In 2023 the chronograph has once again returned to the Alpiner Extreme collection, celebrating Alpina’s presence in Manhattan with the opening of Citizen’s first multi-brand store in New York, on Fifth Avenue. Housed in a new, more compact and edgier 41-millimetre case, the Alpiner Extreme Chronograph Automatic comes in blue and grey dial versions. The chronograph features three counters plus a date window at half past four. To further enhance their robust identity, these two new versions come on a finely-brushed integrated steel bracelet matching the case and bezel. The AL-730 calibre beats within, boasting an extended 62-hour power reserve – more than enough for a long weekend’s worth of adventures.
On 6 December 2023, leading provider of affordable luxury watches Citizen Watch America (CWA) is officially opening the group’s very first multi-brand store in the USA, the Citizen Flagship Store New York, on the most famous and prestigious thoroughfare in New York at 605 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, just a stone’s throw from the Rockefeller Center. The new concept store introduces customers to the Group’s various brands including Citizen, Bulova, Accutron, Frederique Constant and Alpina.
The three-floor store has been designed by acclaimed architect Ken Park and his multiple-award-winning New York-based firm Kenneth Park Architects. The first two floors are devoted to collections by Citizen, Bulova, Accutron, Frederique Constant and Alpina along with pieces exclusive to the store. The third floor will house a display of archives and a space for events and marketing initiatives from 2024 onwards.
The Extreme family welcomes a new arrival
It’s been a closely-guarded secret until now, but this release was foreseeable: lovers of watchmaking thrills everywhere had been expecting a chronograph to join the Alpiner Extreme Automatic line. After all, chronographs are the obvious complication for accomplished athletes, purposefully designed to measure performance. And while chronographs are widespread, they are more difficult to fit than it may appear: producing one is evidence of the authentic watchmaking skill embodied by Alpina since 1883.
No compromise
Alpina’s new Alpiner Extreme Chronograph Automatic could have taken one of several forms. The brand can legitimately lay claim to the vintage spirit as well as to retro-modernism (as fresh takes on styles from the 1940s-70s are known). But the final decision represents Alpina’s more fundamental values: radical, brooking no compromise. The Alpiner Extreme Chronograph Automatic is both imposing and thoroughly contemporary; a piece for the twenty-first century with no limits to its scope; as a worthy successor to the first shock-absorbent, non-magnetic, waterproof, and rustproof sports watches, it can go just about anywhere.
Its form duly follows that function, housed in the new case developed in 2022 for the relaunch of the line. Borrowing from both square and circle, it places the one inside the other and pares both down to dimensions of 41.5 x 42.5 millimetres. The innovative shape draws inspiration from the ‘cushion’ format, providing a distinctively muscular presence on the wrist – and off the beaten track. The chunky, compact case features satin and polished finishes.
Functional
The dial layout is easily readable and functional: a small seconds display at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock next to the date window. Readability is a priority for both versions, with white counters on a blue dial or black counters on a white dial in ‘panda’ style. To add character and relief (and avoid any unwelcome glare) the dial is embossed with triangular Alpina motifs – also to be found, as ever, serving as a counterweight on the chronograph’s central seconds hand.
To further improve visibility, a luminous coating has been applied to each hand except the central seconds hand, including the slim counter hands – a relatively rare level of detailing. These hands also feature a fine circular guilloche finish to ensure plenty of light, especially for the hour markers.
Each timepiece is powered by the Alpina AL-730 automatic calibre. Visible through a sapphire crystal caseback, this boasts a 62-hour power reserve – equivalent to the best part of three days. Water resistant to a depth of 100 metres thanks to a screw-down crown with a crown grip, these first two variations of the Alpiner Extreme Chronograph Automatic are available exclusively with a steel bracelet featuring a deployment clasp secured by two side pushers.
Alpiner Extreme Chronograph Automatic Technical Specifications
Reference AL-730SB4AE6B, RRP 2’995€
Functions
- Hours, minutes, seconds, date, mechanical chronograph
Movement
- AL-730 caliber, automatic
- 62-hour power-reserve,
- 28’800 alt/h,
- 27 jewels
Case
- Brushed and polished stainless steel 3-part case
- Diameter of 41X42.50 mm
- Height of 14,30 mm
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Water-resistant up to 10 ATM/100m/330ft
- Engraved and see-through threaded case-back
- Screw-down crown
Dial
- Silver dial with triangle pattern
- Applied silver color indexes filled with white luminous treatment
- Silver color hour and minute hands filled with white luminous treatment
- Black outer ring with white chronograph seconds graduation
- Silver color chronograph second hand with red triangle
- Black chronograph 30 minutes counter at 3 o’clock with silver color hand filled with white luminous treatment and white graduation
- Black chronograph 12 hours counter at 6 o’clock with silver color hand filled with white luminous treatment and white graduation
- Black 60 seconds counter at 9 o’clock with silver color hand filled with white luminous treatment and white graduation
- Date window between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock
Bracelet
- Brushed and polished stainless steel bracelet
- Folding buckle with push buttons
Alpiner Extreme Chronograph Automatic Technical Specifications
Reference AL-730NS4AE6B, RRP 2’995€
Functions
- Hours, minutes, seconds, date, mechanical chronograph
Movement
- AL-730 caliber, automatic
- 62-hour power-reserve,
- 28’800 alt/h,
- 27 jewels
Case
- Brushed and polished stainless steel 3-part case
- Diameter of 41X42.50 mm
- Height of 14,30 mm
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Water-resistant up to 10 ATM/100m/330ft
- Engraved and see-through threaded case-back
- Screw-down crown
Dial
- Navy blue dial with triangle pattern
- Applied silver color indexes filled with white luminous treatment
- Silver color hour and minute hands filled with white luminous treatment
- White outer ring with black chronograph seconds graduation
- Silver color chronograph second hand with red triangle
- Silver color chronograph 30 minutes counter at 3 o’clock with black hand filled with white luminous treatment and black graduation
- Silver color chronograph 12 hours counter at 6 o’clock with black hand filled with white luminous treatment and black graduation
- Silver color 60 seconds counter at 9 o’clock with black hand filled with white luminous treatment and black graduation
- Date window between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock
Bracelet
- Brushed and polished stainless steel bracelet
- 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.