I’ve been walking around with trash on my wrist for two weeks – meet the Detrash Great White watch

There’s something strangely satisfying about wearing a watch made from literal rubbish. As I found out over the last two weeks with the Detrash Great White, a proper dive watch built from recycled steel and ocean plastic, that also happens to be doing some good along the way.

I’ve had it on my wrist for a fortnight now, through work, swims, and weekend chaos – here’s what I think…

First of all, The Great White is a proper dive watch with a 41mm case, 200m water resistance, and a sapphire crystal front and back showing off its Seiko NH35 automatic movement.

It’s limited to 100 individually numbered pieces, so if you buy one, you’re joining a small club of eco-conscious watch nerds.

Let’s start with the basics. The case is made from 80-percent recycled stainless steel, equivalent to 316L surgical grade, and the strap comes from #Tide recycled ocean plastic. It’s a tough, tactile material that feels surprisingly premium. There’s also a certain satisfaction in knowing your watch strap used to be floating somewhere it shouldn’t have been.

The packaging follows the same theme: recycled velvet made from fashion offcuts and recycled cardboard. No plastic in sight, and minimal waste. It’s compact too, so it has a smaller shipping footprint.

Despite its green credentials, the Great White isn’t trying to look “eco”. It’s a handsome, everyday dive watch with a brushed steel case, crisp white dial, subtle orange accents, and a clean, readable layout. It’s not flashy, but it looks good on the wrist.

The proportions feel right too – 41mm across, 12.9mm thick, with a 47mm lug-to-lug span. It’s reasonably chunky, but not cumbersome, and feels reassuringly solid.

Performance-wise, it’s built around the Seiko NH35 movement – a workhorse automatic with a 41-hour power reserve. You can see it ticking away through the sapphire caseback, complete with a little Detrash mascot print, which adds a bit of personality. Accuracy is rated between -20 and +40 seconds a day, and mine’s been comfortably within that.

So, what’s it like to live with? After two weeks, I’ve come to really like it. The strap is comfortable and dries quickly after swimming. The buckle is big, but solid – more “tool watch” than “fashion watch”. It’s not trying to be dainty, and that suits it. The bezel feels firm and clicks satisfyingly through its 120 positions. It’s functional, though you’re unlikely to use it for serious diving…

And that brings us neatly to the lume – or lack of it. Detrash uses Swiss Superluminova, but in practice, there’s not much glow going on here. The pip at 12 o’clock lights up okay, but the hands barely do. So, while it’s technically a dive watch, it’s better suited to daylight adventures than deep-sea ones. For swimming or surfing, though, it’s perfect.

The finishing is basic – brushed steel throughout, printed dial, no fancy polishing – but it all feels deliberate. This isn’t trying to compete with a Tudor Black Bay or an Omega Seamaster. It’s aiming to be an affordable, honest tool watch that tells a story. And I think it succeeds.

What really wins me over, though, is the brand’s ethos. Detrash isn’t just talking about sustainability; it’s building it into every watch. At least 1-percent of every sale goes directly to eco-charities through the 1% for the Planet scheme, currently supporting Surfers Against Sewage. The founder, Guy Blaskey, started the brand because he was tired of how little the watch world seemed to care about ethics and the environment.

Each watch is individually numbered, and you can even choose your number when ordering (if it’s available), which makes it feel that bit more personal. And once they’re gone, they’re gone – no reissues, no endless “special editions.” That limited-run model fits perfectly with the idea of making less.

Sure, it’s not perfect. The lume could be better, the case sides are a bit slabby, and the buckle’s a touch too chunky. But at under US$500 / £400, it’s excellent value for a watch that’s automatic, sustainably made, and very fun.

After two weeks of wearing it, I’ve stopped thinking of it as “trash.” It’s just a solid, good-looking dive watch with a conscience.

The Great White is available now on Detrash’s website, priced at US$449 / £335, down from the regular price of US$503 / £375 for Black Friday.

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