Alpina unveils a new watch, the Heritage Automatic

Alpina has just unveiled the Heritage Automatic at Geneva Watch Days, held from August 29 until September 2, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland. It is available in 2 dial versions:

– The first version features a beige sector dial with Arabic numerals.

– The second version features a sector dial – inner dial in beige, outer dial in silver – with Arabic numerals and hour-markers.

“Joining the Heritage collection, which pays homage to Alpina’s historic legacy, is a new model available in two versions. Faithfully restoring the aesthetics of the 1920’s to 1940’s, this timepiece boasts a compact 38 mm diameter, dauphine hands, a pin buckle-fastened leather strap, a solid-coloured caseback and a steel case with a sole polished finish. The first version features a beige dial with 12 numbers in Arabic. The second has a satin-finish grey hour circle and alternating bronze-coloured hour markers and Arabic numerals.”

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Header image: First version. Above image: Second version.

Alpina Watches, founded in 1883 by Gottlieb Hauser, is based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is owned by Frederique Constant Group, which is part of Citizen Group of Japan.

Key Features

Functions

The Alpina Heritage Automatic’s functions include:

– Central hours, minutes, and seconds.

Dial

The Alpina Heritage Automatic’s dial features for both versions include:

First Version

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– It features a beige dial with matt finishing.

– The dauphine shaped hour and minute hands, and seconds hand are coated in blue PVD.

– The inner and outer dial are separated by a circle.

– The 12 black Arabic numerals are printed on the dial.

– Encircling the outer dial is a second and minute track, the latter graduated in increments of 5 minutes each. It is black and printed on the dial.

– “Alpina” and “Automatic 26 Jewels” are displayed at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock respectively on the inner dial, and “Swiss Made” discreetly alongside numeral “6”.

Second Version

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– It features a beige inner dial with matt finishing.

– The dauphine shaped hour and minute hands, and seconds hand are coated in blue PVD.

– The inner and outer dial are separated by a circle.

– The outer dial is silver colour and features a sunray finish.

– The bronze Arabic numerals (3,6,9 and 12) and hour-markers for (1,2,4,5,7,8,10 and 11) are printed on the dial.

– Encircling the outer dial is a minute track, graduated in increments of 5 minutes each. It is black and printed on the dial.

– “Alpina” and “Automatic 26 Jewels” are displayed at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock respectively on the inner dial, and “Swiss Made” discreetly alongside numeral “6”.

Case and Strap

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The Alpina Heritage Automatic’s case and strap features include:

– Both dial versions 2-part case is made of stainless steel 316L, featuring a polished finish.

– It has a case diameter of 38 mm.

– It has a case thickness of 10.15 mm.

– On its dial side, it features a glass box sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment.

– It features a threaded solid case back.

– The crown is positioned at 3 o’clock.

– It is water resistant up to 3 ATM / 30 metres / 100 feet.

– Both dial versions come with a black calf leather strap featuring tone-on-tone stitching fitted to a pin buckle.

Movement

The Alpina Heritage Automatic’s movement features include:

– Both dial versions are powered by mechanical automatic calibre AL-520, which drives the hours, minutes, and seconds. It is based on Sellita calibre SW200.

– It has 26 jewels.

– It beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph or 4 Hz.

– It has a power reserve of 38 hours.

– According to online sources, the Sellita SW200 features hacking seconds and date. It is possible the version used in the Alpina Heritage Automatic has hacking or stop seconds for accurate time setting. Alpina has chosen not to incorporate a date feature.

Our Thoughts

Both dial versions of the Alpina Heritage Automatic are a delight. I have mentioned before that simple 2 and 3 hander timepieces are often the hardest to execute and get right. Based on images and supporting information, Alpina has done a superb job of reinterpreting vintage styles of the 1920’s to 1940’s, an era that spawned gorgeous timepiece designs. I applaud Alpina for not incorporating a date window, as it would look out of place on both these gorgeous sector dials. Its movement is based on Sellita’s SW200, a robust and dependable calibre, and easily serviceable by competent watchmakers worldwide. 

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The Heritage Automatic is perfect for both a beginner collector – perhaps his or her first mechanical timepiece – and a delightful addition for an experienced collector, one whose collection includes expensive haute-horology timepieces, including complications and grand complications. Regardless of where one is in their collecting journey, if you like classical timepieces that evoke nostalgia and feature sector dials, then either of the two dial versions of the Alpina Heritage Automatic is for you. They are excellent value for money timepieces. My choice is the first dial version with 12 Arabic numerals.

Additional Details

Name: Alpina Heritage Automatic

Reference: AL-520BG3SH6 (First Version)

Price: Swiss Franc (CHF): 1,695

Name: Alpina Heritage Automatic

Reference: AL-520SBG3SH6 (Second Version)

Price: Swiss Franc (CHF): 1,695

Please visit the Alpina Watches website and Instagram page for further information.

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