Founded in 1883, Alpina watches have long been revered in the world of horology for their exceptional craftsmanship and timeless design. With its rich history of creating timepieces for 140 years, this Swiss watch brand holds true to its promise of producing high-quality timepieces that are both stylish and reliable and priced just right. Renowned for its expertise in creating professional sports watches, catering to outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike, its collections are divided into air, land, and sea-themed watches.
From their iconic Alpiner collection to the rugged Seastrong and Startime, Alpina watches are built to withstand the demands of any lifestyle while exuding an air of elegance and sophistication. Whether you're diving into the depths of the ocean or exploring the highest peaks, an Alpina timepiece is the perfect companion for your next adventure.
Famous for its signature red triangle the Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator Limited Edition features a triangle pattern on its dial combining a beautiful shade of dark grey along with a queen blue flange and subdials. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Alpina was acquired by the Citizen Watch Group and is now one of the six brands that the group owns including Citizen, Bulova, Arnold & Son, Frederique Constant, and Campanela.
A true pioneer of the Swiss watchmaking industry, Alpina has been the source of numerous patents and innovative calibers. Alpina invented the concept of the Swiss sports watch as we know it today, with the creation of its legendary Alpina 4 in 1938, which is now represented by the Alpiner 4 collection.
Things to Know About the Watch
The Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator is a regulator type of watch that comes in an 888-piece limited edition. This watch is so beautiful, that the moment we first saw it we knew we had to work on a hands-on review of it. The Alpiner Extreme Regulator is a stainless steel watch with a 41 mm case with a thickness of 12 mm that embodies both a slightly rugged sporty look and at the same time an elegant design.
The unique regulator complication sets this watch apart, with separate dials for hours, minutes, and seconds, allowing for precise timekeeping. As most of you know, a 'régulateur' a.k.a regulator is a watch with non-coaxial hour and minute hands, which means, that the hour and minute hands do not share the central pinion position on the dial but are independently placed. On regulators, the minute hand is traditionally the most important hand and it is typically placed on the central pinion at the center of the dial.
A perfect companion for explorers and outdoor enthusiasts its stainless steel case features some incredible angles and prominent crown guards that we typically only see in much higher priced timepieces. The watch case is completed by a vertical satin-brushed finished bezel with six screws. The satin-brushed finish is very well done and comparable with that on Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks.
The watch features a dark grey dial with a triangle pattern with queen blue subdials between 9 and 11 o’clock for the hours and running seconds at 6 o’clock, the flange is also in queen blue with white markers. The dial is very well finished with its embossed pattern and it features applied stainless steel indexes filled with white luminescent material that is also present on the central minute hand, as well as on the seconds and the hour hands. Considering the price point, the hands, markers, and overall appearance of the dial are above what we expected. The sapphire crystal is treated in its interior with an anti-reflective treatment.
The Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator Limited Edition features a screw-down crown with a blue rubber ring matching the color of the blue texturized rubber strap with a deployment clasp. The crown is mirror-polished and it features the Alpina triangle logo.
The buckle is very well-finished and somewhat reminiscent of the look on the clasps from Hublot. The rubber strap is very malleable and nicely finished. Perhaps the only downside to this strap is that the length of the 12 o’clock side is way too long which makes it hard for the watch to go into your fist if you choose to adjust the 6 o’clock side to the last holes in it. On a 7.25 to 7.5” wrist you’d have to set the clasp on the strap leaving only the two last holes and that makes it almost impossible for the watch to go over your fist. Definitely room for improvement regarding the length of the strap segments.
The Movement
Turning the watch over reveals the beating heart of the Alpiner Extreme Regulator via a sapphire crystal display case back. While nothing out of the ordinary, the automatic movement powering this watch is based on a Swiss-made Sellita 461-1 ‘workhorse’.
Even though the movement features a standard finishing and was not further finished by Alpina, it is equipped with a grey galvanic-treated oscillating weight with the Alpina logo on it. This 31-jewel movement provides a power reserve of 38 hours when fully wound while beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph.
On the Wrist & Price
On the wrist, the Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator wears slightly bigger than its actual size more like a 42 mm watch, due to its protruding areas on the left caseband and its prominent crown guards. The overall look and feel of the watch is for sure above its price point. An extremely well-finished and very unique-looking watch that won’t break the bank. Definitely a timepiece that looks way more expensive than it is and is ultra-comfortable on the wrist.
Does it take time to adjust to reading the time on a regulator-type of watch? Absolutely, but once you do, you’ll enjoy the numerous conversations it will spark around you.
Sticker Price $2,295 USD. For more info on Alpina click here.
