Nordgreen Designer Watches*

When it comes to wearing a watch, I usually have my smart watch on but sometimes it is nice to change things up and wear something different. Smart watches all look very similar and I had been on the lookout for a nice watch that stands out from the crowd.

When I was contacted by Nordgreen Watches, I couldn’t wait to see what sort of watches they had available and I was spoiled for choice. They were the exact thing I had been after, something stylish yet affordable.

Nordgreen are a new Scandinavian watch brand born out of Copenhagen, They have partnered with the renowned Jakob Wagner, designer of Bang & Olufsen headsets. They aim to to deliver a minimalistic approach of the city, combined with its ethical values to create beautiful timepieces. This is affirmed by a recent Kickstarter campaign where they raised $250k.

I chose the Philosopher Rose Gold Mesh Watch. It arrived in a beautiful sleek box. It’s always nice to see good quality packaging and I really felt like I was receiving something really special.

One of the things I found interesting about this watch is how to adjust the strap. Having a mesh strap, you can’t just take a few links out to shorten it and I wondered how I would get it to fit. The fantastic thing about the brand Norgreen is they have created YouTube tutorials on how to adjust their watches and once I had watched this it was so simple to do. It also means that it is a watch that you can keep forever as it can be adjusted to you if you change size or shape throughout the years. The straps also have a quick release function so you can interchange different styles and colours with ease meaning this can go with every outfit. It feels really comfortable to wear as well.

Although the watches are not waterproof, they are splash proof and can be worn in the rain. This is always a benefit as you don’t want to have to worry about getting it a bit wet when washing your hands or doing day to day tasks involving water and its reassuring to know you can do this with ease.

For every watch sold, as a customer you will get the chance to give to one of three charitable causes, through their Giving Back Program. I think this is fantastic and so unique. When purchasing your Nordgreen watch you will receive a unique code which you can then register your watch with and choose from 3 causes to donate to which are as follows:

2 months of education to a child in India
2 months of clean watch to a person in central Africa
200sqm of rainforest in Latin America

If you like what you see, head over to Norgreen and check out the beautiful range of watches available. For 10% off your order, use code CHRISTIESLIFESTYLE.

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Awemix Charity Watches - Breast Cancer*

Putting on my watch is one of the first things I do when I wake up in the morning and I cannot go about my day unless I am wearing one. When I saw the stylish watches that were available from a brand called Awemix, not only did I think they looked nice, I also thought they were for a very good cause and couldn’t wait to get my hands on one.

The watches have been launched by brother and sister team Michael and Sandy Niman. 20% from every £20 watch sold goes to charity which I think is really lovely. Not only does the charity benefit by receiving some money, the Awemix watch designs also raise awareness to the causes that they represent. Since wearing this watch I have had a few compliments and it always sparks a conversation. I think the watches are very affordable and stylish.

I received the watch that has been designed for Breast Cancer, for the charity Keeping Abreast. There is also a watch that has been designed for Norfolk Wildlife Trust for Wildlife & Conservation. The community nominates and votes on which charities they want to support and these are the two that were chosen. Norfolk Wildlife Trust is the oldest Wildlife Trust in the UK and the donations have been used for vital habitat conservation in Norfolk. Keeping Abreast supports women with either breast cancer or the hereditary BRCA gene, who are considering or undergoing immediate or delayed breast reconstruction. The money that they receive from Awemix goes towards funding the services they offer including information, support and practical help.

Awemix watches have partnered with numerous universities across the country, from Aberdeen to UEA, as well as Raise the Bar; a spoken word events company. Awemix Watches can also be found in five stores around East Anglia, with further shops planned. I love that it is local in this sense, but feel proud that they will be branching out nationally.

Overall I personally think the concept is amazing. It is rare that you find a company so passionate about helping others and it really does feel like a good cause. The watches are stylish enough to be worn and I personally feel proud to wear one knowing that they contribute to such good causes.

Head over to Awemix to get your hands on one of these designs. It's for a great cause!

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.