"...Alpina has used its experience as official supplier of military and pilot watches to develop two new versions of its iconic Startimer Pilot line, a line that is widely appreciated by professional and private pilots alike..." -- Alpina press release, January 25, 2015
There is an inherent aversion to quartz watches in many collector circles, a snobbery (guilty as charged) in favor of mechanical watches, with the never-ending sub-debate over automatic vs. hand wound movements. But here's a quartz I seriously recommend you take a closer look at should you get the chance.
Alpina may be an otherwise lesser known brand to the US market, but not to watch cognizenti. Often overlooked for more desirable mechanical manufacturers like Rolex, Girard Peregaux or IWC, Alpina has been quietly creating superior products for over 6 generations. The new Startimer Pilot Big Date Series brings forth further elegance to the sometimes intimidating 'Big Pilot' form factor.
The new series is an updated interpretation of the classic 'Big Pilot' design. The Startimer Pilot "Small Seconds" (REF. AL-280N4S6 / AL-280N4S6B) features hours, minutes, big date and small seconds overlay and the Startimer Pilot "Chronograph Big Date" (REF. AL-372BS4S6 / AL-372BS4S6B) with hours, minutes, seconds, big date, and 1/10th seconds chronograph counters. Both versions have handsome stainless steel 44mm cases and are water-resistant to 100m (330 feet).
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