Over the past few years, I?ve really come to like and appreciate the watches that Alpina has been releasing. Back in 2016 I spent some time with the Alpina Alpiner 4, and then in 2017 it was the Alpina GMT 4 Business Hours. Why bring up those two watches? Well, frankly, a lot of that design language carries forward into the just-announced Alpina Alpiner Quartz GMT.
For me, the dial design and handset of the Alpina Alpiner Quartz GMT is instantly recognizable as an Alpina watch, and looks very similar to those prior models I referenced. While those prior models were both mechanicals, here, we?ve gone to a quartz movement. Sure, you might long for the allure of the mechanical movement, but I can see the sense of a quartz here. If you really are traveling around the world, you may just want the accuracy and the ?it just works? nature of a quartz model. If your mechanical stops running while you?re 8 timezones from home, what do you do? With a quartz, you find a shop, get the battery swapped, and you?re back in business.
In terms of design, this is very much an Alpina. You?ve got a 42mm stainless steel case with lugs that bevel down to the bracelet (or strap, but we always advice the bracelet option if you can afford it) that carries the alternating brushed and polished finishes of the case. You?ve got a sapphire crystal up top covering that dial, and around which you?ve got the two-tone (grey and blue) 24-hour bezel, giving you the at-a-glance view of it?s day or night for the timezone you?re tracking with it.
In terms of what I like in watches (complication, styling, and the like) the Alpina Alpiner Quartz GMT certainly is hitting a lot of the right buttons. Great functionality, a darker date wheel to blend into the dial, and classic good looks all add up to a solid option in my book. On the leather strap, the Alpina Alpiner Quartz GMT will run $995 while the bracelet bumps it up to $1,095. You might balk at that price for a quartz, but if you want absolute accuracy and reliability in your travels, it might be worth considering. We?re seeing about getting a loaner in to see how it stacks up with our experience with the prior watches mentioned up top. alpinawatches.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Alpina Alpiner Quartz GMT
- Price: $995 (strap) / $1,095 (bracelet)
- Who we think it might be for: You need to track time zones and you don?t want to worry about how robust a mechanical movement is as you trot the globe
- Would I buy one for myself based on what I?ve seen? I?m definitely coming around to the idea of quartz for a travel watch!
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Could we see this in a 38mm or 40mm case?
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: In terms of style and function, there?s nothing here I don?t like
Tech Specs from Alpina
- FunctionsHours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT
- MovementAL-247 caliber, quartz; 1 jewel, 45 months battery life
- Case
- Stainless Steel 3-parts case with bi-directional turning black & navy bezel with white luminous markers
- Diameter of 42 mm
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- Water-resistant up to 10 ATM/100m/330ft
- Engraved case-back
- Screw-in crown and case-back
- Dial
- Dark grey dial or navy with sunray decoration and applied white luminous indexes
- Date window at 3 o?clock
- Hand-polished silver color hours and minutes hands with white luminous treatment, white seconds hand with red triangle and white color GMT hand with red arrow
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet or black leather strap
