The 12 Hours of Sebring is a race that opens the American Le Mans Series and since Alpina is their official timekeeper, the watch company has made a limited edition timepiece to celebrate the 58th race. The watch boasts precision, legibility, shock-resistance and reliability and the chronograph has been built to meet the tough Florida circuit requirements. The chronograph has a 12-hour counter and GMT. Only 158 pieces will be made. $TBA.
Not sure as to why this watch would be considered ‘extreme’ but we do know that Alpina made a new move into the tourbillon world by introducing a regulator. This watch has a caliber AL-980 automatic tourbillon movement with a silicium lever and escapement wheel. Only 36 watches will be made which are available in two versions; 18 of which will have a brushed titanium case and a pink gold bezel and the other 18 will have a black ceramic bezel and a pink gold case. Other features include the large minute style hour markers and skeletonized ‘bubble baton’ hands in brushed steel that give the watch a sporty and contemporary look. $TBA.
The Avalanche Extreme Chrono Double Digit watch may be a mouthful but it’s a nice looking 30 minute chronograph watch. The words ‘Double Digit’ refer to the hour indicators that have been replaced with 5 minute indicators which makes the watch dial appear more aligned with the minute hand. The two versions you see here come in a steel and PVD coated steel 46mm wide case with sapphire crystals on the front and back and large screws on the bezel. The modified Swiss ETA automatic movement is the Alpina caliber AL-850 and it’s water resistant up to 100 meters. When it becomes available the price will probably be a few thousand. $TBA.
Back in 2008, Alpina had great success with the Extreme Diver Watch, so now for spring/summer 2009 they have released a new edition featuring trendy colors. The Extreme Diver features a sapphire crystal with black PVD coating, a 48mm stainless steel case, unidirectional rotating bezel, 1,000m water resistance, helium release valve and 42 hour power reserve. Colors available: Yellowtail, Orange Sunset, Cote d’Azur and Black Ocean. $2,895.
