This week, Swiss sport-watch brand Alpina unveiled new models in its popular Seastrong dive-watch series, headlined by the new Diver Gyre Automatic ? the first dive watch to boast a case made fully of recycled material. The new, sustainability-focused sub-family watches includes five references: two 36-mm models geared towards the ladies? market and three 44-mm options focused on the men?s ? all with composite cases made primarily from fishing net waste and blue dials in various shades. The new Gyre watches have been launched to support World Ocean Day, which occurred earlier this week, in partnership with the start-up Gyre Watch, whose name references giant circular ocean current and is responsible for sourcing the case’s recycled material, and with Surfrider Foundation Europe, a non-profit that works towards ocean preservation.
All of the watches ? both 36-mm and 44-mm ? use the same general design scheme, varying mainly only in their dial colors. The black composite material used for the cases is about 70% recycled plastic and 30% glass fiber. The case is built in the style of previous Seastrong Divers, with its geometric pillow-style shape, complete with two small crown guards and a layered crown. Surrounding the dial is a matching unidirectional bezel complete with a 60-minute diving scale. The latter element is constructed not from the composite material but in steel with black PVD to impart the front of the watch an extra layer of durability. Underneath ...