Mondaine has made its Classic Collection of watches vegan-friendly, with grape leather straps that remain at the same price point and stay faithful to the distinctive and classic watch design aesthetic established in 1986.
The partnership with Italian manufacturer Vegea carefully considers the look and feel of the original straps through an intricate upcycling process. Waste from wine production – including the stems, seeds and skins of grapes – is converted into soft, comfortable and vegan accessories.
‘There are a lot of different alternatives to cow leather,’ the brand says. ‘Our biggest challenge was to find the best and most durable alternative. We have carried out numerous tests in Swiss laboratories to find the best material. Most important – it is cruelty-free. Secondly, it turns out to be more robust than cow leather. It doesn’t make a difference in our production process, and that is exactly the point we want to make. We can use better and more sustainable materials at no extra cost for the consumer or the supplier.’
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