It’s been more than 7 decades since the release of the first-ever solar-powered watch. Time certainly does fly.
The prototype model, named Synchronar 2100, was designed by American inventor Roger Riehl and launched in 1972. With a full solar panel on top of it and the time display on one of the sides, the watch looked, and quite frankly was, well ahead of its time.
Since the invention, many watchmakers followed suit as the demand for environmental-friendly timepieces continued to rise. Especially now, during uncertain climate times caused by the always-rising pollution levels and the global warming issue, it’s essential to aid the habitat in every way possible.
By no way am I suggesting that dropping battery-powered watches is going to save our planet – but it definitely won’t harm it.
On top of helping clear our conscience, these watches tend to outlive regular quartz models as they practically don’t need battery replacements. The risk of your watch stopping is next to zero and there’s also the bonus of saving some cash on visits to a local watchmaker to replace the battery.
Folks who want to help the environment or just squeeze more years out of their timepiece are often put off by hefty price tags of solar-powered models. Although it’s only fair to state that these watches are likely to set you back more than standard quartz timekeepers, the last few years have seen a rise in brands offering solar watches at affordable price points. One of them is Bering.
This article will focus strongly on the Bering Solar Watch review which I hope will help you decide whether it’s the right brand for you.
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Bering Solar Watch Review (Top 3 Overview)
| Product | Model | Rating | Prime | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Top Top | 14440-222 | Men's Choice | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 Top | 14426-010 | Women's Choice | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 Top | 15239-779 | Premium Choice | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
Introduction to Bering Solar Watches
Apart from well-crafted and modern timepieces, the Scandinavian company also offers jewelry. It’s fair to say that it’s mostly known for its line of budget-friendly solar watches though.
Despite their modest pricing, Bering watches are made from high-quality, durable materials and are built to last for years. An example of such is the sapphire crystal glass used in all watch models. It’s really uncommon for low-budget brands to use this form of scratch-resistant crystal.
The adjective “solar-powered” might be a bit misleading as actually Bering’s line of solar watches is fuelled by any type of light. The solar cell installed under the watch face converts all types and sources of light into electrical energy and then stores it in a rechargeable, “secondary” battery. Voila.
Naturally, sun-sourced light is the most powerful and therefore recharges the battery the quickest.
All Breitling solar watches come with a lengthy power reserve. Depending on the model (and the price tag), the power reserve ranges from 6 to 12 months. In other words, you could live for at least half a year in a basement and still expect the watch to run and provide excellent accuracy.
Design-wise, Bering clearly prefers a minimalistic approach which means the vast majority of Bering solar timepieces will look good in any setting. All solar models include stainless steel, titanium, or ceramic cases and most of the time come with stainless steel bracelets.
Crucially, Bering offers a rather lengthy 36-month warranty period that covers any defects related to the workmanship. Naturally, damage caused by regular wear and tear, or your negligence (ie. water-related issue), won’t be taken into consideration.
3 Best Bering Solar Watches Reviewed
At the time of writing, the collection of Bering Solar watches includes 19 models for men and 13 for women. To make the task of picking the right one easier, I have narrowed the list to three models which have been picked based on their overall quality and price.
Below find a brief review of all three watches.
Bering Solar 14440-222
We kick off the list with the best all-around, in my opinion, Bering solar watch for men.
Unsurprisingly, the 14440-222 model boasts a rather minimalistic yet comment-worthy design. It comes with an IP-plated stainless steel case measuring 40mm in diameter and 9mm in thickness. Such dimensions make the watch an ideal pick for men of all wrist sizes and we could argue that it wouldn’t look out of place even on a small-sized women’s wrist.
The milanese bracelet is made from the same material and is equipped with a safety clasp. The bracelet is 20cm long and 24cm wide.
The stylish dark-themed dial features three hands, two of which (the hour and minutes) are luminescent. The color-coordinated indices feature four “main” hours – 3, 6, 9, 12. At three o’clock, there’s a date window.
What’s awesome about this and other solar-powered watches by Bering is the fact that they use a sapphire crystal dial. As already mentioned, this is a rarity when it comes to timepieces offered at such low price margins. The material is the toughest available on the market, offering the strongest scratch-resistant and anti-reflective properties. It’s an ever-present element of all the top-end watchmakers.
On a full charge, the watch is likely to run for around 9 months. To fully charge the watch, you need to expose it to sunlight for around 20-25 hours. Any other form of light will require two or three times the number of hours to reach the ultimate battery performance.
Last but not least, the watch comes with a 5ATM/50m water-resistance rating. In other words, it’s fine to wear it while washing hands, showering, or even enjoying a short swim.
Key Takeaways
- ~9-month Solar Power Reserve
- 40mm stainless steel case
- Stainless steel milanese bracelet
- Sapphire crystal dial
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Bering Solar 14426-010
We’ve already had the best Bering solar model for men, it’s time to discuss the much-favored watch for ladies.
The 14426-010 model boasts an incredibly elegant look, making it a perfect choice for women who love dress watches. Just like the men’s choice, this classy, minimalistic design includes a tiny, IP-plated stainless steel case measuring just 26mm in diameter. It’s also considerably thinner (7mm).
The milanese strap is again made from stainless steel. As expected, it’s much smaller than that in the previous model. It measures 19cm in length and 10cm in width.
The snow-white dial blends in perfectly with the gold-tone case and three hands. Again, the indices show Arab numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock. A date window is also located at three o’clock. In contrast to the model described above, none of the elements are luminescent which, unfortunately, makes reading in the dark a bit of a challenge. Again, protecting the watch face from cracks and scratches is the ultra-sturdy sapphire crystal glass.
The battery capabilities of this watch are on par with the men’s model, too. You expect about 9 months of stellar performance on a full charge.
The water-resistance rating is 5ATM/50m.
Key Takeaways
- ~9-month Solar Power Reserve
- 28mm stainless steel case
- Stainless steel milanese bracelet
- Sapphire crystal dial
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Bering Solar 15239-779
Are you willing to move from the low-budget category to the low-to-mid price point? (yes, the differences in the case of all Bering watches are minimal). If the answer to the question is a resounding “yes”, consider this model as the premium choice.
The first notable difference in terms of quality between this model and the two discussed above is the case and bracelet material. In contrast to stainless steel elements, Bering Solar 15239-779 uses titanium. The material is considered three to four times more durable than the type of stainless steel used in the other two Bering watches. It’s also lighter. This model weighs a mere 2,7 ounces. The only drawback of titanium cases and bracelets is that it’s more prone to scratches.
The titanium case measures 39mm in diameter and is just 8mm thick. The bracelet is 21mm wide and uses a folding clasp. Again, such petite dimensions make the watch a good fit for both men and women.
The dark-themed dial features a three-hand analog configuration. The hour and minute hands glow in the dark, just like the indices. When it comes to nighttime reading, it’s probably the most capable model of all discussed in this review. Located at three o’clock, there’s a date window. Excellent protection against cracks and scratches is ensured by the presence of sapphire crystal glass.
Similar to the two models above, when fully charged, the watch runs for around 9 months.
The model also holds an advantage over the other two Bering watches in terms of water resistance. It boasts a 10ATM/100m rating which makes it safe to wear even during long swimming sessions.
Key Takeaways
- ~9-month Solar Power Reserve
- 39mm titanium case
- Titanium bracelet
- Sapphire crystal dial
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Why in god’s name didn’t you closely look at how the date feature works. Do you have to set it each month like a similar Seiko watch or is it set and forget.
William Fox