Solar & Kinetic Watches

Solar cells sit under the dial and charge a rechargeable cell from any light, daylight or indoor. A full charge typically runs six months in darkness, and the cell itself lasts ten to twenty years rather than the two of a disposable battery. Citizen's Eco-Drive is the best known and the most developed; Seiko and Casio both do their own versions well.

Kinetic works differently, converting wrist motion into stored electrical charge through a rotor, so it sits between automatic and quartz: mechanical winding, quartz timekeeping. Seiko's implementation is the one most people encounter.

Either way you get accuracy within about fifteen seconds a month, no winding and no battery appointments. The median here is under GBP 400, and this is probably the most sensible watch category on the site if you want something you can forget about.

Solar & Kinetic Watches holds 206 models across 35 brands, from £27 to £120,000. Half cost less than £349, and a quarter less than £212. 70 are stocked by more than one retailer, giving 280 offers in total. Citizen lists more references here than any other brand. Prices are checked nightly against the retailers’ own feeds.