11 Reliable Solar Watches That Look as Good as They Perform

SOLAR WATCHES command a special space in the watch world. In many ways, they're the proverbial middle child between a mechanical watch and a quartz-run watch. These sun-powered tickets are usually a bit more expensive than a quartz watch, but also cheaper than a well-made mechanical watch. Although solar timepieces have been around for decades now, they've only recently picked up steam among watch collectors.

So who is solar watch for? In many ways the best solar watches cater to all types of use. They can appeal to those looking for an everyday watch that won't ever break down—quality solar watches can last for years, if not decades—and they can appeal to those who frequent the outdoors and need a reliable watch that can handle bumps and bruises. What you get with a solar watch is consistency, and in a world where products aren't "made like they used to", the one thing you can guarantee with a quality solar watch is it's capability of telling time until the cows come home.

Ahead, we pulled together the 11 best solar watches to know about right now. Some of our picks are more style forward, while other are built for recreation and training. Many of these watches are good ol' fashioned analog watches, while others are smartwatches that—if ever needed—can be given a little juice via a charger in the event your watch has been in the dark too long. Ready to get to the good stuff?

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