Here is a novelty that does not leave us indifferent. Alpine is one of those undervalued historic houses that we like to follow closely. Even more when she spoils us with faithful tributes such as this new Startimer Pilot Heritage Manufacture equipped with a very particular movement.
Alpina offers us here a real journey through time. If today we only know the oscillating masses rotating 360 degrees, there was a time when their rotation was limited to a reduced number of degrees. It was about so-called “Bumpers” movementsused by many large houses such as Jaeger Lecoultre or Omega, but also by Alpina. And if our time is resolutely oriented towards reissues, the “Bumpers” movements had until now passed under the radar. Just for that, thank you Alpina.
If the movements of the time suffered from a lack of power and winding, due to this rotation limited to 120 degrees, the caliber AL-709 (which you can observe through a sapphire back) sees its amplitude increased to 330 degrees. A historical principle retained but obviously improved for more efficiency.
It is wrapped in a 42mm cushion case in diameter in perfect harmony with the heritage dimension of this novelty. It displays a angular shape giving it an assertive character, and a very neat half-polished, half-brushed finish. On the menu are two limited editions of 188 copies each, one yellow gold PVD version on a champagne dial at €2,950and a version steel on blue dial at €2,850.
To find out more, visit the official Alpina website.
FEATURES – ALPINA STARTIMER PILOT HERITAGE MANUFACTURE
Case: stainless steel (yellow gold PVD option) – brushed polished finish – 42mm wide x 40.75mm long – 13.25mm thick – domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment – transparent back – water resistance 10 ATM (100 meters)
Dial: navy blue (steel version) and champagne (yellow gold PVD version) – applied Arabic numerals – baton hands – Luminova on hands & indexes
Movement : Mechanical automatic winding Bumper type – caliber AL-709 (manufacture) – 38-hour power reserve – 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) – stop-seconds function – hours, minutes, seconds
Bracelet : brown calfskin – white topstitching – flat shape & fitted cut – pin buckle clasp
Information: reference AL-709AN4SH6 & AL-709ACH4SH5 – available on the official Alpina website as well as in brand stores & authorized retailers – 2-year warranty – €2,850 including tax (steel version), €2,950 including tax (yellow gold PVD version)
