It was early summer when Alpina became Official Timekeeper for the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest. Today, with only a few days left on the countdown timer before the start on 7 January, the two limited-edition timepieces devised for this single-handed round-the-world yacht race have now been unveiled. They combine the strength and attention to detail typical of Alpina’s Extreme line, bringing that same DNA to the Seastrong collection. That means the best of both worlds for these collectors’ editions of 100 and 150 pieces, housed in a 41-millimetre steel case on a steel or rubber strap and featuring a silvered dial mirroring sea spray – or a blue dial to match the sea itself. Yachtsman Éric Péron, Alpina’s new Ambassador for the oceans, is taking part in the race and will of course be wearing one of the timepieces as he does so.
There are just six competitors, including Alpina ambassador Éric Péron. The race is likely to take 40-50 days as the skippers face the winds, waves and tides, sailing round the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn on an exceptionally challenging west-to-east round-the-world route. One variable will be uppermost in their minds: time. Whatever their strategy and their endurance, time will ultimately be the sole judge of their performance.
Alpina has brought all its expertise to bear to keep track of the challenge, focusing on two key concepts: accuracy and robustness. And for this extreme environment in which every second counts, the Maison can draw on one hundred and forty years of experience.
Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic Arkea Limited Edition
Reference AL-525NARK4AE6B
Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic Arkea Limited Edition
Reference AL-525WARK4AE6
Two dedicated limited editions to commemorate the race
Founded in 1883, Alpina was birthed in the shadow of the Alps. The two timepieces unveiled for the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest bear witness to these origins and reap the fruits of this historic heritage for the benefit of ocean-going yacht racing. To do so, they’ve adopted the structure of the imposing cushion-shaped 41-millimetre Extreme case. The steel used for this case is designed to withstand the harshest environments; the crown features a grip devised to be adjusted even amid ocean spray. The case is certified water resistant to 200 metres thanks to a solid, screw-down caseback, on which the name of the race is engraved. It houses the Swiss Made AL-525 automatic movement, boasting a 38-hour power reserve driving three central hands and a date display at six o’clock.
A 100% steel version
The first limited edition of 100 pieces, engraved with ‘1 out of 100’ on the caseback, comes in an all-steel housing comprising the case, bezel and strap. The non-reflective sapphire crystal reveals a deep navy blue dial engraved with Alpina’s triangular emblem. Around it, large, luminous hour markers denote hours and minutes, indicated by two openwork, hand-polished hands with luminous tips. Beneath these at six o’clock lies the trident-shaped ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest logo. As befits the high standards of Swiss workmanship, the watch features a satin finish throughout and a crown grip that matches the dial colour.
A blend of steel and rubber
The second version, limited to 150 pieces and numbered in the same fashion, has a sportier look and feel with more contrasts. The dial is silvered, while blue is reserved for the strap and flange – and, more unusually, the hand-polished hour markers and hands, thanks to a blue luminous coating specially developed to match the race colours. This powerful, contemporary design features the Alpina emblem as a triangular second hand counterweight that echoes the race logo at six o’clock, both done out in the same shade of bright red – a visual embodiment of the alliance of Alpina’s expertise and the determination typical of the extreme yachtsmen taking part in the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest.
In for the long haul
Éric Péron will be one of the first to benefit from this piece of precision engineering. The top-level skipper has sailed in major crewed and single-handed yacht races on Olympic courses and ocean-going challenges in French waters and worldwide, and has been an Alpina ambassador since October 2023. His love of the extreme and his taste for challenge will be considerable assets for this race timed by Alpina, during which he will need to handle complex, extreme and dangerous situations all on his own.
Alpina’s commitment to ocean-going racing is a long-term one. Extending through until at least 2026, it will also include the next edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, a race that sees more boats in multiple categories cross the starting line than any other.
Yachtsman Éric Péron becomes one of Alpina’s Ambassadors.
Alpina, Official Timekeeper for the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest, today welcomes Breton yachtsman Éric Péron as one of its Ambassadors through until 2027. The top-level skipper has sailed in major crewed and single-handed yacht races on Olympic courses and ocean-going challenges in French waters and worldwide. Both Alpina and Éric Péron nurture a passion for outdoor sports, a taste for challenge, and human endeavour. Attention to detail and technique are key ingredients in his yachting success – and two of the values on which Alpina established the modern sports watch. Together, Alpina and Éric Péron will be striving for every second of the forthcoming races.
“You have to know how to handle complex, extreme, and dangerous situations”. Éric Péron’s description of what it takes to be a professional yachtsman says it all. The role requires nerves of steel, the ability to draw on longstanding experience, and reliable, high-performance gear. That of course includes his boat, and also his timepiece: the race here is against the clock, and for Éric Péron time is of the essence in every sense of the expression. His watch and its accuracy underpin every decision and every move.
It was only natural for Alpina to connect with the champion given his love of the extreme and his taste for a challenge. Like any ocean-going voyage involving a team, support for the sportsman is all about the people involved, something that fits right in with the Alpina ethos: the firm was originally set up by mountaineers, for whom being ‘roped together’ and team spirit are fundamental values.
Founded in 1883, Alpina established the fundamental characteristics of the modern sports watch: shock-absorbent, non-magnetic, water-resistant, and made of stainless steel. These four features are crucial at sea amid the constant presence of water and its corrosive potential, as well as the repeated impacts a watch has to endure on the wrist of a skipper sailing single-handed. Alpina has extensive experience in the field: its first watches destined for marine environments were developed in the 1960s. Today, its Seastrong collection continues to offer enthusiasts timepieces fit for the ocean waves.
This expertise was also a decisive factor in Éric Péron choosing Alpina. The watchmaker’s constant commitment to developing watches that are ever more reliable, robust and accurate has created the illustrious heritage that has made the brand what it is today. Like watches, monohulls and multihulls have come a long way in the past sixty years. Now, Éric Péron will be getting them to work together to break new records.
“I love wide open spaces, whether it’s the open sea – my own sporting realm – or the mountains, Alpina’s home ground. Partnering with Alpina really makes sense for me; I love their spirit of trail-blazing, adventure and innovation. The way Alpina’s embedded its foundational values in its products is remarkable and I can totally relate to that mindset. I’m very proud to be joining Alpina’s team of athletes, all of whom love to scale new heights”, says Éric Péron.
“I also enjoy the challenge involved in sailing a new boat single-handedly”, he adds. To take up this challenge, the Quimper-born helmsman needs to be able to rely on a robust relationship between man and machine. Every yachtsman needs his vessel, and every race requires a watch: skipper, boat and timepiece form an inseparable trio. “Extensive knowledge of all the systems on board is at the heart of the exercise”, explains Éric Péron, for whom timing and accuracy are everything.
Clearly, he and Alpina are very much made for each other; races are all about timing. Power naps? “17-20 minutes”. Endurance? A vital quality for watch and wearer alike. As Éric confides, “You have to know how to make your body deliver performance” – and he expects his precision instruments to do nothing less. Éric Péron needs to be able to count on them, their reliability and their robustness, from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Horn and for weeks at a time. As the skipper says, “I love working in the climate of trust all that provides“.
Alpina supports the Arkea Ultim Challenge – Brest
Preparations are already being made well out of the limelight: after the traditional time spent in the shipyards over winter, Ultim 32/23 skippers and their teams have all been sailing in recent weeks, carrying out multiple sea trials involving adjustments, optimisation and technical tests. All share the same aim: winning the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest. For the first time ever, this round-the-world yacht race will pit skippers against each other single-handedly aboard huge trimarans packed with technology and innovation.
Alpina: daring, adventure, and innovation
The race is set to start from Brest on 7 January 2024 – 200 days from 21 June. This was an especially significant date for the teams, the organisers (OC Sport Pen Duick), the Title Sponsor (Arkea) and the Main Sponsors (Brest district and city councils, the Bretagne Region, and the Finistère county council), as Swiss watchmakers Alpina joined them on this unprecedented adventure. Alpina, which is celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2023, has always been inspired by a spirit of adventure and a sense of innovation. The firm invented the concept of the sports watch: a timepiece that could provide exceptional reliability in all circumstances.
Ever since its inception, to take up extreme challenges and embody its audacity the Maison has drawn inspiration from the world of mountaineering. In doing so, it has built up robust partnerships with those seeking to scale the heights, as witnessed by its commitment as official watch supplier to the French Ski Federation. This year, Alpina will be offering thrill-seekers everywhere new additions to its Extreme line, ready to brave all types of environment.
A challenge spanning the oceans
Alpina has also shared the values of the marine world since the 1960s, creating the Seastrong 10 dive watch (water resistant to 200 metres) and the Yachttimer series for yachting and sailing enthusiasts. With the passage of time, Alpina has built up close relationships with the boldest explorers in the most demanding environments. Now, the brand is gearing up for the world of yacht racing, riding the oceans with the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest.
The Maison is proud to be supporting the most extreme of human and technological yacht-racing feats in its capacity as Official Timekeeper. Determination, excellence and discipline are all key hallmarks of this adventure – and of Alpina, right from its origins.
To celebrate the milestone of 200 days prior to the start of the race, ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest and Alpina have installed a physical countdown timer display at the Ateliers des Capucins in Brest. The location has been carefully chosen: it will be one of the nerve centres for all stakeholders in the build-up to the big day.
What they said:
Joseph Bizard, Managing Director, OC Sport Pen Duick: “There are many key dates in this ocean-going yacht race and 21 June is one of them. In 200 days’ time, renowned skippers and top teams will be taking up a historic challenge that has long been beyond the reaches of human imagination. We’re delighted to be able to count on the robust support of our partners in this adventure, and delighted to welcome Alpina as one of them. The manufactory has always been at the cutting edge of sporting challenges and today becomes the official timekeeper for the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest. Now the countdown’s really begun!”
Yasmina Pedrini, Alpina’s Head of Communications: “Alpina is proud to be joining forces with the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest. Ever since it was founded in 1883, the ethos of our manufactory has been all about exploring nature. This journey across the seas will call for determination, commitment and discipline on the part of the competitors. Alpina upholds these same values, as can be seen from our Maison’s team of mountaineers, athletes and ambassadors. Our commitment is a long-term one, running through until 2025 and including the next Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe yacht race, bringing together the largest ocean-going fleet of yachts of all classes ever to cross the same starting line.”
Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic Arkea Limited Edition Technical Specifications
Reference AL-525NARK4AE6B – RRP 2’095,- €
Limited Edition Limited to 100 pieces.
“1 OUT OF 100” mention engraved on the case back
Functions
- Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Movement
- AL-525 caliber, automatic
- 38-hour power-reserve,
- 28’800 alt/h,
- 26 jewels
Case
- Brushed and polished stainless steel 3-part case
- Diameter of 41X42.50 mm
- Height of 11,50 mm
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Water-resistant up to 20 ATM/200m/660ft
- Screwed case-back engraved with “Arkea Ultim Challenge – Brest” logo
- Screw-in crown
Dial
- Blue dial with triangle pattern and Arkea logo at 6 o’clock
- Blue outer ring with white markers
- Hand-applied silver color indexes filled with white luminous treatment
- Date window at 6 o’clock
- Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands filled with white luminous treatment
- Hand-polished silver color second hand with red triangle
Strap
- Brushed and polished stainless steel 3-link bracelet
- Folding buckle with push buttons
Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic Arkea Limited Edition Technical Specifications
Reference AL-525WARK4AE6 – RRP 1’695,- €
Limited Edition Limited to 150 pieces.
“1 OUT OF 150” mention engraved on the case back
Functions
- Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Movement
- AL-525 caliber, automatic
- 38-hour power-reserve,
- 28’800 alt/h,
- 26 jewels
Case
- Brushed and polished stainless steel 3-part case
- Diameter of 41X42.50 mm
- Height of 11,50 mm
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Water-resistant up to 20 ATM/200m/660ft
- Screwed case-back engraved with “Arkea Ultim Challenge – Brest” logo
- Screw-in crown
Dial
- Silver colour dial with triangle pattern and Arkea logo at 6 o’clock
- Blue outer ring with white markers
- Hand-applied silver color indexes filled with blue luminous treatment
- Date window at 6 o’clock
- Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands filled with blue luminous treatment
- Hand-polished silver color second hand with red triangle
Strap
- Navy blue rubber strap
- Folding buckle with push buttons
ABOUT ALPINA – THE ORIGINAL SPORTS WATCH SINCE 1883
Founded in 1883 by Gottlieb Hauser, Alpina is a Swiss watchmaking house based in Geneva belonging to the Frederique Constant Group, itself part of the Citizen Group. Alpina, which is celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2023, is characterised by a spirit of adventure and innovation and has emerged as a pioneer in the world of sport. In 1938, the brand invented the concept of the sports watch with its Alpina 4: impact-resistant, non-magnetic, water-resistant, and made of stainless steel, it brought together the four key components of the genre.
Since its origins, Alpina’s mission has been to design luxury sports watches delivering exceptional accuracy and reliability in extreme environments. Today, this commitment is upheld in three different realms: the air (the Startimer collection), the sea (the Seastrong collection) and the Earth, with the Alpiner collection. These sports timepieces stand out for their value, refined finishings, and careful pricing. This year, the Maison will be offering thrill-seekers everywhere new variations of its Extreme collection, ready to face the most challenging conditions. Alpina has built up robust partnerships reflecting its enduring commitment to the mountain environment, as well as a team of athletes and other friends of the brand. They are united by a common ambition: scaling new heights in the most challenging conditions.