Where Can I Buy Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Grade 1 Replica Watches

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

For many brands, establishing an in-house manufacture automatic chronograph calibre is something of a grail, a sign that they’ve arrived. In a world of 7750s, the automatic chronograph is more common than it once was, but in-house development takes years, a considerable investment, and should really only be attempted by a brand that has the market to exploit their in-house prowess against their competition. For Baselworld 2015, Alpina brought a gun to a knife fight with the announcement of an in-house automatic flyback chronograph movement, ready for your wrist in the new Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph.

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina has had chronographs in their past, but they relied upon 3rd parties to supply the movements. This strategy is quite common and, while more expensive in the long run, doesn’t require the upfront cost of developing a complicated in-house movement. For many small brands, off-the-shelf parts are a no-brainer, but Alpina Watches Best Price Replica has seen fit to spend over three years developing an in-house calibre, which debuts in the new flagship model for their mountain-loving Alpiner 4 collection.

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

The movement is called the calibre AL-760 and it is comprised of some 233 components and offers bi-directional winding, a 38-hour power reserve, and a specialized star-shaped column wheel that provides a very smooth experience in starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph.

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

Running at 4Hz with 32 jewels, the AL-760 requires just 96 components for its direct in-line flyback functionality. The flyback feature allows the user to press the 4 o’clock reset pusher without having to first pause the chronograph. This is a complicated process of three defined steps – disengage the chronograph, reset the chrono hands to zero, then re-engage the chronograph, and the AL-760 accomplishes this with a more direct connection between the pusher and the clutch lever.

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

The AL-760 is a modular chronograph, wherein Alpina has designed a module that is added to one of their existing in-house movements (an AL-710) to form the final calibre. With a maximum measure of 30 minutes and a pointer-date sub dial at six, the AL-760 is an impressive feat of design and manufacturing for a small but fiercely competitive brand like Alpina. You can even notice that the crown and pushers form a vertical line on the case side, a rare feat for a modular chronograph (as the two elements of the movement are stacked, in this case with the chronograph module beneath the dial).

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

On to the watch – last year, Alpina Pocket Watch Ebay Replica launched the Alpiner 4 GMT, which uses a Sellita SW200 movement with a custom Alpina module to offer proper jumping local hour hand GMT functionality. This year, they’ve continued their growth of the Alpiner 4 line with the Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph. For those of you new to the Alpiner 4 concept, it is a sort of relaunch of a series of priorities first exemplified by Alpina in the late 30’s. The four pillars of the Alpiner 4 models are 1) anti-magnetism, 2) water resistance, 3) shock resistance, and 4) the use of non-rusting steel for the case – all great areas on which to focus when designing a sport watch.

The new Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph is 44mm wide in stainless steel with with a sapphire crystal and a screw down crown. While not a dive watch, water resistance is 100m (330ft) and the case back is solid (presumably to ensure anti-magnetism). Lume is provided by SuperLuminova and legibility is very good.

The glowing hands are a slim, curved sword design with a stick seconds hand that once again features the reddish Alpina Watch Dealers Usa Replica triangle, now as a counterweight. Dial printing of this Alpina logo and signature is large, though given the 44mm situation and ample dial real estate, it is not overpowering. Aside from that, the dial is marked with “Automatic 100M-330FT” and “Swiss Made” in its conventional six o’clock place. All in all, the dial is powerful and appealing. One of the key elements of any pilot’s opinion is instantaneous legibility and the Startimer Automatic has that in spades given its clear and clean design. Some might take offense at the replica of Alpina’s triangle that looks no less than three occasions from the dial and hands but, quite honestly, that is simply how Alpina rolls and you see their logo everywhere in their own collection. The addition of an anti-reflective sapphire crystal ensures unfettered screening of the dial despite variable lighting conditions.Moving to the case, which can be 44mm by 10.7millimeters in size with a brushed finish and an extremely minimal pragmatic design, we see again how Alpina are paying homage to significant pilot’s watches of times long ago. Absent are some intricacies in shifting finish or complex case shapes or bevels. The tool watch feel is evident here and gives the watch a no-nonsense aesthetic which plays to the pilot’s watch idea. A straightforward but neatly engraved case back increases the utilitarian concept. A slight problem for me is using instance plating on two of those four variations of the Startimer Pilot Automatic. While I know the drive to make a “golden” and also a “titanium” variant, I think the idea of case plating is a little distasteful for many who know this plating can easily wear off with use, particularly on a tool watch.

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

On wrist, especially on the available steel bracelet, the Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph feels big and rather tough, just as you’d expect from a 44mm sports chronograph. The case is quite thick, which is common for modular chronographs (similar to the Tudor Heritage Chronograph). While on the thicker side, the case is very nicely finished with brushed elements along the front face and a polished bezel and edges that reach to the lug ends.

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph With New AL-760 In-House Movement Hands-On Hands-On

Available in a black or a silver dial, the black feels sportier while the silver feels somewhat more classic. If you don’t want the added weight of a steel bracelet, or simply prefer a strap, Alpina is also offering the Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph with a black alligator strap. With pricing starting at $4,895 USD, the Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback chronograph is priced aggressively and is only a bit more expensive than a base Omega Speedmaster, which is 42mm wide, uses a manually wound (non-flyback) chronograph movement and retails for around $4500. For something closer in size to the Alpina, consider the Speedmaster Co-Axial chronograph at 44.25mm, which has a list price of $8200.

The end result is that if you’re interested in sports chronographs, the Alpina Watches Opinions Replica Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph is an impressive step for Alpina, both in terms of their capabilities as a manufacture and their place in the market (and maybe on your wrist). alpina-watches.com

We Buy Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Replica Wholesale

In addition, the Alpina Startimer Automatic’s width of 44mm at a comparatively thin 10.7mm could be a challenge for those who have smaller or rounder wrists although I know why the opinion is a little large as dimensions is another important aspect of a pilot’s eye. Consider the popular IWC Big Pilot at a whopping 46.2mm or some true vintage military pilot watch such as the Laco B-Uhr in a now unwearable 55mm (supposed to be worn over a flight-suit) and the Alpina starts to seem like a more reasonably sized choice with only enough heft to allow you to know it had been equipped with aviation heritage in mind.When you are talking about a fully featured Swiss made watch in a price point such as that of the Startimer Automatic, you expect to end up with a somewhat less impressive movement to provide some savings but in this circumstance, the Alpina AL-525 caliber gets the work done. Although it’s essentially a base tier ETA 2824-2 having an Alpina rotor, the 38-hour power reserve AL-525 is exactly the correct kind of motion for the soul of the watch and empowers the exceptionally approachable price of entry. When you return to it, a pilot’s view takes little more than a precise and powerful movement and the ETA 2824-2 has had that precise reputation for decades. Servicing is also simple with such a ubiquitous quality and some other competent watchmaker ought to have the ability to keep it in shape. One thing I would like to mention that I really like is that the large crown, which will be a wonderful tapered design.
Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

Perhaps best known for their Seastrong diver’s collection and their Startimer pilot’s watches, Alpina have, in recent years, branched out by producing their own manufacture calibers as well as their first smartwatch. However, Alpina’s core strength remains their ability to produce high-quality casual and sports watches at far more accessible prices than many of their larger Swiss relatives. We’ve covered Alpina’s outgoing Startimer pilot’s watch collection before right here, and earlier this year Alpina released an updated Startimer collection, the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Al-525 watch, a 44mm tool watch that we go hands-on with here.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

All images by David Bredan

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

Taking even a brief look at the Startimer Automatic, it’s clear to see that Alpina are tipping their hats to some of the great military and pilot’s watches of the past. On the dial, oversized applied luminous numbers for hour markers alternate with large rectangular luminous indices at twelve, three, six, and nine which all sit inside of a printed ring graduated at one-minute intervals and labeled in five-minute increments. Taken together, the dial elements very purposefully provide the aviation instrument feel. The dial itself, and indeed the watch, are available in four distinct variations; black, white, white with gold accents, and a sort of dark grey. A red triangle, an Alpina signature, sits prominently at the top marking the sixty/zero minutes position.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

The luminous hands are a slim, curved sword style with a stick seconds hand which once again features the red Alpina Watches Repair Replica triangle, this time as a counterweight. Dial printing of the Alpina logo and signature is large, though given the 44mm case and ample dial real estate, it is not overpowering. Other than that, the dial is marked with “Automatic 100M-330FT” and “Swiss Made” in its traditional six o’clock location. Overall, the dial is effective and attractive. One of the key elements of any pilot’s watch is instant legibility and the Startimer Automatic has that in spades given its clear and clean layout. Some may take offense at the repetition of Alpina’s triangle which appears no less than three times in the dial and hands but, quite frankly, that is simply how Alpina rolls and you see their logo everywhere in their collection. The inclusion of an anti-reflective sapphire crystal ensures unfettered viewing of the dial despite variable lighting conditions.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

Moving to the case, which is 44mm by 10.7mm in size with a brushed finish and an extremely minimal utilitarian design, we see again how Alpina Watches Contact Replica are paying homage to important pilot’s watches of times long past. Absent are any intricacies in alternating finish or complicated case shapes or bevels. The tool watch feel is evident here and gives the watch a no nonsense aesthetic which plays into the pilot’s watch concept. A simple but neatly engraved case back adds to the utilitarian concept. A minor issue for me is the use of case plating on two of the four variations of the Startimer Pilot Automatic. While I understand the drive to produce a “gold” and a “titanium” version, I think the idea of case plating is a little distasteful for some who know this plating can easily wear off with use, especially on a tool watch.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

In addition, the Alpina Startimer Automatic’s width of 44mm at a relatively thin 10.7mm could be a challenge for those with smaller or rounder wrists though I understand why the watch is a bit big as size is another important aspect of a pilot’s watch. Consider the popular IWC Big Pilot at a whopping 46.2mm or a real vintage military pilot’s watch such as the Laco B-Uhr at a now unwearable 55mm (designed to be worn over a flight-suit) and the Alpina begins to look like a more reasonably sized option with just enough heft to let you know it was designed with aviation heritage in mind.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

When you’re talking about a fully featured Swiss made watch at a price point like that of the Startimer Automatic, you expect to end up with a somewhat less impressive movement to provide some savings but in this case, the Alpina AL-525 caliber gets the job done. Although it’s essentially a base grade ETA 2824-2 with an Alpina rotor, the 38-hour power reserve AL-525 is exactly the right kind of movement for the spirit of this watch and enables the extremely approachable price of entry. When you get right down to it, a pilot’s watch requires little more than an accurate and robust movement and the ETA 2824-2 has had that exact reputation for decades. Servicing is also easy with such a ubiquitous caliber and any capable watchmaker should be able to keep it in shape. One thing I want to mention that I really like is the large crown, which is a nice tapered design.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

Frankly, I can’t argue with what Alpina Watches Leicester Replica has done with the Startimer Pilot Automatic. Sure, there are more impressive watches with aviation styling but not many come close when you take into account the list of features on the Alpina. You’re getting a reliable Swiss movement in a Swiss made package with a tastefully done pilot treatment for a price of around $1,000, which is a sweet spot for many collectors and general buyers alike. In a watch world of ever increasing options, with micro brands nipping at the heels of major players, Alpina have survived and thrived by creating value propositions like the Startimer Pilot Automatic. Alpina have mastered the art of taking some of the higher end design ideas of larger brands, sending them through the Alpina mixer, and releasing them at prices regular people can actually afford. Despite my minor issues, for me, it’s a concept which really takes off.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watch For 2017 Hands-On Hands-On

Keeping the Alpina Watches World Timer Replica Startimer Pilot Automatic faithfully attached to your flight-suit, or in most cases, your wrist, is a heavy black leather strap with contrasting white stitching, which is the same no matter which of the four versions you select. No word of a bracelet has been yet announced. As previously mentioned, the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic AL-525 is available in four variations; stainless steel with a black dial, stainless steel with a white dial, a polarizing rose gold plated version with a white dial, and a “titanium colored” version with a dark grey dial. The two steel versions will retail for $995 while the rose gold plated and titanium versions will come in at $1,295 and $1,050 respectively. alpinawatches.com

Where Can I Buy MMT ‘Horological Smartwatch’ Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Replica Wholesale Suppliers

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

Ever since the smartwatch became a thing, I have been preaching that companies need to pool their resources and talents to create something that consumers want. A new type of smartwatch platform called MMT (Manufacture Modules Technologies) was just announced out of partnership between a series of companies both in Switzerland and in Silicon Valley. This isn’t a big deal just because it means the small but crowded smartwatch market has a new face, but because, in my opinion, it represents a wise step in the right direction of how the Swiss luxury watch industry needs to integrate itself into the smartwatch world. Welcome to the MMT electronic watch movement family and the Horological Smartwatch.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

Peter Stas, CEO of Frédérique Constant / Alpina, wearing the Frédérique Constant Horological Smartwatch Reference FC-285V5B4

Who is behind MMT? It is Peter Stas of Frederique Constant/Alpina and Philippe Khan of Fullpower and MotionX technology which has been an innovator in activity and sleep tracking solutions for wearable devices. Think of it this way, MotionX will be responsible for producing a modular smartwatch system that can be placed in any watch, and companies like Frédérique Constant will have the responsibility to design a pretty timepiece around it that consumers want.

What people really want to know is what MMT is and what it offers. The initial Horological Smartwatch products share a lot in common with other minimalist smartwatch platforms with mostly, or all-analog dials. Withings watches will come to mind for most people. MMT watches will have no digital screens and no charging ports. For most people seeing them, they will look identical to traditional analog timepieces.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

Let’s get the battery life question out of the way. How long does the battery last? About two years. That’s right, the MMT movement is designed to be like traditional quartz battery-operated watches that require a new battery each few years. Frédérique Constant and MotionX determined that their target demographic doesn’t want to charge things on a regular basis, and from the start, having a “reasonable amount of battery life” was a priority.

The Horological Smartwatch with an MMT movement will connect to a host phone via Bluetooth and there will, of course, be a companion app that is vital to the experience. The watch itself only displays the time (without seconds), date, and a progress indicator meant to help the wearer know whether or not they have reached their daily activity goals. The sole input device on the watch is the crown which is just a pusher. That means you cannot even set the time unless you go into the app. I am a bit concerned about the necessary level of connectivity the watch has to your phone (iPhone or Android), but that is likely due to the fact that I simply have yet to live with such a device.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

The MMT Horological Smartwatch also has a “night mode” so that it can track your sleep activity and help measure your sleep quality and “efficiency.” This is something that MotionX has a lot of experience with, as it provides the technology to a lot fitness tracking wearable devices. Press in the crown of the Horological Smartwatch, and the date indicator hand moves to the small moon symbol on the dial, which means you are in sleep mode. You can either wear the watch while sleeping, or put it under your pillow.

The data from the combined fitness tracking features of the watch are displayed graphically, and with customizable goals, in an attractive app that uses the now popular graphical styles many people are becoming used to. It isn’t clear what people are doing with all this activity data, but people sure seem to be interested in it. I do however believe in the power of “suggestive alerts” that help people know they have been too sedentary or that they haven’t completed their daily goals. The managements at Frédérique Constant and Alpina both expressed a lot of surprise at just how much this type of information has impacted their lives.

This goes along with what I have predicted are a series of “wow” moments that consumers will experience in various ways as they understand how a smartwatch can have a valued place in their already technologically crowded lives. The question MMT is trying to answer is how the traditional watch industry will react to timepieces no longer being about only tradition, luxury, and style, but also (once again), functionality.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

What I really like about the MMT platform is that it isn’t about phone notifications on your wrist. I’ve played with devices that tell me I have new e-mail and unread text messages or if a call is coming in. I’ve just found them by-and-large to be rather useless. What I am looking for, is a smartwatch that acts smart and looks smart.

aBlogtoWatch has been covering smartwatches extensively, and in my article, “How Screwed Is The Watch Industry Thanks To The Apple Watch?”, a topic we explored is how Switzerland will adapt to how smartwatches are likely to be a major disrupting force. That article fired up debates and currently has over 270 comments already, which indicates just how important this issue is to watch enthusiasts around the world. What is, however, much more scarcely – if ever – discussed, is a possible bridge between traditional watchmaking and the smart watch era; possibly because it did, for long, seem unlikely to happen anytime soon. What Frédérique Constant is doing is being just disruptive enough to show that the Swiss watch industry can do something out of the box, but not so different that it alienates that traditional sense of European style and class. The Frédérique Constant and Alpina Horological smartwatches are not bad-looking.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

There are other benefits to the concept, above-and-beyond simply tracking your fitness and sleep data. On a simple level, the watch will connect to your phone and always have the correct time, dates, and will change times fluidly as you travel between time zones. You don’t need to activate a screen to read the watch, and most importantly, they look totally appropriate with a suit, or on a date. Is this the beginning of the “stealth smartwatch?” “You know it is smart, and all they need to know is that it looks sharp.”

What about women? Ah yes, female consumers have not been left out. In addition to a collection of Horological Smartwatches for men, Alpina (at first) is releasing an entire range of women’s Horological Smartwatches (even with diamonds). They have found women to be very interested in fitness tracking technology, but have little interest in wearing a gadget. The MMT solution solves that. Fullpower CEO Philippe Kahn put it best when he told me that it was his job to make the technology work and be useful, and the Swiss’ job to make it look good and be wearable. I’ve always suggested that just such an approach was the wisest way of making a smartwatch that consumers are ready to wear sooner, rather than later.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

Another important point to make, is that while Peter Stas of Frederique Constant and Alpina is the CEO of MMT, the technology is not at all destined to be exclusively for those brands. In a sense, I think MMT wants to be the ETA of smartwatch modules for Swiss watches. ETA is a large traditional Swiss watch movement maker (owned by the Swatch Group) that produced movements for a range of brands. MMT wants to be the hardware and software back-end for a lot of other brands who want to create smartwatch designs of their own but lack the desire or skills to create the technology. One of the most difficult elements of a modern smartwatch isn’t the on-board technology, but the cloud-based computing solution behind-the-scenes that makes so much of the “platform” work.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

What about the future and upgrades? Will Horological Smartwatches be just another gadget you discard in a year? MMT is trying to avoid that with a few interesting ideas that have yet to be put into practice. In a basic sense, the on-board firmware will be automatically updated all the time. That is simple, and a given. What is more interesting is that brands like Frederique Constant and Alpina want to maintain long-term relationships with their customers and actually upgrade the hardware in the Horological Smartwatch products. Again, this has yet to be proven in the real world but does have potential and is an important part of the Swiss watch buying core experience – that is, to have something you feel as though you can either pass down to an heir or that will at least last you many years.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases
The faces of this case and bezel display some wonderful lace and high-polished finishes which provide a sharp contrast to the vibrant anodized bezel insert — in this case, red. Now, contrary to the deep oxblood bezel on the Tudor Black Bay, for example, that Alpina Seastrong Diver 300’s bezel is a brighter, more cheerful shade of red that plays nicely with the rest of the polished elements on the watch. Alpina was wise to keep things classic with an aluminum insert rather than after the ceramic trend — that could have felt considerably out of location here.The bezel itself includes a crisp, satisfying rotating activity with zero drama. Its borders aren’t super grippy, but with a pair of serrations each ten minutes, there is more than enough to catch, even with moist palms. There are 12 increased, luminous hour markers implemented on the bezel insert, with the initial 20 minutes also being glowing — an unexpected touch. But it would have been a nicer surprise when the lume on the dial and hands were as good as the lume on the bezel, but that is a minor nitpick — that ain’t a Panerai, whatsoever.

If you currently own a dressy or sport watch with a quartz movement, upgrading to something like a Horological Smartwatch will have no real drawbacks and it will be an upgrade. If you are used to mechanical watches, then anything electronic will force you to make a difficult decision. I don’t actually think Frederique Constant or Alpina Watches Buy Replica are trying to convert traditional watch lovers actively. If people are curious, they will get one, but I think there is a much larger pool of quartz watch owners that will be more tempted by these early MMT movement-based timepieces.

The first “other” watch brand to be part of the MMT movement launch is Swiss Mondaine. Known for their Swiss Railways watches, Mondaine will launch The Mondaine Helvetica Smart Swiss Watch later this year in the $700 – $1,000 price point. It will be interesting to see what other companies decide to experiment with MMT modules in the near future.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

We don’t have too many technical specs for the watches, but having seen them hands-on, I can say that they are on-par with the quality of other Frederique Constant and Alpina watches. Frederique Constant will produce the “business” Horological Smartwatch, and Alpina will produce the sporty models and the first women’s watches. For men, the timepieces are about 44mm wide and perhaps 12mm or so thick. The ladies’ versions are smaller at perhaps 36mm wide, with a pleasantly modern feminine style (very much like a boyfriend watch – but with available diamonds). Prices for the watches will start at about $500 or so and go up to about $1,500 – $2,000 for the top-end models with diamonds. I would say that the average price of a Horological Smartwatch will be about $1,200 when they start to become available for sale in May or June 2015.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

Both brands debut the technology with one new model each, with Frédérique Constant offering the Horological Smartwatch Reference FC-285V5B4 in a 42 millimeter wide, rose gold plated stainless steel case. Inside the watch is the FC-285 quartz caliber that allows all functions to be adjusted via the crown and which handles all functions MotionX delivers: the watch will be always on time, will have MotionX activity and sleep tracking, will provide sleep cycle and get-active alarms as well as adaptive coaching, plus you get MotionX cloud backup and restore of your data, probably for the time when you switch phones or watches. It is, nonetheless, fascinating to think that all this happens under a highly legible silver dial that sports hand-applied indices and hand-polished, rose-gold plated hands.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

The watch Alpina Watches Hodinkee Replica debuts its Swiss Horological Smartwatch line actually has two variations: one is a ladies’ watch, the Alpina Reference AL-285BTD3C6B, which is a 39mm wide stainless steel watch, with 100 meters of water resistance (double that of the Frédérique Constant). The Alpina features the same AL-285 quartz movement and the same functionality, indicating that the technology can be fitted into a relatively small, 39mm case – which is very impressive. This Alpina model is available with a few different versions, depending on the diamond setting of the dial – we have seen versions that were more masculine with no diamonds, as well as one with diamond-set indices and bezel.

MMT 'Horological Smartwatch' Platform Finally Ties Switzerland To Silicon Valley Watch Releases

In essence, the MMT “Horological Smartwatch” by Frédérique Constant, Alpina Watches Straps Replica and Mondaine has arrived and it promises to serve as a bridge between high-tech smart watches and traditional timepieces. We are looking forward to testing out how the claimed services of the watch and the apps function in real life, but, until then, we can say that the MMT seems to have the potential to strike the right balance between traditional watch design elements and modern fitness tracking smart watch functionalities. frederique-constant.com

Cheap Wholesale Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Replica For Sale

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

Before discussing some of these rather nice Alpina Watches Price In India Replica Startimer Pilot Automatic watches, I want to once again discuss the notion of pilot watches overall. People often ask us about brands that offer reasonably priced pilot-style watches. It is honestly a good question, and one that we struggle to answer. One of the reasons for that is that it is often difficult to strictly define what a pilot watch is, as the concept is a bit more fluid than say the more specific requirements of a dive watch. Second is the notion that what “reasonably priced” means can really vary. You can get a pilot-style watch for a few hundred dollars, or you could spend in the tens of thousands (or more). So let’s focus for now on the concept of a reasonably priced mechanical pilot watch with a Swiss movement. Among the more established brands, Alpina actually has very decent offering.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina pilot watches are segmented into a few categories, all under the larger Startimer collection. It can actually get a bit confusing, as you have the Startimer Pilot Automatic, Pilot, Pilot Manufacture, Pilot Classic, and Pilot Heritage product ranges. For now, I’ll stick to talking about some Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic watches, as that is what you’ll see pictured here. These each contain Swiss automatic movements produced by third parties such as Sellita. The Pilot Manufacture collection, by contrast, has movements made by Alpina (and parent company Frederique Constant), and collections like the Pilot have Swiss quartz movements in them.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

I’ve seen Alpina’s Startimer Pilot watches evolve over the years and think that they have hit a positive stride by this point. Detailing and legibility are good, and the overall presentation of the timepiece is just really attractive, with a lot of options available. In a nutshell, you have a solid traditional Pilot watch style, with a bit of Alpina design DNA, at comparatively reasonable prices. Prices for a 40mm wide Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic on a strap start at about $1,300, and case sizes are available in both a 40mm wide, as well as 44mm wide.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

In addition to the three-hand automatic, we also have bi-compax automatic chronograph models. It is sometimes hard to do a chronograph with the traditional pilot watch dial, but I think Alpina does it pretty well in the Alpina Startimer Pilot Chronograph. The Alpina red triangle logo further adds some color and personality to the dials as the counterweight on either the seconds hand or chronograph seconds hand.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

Maybe best known for their own Seastrong diver’s collection and their Startimer pilot watches, Alpina have, in recent decades, branched out by producing their own manufacture calibers as well as their very first smartwatch. But, Alpina’s core power remains their capacity to produce high quality sports and casual watches at a lot more available prices than most of their larger Swiss relatives. We have covered Alpina’s outgoing Startimer pilot’s watch collection before right here, and before this year Alpina released an upgraded Startimer collection, the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Al-525 watch, a 44mm tool watch that we go hands with here.Taking even a brief look at the Startimer Automatic, it’s clear to see that Alpina are tipping their hats into some of the excellent army and pilot’s watches previously. On the dial, oversize applied luminous numbers for hour markers alternate with big rectangular luminous indices at twelve, five, six, and eight which all sit inside of a printed ring graduated at predetermined intervals and labeled in five-minute increments. Taken together, the dial elements very intentionally supply the aviation device feel. The dial itself, and really the opinion, are available in four different variations; black, white, white with gold accents, and a sort of dark grey. A red rectangle, a Alpina signature, sits prominently at the top indicating the sixty/zero moments position.

One of the more recent upgrades to the Alpina Startimer Pilot watch collection (at least some models) are the applied hour markers. Framed with a polished metal finish and filled with lume, the hour markers significantly upgrade the look over more “flat” pilot watch dials and also assist with legibility. You see this in both the three-hand and chronograph Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic models, and it is an aesthetic feature that really helps me enjoy the collection as much as possible.

These “enhanced” dials are better on the 44mm wide Alpina Watches España Replica Startimer Pilot Automatic models that have the “Sunstar” style dials. The 40mm wide models have applied hour marker with flatter Arabic number hour markers next to them. One of the reasons that I like the larger 44mm wide models is because the dials have a peripheral chapter ring, which is darker in color, and then a ring of applied Arabic hour markers. The black colored dial version of the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic in either the 40 or 44mm wide size is a bit more traditional in style with a flatter dial. It serves to be the most conservative of the Alpina Startimer Pilot family, but for more personality, there are a lot of other options.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

I further like that in addition to the various leather straps, Alpina Watches On Sale Replica makes many of their Startimer Pilot watches available on a steel metal bracelet. What is best for you really depends on your style. Bracelets are great, but many traditional pilot-style watches today come on straps. The contrast stitching of the thick leather straps Alpina provides offers some welcome personality.

Personality is really important in a pilot-style watch because too many today can come across as being relatively boring. The core design of a pilot watch is something highly functional and utilitarian. Making them beautiful is a more difficult task for a range of reasons. It is like trying to build a beautiful tank. The most beautiful thing about most pilot watches is that they work well and that they signify some type of idealized masculine lifestyle. For whatever reason, dive watches – which are far more limited by their technical requirements – have somehow been able to produce a number of very attractive classics.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

For every beautiful classic pilot watch (some Breguet models come to mind) there are perhaps 5 or 10 extremely bland, albeit functional ones. Their legacy lives on more because of what they represented versus what they looked like. Think about it: if you were a military pilot several generations ago, you may have been given a timepiece as part of your standard issue equipment. In many instances, you didn’t even own that timepieces and it was loaned to you by the government. Today some of those models are worth some money by simple virtue that very few good condition ones survived.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

My intent behind having that simple discussion is to illustrate the fact that pilot watches aren’t just about suggesting flight, but are also intrinsically linked to military and commercial history – which is why so many people want one. If something in the Alpina Watches In Toronto Replica Startimer Pilot collection isn’t your thing, there are many others out there.

The metallic sunburst finished “Sunstar” or “Blackstar” deep gray dials of the Alpina Strartimer Pilot Automatics are the best Alpina has to offer, and they come in a few hues, as well as with a brushed steel or PVD black steel case. Inside the watches are Swiss Sellita automatics. I am not sure which, but likely an SW200 automatic for the three hands and perhaps an SW500 for the chronographs. The cases are further all water resistant to 100 meters and have sapphire crystal, as well display casebacks with a view of the movement and a custom Alpina automatic rotor.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

Furthermore, some versions of the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic collection are limited editions. Though, the models which are part of a limited edition are limited to 8,888 pieces and don’t appear to be limited over other models for any specific reason. My favorite models in the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic collection include the three-hand ref. AL-525GB4S6 Pilot Automatic Sunstar 44mm, the ref. AL-860GB4FBS6 Startimer Pilot Automatic Chronograph Blackstar, and the ref. Al-860GB4S6 Startimer Pilot Automatic Chronograph.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Watches For 2014 Hands-On Hands-On

Prices in the Alpina Watches Bands Replica Startimer Pilot Automatic watch collection start at 1,290 Swiss Francs (about $1,300) for a 40mm or 44mm wide three-hand automatic, and go up to 2,990 Swiss Francs (about $3,100) for the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Chronograph model on either the bracelet or on leather with the black case. They are available for purchase on Alpina’s website. alpina-watches.com

Who Sells The Best Alpina ‘Full Black’ Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph Watch Eta Movement Replica Watches

Alpina 'Full Black' Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

With Baselworld 2016 just around the corner, we see the release of the Alpina “Full Black” Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph. For those not in the know about the Alpina Watches Marketing Manager Replica Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph, it debuted the in-house AL-760 calibre, and this all-black version is the refreshed and sportier sibling of the original 2015 model. While its predecessor donned a classic brushed and polished steel suit, this new version presents a more virile attire courtesy of the black PVD coating that covers the 44mm-diameter case. In addition, the PVD coating is great protection against daily wear and tear and gives the chrono a sportier and more contemporary edge.

Instead of concentrate on what is different about the new Alpina Seastrong Diver 300, what’s the same is nearly as interesting — especially once you consider that its dramatic new identity is built atop the exact same 44mm case and oversized crown of its predecessor. What’s particularly nice, however, is that despite several subtle similarities between the above, not one of the new elements feel derivative — almost like homage is being paid in fleeting glimpses, re-drawn out of memory.

Alpina 'Full Black' Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

The chronograph is the one of the most popular complications in the watch arena, and with the proliferation of cheap quartz chronos on the market, the function is often taken for granted. This is hardly the case here, as developing and manufacturing a chronograph complication is, well, pretty complicated. So, when Alpina announced the debut of its AL-760 in-house calibre last year, ears pricked up in the watch world. For a company of its size to develop a flyback chronograph movement from scratch and do battle in such a fiercely competitive segment of the market was in itself remarkable. A fresh new look for the watch is certainly a welcome addition to the collection and for buyers who prefer a cool PVD look.

Alpina 'Full Black' Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

Alpina 'Full Black' Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

An unusual feature on the Alpina Watch Worldtimer Replica “Full Black” Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph is the positioning of the rectangular pushers which are aligned with the crown. The crown, engraved with the Alpina logo, rises above the pushers and the lack of protectors on either side calls for caution as a direct hit might well break it. It was actually for this very reason that Omega fitted the crown of its Speedmaster with protectors. It is, however, a screw-in crown, a vital aspect for a watch that is water-resistant to 100 meters.

Alpina 'Full Black' Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

The black sunburst dial houses three sub-dials with a 30-minute counter at 3, date at 6, and small seconds at 9 o’clock. The three counters are slightly sunken and have circular rings, which improves legibility while providing depth to the dial. Big, sturdy indexes and hands of the Alpina Watches Toronto Replica “Full Black” Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph accentuate the masculine look of the timepiece and are visible in low light thanks to the beige luminous coating. The color beige is also used to highlight the telemeter located on the outer rim of the dial.

Alpina 'Full Black' Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

The AL-760, first debuted in the Alpina Alpiner 4 Flyback Chronograph

Despite housing a movement measuring 30.5mm in a 44mm case, the AL-760 sub-counters have plenty of space between them, which makes for a more attractive and legible layout on the dial. And there must be plenty of space inside the flyback chronograph module too, because it is composed of just 96 parts. Even though the caseback is solid (we’ll try and have images of that once we get hands-on with the watch), the calibre has been adorned with Côtes de Genève and perlage decoration, anglage for the bridges, and a PVD-coated rotor. The movement operates at 4Hz, but has a power reserve of 38 hours which may be a bit low for some.

The refreshed, dark look of the Alpina “Full Black” Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph provides a nice variation on the line and, really, we hope to see even more come out. Price for the PVD coated watch is actually around the same as the original version at $4,750alpina.com

Top Grade A Look At Smartwatches In 2017 So Far Replica Guide Trusted Dealers

A Look At Smartwatches In 2017 So Far ABTW Editors' Lists

Contributed by James Stables of Wareable.com for aBlogtoWatch

The faces of this case and bezel exhibit some wonderful lace and high-polished finishes that provide a sharp contrast to this vibrant anodized bezel add — in this case, red. Alpina Military Watch Replica was wise to keep matters classic with an aluminum insert instead of after the ceramic trend — which could have felt considerably from location here.The bezel itself has a crisp, satisfying rotating action with zero drama. Its borders are not super grippy, but using a pair of serrations every ten minutes, there’s more than sufficient to catch, even with wet fingers. There are 12 raised, luminous hour markers implemented on the bezel insert, together with the initial 20 minutes also being glowing — an unexpected signature. But it would have been a nicer surprise if the lume on the dial and hands were as fantastic as the lume on the bezel, but that is a small nitpick — that ai not a Panerai, whatsoever.

Dear watch-loving friends, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I come in peace. I’m the co-founder of Wareable, a site dedicated to the world of wearable tech and smartwatches. This year was my fourth trip to Baselworld – my third hunting for wearables – and I left a broken man, after a deluge of smartwatches and hybrid devices that announced the arrival of technology into the world of watches. A corner was turned this year, and we got a sign that connected watches are here to stay.

Up to this moment, the smartwatch market has been the preserve of the tech crew. The first modern smartwatches (we’re not talking 1980s Casios or 1990s Microsoft numbers) were from Samsung, LG, and Motorola – tech brands through and through. Add Apple into the mix, and you can see where the market has been – until now.

That ended in 2017. While it wasn’t the first introduction of smartwatches from the luxury watch world – TAG Heuer among others had been dabbling – the deluge of connected watches in the heart of watchmaking country showed that the movement (as it were) has graduated, at least out of its freshman year.

A Look At Smartwatches In 2017 So Far ABTW Editors' Lists

And it’s Google that’s flavor of the month. It’s managed to woo the likes of TAG Heuer, Fossil, Movado, and Guess, who have all opted to jump on board its Android Wear smartwatch operating system project. Android Wear enables users to view notifications, access thousands of apps and receive contextual updates curating information on commutes and calendar appointments with Google Maps traffic data – and has just received a major update.

And this mass influx to Google’s OS has changed the landscape substantially. For the past two years, Apple has ruled the roost with the Apple Watch, while Google has struggled to get traction. But now with the backing of some of the biggest names in luxury watchmaking, we’re backing Google to turn the tables on Apple, and leave the smartwatch market looking a lot more vibrant in 2017.

But it’s not just full smartwatches. Hybrids – analog watches with connected smarts built into the case – are also gaining traction, slotting neatly into the vacuum between consumer interest in wearable features and the desire for classic design. So much so that Michael Kors announced that every one of its men’s watches will soon have a connected variant, alongside the quartz.

A Look At Smartwatches In 2017 So Far ABTW Editors' Lists

To mark this huge change, we’ve compiled a list of notable smartwatches introduced so far in 2017. It’s not complete – the Fossil Group is well on its way to launching 300 smartwatches this year already – but the big watch brands just gave us a glimpse of the future of smartwatches, and it looks uncannily similar to today’s luxury market. So, now with Baselworld behind us and a solid number of smartwatch releases out there, we figured it’s a good time to recap what 2017 has presented so far.

A Look At Smartwatches In 2017 So Far ABTW Editors' Lists

TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45

The second generation of TAG Heuer’s Connected, the Modular 45 gets its name from its ability to change not only the straps but various other components as well. Android Wear 2.0 is on board, as well as GPS and NFC to give it a more standalone vibe. With prices starting at $1,500, it’s filled to the brim with sensors, with an accelerometer, gyroscope, tilt detection sensor, and ambient light sensor. It’s heavy on tech as well as sporting serious design chops.

It’s another strong effort from TAG, and packs in much more tech than its rivals. With GPS on board, coupled with changeable straps, the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 is aimed at the gym-goer as much as the traditional TAG Heuer buyer.

A Look At Smartwatches In 2017 So Far ABTW Editors' Lists

Movado Group

A trio of smartwatches from Movado showed that the company is serious about tech, and its adoption of Android Wear makes its latest efforts a step above last year’s questionable efforts with HP.

The trend in smartwatches has been to make the bezel a feature of the design – just like “proper” watches – but not the Movado Connect. Using edge-to-edge glass, it looks less traditional and shares more of a design ethic with the Apple Watch – and at $495, it costs more too. Android Wear 2.0 and NFC are again the tech headliners, and we felt the gold-lugged and gunmetal versions packed more class than the bog-standard black.

A Look At Smartwatches In 2017 So Far ABTW Editors' Lists

Elsewhere, we got a glimpse at the terribly named Hilfiger TH24/7You and were immediately impressed. Google’s Android Wear 2.0 is on board, although NFC has been shunned. With its $299 price tag at launch in August 2017, it undercuts most of its competitors.

A Look At Smartwatches In 2017 So Far ABTW Editors' Lists

And not to be out-done, the $395 Hugo Boss Touch also got an outing. Sporting ionized carbon plating it looks the business and comes with Android Wear 2.0 and NFC for contactless payments.

None of Movado’s stable of smartwatches really boast revolutionary tech, but it’s the design and price that really make them stand out. Clearly aimed at existing customers who are looking to jump on the smartwatch bandwagon, rather than competing with big name devices, the Tommy Hilfiger’s competitive price tag could make it a cult hero of the smartwatch world. These will be available around August 2017.

A Look At Smartwatches In 2017 So Far ABTW Editors' Lists

Montblanc Summit

The Montblanc Summit marks the company’s first dive into smartwatches. Built from stainless steel and titanium, the device is based on its 1858 Summit collection, and uses a curved sapphire crystal for the first time. What’s more, you can choose between four different styles and eight potential straps. At the heart of the device is Android Wear 2.0 and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip with 4GB of storage also on board. A heart rate monitor and motion sensor are also surprise additions for fitness, but there’s no GPS for accurate run tracking and NFC for mobile payments is also a no-show. The Montblanc summit will be $890 in steel and $1,090 in titanium.

Swiss Grade Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer Watch Replica Watches Online Safe

Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer Watch Watch Releases

“Ice Legacy – Believe – Preserve – Transmit.” Behold, a worthy contender for the Most Random Selection Of Words On A Watch Dial 2016 Award, as featured on the Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer. Beyond the at first baffling dial text, there actually is an interesting and competitive, if not entirely new offering released today by Alpina, so let us take a closer look.

Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer Watch Watch Releases

Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer with a white dial, reference AL-550SRN5AQ6

Alpina, if you didn’t know, is Frédérique Constant’s sister brand, purchased and revived under FC in an effort to offer the parent brand’s strong points – competitive pricing, design, and quality – in a sportier package since the more elegant styling of Frédérique Constant would not have taken well to a sporty new direction. The Alpiner 4 collection has been around for a while, and our James Stacey has gone hands-on with (and understandably liked) the handsome-looking, original Alpiner 4 GMT here.

Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer Watch Watch Releases

Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer with a black dial, reference AL-550GRN5AQ6

In a nutshell, the Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer features a 44-millimeter-wide stainless steel case, with a most welcome water resistance rating of 100 meters, and is powered by the AL-550 “Jumping Hour” GMT movement. The “4” in the Alpiner 4 collection name refers to a 1938 collection from Alpina (that the brand says was the first “modern Swiss sports watch”), with the number 4 calling to: Stainless Steel, Water Resistant, Anti-Magnetic, and Anti-Shock. Because of this, the Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer is ISO764 compliant and is certified to withstand magnetic fields of up to 4,800 A/m. Last, as for anti-shock properties, the watches are certified to the ISO1413 standard.

The motion, which likely remains unchanged by the original bit from a couple of years back and hence will likely remain hidden behind a good steel case-back, is a Sellita SW-200 automated base movement that offers a rather short 38-hour-long power reserve. Alpina Watches Sydney Replica has added into it what will probably stay an in-house-made module, which allows for the skipping setting of the local time, separate from the GMT and moments indication. Interestingly, Alpina has painted reddish the 9-17 segment, to highlight normally accepted business hours — which are proudly not at all adhered to by anybody on the aBlogtoWatch team, that I can promise you.Two models will debut the Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer, a black and a silver dialed variant — kudos into Alpina for fitting the colors of the date disks to the various dial colours, admittedly a pet peeve of ours (and pretty much every seasoned watch enthusiast in the world).

Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer Watch Watch Releases

On the wrist: a different dial version upon its launch some 2 years ago.

The movement, which likely remains unchanged from the original piece from two years ago and hence will likely remain hidden behind a solid steel case-back, is a Sellita SW-200 automatic base movement that provides a rather brief 38-hour-long power reserve. Alpina has added to it what will most likely remain an in-house-made module, that allows for the jumping hour setting of the local time, independent from the GMT and minutes indication. This way, when you’re traveling, you can adjust just the hour hand in one-hour increments, without messing up all other indications.

Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer Watch Watch Releases

What’s new for the Alpina Watch Rubber Strap Replica Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer is what Alpina officially refers to as a Pepsi colorway – a term generally used for watches with a red-blue colored bezel or flange ring, but most often linked to the Rolex GMT-Master II (hands-on here). Interestingly, Alpina has painted red the 9-17 section, to highlight generally accepted business hours – which are proudly not at all adhered to by anyone on the aBlogtoWatch team, that I can promise you.

Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer Watch Watch Releases

Two models will debut the Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer, a black and a silver dialed version – kudos to Alpina for matching the colors of the date discs to the respective dial colors, admittedly a pet peeve of ours (and pretty much every seasoned watch enthusiast in the world). Something the official communication fails to enlighten us about is why the dial now says “Ice Legacy – Believe – Preserve – Transmit” – so I went through the trouble of Googling it and learned that two polar explorers, Borge Ousland and Vincent Colliard are walking 20 glaciers to “believe, preserve, transmit the glaciers and our ancestral ice to future generations.”

A genuinely novel quest supported by Alpina, but I am just not sure how well the preservation of ancestral ice and business hours come together. However, thanks to its otherwise rather neat design and competitive price, the Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer watch is created to appeal to a wide range of prospective buyers. Add to that the bi-directional compass bezel, which is pretty handy stuff when looking for the most northern boarding gate at the airport. That being said, I do think a 60-scale timer bezel or a secondary 24-hour scale arguably would have better enhanced functionality.

Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer Watch Watch Releases

Despite its some more, well, unique design elements, the Alpina Watches Hong Kong Replica Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer is a solid-looking watch and one that nicely complements the established Alpiner 4 collection. If you read James’ hands-on, you’ll find he was impressed with the overall quality of execution of this piece. No word on official pricing yet, but because (save for a few minor text and color updates) the technical side of things remains largely unchanged over the models from two years ago, we’ll say that the price for the Alpina Alpiner 4 GMT Business Timer will likely be close to that of the previous models at around $2,495. alpina-watches.com

Best Quality Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Acquires Frédérique Constant, Alpina, Ateliers DeMonaco Replica Watches Young Professional

Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Acquires Frédérique Constant, Alpina, Ateliers DeMonaco Watch Industry News

Big news today for the watch industry: as announced a few hours ago, Citizen Watch Co., Ltd has wholly acquired the Frédérique Constant Group, including its namesake brand as well as its subsidiary watch brands, the sporty and affordable Alpina, and the high-end and very limited-production Ateliers DeMonaco.

Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Acquires Frédérique Constant, Alpina, Ateliers DeMonaco Watch Industry News

The sides of this case and bezel display some nice lace and high-polished finishes which provide a sharp contrast to the colorful anodized bezel add — in this case, red. Alpina Watches Authorized Dealers Australia Replica was wise to keep matters classic using an aluminum insert instead of following the ceramic trend — that could have felt considerably out of location here.The bezel itself has a crisp, satisfying rotating activity with zero play. Its edges are not super grippy, but with a pair of serrations each ten minutes, there is more than sufficient to catch, even with moist palms. There are 12 increased, luminous hour markers applied on the bezel insert, together with the initial 20 minutes also being glowing — an unexpected signature. However, it would have been a nicer surprise if the lume on the dial and hands were as fantastic as the lume on the bezel, but that’s a minor nitpick — that ai not a Panerai, after all.

Inside the Frédérique Constant manufacture

Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Acquires Frédérique Constant, Alpina, Ateliers DeMonaco Watch Industry News

Inside the Citizen manufacture

Citizen already owns Bulova as well as Swiss movement manufacturer La Joux-Perret SA that includes the Angelus and Arnold & Son high-end watch brands under La Joux-Perret. With Frédérique Constant and Alpina, Citizen says it “will be able to augment its portfolio of brands and occupy the space in the markets where some of our competitors operate and further expand the presence of the Citizen brand in the market.” To put that corporate speech into context: by acquiring Frédérique Constant and Alpina, Citizen clearly aims to go into battle against other competitively priced Swiss watch brands, which should include the likes of Longines, Hamilton, Baume & Mercier, and perhaps even Montblanc, Tudor, or TAG Heuer.

Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Acquires Frédérique Constant, Alpina, Ateliers DeMonaco Watch Industry News

Toshio Tokura, CEO of Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.

From Citizen’s side, it is easy to understand why this acquisition makes sense: it helps them strengthen their position in the Swiss watch industry and get a slice of the highly competitive two- to eight-thousand-dollar segment largely dominated by the aforementioned (and a fair number of other) brands. You see, for the last decade or so, Frédérique Constant has been heavily investing into developing and manufacturing its own in-house movements; and the resulting know-how and manufacturing capacity of this caliber (see what I did there?) remains very rare and a huge asset to its owners.

Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Acquires Frédérique Constant, Alpina, Ateliers DeMonaco Watch Industry News

Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Acquires Frédérique Constant, Alpina, Ateliers DeMonaco Watch Industry News

Frédérique Constant has been shooting for the stars lately, bringing down price barriers – their latest effort was marked by this in-house perpetual calendar offered below $9,000. Alpina Standard Watch Ebay Replica has also been debuting its own manufacture calibers

Both Frédérique Constant and Alpina are established brands at this point, but when you add to the mix Citizen’s arguably much larger distribution network, as well as all the possibilities of exchanging technologies between the two groups, you end up with a very powerful recipe. Although Citizen does have its own high-end, Swiss-made range of watches with Citizen Campanola (hands-on here), these two freshly acquired brands have an incomparably stronger international presence as well as a much more established product range.

Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Acquires Frédérique Constant, Alpina, Ateliers DeMonaco Watch Industry News

Peter Stas, co-founder of Frédérique Constant

From Frédérique Constant’s end, we have to look at the claimed motivations of the company’s founders. The brand was established in 1988 by Aletta and Peter Stas, and through over 25 years of constant growth, the group has reached its current state where it manufactures around 150,000 watches a year and employs 170 people in six countries. While Frédérique Constant had been one of the last wholly family-owned Swiss watch manufactures, apparently there was no one in the family with the interest to take the baton and carry on managing the brand. While the present management personnel and staff are said to continue to hold their positions following this acquisition, we also know that Peter and Aletta will remain in their executive roles for the next five years.

If you want to learn more about the differences and similarities between how these two groups make watches and movements, be sure to check out our detailed Citizen manufacture visit here, and our report on making a Frédérique Constant watch from scratch here. frederiqueconstant.com

Top Quality Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic Watch Replica Wholesale

Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic Watch Watch Releases

Alpina is updating one of their dive watches for Baselworld 2016, and the result looks great in all four styles, which is saying a lot in a crowded field like vintage-inspired dive watches. The Alpina Trench Watch Replica Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic watch forgoes the extreme monicker as well as the triple-date display, looking cleaner and more contemporary.

The cushion-shaped case of the Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic seems to be just the right size at 44mm wide, and the redesign choices are right on the nose. The single date window is discreet enough to be tolerated by even the staunchest date window detractor, and each of the four color options are downright handsome. The options are: grey, navy blue, or burgundy bezel, each with white luminous markers, and finally, a black bezel with beige luminous markers.

Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic Watch Watch Releases

Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic Watch Watch Releases

Whichever you prefer, all of the Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic watches feature the unidirectional diving bezel, 300M of water resistance, a transparent case back (which we don’t have a shot of yet), and a screw in crown. The watch sits a hair over 13mm on the wrist, which is substantial without being overly bulky. The movement is unchanged, with the AL-525 automatic caliber, which operates at 28,800 vph and offers a power reserve of 38 hours. It’s a shame that power reserve is just short of a weekend-length 42 hours, being a real practical sweet spot.

Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic Watch Watch Releases

Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic Watch Watch Releases

Interestingly, the watch does not come standard on a rubber strap anymore, but on a leather strap. Alpina is going to offer a strap set with four different rubber straps, but unfortunately we don’t know the color options yet. Between the different color options on the watches and the straps, I just really can’t wait to see these in person. Moving on to the crown, it is so aesthetically pleasing, and is likely a hallmark that is not going to change for a while.

Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic Watch Watch Releases

Perhaps best known for their own Seastrong diver’s collection and their Startimer pilot watches, Alpina have, in recent years, branched out by making their own manufacture calibers as well as their very first smartwatch. However, Alpina’s core power remains their capacity to generate high quality sports and casual watches at a lot more available prices than most of their bigger Swiss relatives. We’ve covered Alpina’s outgoing Startimer pilot watch collection before right here, and before this season Alpina released an updated Startimer collection, the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic Al-525 watch, a 44mm tool watch that we go hands-on with here.Taking even a brief glance at the Startimer Automatic, it’s clear to see that Alpina are tipping their hats to some of the excellent military and pilot’s watches previously. On the dial, oversize applied luminous amounts for hour markers alternate with large rectangular luminous indices at twelve, five, six, and eight which all sit inside of a printed ring graduated at predetermined intervals and labeled at five-minute increments. Taken together, the dial components very purposefully provide the aviation device feel. The dial itself, and indeed the watch, are offered in four distinct variations; white, black, white with gold accents, and a kind of dark gray. A red rectangle, a Alpina signature, sits prominently in the top marking the sixty/zero minutes position.

The Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic is a casual enough dive watch to wear around in most social situations. But in case you forgot, it’s a serious diver, it doesn’t look out of place at all gently dangling from the handle of your dive knife like in the above press photo or proudly posing next to the dive knife in the picture below. But seriously, this is one attractive watch that would look out of place at a very formal event but not many others.

Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic Watch Watch Releases

Alpina watches always look better in person than in photos, and that’s not a knock on the photography but a praise of their attention to quality and detail. We expect price to be just around 1,450 CHF, the price of the outgoing model, but we’ll update once we have an official figure. alpina.com

Luxury Top 10 Existing Watch Updates Debuted At Baselworld 2016 Replica Suppliers

Top 10 Existing Watch Updates Debuted At Baselworld 2016 ABTW Editors' Lists

This is the second of two “top 10 watches” lists aBlogtoWatch has prepared after the Baselworld 2016 watch trade show. This year, we decided to dedicate one top 10 list to totally new watches and another top 10 list to exciting updated watches. This list is the latter, focusing on existing watch models that have been updated well for 2016, or that have new variations which are noteworthy and help emphasize particular themes.

Given that so much of the watch industry looks to Rolex for direction and validation, I want to say that a very core theme of Baselworld 2016 was doing things “The Rolex Way.” This statement debuted last year in 2015, I believe, as the famous Swiss watch brand’s new overall slogan. Each decision the brand makes is said to be the result of a process that the company refers to as “The Rolex Way,” and I’ll be the first to say that they aren’t making it up. When it comes to product design and enhancement, The Rolex Way is about offering subtle, yet continual updates to its core collection of products. Rolex rarely releases brand new models, but rather updates existing models with new technology, case shapes, dial details, movements, and executions. So many other competitor brands engaged in this strategy at Baselworld 2016 that we could easily summarize the show as being “Baselworld 2016: Doing Things The Rolex Way.”

Top 10 Existing Watch Updates Debuted At Baselworld 2016 ABTW Editors' Lists

I had promised to also cover some design and product trends in this article that we saw at Baselworld 2016, which I will briefly discuss now. Brands are still excited about blue-colored watches and titanium seems to be the primary “non-steel” metal of focus. It is part of a larger trend of weight reduction because brands and consumers are getting very excited about timepieces that don’t weigh a lot. Over the last few years, we saw watch brands experimenting with various types of carbon and resins to produce watch cases. These materials are inherently not luxurious, but the particular way they are formulated and machined can vary greatly. If you can forgive brands for charging premium prices for these new materials, then the market continues to grow with a fascinating variety of watches that weigh a lot less than you’d expect. Titanium, of course, is the classic lightweight watch case material, so it makes sense to see a lot of it this year.

Top 10 Existing Watch Updates Debuted At Baselworld 2016 ABTW Editors' Lists

At a fully modern 44mm wide by 13mm thick, the Alpina Watches India Replica Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic is by no way a small watch, however the lug-to-lug length is a merciful 49mm, meaning the watch remains proportionate, and sits flush on even my flat 6.75″ wrist. The faces of this case and bezel display some nice satin and high-polished finishes which provide a sharp contrast to this vibrant anodized bezel add — in this case, red. Now, contrary to the deep oxblood bezel on the Tudor Black Bay, for instance, that Alpina Seastrong Diver 300’s bezel is a brighter, more cheerful shade of crimson that plays nicely with the rest of the polished elements on the watch. Alpina was wise to keep matters classic using an aluminum insert instead of after the ceramic trend — which would have felt considerably from location here.The bezel itself has a crisp, satisfying rotating activity with zero drama. Its borders are not super grippy, but with a pair of serrations each ten minutes, there’s more than enough to grab, even with moist palms. There are 12 raised, glowing hour markers implemented on the bezel insert, with the first 20 minutes also being luminous — an unexpected signature. But it might have been a nicer surprise if the lume on the dial and hands were as fantastic as the lume on the bezel, but that is a small nitpick — this ai not a Panerai, whatsoever.

The push for brands to go “in-house” is stronger than ever. Regardless of whether there is true value for consumers in having watches with in-house-made movements, the consumers have spoken with their wallets, and brands understand that offering watches with in-house, exclusive, or modified base movements is increasingly important. Tudor, for example, included in-house movements in their champion-seller which is the Black Bay. Moreover, you’ll notice that only two of the watches on this list of the top 10 existing watch updates from Baselworld 2016 have sourced movements – the rest being in-house or calibers produced totally exclusively for the brand.

Top 10 Existing Watch Updates Debuted At Baselworld 2016 ABTW Editors' Lists

Sport watches are still the best sellers in established markets. Asia still sells a lot of dress watches, but the nature of sport watches makes them more enjoyable to purchase in any variety. Most watch collectors who own a dress watch only have one or a few of them. Most people buy a limited amount of dress watches because the modern watch collector tends to have less use for them. Sport watches further offer more visual and technical variety, which helps them be more popular, and regular sellers. Thus, it is sporty or design-driven watches which we see as being the most popular, with dress watches coming out regularly, but with all the excitement of a new suit. They feel more necessary than fun most of the time.

Top 10 Existing Watch Updates Debuted At Baselworld 2016 ABTW Editors' Lists

The vintage watch craze is slowly leveling out to simply mean an industry which has rediscovered the value of watches for people who want comfort, legibility, and clear design focus. We see very few (but some) “retro re-issue” watches, but a lot of timepieces with design cues learned as a result of an industry that has spent about five years rediscovering what makes a timepiece worth wearing. A better term for describing this is perhaps “timeless,” which, for me, means that a watch looks good when you bought it, and remains looking good and working well for years to come. Timeless watches are probably the opposite of novelty watches – but that doesn’t mean a novelty watch can’t become timeless.

Baselworld 2016 did have a huge amount of variety, as always, and it is difficult to summarize broad themes because each brand has its own personality and goals. With that said, I would say that expensive watches tended to feel expensive and worthwhile, and that budget watches seemed to be more appealing in design and value overall. Brands are sobering up from an era of being able to sell frivolous designs and illogically priced goods – embracing the values that helped make wrist watches great items to own and collect to begin with.

Top 10 Existing Watch Updates Debuted At Baselworld 2016 ABTW Editors' Lists

I’ll end on the topic of smartwatches and other connected wearables that continue to be a major part of the industry’s contemporary experience. TAG Heuer reports excellent sales for its Connected smartwatch, and brands like Tissot have marked a serious entrance by The Swatch Group into the smartwatch segment. The Japanese are still slow to the smartwatch game, but I think for good reason as they continue to test how new technology and consumer expectations meld with their core strengths and brand values. Casio showed their new Android Wear-powered smartwatch that will ship at the end of March 2016 and will be an interesting competitor to the TAG Heuer Connected, albeit at a much lower price.

Many brands eager to get into the technology wearables space are finally realizing that traditional watch consumers (unlike those who currently have empty wrists) are interestrd in technology but don’t want to replace their beloved timepieces with something new. We thus see a focus on various types of smart straps, bracelets, attachments, and other accessories which complement rather than replace the traditional watch wearing experience. Many of these products are not yet ready for prime time – such as the Victorinox Swiss Army INOX Cybertool, but are eagerly anticipated by the market. Perhaps the most serious contender when it comes to the activity tracker space is Misfit, which is now part of the watch industry thanks to its parent company, the Fossil Group. Interestingly enough, the new Misfit Ray is a small cylinder-style item with small spring bars attached to either end designed to incorporate various straps – a lot like a watch. It is further meant to be worn along with a watch on either the same or opposite wrist.

Top 10 Existing Watch Updates Debuted At Baselworld 2016 ABTW Editors' Lists

Smartwatches will continue to slowly but surely invade the traditional watch industry as the major luxury timepiece makers understand the available technology as well as consumer preferences more in the future. I believe that the enduring sentiment among traditional watch brands when it comes to smartwatches is that if the smart wearable industry is as big as everyone says it is going to be, then there is little reason to rush to market since there will be ample time to design and test the right product for them.

Top 10 Existing Watch Updates Debuted At Baselworld 2016 ABTW Editors' Lists

In our list of top 10 existing watch updates from Baselworld 2016, you’ll see a few themes, and we aren’t bashful that at least one brand has as many as three positions on the list. Updated existing watches are those which aren’t a new family, but rather have exceptional new versions or important across-the-board updates which make them even better. Rolex, Omega, and Tudor aren’t here with new concepts, but rather refinements on popular ones. Better cases, dials, and movements are how to make something good even better. Omega is finally understanding that they don’t always need to release brand new product families, but rather give existing fans new reasons to buy models they don’t already have. Moreover, many of these updates represent little or no added cost to the previous generation model – which is a practice I really hope becomes more the norm in the industry. Too often, watch brands act as though their current products are so perfect, that any added improvements should immediately come with higher costs. I reject this notion and suggest that when a brand produces a particular product in a high volume over time, they should automatically include regular updates to new versions without adding additional retail cost. So, without further ado, here is our list of top 10 existing watch updates debuted at Baselworld 2016: