Alpina expands its solar-powered lineup with the Startimer Pilot Solarmetre, bringing the brand’s Solarmetre technology to its aviation-oriented collection for the first time.
Housed in a new, more compact 38 mm case, the model pairs the line’s signature pilot aesthetic with a high-efficiency solar quartz movement.
Originally introduced in the Alpiner range, the technology uses both natural and artificial light to generate and store energy, allowing the watch to run for up to 10 months after a full charge. After being completely discharged, the movement can also resume operation within a few seconds of being exposed to light.
Three dial and case configurations are available, including two stainless-steel versions and a champagne-toned PVD-treated edition.
The three-part case measures 9.32 mm thick and combines fine sandblasted and polished surfaces, with bevelled edges and satin finishing on the case middle and lugs.
An anti-reflective sapphire crystal covers the dial, while a threaded solid case back carries a stamped Startimer pattern. Water resistance is rated at 10 ATM (100 metres / 330 feet).
The solar technology is integrated beneath the dial and is developed by La Joux-Perret, like Alpina part of the Citizen Group.
The system is built around three layers, with the translucent dial forming the outermost element and allowing light to pass through to solar cells positioned underneath.
These cells cover virtually the entire dial surface, with the exception of the area around the date window at 3 o’clock, and remain invisible when viewing the watch normally.
At the heart of the system, a battery stores the electrical energy generated by the solar cells, while an integrated circuit regulates its distribution.
Energy can either be stored for later use or supplied directly to the movement.
The translucent construction of the dial allows Alpina to retain the typical Startimer Pilot appearance while offering different colours and finishes.
The collection is available with a black grained dial and black leather strap, a navy blue grained dial paired with a navy Cordura fabric strap, and a third version with a champagne-coloured PVD-treated stainless-steel case, brown grained dial and sand-beige NATO-style strap.
Across the three versions, the dial follows the familiar Startimer Pilot layout, with three central hands, a date display at 3 o’clock and an outer ring carrying luminous markers.
The hour and minute hands are filled with white Super-LumiNova, while the seconds hand features a triangular counterweight.
A detail specific to the Solarmetre versions is the use of blue rather than Alpina’s traditional red for the triangular logo at 12 o’clock, the logo on the seconds hand and the Startimer wording at 6 o’clock, with blue luminous material also surrounding the triangle at 12.
The Alpina Startimer Pilot Solarmetre with black dial, reference AL-140BW3S26, is priced at €1,095.
The navy blue reference AL-140BLW3S26 is also priced at €1,095, while the champagne-coloured PVD version, reference AL-140BR3S25, is priced at €1,195. alpinawatches.com
