BASELWORLD 2017:

New Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatics Cruise in at Under $1,000


Arriving at Baselworld this year are four new editions to Alpina’s Startimer Pilot Collection. Since its release in 2011, this collection has become the brand’s most successful series, and this year Alpina hopes to again effectively update its popular Startimer Pilot Automatic with a new dial design and a few new case options.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic - flat

The 44-mm watch comes in four options: a “titanium-colored” steel case with a matte gray dial, a steel case with a matte blue or white dial, and a rose-gold-plated steel case with a matte white dial. Each share the same general dial features and case design, aside from the color options.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic - gold

The case of the watches has remained more or less the same from past Startimer Pilot Automatics. With a simple and sturdy design, the watches come equipped with an oversized crown typical of today’s pilot watch designs, while the solid caseback features an engraved Alpina logo. Depending on the color option, each watch will come on either a black, dark blue, or brown leather strap.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic - black dial reclining

On the dial, the watches have an outer minute track with the brand’s hallmark red triangle at the 12 o’clock position, along with applied Arabic numerals broken up with rectangular markers at each of the quarter hours. The hour and minute hands have a distinctive, curved design to them, while the simple red seconds counter again features the brands logo as its counterweight. There’s a subtle, integrated date window at the 3 o’clock position that is hardly noticeable upon first glance — a useful feature that helps maintain the aesthetic focus on the rest of the dial.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic - white dial

Powering the watch is the automatic caliber AL-525, based on the Sellita SW 200 as its base movement. The Alpina-finished caliber has an approximately 38-hour power reserve, typical of pilot watches in this price segment.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic - black dial

Perhaps most notably: Alpina has made it clear that none of the prices on any of the new models will exceed 900 euros, or about $975. Over the past several years, Alpina — along with its sister brand Frédérique Constant — has become well known for its relatively accessibly priced watches, and these new timepieces seem to be continuing this trend. This announcement in pricing also comes on the heels of the last iteration of the Startimer Pilot Automatic, where the pricing set by the brand typically hovered around $1,500.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Merken

Leave a Reply