Heritage PILOT
automatic CHRONOgrapH
Heritage PILOT
page 4
automatic CHRONOgraph
The New Alpina
STARTIMER PILOT
CHRONOgraph BIG DATE
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The New Alpina
Extreme Diver 300 Chronograph Automatic
page 6
The Alpina
Extreme sailing
Yachttimer
page 7
Dear Alpina Friends,
Dear Alpinists,
For Alpina this is a symbolic year because we celebrate our 130th anniversary. And what and adventure it has been! Over the last 130 years, Alpina has significantly influenced what the Swiss watchmaking industry is today; not only through its innovations and the invention of the modern sports watch - the “Alpina 4” - but also by having been the pioneer in the modern organization of caliber & watch production, marketing and retail. It can be rightly said that the “Alpina Union Horlogère” was the first modern Swiss watch group, a forerunner of the fully integrated groups of today. We therefore feel a big responsibility towards all those women and men who built Alpina in the past.
Our mission is now, and has always been, to manufacture extremely reliable professional sports watches, which transmits the historic legacy of our founder, Gottlieb Hauser. It is our reason of being and the purpose of our work. We like to think that all those who share and live our Alpinist principles in their daily lives will one day wear an Alpina watch, thereby becoming an “Alpinist.”
Today, like yesterday, Alpina is an independent watch manufacturer making its own in-house movements. The famous 877, 582, 592 calibers, just to name a few, today have their modern counterparts in the Alpina AL-980 Tourbillon, the AL-950 Automatic Regulator, the AL-718 WorldTimer and the AL-710 Small Date manufacture movements. The way we honour our past is by persevering in innovation, by thinking independently, by trusting our instincts and by never forgetting our roots. These are our Alpinist principles since the beginning.
Guido Benedini CEO Alpina Watch International S.A.
I trust you will enjoy reading this edition of “the Alpinist” and I sincerely wish you great watchmaking year.
The Alpina
Manufacture & Hi-Tech Lab
It is a tradition at Alpina to celebrate each decade with a special watch and for this anniversary we present the Alpina 130, a re-edition of a legendary Alpina pilot model from the beginning of the 20th century. A supremely elegant, yet resolutely professional pilot watch in its functionalities and technical conception.
Imagination : : les Alchimistes +33(0)4 50 09 06 22 Photos : Lidovic Di Orio - Karin Creuzet - Les Alchimistes Krzysztof Odziomek
The Alpina 130 is not the only novelty we will introduce. For deep-sea lovers there is the new Extreme Diver 300 Automatic Chronograph, a fully professional 300m water-resistant diving watch that not only respects the most stringent ISO certifications, but also allows all lovers of beautiful mechanics to admire its finely decorated movement through its transparent caseback. For those who appreciate fast jet manoeuvres we introduce the StarTimer Pilot Chronograph, a professional pilot watch featuring the iconic Alpina pilot dial design, technical straps and camouflage military dials. Flying Aces standard equipment. And for those who are more into vintage bi-plane flying, we reveal our Heritage Pilot MKII, a re-edition of a legendary 1921 Alpina pilot watch sporting a 50mm diameter. Last, but not least, for professional skippers we introduce a world-first, the YachtTimer, an automatic regatta countdown watch with a digital 10minutes display on the dial. A masterpiece.
Plan-les-Ouates is also where our unique Manufacture watches are conceived, engineered, designed and built, totally in-house. Before any watch can truly be called an Alpina sports watch, however, it is put through a rigorous series of tests to measure their precision, aesthetic appearance and conformity with Alpina’s standards. Our stringent tests and trials take place throughout every stage of the watch’s production. Before being dispatched to our customers, each watch is subjected to tests that mirror real life and extreme sports conditions.
CALIBERS During its 130-year history, Alpina has always been a manufacturer of calibers and complications. Among its remarkable 20th century calibers, one can find industry references such as the 877, the “engine” of the “Alpina Techno,” and the hand-wound 592, one of the sturdiest watch movements of its generation and the one which changed the sports watch forever. ALPINA IN-HOUSE MANUFACTURE CALIBERS Since our comeback in 2002, we have launched four new Alpina in-house developed and engineered calibers into the market. With the introduction of the Tourbillon, Regulator, WorldTimer and Small Date manufacture calibers, Alpina has once again taken its rightful place among the small and select group of independent Swiss watch manufacturers that completely develop and produce their own calibers in-house.
AL-980 Tourbillon Manufacture
The Alpinist
A Manufacture caliber is the ultimate achievement in the art of horology and the definitive demonstration of a watchmaker’s skills.
AL-950 Regulator Automatic
AL-718 Worldtimer Manufacture
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In 2006, Alpina moved to a purpose built, hi-tech manufacturing plant in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. Covering 3200 square meters, this building is now a second home to the dedicated craftsmen and women who produce and assemble our movements and watches. It is also the base from which all the other manual and automated processes that are necessary to get your watch to you are performed.
AL-710 Automatic Manufacture
130years
of watchmaking
history
AL-860B4H5
Heritage PILOT
automatic CHRONOgraph
1883
Gottlieb Hauser found the “Alpina Union Horlogère“.
1890
The Union moves its headquarters from Winterthur to Biel/Bienne where it was producing its calibers.
1900
The Alpina Union Horlogère participates to the Exposition Universelle in Paris.
1901
The mark “Alpina“ is registered by Jacob Straub, a member of the Union, to protect his most complicated movements.
1903
Gottlieb Hauser and his son established a footprint in Russia.
1908
The Union registers the “Alpina“ brand name for timepieces.
1909
The Alpina Union Horlogère expands its watch manufacturing
1912
First Chronometer manufactured in Alpina’s Glasshütte factory.
1913
The German Navy (K.M.) purchases Alpina Chronometers.
1915
The Alpina Union Horlogère wins a gold medal at the Swiss National Exhibition.
AL-372GR4FBS6
Pim Koeslag Master watchmaker
1920
About 2,000 dealers throughout Europe sell Alpina watches.
1921
Alpina becomes a renowned supplier of time instruments for military pilots and Air Forces.
1926
Alpina establishes the first international watch guarantee.
1929
Alpina and American company Gruen enter into a joint venture.
1933
Alpina presents its first sports watch, the “Block Uhr“.
1938
Alpina revolutionizes the concept of the sports watch with the antimagnetic, water-resistant, anti-shock and stainless steel “Alpina 4“.
1945
Alpina manufactures its first automatic movement, the 582.
1948
Precise and robust, the 592 Alpina caliber serves as the didactic movement in the Biel cantonal watchmaking school.
1953
Alpina celebrates its 70th anniversary with the introduction of the “Alpina 70“ sports watch.
1957
Pim: An entire week! Afterwards I was sure that it would have to be watchmaking for me. I knew it would give me great pleasure. At first, we primarily focused on larger timepieces, i.e. clocks.
The Alpina’s first sports automatic watch, the “President“ is revealed. It is animated by the 584 Alpina caliber.
1959
Alpina introduces the “Alpina 4“ Chronograph featuring a telemeter and a units-meter.
Did you repair a few clocks or did you do something else there?
1963
Alpina realises the smallest and strongest yet made automatic movement for women, the caliber 362.
It must have been extremely interesting for a young person to be intimately involved in developing a new watch movement. Pim: It was a tremendous opportunity. I was 21 and hadn’t yet graduated from the school of watchmaking in Holland. Did you always want to be a watchmaker? Pim: No. When I enrolled at the school, my original intention was to become a goldsmith. In our first year there, goldsmiths, silversmiths and engravers all attend the same class together. Is there a deeper reason for that? Pim: Yes, because the first year is devoted to crafts in general. Then I discovered that I like watchmaking. I found it much more interesting and more exciting than the goldsmith’s art. Watchmaking combines craftsmanship, creativity, design and technology. That’s also true in jewelry-making, but to a lesser degree. How long did you stay in the same class with students from other disciplines?
Pim: Our school was in Amsterdam. My parents’ home was on the eastern side of Holland, towards the German border. I would go home to my parents every weekend, partly because my girlfriend lived nearby. I also needed to earn some money now and then, because Amsterdam is a relatively expensive city. Whenever I had the chance, I would repair clocks at the weekends. Those were my first experiences with the subject. Had you already acquired the necessary skills? Pim: Clocks are much larger than watches, and that makes the work easier. But it takes practice and experience before you can work with them completely. I wanted to properly service or repair the clocks that were entrusted to me. After all, you don’t get paid in the end unless you’ve done your work right! How did you acquire the essential skills? Pim: When my fellow students went to lunch, I would go to our school’s library and learn what I needed to know. My weekend job strongly motivated me to learn. How did you meet Peter Stas? Pim: My teacher introduced us. During our third year at watchmaking school, we took a trip to Geneva. We were ten students altogether, if I remember correctly. We visited Patek Philippe, Rolex, Vacheron Constantin and Frédérique Constant.
1969
Launch of the Alpina 10 “Seastrong“ professional diving watch.
1970
Alpina launches the “Dispomatic“ Automatic Alarm encasing a modified 19 Jewels 2980 Lemania caliber.
2002
Alpina is bought by Aletta and Peter Stas, founders and owners of Frédérique Constant.
2003
Alpina presents its first sports collection under the new ownership at the BaselWorld international watch fair.
2005
Alpina introduces the AL-650 regulator hand-wound movement.
2006
Alpina celebrates its 123th anniversary by moving into its new watch manufactory in Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva.
2009
Alpina unveils its “Extreme Tourbillon“ encasing the first Tourbillon movement ever produced by Alpina.
2011
Alpina reveals its Extreme Sailing “YachtTimer“ animated by the new 10-minute automatic countdown AL-880 movement.
2012
Alpina presents the StarTimer Pilot “WorldTimer Manufacture“, encasing the in-house AL-718 automatic WorldTimer caliber.
2013
Alpina celebrates its 130th anniversary.
STARTIMER PILOT
CHRONOgraph Big Date
AL-435LB4SH6
HERITAGE PILOT MKII Handwinding
AL-725LB4V26
Extreme diver 300 automatic CHRONOgrapH
AL-880LBG4V6
Extreme Sailing YachtTimer
AL-950LBBB4FBAE6A
AVALANCHE EXTREME
AUTOMATIC MANUFACTURE REGULATOR
you find Alpina on The Alpinist
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Heritage PILOT
automatic CHRONOgrapH Since 1883, the contribution of Alpina to the Swiss watchmaking industry has been in the innovation of caliber and watch production methods and organisation. It can be rightly said that the “Alpina Union Horlogère”, whose members where called the “Alpinists“, was the ancestor of today’s modern Swiss watch groups.
WorldTimer and the AL-710 Small Date manufacture movements. THE ALPINA 130 COLLECTION It is an Alpina tradition to celebrate every decade of existence with a commemorative timepiece. Loyal to this tradition we celebrate our 130th anniversary with the Alpina 130,
an automatic “Bi-compax“ chronograph inspired by an iconic Alpina pilot chronograph design from the beginning of the past century. While inspired from the past, the Alpina 130 is resolutely contemporary in its elegant design and technical conception.
HOROLOGICAL DETAILS WHICH ARE NO DETAILS The Alpina 130 features a «Glass Box» sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. This complex crystal construction, as well as its perfect integration with the stainless steel or gold plated case, gives the watch an elegant and robust appearance and
guarantees perfect contrast between all elements of the dial, independently from the angle of the light shining on the watch. The classic dial design with Telemeter and Tachymeter scales provides a perfect balance between technicality, elegance and readability, which is the signature of every Alpina professional aviation watch. To please watchmaking passionates, the AL-860 automatic chronograph caliber, with its fine fish scales decoration and blue screws, can be admired through the transparent caseback of the Alpina 130.
TELEMETER & TACHYMETER The dial of the Alpina 130 is not only perfectly balanced in design, but also provides the essential functionalities for the gentleman in his cockpit. The Tachymeter scale gives the possibility of measuring average speed of movement, while the Telemeter scale provides the distance between the source of a sound effect and the position of the listener. These functions are particularly important for pilots and drivers who rely on time, speed and distance variables. The «Bi-compax» layout of the chronograph counters, powered by the AL-860 Alpina caliber, complete the professional features of the Alpina 130 by providing an optimal readability of the dial information.
Alpina, the inventor of the modern sports watch, celebrates 130 Years of watchmaking With the creation of the legendary “Alpina 4” in 1938, Alpina invented the modern sports watch by defining and reuniting in one watch the four necessary criteria - which still apply to this day - for a watch to be called a sports watch. Since 1883 Alpina conceives and manufactures its own movements and chronometers in-house and the famous 877, 582, 592 movements, just to name a few, today have their modern counterparts in the Alpina AL-980 Tourbillon, AL-950 Automatic Regulator, AL-718
AL-860 Automatic Chronograph
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The Alpinist
The New Alpina
STARTIMER PILOT CHRONOgraph BIG DATE The all-new StarTimer Pilot Chronograph Big Date was not designed for the business class traveller sitting in Seat 1A of a 747 jet; the one who has to decide between the beef or the salmon for his in-flight meal. This new range of Alpina Pilot timepieces
Iconic professional Alpina pilot watch design for Flying Ace performance. was designed for serious pilots who fly in fast jets and who make split second decisions about the limits to which they can push their planes and themselves. FEATURES WITHOUT FRILLS The StarTimer Pilot Chrono Big Date comes with plenty of features, but no frills. It features the perfectly readable and essential aviation dials of the Alpina StarTimer range that are appreciated by pilots worldwide. Every element of functionality built into
these watches is designed to provide the essential information to a pilot, the moment he needs it. Every model in the new range is driven by the AL-372 quartz chronograph movement. Other features include an extra-wide 44 mm-diameter, three-part stainless steel case, a scratchproof sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, big date and small second displays at the 6 o’clock position. The unmistakable red Alpina triangle signature “the Alpiner” is in its traditional position at the base of the second hand, and for activities other than flying, these watches are water resistant to 100 metres. All watches from the collection come with a fabric “Cordura” strap with a tongue buckle in different colours matching the dial and case, iand available also with a stainless steel bracelet. FROM ONE PIONEER TO ANOTHER Alpina is the official watch of the Cessna Aircraft Corporation, and to honour this partner and aircraft manufacturing pioneer, Alpina has
engraved a Cessna Citation on the caseback of the StarTimer Pilot Chrono Big Date. Finally, just so there’s one less thing to worry about, the StarTimer Pilot Chronograph Big Date collection comes with an unrivalled battery life of 48 months. A GREAT RANGE FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE The first three watches in the new range, the B4S6, the B4S6B and the B4FBS6, all feature a striking black dial with extra-large contrasting white numerals. The indexes are Superluminova coated for optimum visibility in poor lighting conditions. You can choose from either a subtle grey fabric strap with a tongue buckle, or a fashionable metal bracelet. Another variation sees the watch offered with a black PVD case and matching black fabric strap. The next model on offer is the GR4FBS6. This watch features a black PVD case, a military green 60 minutes dial and contrasting beige-coloured, luminous minute indexes and hands. To complete the new look, a military green coloured technical strap offers the perfect complement to the beige
hands and indexes. Finally, the BGR4S6 is presented with a stainless steel case and a grey “camouflage” dial, lending the timepiece an appearance that respects both military and aviation specifications. The grey “camouflage” dial offers an excellent background for the beige minute indexes and hands. The sand-coloured technical strap completes the package. If you’re passionate about actually flying, rather than just travelling in airplanes; if you’d rather make a vertical climb than sit in a recliner, the new StarTimer Pilot Chrono Big Date range will suit your high-G lifestyle, as well as your spirit.
The Alpinist
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DESIGNED TO SEE WHAT YOU NEED TO SEE, WHEN YOU NEED TO SEE IT The Extreme Diver 300 has been designed with all necessary features that allow owners to get the information they need, when they need it, for a safe dive.
The Alpina
Extreme Diver 300 Automatic Chronograph When deep sea diving you have to rely on your skills and instincts; and you can always rely on the new professional Alpina Extreme Diver Automatic Chronograph. Professional divers know that deep sea diving separates the game from the sport and the boys from the men. A professional diver truly needs a diving watch he can count on.
DIVINGCOLLECTION
William Baldwin Alpina Brand Ambassador
EXTREME DIVER Professional diving watch Alpina AL-725 automatic chronograph caliber Unidirectional rotating diving bezel Anti-reflective treatment Sapphire crystal and transparent case back 300m (1000ft) water resistant
Tel +41 (0)22 860 87 40 • www.alpina-watches.com
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The Alpinist
WHEN YOU’RE SERIOUS ABOUT DIVING The all-new Alpina Extreme Diver Chronograph is a professional diving watch. Everything about this model is designed to cope with the most extreme conditions any professional diver could ever encounter, starting with water resistance to no less than 300 metres. That’s almost 1,000 feet below sea level. THE AL-725 ALPINA AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH MOVEMENT The extremely reliable AL-725 automatic chronograph movement features a 12H-6H chronograph counter layout with the 30-minutes counter at the 12 o’clock position and the 12 hours counter at the 6 o’clock position, in order to maximize the readability of the minute’s hand with respect to the 60 minutes diving bezel.
The black, polished, PVD coated, unidirectional, turning bezel, turns in just one direction: anti-clockwise. With this “fail-safe” feature the number of elapsed minutes can never be accidentally decreased, only increased. In addition, the 1 to 60 minutes markers on the bezel are luminous, as are the circular indexes which perfectly contrast against the black dial. The watch’s hands are also flared and luminous for maximum readability in low visibility conditions.
BUILT-IN FEATURES THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THE PROFESSIONAL DIVER The extra-wide 44 mm stainless steel case, the screw-in crown and caseback, the robust rubber strap with a secure folding buckle, the 46hour power reserve, as well as the additional nylon diving suit strap, complete the professional features package.
Professional divers know that deep sea diving separates the game from the sport and the boys from the men
Divers also appreciate the sapphire crystal, see-through caseback, which allows a glimpse of the inner workings of this automatic chronograph, a feature normally not found on professional diving watches with a 300 metres water resistance. For the professional diver who prefers metal bracelets, the Extreme 300 Chronograph can also be fitted with classy “Milanese” metal mesh bracelet or the traditional Alpina 3 link sport metal bracelet.
THE SPECIAL GIFT BOX Each watch is presented in a uniquely designed gift box, which includes a model diving bottle and the additional nylon wetsuit strap.
AL-725 Automatic Chronograph
The Alpina
Extreme sailing Yachttimer
The yacht is truly the crown prince of the nautical world. They are not the largest vessels to sail the seven seas, not by any stretch of the imagination. Nor are they the fastest; even modest speedboats offer greater pace. Is there any craft, however, which attracts more admiration, respect and even a certain degree of envy than a well-appointed yacht? When yachts race, the winner is not determined by horsepower, as it is often the case with yachts’ motorized “cousins.” Certainly, equipment plays a significant part in any racing
And because when you’re racing yachts, it’s the seconds as opposed to the minutes that really count, the YachtTimer Countown’s triangular, fluorescent orange second hand truly stands out and is especially easy to read. The ever-popular clear sapphire crystal caseback allows an amazing view of the intricate AL-880 caliber working away inside this mechanical marvel. Additional features found on the YachtTimer Countdown include — what else — countdown windows. The countdown to the start of any
Sleek, sophisticated, elegant, majestic...
Aurélien Ducroz: “Alpinist”
A truly modern adventurer, Aurélien Ducroz is the 2009 and 2011 World Champion freeride. True to his “Find your limits” Alpinist spirit, in 2016 Aurélien will participate in the legendary “Vendée Globe” solo around the world sailing race, the Everest of sailing, via the three major capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn. Not satisfied with being one of the world’s leading Freeriders , an extreme winter sport where the participants dice with death every time they put on their skis, Aurélien has set himself an even more demanding challenge: to cross solo the 6’700 kilometers of the Atlantic Ocean in a Transat 6.50 sailing boat. Because Aurélien’s mountain and sea world is one of extreme challenges, in which the conditions are always changing and never less than dangerous, he requires a watch that he can rely on in all circumstances. For this reason the Alpina Extreme Sailing YachtTimer is his watch of choice.
contest, but when whitecaps churn, winds whistle and sails are slapping in the breeze, it will be the skill of the crew and the strategy of the skipper which will ultimately decide who will be victorious. Swiss watchmaker Alpina is proud to announce the launch of a new model which fits perfectly, both on the wrist of the owner and in the world of yacht racing. The Sailing YachtTimer Countdown comes with a host of features that makes it ideal for anyone participating in a test of sailing skill over open water. GREAT LOOKS & IMPRESSIVE FEATURES One glance at the watch confirms it is uniquely Alpina. The wide, 44 mm diameter stainless steel case surrounds the impressive black face, which in turn contrasts beautifully with the luminous white hour and minute hands.
yacht race is the time when pulses quicken, muscles tense and all senses seem to become sharper and more finely focused. The YachtTimer has countdown windows from 10 to 1, leading to the fluorescent START indicator, when the action really begins. The sapphire compass bezel turns in only one direction, to help eliminate the mistakes that can be caused by bezels which turn in both directions. As you would expect from any Alpina
sports watch, the YachtTimer Countdown is water resistant to a depth of 30 atmospheres, or 300 metres below sea level. With a view to both functionality and style, the black rubber strap can easily be replaced by the optional metal and metal mesh bracelets. It would be fair to say that the Extreme Sailing YachtTimer Countdown in a yacht race or in the dining room of the most glamorous yacht club!
SAILINGCOLLECTION
AL-880 Regatta Coutdown YACHT TIMER Professional sailing watch Alpina AL-880 automatic countdown caliber 10 minutes regatta countdown function 360° Compas sapphire crystal turning bezel Tactical planner on the dial Anti-reflective treatment Sapphire crystal and transparent case back 300m (1000ft) water resistant
Tel +41 (0)22 860 87 40 • www.alpina-watches.com
The Alpinist
7
130 years
of watchmaking history
Alpina 130 Pilot Heritage Automatic Chronograph
To celebrate its 130th anniversary, the Swiss watch manufacture Alpina, re-edits one of its iconic historic pilot models. Since 1883 Alpina conceives and manufactures its own movements in-house and has revolutionized the concept of the modern sports watch. Our mission is now, and has always been, to manufacture extremely reliable professional sports watches which transmit our historic legacy. It is our reason of being and the purpose of our work. www.alpina-watches.com