality - High-quality solar watches can be more expensive than those with lower quality, but the price can be worth it when they last for 10+ years. However, not everyone needs a super high-quality watch. If you know you'll be beating it up, you may want something that is cheaper and easier to replace.

Battery life - Solar watches use solar technology to charge the battery, meaning that the battery life can be better than non-solar watches. Plus the solar technology keeps you from having to replace the battery — ever. However, some watches have a battery life of up to a year or more without recharging, whereas others have a battery life of a few months.

Weight - There are some hefty watches out there. If you have a smaller wrist, or just don't want your hand to feel too weighted down, you may want to look for a lighter (and smaller) watch. Plastic is going to be lighter than something like stainless steel, however, the stainless steel watches mostly likely will be far more durable. But if you love the feeling of a heavy, durable watch, definitely look for something with high-quality durable materials.

Q: What is a solar-powered watch?

A: Solar watches are watches that are powered by the sun or sometimes any other source of light. Unlike mechanical watches, they work either completely without a battery or rely on the sun or another light source to power the battery for use. They are great, hassle-free alternatives to mechanical or rechargeable watches because you never need to worry about the battery dying or dealing with rewinding. They typically use a power reserve to maintain power even when the sun is not out.

Q: What are the differences between a solar watch and an atomic solar watch?

A: While both types of solar watch use solar panels for power, a regular solar watch requires manual time-setting. Conversely, an atomic solar watch sets its time by using a radio signal obtained from the atomic clock found in Fort Collins, Colorado at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It isn’t magic, but it is still pretty cool.

With no battery and automatic time, the atomic watch is perhaps the most hassle-free watch available. Many solar power watch brands offer both atomic and non-atomic solar-powered watches.

Q: How does it charge itself?

A: Both a solar-powered digital watch and analog version rely on solar cells that are normally arranged around the watch face and absorb light throughout the day. Most solar-powered watches come already charged out of the box, but if you need to charge it yourself, that is easy enough, and there should be instructions that come with the watch.

The good news is that, unlike most things we use daily such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops, you do not need to charge your solar watch as often, and many watches can provide up to 10 months of power from a single charge.

Q: Can I charge my watch under fluorescent light?

A: You sure can! Any type of substantial light source is enough to give most solar watches a charge. It might take longer than if you were outside in the bright sun though.

Q: Does recharging time vary with the seasons?

A: Yes it does. During the bright summer months when the sun is out constantly, you can expect to see fast and efficient charging times for your watch. It is during winter and late fall that you need to be careful about how effectively your watch charges. Factors such as less light, shorter days, and winter clothes can all contribute to your watch failing to charge perfectly. During these months, it is a good idea to make changes to your behavior to ensure that you get the most out of the light and keep your watch fully charged for when you need it.

Q: Does a solar watch stop keeping time in the dark?

A: No, you don’t have to worry about that. A solar watch will continue to work even in the dark, so you never need to concern yourself with keeping a light on when you are trying to sleep. The solar cells and power reserve inside the watch hold the power that is absorbed from the sun or other light sources to keep it working 24/7, 365 days a year.

Q: What should I do for better accuracy?

A: Solar watches are more accurate than their manually wound counterparts. This is because the solar-powered features mean that you do not need to worry about rewinding which can cause the time to lag, which eliminates any fears about running late for work ever again.

Atomic watches are even more accurate, as they rely on satellite timekeeping to ensure your watch always has the correct time. New designs for some solar-powered watches boast an accuracy of one second per year loss. Your days of winding the watch to guarantee the correct time are long gone.

Q: How should I care for my watch band?

A: It depends on the type of watch band you have. Stainless steel watch bands can be cleaned by using a damp cloth to clean away any gunk that may have accumulated over the weeks or months. Under no circumstances use vinegar to clean the stainless steel strap, as this can interfere with the metal and possibly cause damage.

With fabric, such as nylon or leather, and resin watch straps, you need to keep an eye on its condition, especially on hot days or times when it may have gotten wet from sports or the weather. If you find your watch strap is damp or stinks of wrist sweat (the second-worst kind of sweat there is), then allowing it to dry and then wiping it with a cloth will help maintain it for years to come. In any case, you should make sure to check your strap and give it a quick clean every week or so to save you longer cleaning jobs later on.

Q: How can I adjust my watch strap?

A: In the case of stainless steel or other metal watch straps, they can be adjusted by removing links - which should be done by a professional and not yourself to prevent any irreparable damage to the watch strap and potentially the watch itself.

If you have a nylon, resin, or fabric watch strap, you probably won’t be able to adjust it. However, most watches are able to have the strap removed through little pins around the case. This comes in useful when you are not satisfied with the size of the watch strap, find it uncomfortable, or just want to change it.

Sources:

1. Mechanism And Recharging - SEIKO
2. What Is An Atomic Clock? - NASA
3. How To Clean A Watch - WikiHow