The horological migratory season has begun! The Alpiner Extreme Automatic outdoor watch inspired by the Alps has temporarily taken flight from its native Switzerland for a winter sun break: for the first time in its history, it’s been decked out with a California dial. First trademarked in 1941, this dial design features a clever blend of Arabic and Roman numerals, dashes and triangles designed to make reading the time from any angle error-proof. Alpina has made the dial more readable still by combining vintage luminous beige hands and hour markers with a black dial, all housed in the collection’s imposing and iconic steel cushion case. The 41×42.5mm Alpiner Extreme Automatic California Dial comes on a rubber strap – and like its fellows, is powered by the trusty AL-525 calibre.
Watchmaking history is replete with ingenious inventions. Alpina has contributed plenty of its own, not least by establishing the core principles of sports watches almost one hundred years ago: timepieces that are non-magnetic, waterproof, rustproof, and impact-resistant. This legacy endures in most of its models today, including the Alpiner Extreme. Meanwhile, another more stylistic development dating from the inter-war years has also sparked enthusiasm among collectors: the California dial.
A fascinating piece of watchmaking history
As wristwatches became more widespread and came to perform a more functional role, more particularly for pilots and divers, the need emerged for a dial that would be error-proof, preventing wearers from making any mistakes when reading its indications. The need was all the more pressing in that back then, dials featured both Arabic and Roman numerals, with no consensus as to how the latter should be written: the figure 4 could be represented by IIII or IV; 8 could be VIII or IIX, while 12 might be left out altogether, often replaced by a brand’s logo. Not only that, the figure 6 could be mistakenly read upside-down as 9, a potentially fatal error for aviators in flight – or during an ocean dive.
The heir to the greatest tool watches
The California dial was devised to solve this issue. Between the 1940s and 1980s, it was mostly to be seen on tool watches before becoming a fashion in its own right. It became known as the California dial as a result of collectors’ keen interest in the style in the 1980s, when many of the models in question were to be found in the US state of that name.
Today, Alpina’s Alpiner Extreme is very much in step with the original ethos of the California dial: a watch born on the steep slopes of the Alps, designed by mountaineers, and now worn by outdoor thrill-seekers everywhere.
Zero misread
The timepiece’s new dial is nigh impossible to misread. Arabic numerals are used for the 8 and the 4, while the 6 is represented by a dash that can’t possibly be mistaken for a 9. The 3 and 9 hour markers are also dashes; confusion is avoided by them being located between two full figures, one Arabic, one Roman, ensuring they will be read correctly.
Discerning connoisseurs will appreciate a happy coincidence, too: on California dials, the 12 is portrayed by a triangle – which, fortuitously enough, echoes Alpina’s own logo, a red triangle symbolising the Alpine summits. Indeed, one such triangle is to be found (as usual) serving as the counterweight on the seconds hand; another is located just above the brand name. To boost readability still further, Alpina has combined vintage luminous beige hands and hour markers with a black dial. A date window at 3 o’clock provides the finishing touch.
Housed within the Alpiner Extreme’s iconic cushion-shaped steel case (recently resized to a more compact 41×42.5mm format) is the AL-525 automatic calibre boasting a power reserve of 38 hours; it can be admired through the transparent caseback. Borne on a rubber strap and certified water resistant to depths of 200 metres, this watch is ready for any adventure.
Alpiner Extreme Automatic California Technical Specifications
Reference AL-525BB4AE6 – RRP 1’595€
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
- Engraved and see-through screwed case-back
- Screw-in crown
Dial
- Black dial with triangle pattern
- Black outer ring with white markers
- Applied beige color indexes filled with white luminous treatment
- Date window at 3 o’clock
- Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands filled with beige luminous treatment
- Polished silver color second hand with red triangle
Strap
- Black rubber strap with folding buckle
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 firm 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.
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. This year, the Firm will be offering thrill-seekers everywhere new variations of its Extreme collection, ready to face the most challenging conditions.