Swiss Watch Manufacturer Alpina Genève, who will be appearing at Baselworld 2011, has just launched the Startimer Pilot Collection; an attractive range of contemporary timepieces, inspired by original Alpina designs from the 1920s and 30s.
For two decades, Alpina Watch International was known as a specialised manufacturer and official supplier of military watches for pilots. These early aviation pioneers had strict requirements: their instruments had to be extremely precise and provide ultimate shock resistance. In addition, Alpina pilot’s watches were mostly equipped with an anti-magnetic case, a high-contrast dial with oversized luminous numerals and luminous hands for instant readability.
The new Startimer Pilot Collection has four variations.
There’s a basic three-hand date automatic (cal. AL-525). Then there’s an in-house developed and produced automatic (cal. AL-710), featuring minute and hour indication and off-centre date hand. In-house (cal AL-950) powers the iconic Startimer Pilot Regulator. And finally a well designed automatic chronograph version (cal. AL-860).
These new timepieces come in a wrist swallowing 44 mm size anti-reflective satin-finished stainless steel case, in matt black dial with oversized white luminous numerals, a glare-free sapphire crystal and a signature red Alpina-triangle on the second hand are the key features.
The leather strap is something old, but also something new: it closes on the front side of the wrist, not on the reverse or lower sides, thereby resembling the vintage leather straps of the past. A newly designed metal bracelet is available too, and fits on all versions.
To support the launch of the new collection, Alpina has joined forces with Cessna Aviation and PrivatAir, signing a three-year agreement with both partners. The Alpina Startimer Pilot timepieces will be limited to 8,888 pieces and will come in luxurious packaging, alongside a Cessna Citation Mustang scale model in PrivatAir livery.
