New for 2019, a retro-flavored Alpina watch introduces an interesting take on the chronograph for the sport watch-focused Swiss brand. Joined to the movement-maker La Joux-Perret by their common corporate parent Citizen Watches, the new Startimer Pilot Heritage features a specially developed monopusher chronograph movement from the manufacturer. It also has a cool, retro-styled cushion case shape that is slowly coming back in fashion across the watch industry.
The vintage influence is evident not only in its cushion case shape (water-resistant to 100m and similar to that of the existing Pilot Heritage GMT) but also in the choice of a monopusher chronograph. The more typical chronograph with two pushers uses one to start and stop the stopwatch function, offering the ability to restart it as well, and another to reset it. The monopusher is its technological predecessor that uses a single pusher for all functions.
The monopusher is often interesting to watch enthusiasts primarily because it is relatively uncommon, requires some technical tweaking, and seems to offer a historical reference. The La Joux-Perret movement made for Alpina is called the AL-727, and it offers automatic winding, a 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock, running seconds at 9 o’clock, and a 55-hour power reserve. The omission of a date window will be welcomed by many watch nerds.
The Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage monopusher chronograph is launching with three dial versions of blue, silver, and a combination of the two, each with contrasting subdials. Each version has a price of $2,795 but is being offered at half off for a pretty solid deal of $1,395.
Gear Patrol also recommends:
Laco Augsburg Pilot Watch Basic ($410)
Stowa Flieger Classic 40 Watch (~$990)
Hanhart Pioneer One Automatic Watch (~$995)
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