MATERIALS
Choices that we can make now for a sustainable future
Our lives now are comfortable and convenient.
But if that prosperity comes at someone else's cost, we cannot expect our happiness to last.
As people become increasingly aware of this fact,
CITIZEN L undertakes to use sustainable materials and ensure fair working conditions.
Responsible Minerals Sourcing
There are several kinds of minerals among the materials needed to manufacture watches.* Minerals, however, come with their own risks. At some point during the mining, smelting and refining process, they could be financing armed groups or making use of child labour. We audit our mineral suppliers annually to ensure they have third-party certification confirming their refineries and smelters as human-rights-abuse free. We are committed to sourcing only minerals untainted by any link to human suffering.
*Tin, tantalum, gold, tungsten and cobalt
Sapphire Glass
An artifical glass as hard as natural sapphire with 0% impurities. It is widely used for watch crystals because of its high level of transparency and hardness. We choose this material not just because it makes the dial more legible, but because it looks good for the long term, contributing to a watch that can be cherished forever.
Mother of Pearl
Pearl oysters are cultivated for over 1,800 days in the calm, warm waters of the southern hemisphere. Their shells, which are discarded after the pearls are harvested, are used for the dials of watches. The shells' natural lustre, which resembles that of a pearl, imparts a refined, translucent and subtly flamboyant elegance to a watch.
ECOPET®
Used plastic bottles are collected and melted down to create recycled polyester fibre. We use ECOPET®, a brand from Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd., for the bands of our watches. This enables us to cut down on CO2 emissions in comparison with plastic products made from petroleum.
Apple Leather
Apple leather is a sustainable alternative to traditional leather made from apple peels and other byproducts in apple processing. Known for its smooth texture, this vegan leather reduces waste and the use of petroleum-based plastic content to lessen the environmental impact.