Introducing The Alpina Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatic

The Seastrong Gyre is the latest dive watch from Alpina, but there's a deeper connection to the ocean than 300m of water resistance and an array of ocean-hued dials. The case is made from a composite that's formed by recycled plastic from fishing nets found in the Indian ocean, and the paired NATO strap is made from recycled bottles. Inside the case, there's an AL-525 movement, based on Sellita's workhorse, the SW-200. The entire range consists of five models, and 1,883 examples of each will be made. There are two models sized at 36mm in diameter, and three models sized at 44mm to cover a variety of wrist sizes. The watch is produced in conjunction with Gyre, a startup created by veteran watch writer Bernard Werk that specializes in turning ocean plastic into watches. 

Modern Alpina positions itself in the market with tie-ins to the outdoor world, notably as a partner of the National Park Foundation. For every Seastrong sold, $100 is donated to the NPF, and some quick math puts the total of potential dollars donated to NPF from Seastrong sales at $941,500 – not an insignificant amount. Additionally, the altruistic element of the watches goes all the way back to the sourcing of the plastic used in the watch case production. Local fishermen are paid to extract "ghost nets" from the Indian Ocean and are credited for them, giving folks an avenue to earn income while ridding the ocean of nets. 

Other variants of the Seastrong are rendered in stainless steel and fiberglass, but the use of plastic certainly sticks out. Occasionally, using materials that don't have a proven track record can mean a compromise in things like water resistance, but at 300m, the Seastrong is poised to meet the needs of anyone other than commercial divers. 

The case shape and design language are very much Alpina, but the material, and the process behind it, is a first for the company. A plastic watch case is certainly unorthodox in a Swiss mechanical timepiece (at least, for companies other than Swatch) as much of our appreciation for horology comes from traditional metal machining, albeit done nowadays with CNC machines. But the Seastrong Gyre asks us to reconsider that notion, and perhaps appreciate the positive impact that the watch has beyond adorning our wrist.

Brand: Alpina
Model: Seastrong Gyre
Reference Number: AL-525LNSB3VG6

Diameter: 44mm and 36mm
Case Material: Recycled plastic
Dial Color: blue shades, turquoise and dyed mother-of-pearl
Indexes: Luminescent markers.
Lume: Yes
Water Resistance: 300m
Strap/Bracelet: NATO strap made from recycled plastic

Caliber: AL-525
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Diameter: 25.60
Power Reserve: 38 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Jewels: 26

Price: $1,595
Availability: August 2020
Limited Edition: Yes, 1,883 examples of each execution.

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