If you read MONOCHROME on a regular basis, the name ‘Gyre’ should ring a bell… A project initiated by fellow journalists Bernard Werk and Jorrit Niels, Gyre Watch aims at raising awareness of ocean pollution and raising money for its clean-up with a watch made from recycled fishing nets. Already involved in ecological projects, Alpina […]
Alpina expands its 1970s-inspired Startimer Heritage Pilot family with a chronograph. Not just any chronograph, mind you, but a monopusher chronograph based on a movement by La Joux-Perret, not something you would expect to find on a watch retailing for just over EUR 3,000. Presented in three different colourways, the watch has a commanding presence […]
Alpina is adding four new Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic models to its popular dive watch collection this year. A practical and rugged-looking watch, the updates are all aesthetic and are geared towards making the Seastrong Diver 300 even more legible. Directly inspired by the brand’s heritage, these new models continue the proud tradition established last […]
Alpina, best known for its sporty pilot-style watches, is introducing a new range of smoked dials to its Startimer Pilot and Alpiner collections. In total, there are six different models to choose from in the new Shadow line: two Startimer Pilot big date quartz chronographs, three Startimer Pilot Automatic watches and an Automatic Alpiner 4 watch. All six models are already strong sellers for Alpina and the brand is looking to broaden their appeal even further with the introduction of these urban, lifestyle-oriented options.
The retro-hype is alive and to be honest, if it is done right, it can result in some very nice watches. Often considered as the golden age of watch design, the 1970s is used as inspiration by many brands to relaunch former collections or to introduce new ones harking back to historical models. Under the Startimer collection, Alpina’s pilot-style range of watches, the brand launched the Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage, in 4 different colourways. And indeed, the 1970s-inspiration is fully there.
Smart watches, quartz watches, digital watches… that’s nothing for MONOCHROME. You know us, we cover high-end mechanical watches (and a value proposition once in a while), because the beauty of mechanics is what gets us going. The other day, however, Alpina launched their latest creation on Kickstarter and I think that’s rather novel. A big and established brand launching their latest watch on a digital platform mostly used by new-comers.
It’s now time for our Year-End buying guides to gather 8 of the toughest watches launched in 2017. We have picked tool watches of various types, not excessively priced, but designed to hold up to outdoor activities, or constructed to tolerances for specific purposes. Perfect gifts for adventure seekers or simply for a rugged cool look for an afternoon trip into town.
Last year, Swiss watch manufacturer Alpina added a robust new sports watch to its main collection, the Alpiner 4 Automatic. At the time, the watch was offered in three different dial colours – dark blue, silver, black – all paired with elegant leather straps. This year, Alpina adds a further three options to the line-up, including a very sporty, slightly vintage-looking, red and black dial combination. Read on for all the details.
Legend has it that at the beginning of the 20th century, Louis Cartier designed a wristwatch for aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont because of the inconvenience of using a pocket watch while flying. The Santos was one of the earliest wristwatches and pilot watches. Born out of practicality, the watches intended for pilots have evolved – in fact, the original Santos had very little to do with a flight ‘tool’ watch.
While we are mainly focussing on the major watches introduced during this 2017 edition of Baselworld, with our usual focus on high-end watches, one watch in a much more accessible price range pleasantly surprised us: the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic. Nothing too fancy, nothing to renew the concept of a pilot watch, yet, what we have here is a highly qualitative automatic offer, with a very competitive price… Alpina obliges. Here’s Alpina’s new take on its best seller, the Startimer Pilot, and it comes for less than Euro 900.