TRIWA and SSAB in collaboration – the world's first watch case in fossil-free steel

Text: Britta Rossander

SSAB is making together with Triwa the world's first watch case in fossil-free steel. The model Time for Decarbonization, was shown at the UN's climate conference COP27. 

The first series of fossil-free steel watches is limited to 20 examples (sold out immediately). The idea is that production will be scaled up during the later part of the spring this year. 

The case, which is made from the revolutionary fossil-free steel powder from SSAB Oxelösund, is available with an automatic or battery driven movement. The dial's colours, oversized hour markers and hands take inspiration from SSAB’s steel production.

From SSAB’s side they say that it is lucky that it is not lorry chassis it concerns but watch cases – it is today a demanding job to produce the material, so the fact that this is about a small product made it easy to say yes to the request.

-Within the watch industry there is a tradition of working with steel, so it feels enormously exciting to be able to take part in this process of change in the steel industry. The powder we use is made with Hybrit technology and we are proud to have been able to create this symbol together with SSAB, said Ludvig Scheja, co-founder and creative director of Triwa at the press meeting. 

–This wristwatch is the first consumer product that is based on our fossil-free steel and it is fantastic to see that our investment has found a use within an area that is new for us, says Johnny Sjöström, head of SSAB Special Steels.

The name Triwa is an abbreviation of ”Transforming the Industry of Watches” and was founded in 2007. In the beginning it was fairly simple plastic watches in strong colours that according to Ludwig were to be an alternative to expensive and theft-prone steel watches, preferably with a brand name that began with a capital R. 

During the years that have passed Triwa has become so much more, since the founders hold that a watch can be a symbol of change and have therefore created watches based on themes that transcend style, trends and status. They have chosen to work with innovative materials, organisations and ambassadors that want to create a better world. They have a motto: Time for Change and have previously launched watches on the theme Time for Peace, made from recycled illegal firearms and Time for Oceans, made from recycled plastic from the seas. 

Time for decarbonization

Three years ago the guys at Triwa calculated the carbon dioxide footprint for the material in their products and steel stood as the undefeated winner as the biggest source of emissions. To find a solution to this they contacted SSAB and there and then the idea was born for Time for Decarbonization.

The steel industry, which accounts for around seven per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, has the goal of introducing fossil-free steel on the market and SSAB has taken the lead when it comes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions within the industry. That it has resulted in an interesting collaboration with a watch brand was, as mentioned, unexpected and to my question about whether there are other watch brands queuing up for collaborations I am told that yes there are – but we have for the time being turned it down.  

The model is launched in two different versions, one with an automatic movement and one with a quartz movement. Both measure 39mm and are delivered on a leather strap in the automatic execution or a NATO-like strap in recycled ocean plastic for the quartz version.

The automatic version, Slate Fossil Free, has unlike the battery driven one, Indigo Fossil Free, a date window at 3 o'clock in addition to the difference in the dials' colour, dark grey with a sunburst effect and deep blue with a sunburst effect.

Under the bonnet in both versions tick movements from Miyota, a calibre 9015 in the automatic version and calibre 2035 in the battery driven one.

The case sides are engraved with the text ”SSAB Fossil Free Steel” and another slightly playful touch is the smiley on the crown.

The price for the automatic version is 6,495 kronor and the battery driven one 2,495 kronor

More information about the watches at Triwa