The Alpiner Extreme has been quietly and steadily winning over collectors. In these days of wall-to-wall neo-vintage, an atypical, contemporary model is a welcome sight, particularly one that doesn’t rely on well-worn horological tropes, and at an appealing price.
Round? Square? Cushion? The Alpiner Extreme combines all three shapes in a way that makes the most of each. A round dial facilitates conventional time readoff, an angular bezel introduces a contemporary feel, and the two together form a sporty cushion shape.
Whereas this format often errs on the overlarge side, Alpina has had the excellent idea of keeping proportions to a wrist-friendly 41mm x 42mm. It’s a size that ensures the right amount of wrist presence and proper legibility if you’re wearing the watch for sport, while avoiding the ostentation trap. We tested this Alpiner last month around town with a work shirt and can confirm that it wears comfortably.
Four new releases
Alpina is now releasing four new versions of the Alpiner Extreme: two automatic with central hands and two with a Regulator configuration. This small complication displays hours, minutes and seconds not centrally but separately, by way of three hands on three segments of the dial.
It may take a couple of minutes to get used to the layout, but it’s actually entirely intuitive, going left to right, top to bottom. As the eye sweeps the dial, you see first the hours, then the minutes and finally the seconds. However, the real novelty for three of these models isn’t so much the dial colour or the overall aesthetic as the introduction of the first steel bracelet, which has been specially designed.
A purpose-designed steel bracelet
Steel bracelets are hugely in demand right now. This one complements the existing rubber strap option for sports wear. Alpina has opted for an integrated design so that the watch finds its natural position close to the wrist. It’s a welcome development, so that the cushion shape formed by the case doesn’t take up too much arm space. As a result, this new bracelet doesn’t add to the case dimensions.
Considering this is a watch intended for active duty, the bracelet’s all-over satin finish is an appropriate choice as any scratches will be less visible than they would be on a polished finish. The case, on the other hand, retains the alternating satin and polished finish that has become a hallmark of a brand celebrating its 140th anniversary this year. Note that all these models feature a screw-down crown, thanks to which the Alpiner Extreme guarantees water-resistance to 200 metres, making this a versatile watch for wear on land and around water.
Four dial colours
Alpina is proposing the two automatic versions with three central hands on a slate grey or turquoise blue dial. Both are fitted with the new steel bracelet.
The two Regulator iterations come with a black dial (on a matching black rubber strap) or a blue dial with sunburst grey subdials (on a steel bracelet). All four run off an automatic movement that delivers 38 hours of power reserve (AL-525 for the three central hands on a Sellita SW-200 base, and AL-650 for the Regulator version on a Unitas 6498 base).
The three-hander is priced at €1,995 and the Regulator at €2,450.
