The Swiss have been distinguished as one of the worlds best watchmakers for centuries, dominating the watch industry with their fine craftsmanship and exceptional quality. Back in 1883, independent watchmaker Gottleib Hauser stood out from the rest with a vision to establish a union of members among fellow watchmakers in Switzerland with an aim to work with each other to share ideas, parts and materials to bring watchmaking to another level. This was when he founded the Alpina Union Horlogre S.A. (UH) / Schweizerische Uhrmacher-Genossenschaft (SUG)' ('Corporation of Swiss Watchmakers') that was driven by Hausers Alpinist Principle to unite the Swiss watchmaking industry. The Union was initially created to optimize and develop the movement manufacturing process with the team effort between manufacturers and suppliers.

AlpinaStartimer Pilot Automatic Blue 41mm Ref. AL-525NW4S26

However they soon developed their own completely in-house calibers and high-precision chronometers. In 1921, Alpina became highly recognized as a watch manufacturer that produced reliable aviation timepieces for military pilots during the Second World War. Today, these service wristwatches are highly desired by vintage military watch collectors for their legendary horological heritage. Alpina unveiled their updated Startimer collection of watches that pays homage to their vintage pilot watches with an impressive aviation design faithful to the spirit of its predecessors. The Alpina Startimer Automatic 41mm Blue Ref. AL-525NW4S26 sports a 41mm stainless steel case with a height of only 11.5mm, is made out of two separate parts. It now been significant downsized from the substantial 44mm in previous releases. This is a tasteful update that creates a sleeker aesthetic preferred by many watch enthusiasts as smaller unisex sized watches are making a comeback.

Finishing is well executed with a satin brushed finish on the top of the lugs as well as the side of the case, only to be separated by defining polished bevels to match its classy yet utilitarian design. Gone are the slim dressy bezel, the all new steel bezel now comes with 5-minute markers at each point, and a red triangle pip at the top that reflects the brands logo. It is polished with satin finishing on the grooves, a touch of refinement as well as a sportier vibe, looking perfect on the wrist despite it being a rugged tool watch. The 3 oclock position of the case features a distinctively diamond shaped crown that tapers beautifully for a confident grip while operating it. Paired with a burgundy leather strap with contrast stitching, this piece looks incredibly versatile and ready to be strapped on the wrist for many occasions, even if youre not a pilot.

Brushed and polished stainless steel 2-part case

Under the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, the Alpina Startimer Automatic 41mm carries a deep blue dial with styringe-style hour and minute hands. The minute hand reaches out to touch the legible minute markers, allowing the time to be read with ease. The dial bears characteristics from its original vintage design, including large applied Arabic numerals and a prominent triangle marker at the 12 oclock position., only to be flanged with a matching minute track with luminous at each 5 minute. With an additional dash of red on the second hand, the contrast between colours flawlessly complement each other for a truly charming dial design.

At the heart of the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic 41mm lies the Alpina self-winding caliber AL-525 automatic movement that offers a power reserve of 38 hours that beats at a rate of 28,800 beats per hour. This 26 jewel movement is based on the ever-reliable Sellita SW200-1 movement, a movement renowned for its reliability and performance. At the back of the watch, the engraved screw-down case back protects the movement against accidental splashes with a water resistance of 100m (330 ft).

Green luminous glows in the dark

Alpina has continued to carry their legacy in Swiss watchmaking to produce many well-built watches today based on their heritage designs. The Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic 41mm packs an unbeatable value with great specifications that ticks all the right boxes for a dependable everyday tool watch ready for your next adventure.