Áigi honours Norway’s industrial mining heritage with a hardcore classic tool watch, the Gruvebus
Tom AustinOne of the best things about watches is how brands use storytelling to honour culture and history. Áigi, the Norwegian microbrand, avoids tiring out Scandinavian clichés and instead focuses on meaningful local heritage. Their Satellite Ground Station II collection, for example, pays tribute to Kongsberg Satellite Services, operators of over 300 antennas across 28 sites globally, which support space exploration through satellite data.
Áigi, founded in 2017 by three Norwegian watch enthusiasts, has once again drawn inspiration from national heritage for its latest collection: the Gruvebus. The collection pays tribute to Longyearbyen’s iconic miner statue and Svalbard’s coal mining legacy, serving as a lasting symbol as Store Norske prepares to close the gates of Mine 7 for the final time. The four-watch collection has a more profound connection to the story than just some engravings, with coal directly taken from those mines actually being used in the manufacturing process.
The case
The Gruvebus is a tool watch at heart, with traditional dive watch aesthetics (and specs). Its stainless steel case is proportioned as you would expect, measuring 40mm in diameter and 12.3mm thick, which gives it wrist presence without being overly large. The case features that traditional slab-sided look, with a combination of brushed and polished surfaces – a lot of which didn’t actually require much finishing, according to Áigi, because in the casting process, coal from the mines of Svalbard is used in the tooling, helping to give it an excellent finish even before the final stages.
There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to the functionality of the Gruvebus, but it starts with the case. The steel used for the case is quenched mining-grade steel, 17% harder than the standard 316L grade commonly found in other watches. This, along with a screw-down crown and caseback plus a box-shaped, double-domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal, provides the watch with a respectable 200 meters of water resistance. Although this watch is technically not intended to be a full-on diver, it can certainly act as one.
Another notable feature of the case is the back, which again pays homage to Norway’s mining heritage. It features a deep-stamped motif of Áigi’s interpretation of the Gruvebus statue in Longyearbyen, reproduced with the blessing of the statue’s artist Tore Bjørn Skjølsvik. The statue depicts a life‑sized coal miner walking with a pickaxe and headlamp, which is symbolic of Longyearbyen’s mining pioneers.
The dial
Four variations of the Gruvebus are available: the first is a classic black, followed by a recognisable blue and green, and finally, the one I think is the best of the bunch, a white dial with a brushed aluminium rotating bezel. The other three all have colour-matched bezels, while the white model adds a bit more flair and detail, with the surface textures being more prominent. Speaking of texture, you’ll notice a subtle motif on the dial, created by a piece of coal from the Svalbard mines being pressed into the dial’s surface, and then sealed underneath three layers of clear lacquer. It’s an unusual detail that definitely fits the theme of the watch without going too overboard.
Functionality is at the forefront of the dial, with its highly legible, traditional layout paired with technical innovations such as the use of Swiss Trigalight GTLS tubes in the contrasting hands and hour markers to offer bright luminescence for up to 25 years. This is used in conjunction with additional Super-LumiNova to ensure maximum legibility when you’re heading into darkness, or, say, a mineshaft.
The bracelet
Finishing the watch is a five-link Jubilee-style bracelet which features quick-release spring bars, and is connected to a folding clasp with built-in micro-adjustment. It’s a nicely finished bracelet, with polished inner links contrasting with brushed outer ones, and it offers a luxurious look, which is an interesting move for such a tool-like watch. I can see that those quick-release spring bars will get some use, because, without a doubt, this is the kind of watch that would look right at home on a NATO strap or a comfortable rubber strap. Áigi offers several strap options in its shop for you to spec out your Gruvebus, and with four watch variations to choose from, there’s something for everyone.
The movement
Underneath the embossed caseback sits the Sellita SW200-1 automatic. A microbrand favourite, it’s Sellita’s workhorse, known for its reliability, accuracy and simplicity. While in the Gruvebus, it’s in its most basic, no-date configuration, it’s still a more than adequate movement at this price level, offering a 41-hour power reserve while beating at 4 Hz.
Áigi Gruvebus pricing and availability
The Áigi Gruvebus Collection is now available for preorder on Áigi’s website, with deliveries scheduled to begin in October 2025. Price: US$745
| Brand | Áigi |
| Model | Gruvebus |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 12.3mm (T) x 46.5mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Quenched mining-grade stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front |
| Dial | Black, blue, green or white with coal-pressed motif |
| Bracelet | 5-link Jubilee-style with folding clasp and micro-adjustment |
| Movement | Sellita SW200-1, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 41 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, unidirectional timing bezel |
| Availability | Open to pre-orders now, deliveries scheduled for October 2025 |
| Price | US$745 |
Made in partnership with Áigi. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.