Alpina Celebrates the Ocean with it’s New Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatic
In celebration of World Ocean Day, Alpina unveiled two new limited series of the Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatic – one for women and one for men.
Both versions of the Alpina Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatic are resolutely eco-responsible with environmentally friendly materials for the case, the strap, and even the packaging. Alpina once again proves its commitment to supporting organizations dedicated to protecting our environment. The first Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatic was introduced in 2020 and signified the beginning of Alpina’s quest to pursue a new, more environmentally friendly kind of watchmaking.
Gyre watch was founded in 2017 with the goal to make a watch out of recycled ocean plastic. A chance encounter between Alpina and watch journalist Bernard Werk, co-founder of Gyre with fellow journalist Jorrit Niels, inspired the new Seastrong Gyre line and name. The word Gyre comes from the giant circular ocean currents – and the reuse of “ghost” fishing nets from the Indian Ocean. To make a watch out of recycled plastic, local fishermen in the Indian Ocean get paid to collect old fishing nets from the sea and deliver them to the recycling plant. The nets are then cleaned and made into pellets to make the watch case.
The Alpina Seastrong Gyre – The Future
Simply the “Gyre” as the fans call it, is a piece of our future, the future of our oceans, and probably also the future of watchmaking.
The Case
The case is 70% plastic debris from ghost fishing nets collected in the Indian Ocean and 30% glass fiber, resulting in an ultra-resistant and lightweight whole).
The Strap
Alpina has developed an eco-responsible black, and blue NATO-type strap made 100% from recycled plastic bottles. With the men’s model, you also get a second black strap made from “apple leather,” one of the first “vegetable leathers” used in the watch industry.
The Packaging
Alpina takes its eco-responsibility all the way, and even the watch box that the timepiece comes in is entirely made of recycled plastic. There are no lengthy manuals or instructions in the box. When you open the box, you will only find, besides the watch, of course, one FSC Recycled paper on which is printed the guarantee and certificate of authenticity and a QR code printed on the box’s lining to access the instructions. And yes, the lining of the box is also made of recycled plastic bottles (rPET).
Inspired by the Ocean
The two new limited editions, 44 mm for men and 36 mm for women, feature Alpina’s unique palettes of blue. The different shades of blue take their inspiration from the contrast of the darkest seabed where no light ever reaches and the surface waters, which range from intense blue to the most sparkling turquoise.
The watches come with screw-down crowns, and a steel with blue PVD unidirectional 60-minute graduated bezel. Both models are water-resistant to 300 meters. The black dial features a turquoise minute track with silver luminescent markers for increased readability in reduced light. The black markers on the blue bezel are also luminescent and allow you to keep track of dive time. The NATO strap hints at the ocean waters with its black central band and a turquoise edge. Even the famous Alpina red triangle is in turquoise just this once.
Each model is equipped with the AL-525 caliber, offering 38 hours of power reserve and exclusively limited to 288 pieces. The model for the ladies retails at EURO 1,295 and the men’s model for EURO 1,395.
Find out more on www.alpinawatches.com