We’ve not yet spoken about Alpina’s Baselworld releases, but it’s something that we’ve definitely been meaning to do. A while ago, we brought you details about a newcomer to the Startimer family – a “Big Date” model – but at that point we weren’t able to say anything further, and we certainly didn’t have the model in question for sale. However, Baselworld 2015 has changed all of that, and we’re now able to offer the Alpina Startimer Big Date Chronograph for just £745; a great price for a fantastic timepiece. However, this was far from Alpina’s only development at Baselworld watch and jewellery fair, so here are a few more of the highlights that we’ve come across to date…
The New Alpina Horological Smartwatch
A while ago, many analysts were questioning whether the rise of the smartwatch would spell doom for the conventional luxury watch. Most people thought not, as the changeable nature of technology means that it’s ill-suited to compete with a classical instrument of timekeeping. However, with that shifting nature in mind, it wasn’t expected that many luxury watch manufacturers would even try to “compete” with smart devices. The world is full of surprises, though, as that hasn’t been the case.
With TAG Heuer and Breitling making forays into the world of smart technology, Alpina represents the latest brand with a design to join the fray. This time, it’s the turn of a specifically ladies’ watch, and the capabilities of the timepiece allow it to communicate with both iPhone and Android apps. Alpina have taken great pains to blend the differing facets of technology and tradition, though, so there’s no stereotypical digital screen to be seen. Instead, we have information in purely analogue form. However, this decision doesn’t decrease the watch’s utility. Alpina practically invented the sports watch back in 1938, and this latest innovation proves that this creativity is alive and well.
The Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph
Alpina has been hard at work implementing many milestone developments this year; not least through the introduction of the Comtesse collection – a range specifically designed for a female audience. However, they also ushered in another significant feat at Baselworld 2015; namely, the introduction of their first chronograph that has been fully imagined and created in-house.
As you might expect from the name, there’s also a ‘flyback’ function included, which was a complication designed for pilot’s watches back in the 1930s. Intended to enable easy adjustment of the split-seconds function, it’s just as useful today as it was all those years ago. The calibre AL-760 movement is a powerful engine too, consisting of more than 200 separate parts, so we’re expecting this watch to be far more than just a historic landmark for Alpina; it should be a best-seller too.
Alpina may not have stolen the headlines at Baselworld, but they’re certainly in the process of fashioning some extremely noteworthy watches, and we’ll continue to watch their progress with great interest. In the meantime, if you want to see more of Alpina’s workmanship, you can take a look at a variety of Alpina watches here on our website, including models from the Alpina Startimer assemblage, and we’ll be on hand to answer questions too. Call 01524 38 48 58 to find out more.
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