ALPINA – STARTIMER PILOT AUTOMATIC

The name Alpina (of course) evokes mountain summits and, by extension – if you let your imagination run further – exploration, human physical and mental effort and weather conditions. In short, Alpinais a like a synonym for the word “adventurer” but also – and above all! – a brand famous for its top-quality replica watches sold at reasonable prices, generally well under 2 000 Swiss francs – as is the case for these four new Startimer Pilot Automatic models that have joined the collection of the same name first launched in 2011 and which were presented at BaselWorld, with only the model with a golden case priced over 1 000 Swiss francs.

alpina startimer pilot automatic black

True to the aesthetic codes of pilot’s replica watches, each replica watch in the Startimer Pilot Automatic quartet features a large steel case (satin-polished, anthracite or pink gold plated) measuring 44mm in diameter, along with a projecting crown. This metal setting houses the AL-525 calibre, an automatic mechanical movement driving the hours, minutes, seconds and date, and providing a power reserve of 38 hours.

alpina startimer pilot automatic white

The dial, available in three matt colours (grey, blue or white), borrows elements from the timepieces designed for pilots, aiming to optimise readability and information-gathering in flight and in extreme conditions. The hour rim contains large Arabic numerals together with rectangular indices, and all with luminous applied chapters. The minute track – traced in white or black, depending on the colour of the dial – runs along the chapter ring, with a red, triangular reference point at 12 o’clock. At the heart of the dial of the Startimer Pilot Automatic are two leaf-shaped and phosphorescent hands displaying the hours and minutes. The seconds, meanwhile, are shown by a central second hand with the counterweight repeating the triangular, red-coated silhouette of the Alpina logo. A counter discreetly rounds off the functions to display the date at 3 o’clock.

Price: 895 CHF (steel) – 950 CHF (anthracite steel) – 1 195 CHF (pink gold-plated steel) alpinawatches.com

By Sharmila Bertin