Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator Automatic Watch Review
The Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator Automatic fuses two seemingly disparate worlds, the modern sports watch and the traditional regulator. Competitively priced, this product of Geneva is endowed with a fascinating dial enriched with some exquisite details. It also features an interesting case embellished with an array of finishes.
Image: © Andrea Dal Sogli
Regulator clocks – the 18th century
Regulator clocks date back to the early 18th century and are widely believed to have originated in England. These were highly precise instruments, used as a reference when setting other clocks or watches after being manufactured, repaired or serviced. Typically, the minutes were considered the most important indication on a regulator clock, hence they were indicated with a dominant hand. The hours and seconds were considered less important and therefore assumed a subordinate role.
Today, an increasing number of watch aficionados are drawn to the aesthetic charms of regulator watches. Most of the regulators on the market are classical in design, however, a few months ago, Alpina unveiled a model that is unequivocally sporty and modern.
Image: © Andrea Dal Sogli
Alpina Extreme Regulator
Housed in a stainless steel case, measuring 41 x 42.5 mm, the Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator Automatic is best described as contemporary. True to type, the minute hand assumes the greatest importance, dominating the dialscape. It is presented in traditional lancine form, albeit with a truncated tip and incorporating luminous treatment. This latter detail is unusual for a regulator and more consistent with a sports watch. The model’s neoteric persona is heightened further with the addition of applied silver-toned indexes, again liberally treated with lume.
Image: ©Eric Rossier
Interestingly, Alpina has chosen to endow this model with a radical dark grey dial, enlivened with a ‘triangle pattern’. Once again, it’s unapologetically modern and sporty. A blue, snailed small seconds display is located at 6 o’clock, while a similar subdial, albeit larger, is located at 10 o’clock, displaying the hours. Both of these subdials feature lancine-style hands, again with truncated tips, delivering design consistency.
Image: ©Eric Rossier
A blue flange encircles the dial and is marked with a minute track, facilitating ease of read-off. Alpina has clearly given this dial much thought, especially where the hour display overlaps the flange. While some commentators may talk of the subdial ‘eating the track’ in this region of the dial, the design approach affords more room for the hour display, aiding readability. Moreover, the Swiss marque has imbued the dial with different textures and has judiciously positioned blue and grey contrasting tones in close proximity, contributing to the model’s overall charm.
Image: ©Eric Rossier
A high quality-price ratio
Priced at £1895, the Alpiner Extreme Regulator Automatic delivers an impressive quality-price ratio. Indeed, the 3-part case proves a fascinating melange of shapes with no signs of penny-pinching. It features a circular bezel sat atop a case middle, comprising a square with arcing sides. Alpina has suffused the case with an eye-catching blend of circular-brushed, straight-brushed and highly polished surfaces.
Image: ©Eric Rossier
Six gleaming Alpina-themed bolts secure the bezel to the case. The crown sits between two protective shoulders and incorporates a blue-toned grip, matching the appearance of the accompanying rubber strap. A further section of curved steel projects from the case between 8 and 10 o’clock, serving as a counterbalance to the aforementioned crown protector.
Image: ©Eric Rossier
Alpina automatic AL-650 caliber
A see-through caseback grants sight of the self-winding AL-650 caliber. This movement is based on the Sellita SW 461-1. Alpina has been very shrewd with its choice of movement supplier as Sellita produces some very impressive products, especially considering its egalitarian approach to pricing.
The movement features a smattering of blued screws and a personalised rotor oscillating on a ball-bearing race arrangement. I would have liked to have seen Côtes de Genève motif on the automatic device bridge and maybe some perlage on the mainplate, however, considering the modest price of this watch, this is probably unrealistic. The balance has a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz) and the movement contains 31 jewels. Alpina states the watch has a power-reserve of 38 hours.
Image: ©Eric Rossier
Closing thoughts
Alpina has fused two horological genres, the sports watch and the regulator. It is a bold idea that could have proved disastrous, however, the resultant watch looks fabulous. Everything comes together wonderfully with no hint of dissonance. In particular, the marriage of blue and grey hues proves a harmonious union.
Limited to 888 pieces, this Alpina regulator is keenly priced, retailing for £1895, yet the case encompasses three different finishes and would not look out of place on a watch costing twice as much.
Equipped with an integrated strap, the watch looks smaller than its specification sheet would suggest and will undoubtedly suit a broad range of wrists. In addition, the case looks capable of shrugging off minor impacts and proffers 200m water resistance, attributes that make it ideal for active individuals.
I suspect this won’t be the last Alpina regulator to emerge from the Genevan firm’s atelier. Indeed, I hope to see more versions of this unusual take on a historical form of horological instrument and wouldn’t be surprised if this didn’t become a speciality of the House.
Image: ©Eric Rossier
Further reading
Technical specification
- Model: Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator Automatic
- Reference: AL-650DGN4AE6
- Case: stainless steel, dimensions 41 x 42.5 mm, height 12.0mm, sapphire crystal to front and exhibition case back
- Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
- Movement: AL-650 calibre, self-winding movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4Hz), 31 jewels, power reserve 38 hours
- Strap: navy blue rubber strap
- Price: £1895 (RRP as of 16.12.2022)