ReviewThe World Is Your Oyster: Introducing The Alpina Startimer Pilot Worldtimer Quartz
Unlock the charm of the new Alpina Startimer Pilot Worldtimer Quartz—now in three different dial colours, where vintage style meets modern timekeeping for all your global adventures
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Pilot watches soar high in the world of timepieces, capturing the essence of aviation’s early days. Loved by seasoned collectors and newcomers alike, these watches blend adventure and boldness on the outside, while housing advanced technical prowess within. Alpina, a pioneer in pilot’s watches, holds a key spot in the world of aviation timepieces. The Startimer squadron by Alpina is globally renowned as one of the most popular and successful pilot watches. Featuring classic round cases, luminescent hour markers, Arabic numerals, and a clean dial with signature elements like a big date function and a distinctive knurled crown—all inspired by vintage Pilot’s watches. Embracing this rich tradition, Alpina unveiled the Startimer Pilot Worldtimer Quartz in 2023, marking the iconic collection’s debut in the universe of world timers. It’s a blend of heritage and innovation for those seeking a timeless and globally-inspired timepiece.
Alpina Startimer Pilot: The Legacy Takes Flight
In the 1920s, Alpina embarked on a journey that would make them the go-to supplier of pilot watches for military aviators. These timepieces became a trusted companion in the vast skies, aiding pilots in their navigation. Evolving from this historic beginning, Alpina delved deeper into crafting military and aviation-inspired watches. Early models boasted features like anti-magnetic cases, bold dials with luminous numerals for quick readability, catering to the needs of aviators.
In 2011, Alpina brought this aviation aesthetic to life with the launch of the Startimer Pilot collection. Fast forward, and it has become the brand’s most successful line, adapting and expanding over the years. Whether it’s three-hand automatics in various sizes, chronographs, or vintage-inspired designs, the Startimer Pilot collection remains a standout in the professional pilot watch arena. A contemporary ode to exploration and sportsmanship, it’s a legacy that continues to soar high.
Introducing The Alpina Startimer Pilot Worldtimer Quartz
Alpina elevates the Startimer collection with the launch of the Startimer Pilot Worldtimer Quartz in 2023. This new release, available in three distinct versions, introduces a world-timer complication, adding a whole new dimension to your timekeeping experience. Now, with a simple glance, you can track the time in any of the 24 reference time bands worldwide, while also keeping tabs on your local time and date. It’s not just a watch; it’s your ticket to effortlessly navigating time zones and embracing the world in style.
Built For Brilliance: The Startimer Pilot Worldtimer Quartz
In a bold leap for the Startimer series, the all-new Startimer Pilot Worldtimer Quartz showcases a fresh case design, marking the introduction of a groundbreaking complication. The robust 41mm steel case—a departure from its predecessors—is built to accommodate the world timer function. Boasting a blend of brushed and polished stainless-steel, the case features an anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal and a threaded caseback, adorned with the distinctive Startimer pattern engraving.
This captivating series presents three models—each with a unique dial in green, blue, or black. Prioritising optimal readability, the dials are ingeniously divided into three concentric circles. At the heart, against a sunburst background, the essentials unfold—hours, minutes, and the date in Arabic numerals. The middle circle hosts the 24-hour disc with day and night indication, while the outer circle proudly displays 24 cities in corresponding dial colours. Connoisseurs will appreciate the ‘sector dial’ or ‘railtrack’ minute circle, a nod to the vintage charm of pilot watches from the 1920s and 30s.
Night and day are elegantly distinguished by the 24-hour indicators on dual backgrounds—white (or red) for daytime and blue (or green) for nighttime. The outermost circle showcases the 24 primary time zones worldwide, with ‘zero zone’ in red for GMT and ‘Paris’ replaced by ‘Geneva,’ celebrating the brand’s Swiss heritage. Controlled by a dedicated crown at four o’clock, the rotating disc with the 24 cities allows synchronisation with the red-tipped central hand.
Enhancing legibility, hand-polished silver hour and minute hands, filled with luminous treatment, grace the dial alongside a white second hand featuring Alpina’s iconic red triangle logo. A silver GMT hand, also hand-polished, is adorned with a red triangle pointer. Despite a discreet date window at three o’clock, the dial remains impeccably clear and legible.
Powering these timepieces is the AL-255 calibre, a reliable quartz movement boasting an impressive battery life of 45 months. The blue and green dials find a companion in a steel bracelet, while the black version opts for a sleek leather strap.
The Startimer Pilot Worldtimer Quartz is a symphony of precision, style, and functionality—a testament to Alpina’s commitment to crafting exceptional timepieces.