What We Know
Alpina, the value-driven, adventure and outdoor Swiss watch brand, is chasing the sun (and artificial light) with some of its new releases. The brand is now, across more models, utilizing solar quartz movements manufactured by La Joux-Perret, the Swiss movement maker majority-owned by Japan’s Citizen Group, which also controls Frederique Constant and Alpina.
Solarmetre quartz movements are now available in both the updated Startimer Pilot and Alpiner Extreme models. Solar quartz is a natural fit for Alpina, bringing more reliability, accuracy, convenience, thinness, and value to its lineup. Both Solarmetre quartz models are priced at $1,495, offering an aggressively priced entry point into the brand with a movement also found in LVMH-owned watch brands, including TAG Heuer.
The AL-140 caliber, solar quartz by La Joux-Perret, runs for up to 10 months in total darkness after a full charge, boosting the grab-and-go appeal.
The shift to solar quartz (both model lines remain available in mechanical automatic versions as well) makes these pieces more practical while shaving millimeters from the case measurements and significant dollars from the price.
Let’s start with the solar Pilot Startimer. The new look for the pilot watch model was unveiled at Watches and Wonders this year, and now, amid the slew of releases for Geneva Watch Days, Alpina is giving us the Startimer Pilot Solarmetre. Available in three versions: two steel-cased models and one in sand-colored PVD-treated steel—the case diameter in the solar version shrinks to 38 millimeters from 40mm, and it is 9.3mm thin, down from about 10.1mm for the automatic steel version.
The two steel models come in a navy blue or black grained dial, with oversized and legible Arabic numerals and hands and index markers filled with Super-LumiNova. There’s a date window at 3 o’clock, and the black grained dial version comes on a leather strap, while the blue grained dial comes on a Cordura fabric strap with tone-on-tone stitching.
There’s also a handsome brown-grained dial version with a champagne-colored PVD-coated steel case. The PVD version comes on a sand beige NATO strap and costs a bit more at $1,695, while the steel-case models are priced at $1,495. All three feature the Alpina logo at 12 o’clock in blue rather than the traditional Alpina red. The Startimer logo is also in blue on each model, signaling the use of the Solarmetre movement inside.
The other new Solarmetre model from Alpina is a limited edition paying tribute to the “Route du Rhum” – a multi-day sailing race starting in Saint-Malo in Brittany, France, and bound for Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. Alpina serves as the race’s official timekeeper and is supporting French skipper Éric Péron, who is competing. To mark the event, Alpina is dropping two limited “Route du Rhum” editions: the Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic in 313 pieces, and the Alpiner Extreme Solarmetre in 513 pieces.
As with the Startimer, the Alpina logo on the Extreme Solarmetre is blue, and the case size shrinks to 37.5mm x 38.9mm with a thickness of 10.19mm. That compares to the Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic case size of 39mm x 40.5mm and thickness of 13.4mm.
With a black dial, turquoise chapter ring, and sapphire crystal, the Solarmetre version features a fixed carbon-fiber insert bezel and offers 100 meters of water resistance. While the Solarmetre version is priced at $1,495, the automatic Seastrong Diver version features a bi-directional, compass, carbon-fiber insert bezel. The mechanical watch is priced at $2,295.
What We Think
As noted, solar quartz seems a natural fit for Alpina, and it’s great to see the tech come to its handsome Startimer Pilot line. The drop in case size to 38mm and thickness below 10mm widens the potential audience for the model, making it more of a uni-sex choice and easy to wear. Truly a grab-and-go watch that fits nicely with Alpina’s rugged ethos.
Founded way back in 1883, Alpina has a great history and pedigree in the Swiss industry. As the sector tries to halt the decade-long trend of lower volumes and higher prices, value-driven brands like Alpina need to find ways to attract new buyers amid increased competition from boutique brands based in other countries. With Swiss-made solar quartz rolling out across their lineup, Alpina is utilizing a new weapon in the Swiss industry’s fight for wrist share.
While solar-quartz tech might seem antithetical to the wider Swiss industry’s message of luxury mechanical watches, we’ve seen volume brands including TAG Heuer turn towards the sun and solar-powered movements to keep prices and case sizes reasonable at a time when price sticker shock and thickness shock are keeping some potential buyers on the sidelines.
I’m looking forward to seeing more traditional Swiss brands utilize the modern convenience, practicality, and reliability of solar quartz in future models and designs.
The Basics
Brand: Alpina
Model: Startimer Pilot Solametre, Alpiner Extreme Solarmetre X Route du Rhum, Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic “Route du Rhum”
Reference Number: AL-140BW3S26, AL-140BLW3S26, AL-140BR3S25, AL-140BT3AE6, AL-525T3VE6
Diameter: 38mm (Startimer Pilot Solarmetre), 37.5mm (Alpiner Extreme Solarmetre), 39mm (Seastrong Diver Extreme)
Thickness: 9.32mm, 10.19mm, 13.4mm
Case Material: Stainless steel, sand-colored PVD-coated steel, steel
Dial Color: Grained black, blue, champagne, black, turquoise
Indexes: Applied on Alpiner and Seastrong
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 10 ATM/100m/33oft, 10 ATM, 30 ATM
Strap/Bracelet: Black leather, navy cordura, beige fabric NATO, black rubber, two-tone rubber
The Movement
Caliber: AL-140 caliber, solar quartz, AL-525 automatic
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date,
Diameter: 27mm, 25.6mm
Thickness: 3.18mm, 4.45mm
Power Reserve: 10 months in dark with full charge, 38 hours
Winding: Quartz, automatic
Frequency: 28’800 alt/h (4 Hz)
Chronometer Certified: No
Pricing & Availability
Price: $1,495, $1,695 (beige PVD-coated), $1,495 Alpiner Solarmetre, $2,295 Seastrong
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: Route du Rhum pieces limited to 513 pieces (Solarmetre) and 313 pieces (Automatic)
For more, click here.
