MECHANICALS
ALPINA
STARTIMER PILOT HERITAGE CHRONOGRAPH
Alpina already offers one of the finer retro-styled , cushioncased GMT watches we ’ ve seen recently with its Startimer Pilot Heritage collection , which debuted in 2018 . Now this sporty brother of Geneva Manufacture Frederique Constant adds a new chronograph to its Startimer Pilot Heritage collection , and seals the deal by fitting the watch with a mono-pusher chronograph built into Caliber AL-727 in conjunction with La Joux-Perret .
Using this storied movement manufacturing company makes perfect sense , given that Alpina ’ s parent company , Citizen , also owns La Joux-Perret .
Alpina says it opted for the single-pusher chronograph here to recall early 20th century Alpina chronographs , many of which utilized such a bi-compax ( two-subdial ) arrangement .
The new case , with its chronograph pusher at 2 o ’ clock , echoes that choice with polished sides and a satin-finished top with circular guilloché counters . The watch ’ s hour and minute hands are coated with SuperLumiNova , and the screw-down crown and caseback guarantee water resistance to 100 meters .
The bi-compax chronograph measures short time intervals ( 30 minutes ) and offers a 55-hour power reserve , which Alpina says is almost 45 % more than earlier Alpina automatic chronographs . Offered with either an all-blue or silver dial , or a blue dial with silvered tachymeter and red chronograph hands , the 42mm by 40.75mm steel-cased watch is priced at $ 2,795 .
12 | AboutTime Magazine