For almost 140 years, Swiss watchmaker Alpina has been intimately linked with nature, the great outdoors and respectful exploration. The Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatique line is the worthy heir to this commitment. Technological innovation, craftsmanship and an ecological manifesto are the driving forces behind the five models unveiled for Him and Her. Made from waste plastic – 70% for the case, 100% for the bracelet – these automatic diver’s watches, water-resistant to 300 meters, will be launched on June 8, World Ocean Day.
On this occasion, the watch brand is going one step further by announcing its partnership with the start-up Gyre Watch* – supplier of recycled materials – and Surfrider Foundation Europe*, an NGO that has become a benchmark in the fight to protect the ocean and its users.
If humanity is caught up in a climatic turmoil that we’re struggling to slow down, the same applies to our plastic waste: between 8 and 10 million tonnes are dumped into the oceans every year. Where does it go? Mainly into oceanic gyres. These vast whirlpools spread across the surface of the globe, formed by different ocean currents, stir up our plastic waste, propelling it over immense surfaces and into the abyss. Alpina is now harnessing the power of these gyres with this new line of resolutely committed watches.
A composite casing made from marine nets
For the first time in its history, Alpina is equipping its watches with a case made from 70% plastic debris from fishing nets collected in the Indian Ocean. To guarantee its resistance, it has been reinforced with 30% fiberglass.
It’s also the first time this eco-responsible alloy has complied with the European REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). Its aim is to control the use of chemical substances to better protect health and the environment, while promoting a high degree of innovation – objectives perfectly expressed by the Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatique line.
This line and its name were inspired by a meeting between Alpina and watch journalist Bernard Werk in the Netherlands three years ago. Personally involved in the preservation of the oceans, he created the concept and the name “GYRE”, in reference to these giant circular ocean currents – and consisting of the reuse of
“ghost” fishing nets from the Indian Ocean. The Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatique line marks the start of a long-term collaboration between Gyre Watch and Alpina, with the aim of protecting an environment dear to the company and to Bernard Werk and Jorrit Niels, the founders of the GYRE concept – and leaving a lasting imprint.
A composition in the colors of the ocean
As of today, the Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatique line includes five variations, with three dial finishes evoking marine reflections. With luminescent hands, the three men’s models (44 mm) feature a blue or turquoise gradation, while the two women’s models (36 mm) are adorned with a blue or tinted mother-of-pearl gradation. The seconds hand, meanwhile, is finished with the famous triangle, the Alpina logo, also used as an index at 12 o’clock.
Powered by the AL-525 automatic movement with three hands and date , offering 38 hours of power reserve, these watches are certified water-resistant to 300 meters and feature a unidirectional bezel reminiscent of the Seastrong collection’s nautical ancestry.
The set is adorned with three two-tone NATO straps, made from recycled plastic bottles. In addition, the watch brand offers each men’s model an extra strap in black vegetable leather, made from recycled apple waste.
A committed limited series
These timepieces are produced in strictly limited editions of 1,883 pieces each, in reference to the year Alpina was founded. They are presented in an exclusive box that is also eco-responsible. An FSC Mixte paper counter-box houses a case made entirely of recycled plastic (ABS), lined with recycled plastic bottles (rPET). Inside is a unique leaflet (warranty and certificate of authenticity) printed on FSC Recycled paper.
To further reduce its ecological footprint, Alpina has also opted for a dematerialized user manual, accessible via a QR code. This will direct purchasers to a dedicated site detailing the concept of their watch, its materials, and its instructions for use and care.
Committed to a global cause
The Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatique line is finally an ecological manifesto: Alpina has decided to launch these five new models in support of World Ocean Day (under the aegis of the United Nations), which will take place on June 8. The aim is to draw the international community’s attention to this event, which federates all initiatives aimed at depolluting and sustainably protecting our oceans.
Support for Surfrider Foundation Europe*.
To mark the launch of these new products, Alpina has chosen to support Surfrider Foundation Europe. Founded in 1990 in Biarritz, France, by a group of surfers keen to defend their playground, Surfrider Foundation Europe has in its DNA a commitment to protecting the ocean and coastline. Fully in tune with these values of sharing and respect between man and nature, La Maison is today a partner of this international environmental non-profit organization, recognized for its fight led on a daily basis by nearly 2,000 volunteers in 12 European countries.
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