While pollution is a continuing issue for all those of us on earth, the dimensions of the problem pales compared to the scale of ocean pollution. Amidst such issues as ocean acidification, toxic algal blooms, coral bleaching, and others, among the very pressing and simple to understand is that the sheer scale of plastic waste in our oceans. The largest collection of sea waste, colloquially known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, covers twice the surface area of Texas and similar patches of ocean plastic are observed around the globe. Alpina, as a part of its ongoing efforts in organic conservation, has launched a bold new step in combating this issue using its Seastrong line of dive watches. The resulting limited variant Alpina Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatic includes a case and strap made almost entirely from recycled ocean plastics, conceived in concert together with Dutch microbrand Gyre, to raise awareness of the continuing ecological threat.Alpina Debuts Limited Edition Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatic Made Of Recycled Ocean Plastics Watch Releases
The 44mm instance of the Alpina Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatic is made of a unique black composite substance, featuring 70 percent recycled plastics obtained from abandoned fishing nets removed by the Indian Ocean. The case design itself is an odd, somewhat stilted take on the pillow case formulation, with stout beveled lugs and an incongruous stepped look as a result of its broad collection crown guards and matching extended section on the 9 o’clock side. The matte finish of this composite makes the polished black of the rotating dip bezel add that much more striking, changing the most basic of dive watch elements into something visually memorable.
The Alpina Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatic is available with two different dial layouts, both in colors of oceanic blue and both following the exact same general layout. The applied indices follow the typical diver pattern of circles and rectangles, even though the 12 o’clock triangle is used to integrate the triangular Alpina emblem. Likewise, the two versions share the same set of skeletonized sword hands, accented with a stick seconds hand featuring an eye-catching triangular blue counterweight. In terms of the dials themselves, the two versions offer contrasting variations on the same oceanic theme. The first is a mild, desaturated turquoise, made distinctive thanks to an aggressive, sandy grained texture.
Alpina forces the Seastrong Diver Gyre Automatic with all the Sellita SW200-based AL-525 automatic motion.
Not only the event of the Alpina Seastrong Diver Gyre Auotmatic is made from recycled materials, but each strap option is also. The Alpina watch could be chosen with one of three distinct NATO straps, all in shades of two-tone blue, and made from plastics recovered from recycled plastic bottles. Additionally, all versions also include a likewise recycled black leather strap, made from reused apples.
