To celebrate the brand’s 140th anniversary, Alpina is presenting a limited-edition model (Ref. AL-525CH4AE6B) inspired by the color codes of a historic logo in collaboration with Chronos, WatchTime’s sister publication.
‘Alpina turns 140 in 2023, and in honor of the occasion, the Swiss watchmakers are unveiling a timepiece in partnership with Chronos. A vintage-inspired timepiece, featuring colors influenced by the 1930s and the iconic, original Alpina logo.’
Alpina Watches
Fourteen years after the successful launch of Frederique Constant, Peter Stas and his wife Aletta Stas-Bax decided to acquire Alpina Watches, a manufacturer of Swiss sports watches that dates back to 1883 (the trademark ‘Alpina’ was registered in 1901). Today, the Alpina brand is part of the Citizen Watch Group’s portfolio, and with a focus on sportier models, the team is continuing the brand’s approach to sturdy sports watches, first introduced in the 30s.
In 2022, Alpina had introduced a new design for its ‘extreme’ watches, which first came out nearly 20 years ago (initially called ‘Avalanche’). With the introduction of an integrated steel bracelet shortly after, the current Alpiner Extreme can also be seen as a nod to the cushion shape of the Alpinit from the 70s. Alpina’s triangle logo, symbolizing Alpine peaks, is employed as a grid across the dial as well as around the round bezel with six screws. The case measures 41 mm by 42.5 mm and features a brushed-finish, a thick screw-in crown at 3 o’clock and a transparent caseback, and has a 200-meter water resistance rating.
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To celebrate Alpina’s 140th anniversary, the editorial team from Chronos combed through the brand’s archives and came across a historic visual that they particularly liked: a dark blue frame around the silhouette of a light blue Swiss mountain range covered with a thin white layer of snow, behind the sun in orange-red. The message below: ‘Alpina watches are the best’. |
Using the Alpiner Extreme as a platform, this color code was then used for the latest variant: the dial with its embossed pattern of Alpina mountain triangles comes in eggshell blue and creates a contrasts with the midnight blue rehaut and the rubber coating of the crown, whil the white luminous material on the hands and indexes symbolize the snow. And the red Alpina triangle serves not only as a counterweight for the second hand, it also is a nod to the brand’s home, Switzerland.
The Alpina Alpiner Extreme x Chronos is limited to 140 pieces and can be ordered on alpinawatches.com, for $2,195. Delivery is scheduled for January 2024.