If you check out our article on the new Frederique Constant Highlife Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, you’ll see that the Citizen Group have just opened their first flagship store in New York where both Frederique Constant and Alpina watches will be available. As such, FC aren’t alone in celebrating the opening by launching a new watch as Alpina have joined in the fun too with the introduction of the new Alpiner Extreme Automatic Chronographs.
We recently reviewed the Alpiner Extreme Regulator and the new chronograph models follow a lot of the same design principles. A facetted cushion case forms the base of the collection, measuring 41mm in diameter with a broad bezel and decorative screws giving it a strong industrial appearance. Of course, as this is a chronograph there’s a new pair of pushers flanking the crown, which are just as robust and industrial in style as the case.
Looking at the dial, naturally it’s all change to accommodate for the tricompax chronograph display. The date window has moved to between 4 and 5 o’clock, there’s a small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute timer at 3 and a 12-hour timer at 6. In place of the normal seconds hand on the central handstack is the chronograph seconds hand, which is activated and stopped by the pushers allowing the watch to serve as a stopwatch.
In terms of colours, the first of the two is a traditional panda display, meaning it has a white dial with black subdials, which is visually similar to the markings on the face of a panda. The second one is a navy blue colour with white subdials, which I’m sure will be popular – although I personally prefer the character of the panda. Both versions feature the signature triangle pattern common to the Alpiner Extreme.
Beneath the surface of the Alpiner Extreme Automatic Chronograph is the AL-730 automatic calibre, which has a great power reserve of 62-hours. It’s visible through the exhibition caseback, allowing you to see the very distinctive rotor. It’s partially skeletonised with the main column that connects the outer span of the semi-circle to the centre of the movement off-set to the extreme edge of rotor’s arc. It looks oddly off-balance and is quite jarring, but then this is the Alpiner Extreme, it’s all sharp angles and edges so it matches that aesthetic well.
They’re priced at £2,750, making them the most expensive Alpiner Extremes in the collection to date. Which makes sense because they’re also the first to venture away from time and date complications. Plus, they’re not unreasonably priced as it is with that quality movement and industrial vibe.
Price and Specs:
Model:
Alpina
Alpiner Extreme Chronograph Automatic
Ref:
AL-730SB4AE6B
(silver dial), AL-730NS4AE6B (navy blue dial)
Case:
41mm
width x 42.5mm height x 14.3mm thickness, stainless steel, exhibition caseback
Dial:
Silver
or navy blue with black or silver subdials
Water resistance:
100m
(10 bar)
Movement:
Alpina
calibre AL-730, automatic, 27 jewels
Frequency:
28,800
vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve:
62h
Functions:
Hours,
minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Strap:
Stainless
steel bracelet with folding buckle
Price:
£2,750
More details at Alpina.
Oracle Time