WATCH & JEWELRY /
SIHH&BASEL
May 15, 2015
Alpina | BASELWORLD 2015 Baselworld Breaking News | ALPINA
ALPINA
Smartwatch and First In-House Flyback Chrono Unveiled
Aiming for the Next Generation of Watchmaking (1)
Alpina is a historic brand born in Geneva, Switzerland. This Alpina has released a smartwatch and its first in-house flyback chronograph movement. With a rich harvest in both cutting-edge technology and mechanical watchmaking, the booth was bustling with activity.
Photographs by NAGASHIMA TohruText by KAWADA Akinori
The Analog-Smartwatch
Along withFREDERIQUE CONSTANTAlpina has released the "Horological Smartwatch," a smartphone-linked model.
Like Frederique Constant, the movement is the quartz Cal.FC-285. It uses the "Motion X" connectivity system provided by MMT, allowing the watch to sense information about physical activity and sleep, and to graphically display activity and sleep status in conjunction with an app installed on a smartphone, equipping it with functions to manage a healthy lifestyle.
The case is constructed with strong lines, and the style of the hands and indices features thick luminous material, emphasizing legibility. The overall design is in line with the company's strength in sports watches, reminiscent of the traditional "Alpiner 4." This marks the birth of a new sports watch for smartphone owners.
Horological Smartwatch
Case | Stainless steel
Size | 44mm
Movement | Quartz (Cal.FC-285)
Functions | MotionX® technology (MotionX® activity tracking linked to smartphone, Sleeptracker® sleep monitoring, sleep cycle alarm, get active alerts, adaptive coaching, etc.), time correction, pointer-type date display & pointer-type moon phase display (coaxially arranged at 6 o'clock)
Strap | Leather
Water resistance | 10 bar
Release date | Scheduled for August
Estimated price | ¥162,000
ALPINA
Smartwatch and First In-House Flyback Chrono Unveiled
Aiming for the Next Generation of Watchmaking (2)
Alpina's First In-House Chronograph Movement
Alpina is a prestigious manufacturer with 130 years of tradition, known for developing the "Alpiner 4" in 1938—a watch that met four conditions: water resistance, antimagnetism, shock resistance, and a stainless steel case. It is recognized today as a capable brand that also boasts its own movements.
The iconic "Alpiner 4" model is now equipped with the automatic Cal.AL760, the first chronograph movement developed in-house. Developing and manufacturing chronograph movements is extremely difficult, yet they have now achieved in-house production for an automatic model.
Furthermore, it features a flyback function, allowing the chronograph hand to instantly return to zero and resume timing when the reset button is pressed during chronograph measurement. This is a convenient function for timing during activities like driving or piloting aircraft.
The use of a high-quality column wheel for control and a robust oscillating pinion system for power transmission results in a highly reliable model.
Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chrono
Case | Stainless steel
Diameter | 44mm
Movement | Automatic (Cal.AL760)
Functions | Chronograph (30-minute counter, 12-hour counter, flyback function allowing chronograph hand reset during measurement), date display
Strap | Alligator
Water resistance | 10 bar
Release date | Scheduled for Autumn 2015
Estimated price | ¥608,400
A Quartz Chronograph Pursuing Legibility
Alpina has extensive experience in manufacturing military and pilot watches, and this timepiece draws inspiration from 1970s pilot watches.
By making the bezel thinner, the dial and subdials are designed to be larger. The color scheme also considers ease of reading, with the subdials finished in silver, appearing to float against the black dial.
For the date display, the Big Date method is employed, using separate discs for the tens and units digits. This aviation-inspired chronograph, with its thorough focus on legibility, is complemented by a military-style green leather strap, creating an undeniable atmosphere.
Startimer Pilot Chronograph Big Date
Case | Stainless steel
Diameter | 44mm
Movement | Quartz
Functions | Chronograph (1/10th second counter, 30-minute counter), date display (Big Date using two discs)
Strap | Leather
Water resistance | 10 bar
Release date | Scheduled for Autumn 2015
Estimated price | ¥140,400
GM International
Tel.03-5828-9080
http://alpinawatch.jp



