Beginning in 1979, Alba - a sub-brand of Seiko – continues to produce wristwatches utilizing Seiko's own family of movements but paired with modern styling designed to appeal to younger customers.  The watch here – a 1993 Alba "Flap Duck" Y101-6050 dive watch, with its original strap – is no different.
 
Flap Duck was a Canadian brand of outdoor sporting goods clothing popular in the 1990s, which made items like sweatshirts and other apparel with the "Flap Duck" logo.  Clearly, Japanese brand Seiko assessed Canadians are avid outdoorsmen, much like the Japanese themselves.
 
All of us here are firm believers in reliable gear, and nowhere is this truer than those that venture outdoors in extreme environs – mountain climbers face some of the most extreme weather in the world.   
 
Beginning with Seiko's legendary Laurel Alpinist, the company has built many of its dive watches to be highly legible, dependable, water and shock-resistant watch to withstand extreme temperatures and environments for exploring the country’s many mountains – after all, according to the Japanese Alpine Club, Japan has nearly 17,000 “official” mountains.
 
Alba watches continue to be primarily aimed at Asian and Middle Eastern markets in the hope of creating long-term customer loyalty, which can translate loyalty to Seiko proper as the demographic ages and purchasing power increases.  Of note, Alba has often adopted Seiko's watch designs, notably those of Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.
 
This Flap Duck Y101 comes on a leather-backed canvas strao, and with its original strap, nylon strap, springbar tool, and rugged travel case.