Basel Preview: Alpina Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph “Black Edition”

Alpina gears up for Baselworld with the launch of a special black-cased edition of its first in-house manufacture flyback chronograph. In 2015, the watchmaker celebrated the premiere of its AL-760 patented Direct Flyback Technology and this year the company is ready to present the new Alpiner 4 Black AL-760 Flyback Manufacture Chronograph. Invented in the 1930s to facilitate pilots’ use of their watch, the flyback function is now much appreciated for its functionality and reliability. With this function, pressing the push-piece just once starts the timer again from zero.

Design

Like all the Alpina watches replica, this one features ergonomically shaped chronograph push-pieces, screw-down winding and setting crown, and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. It can withstand a water pressure equivalent to a diving depth of 100 meters. Following a long tradition, the screwed steel case back is decorated with the familiar Alpina logo. The watch exhibits the four features of the Alpina 4 sport watch: antimagnetism, water-resistance, anti-shock and stainless steel.

Looking at the right-hand side of the case, the wearer sees that the crown and push-piece are positioned on a straight line, despite the calibre AL-760’s modular construction. To finish this watch, an elegant black genuine leather strap with beige stitching ensures safety and comfort on the wrist.

Caliber

The caliber itself took more than three years for research and development and execution. For the new AL-760 caliber, technicians decided to adopt a modular construction based on the company’s own AL-710, which features a balance frequency of 4 hertz (28,800 bph), center seconds a date hand at 6 o’clock.

Côtes de Genève decorations, 38-hour power reserve.

Functions

Hours, minutes, seconds, date, flyback chronograph and telemeter.

Case

44mm black PVD-coated stainless steel

Start-stop pushers at 2 o’clock and reset button at 4 o’clock.

Sapphire crystal and engraved steel caseback.

Water-resistant to 100 meters

Dial

Black.

Hour-markers and hours/minutes hands coated with beige Superluminova.

30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, date at 6 o’clock and small seconds at 9 o’clock.

Strap

Black perforated leather with beige topstitching.

Stay tuned for more Basel Previews throughout this week and into next, as Baselworld 2016 prepares to open its doors March 17. Want more? Check out iWMagazine.com’s dedicated Baselworld 2016 for debuts, exclusive video and more.