Alpina gives the “Alpiner Extreme Automatic California” a new format

The new "Alpiner Extreme Automatic California" fits the current desire for vintage designs. It features the familiar combination of Arabic and Roman numerals and, for the first time, a 39 x 40 mm format. Added to that are two new colors for the brushed dial: sunburst brown and fir green with a slight gradient.

The distinctive feature of Alpina's "California" models—the mix of Arabic numerals (4-8 o'clock) and Roman numerals (10-12 o'clock)—isn't simply the product of a designer's whim. However, its origins aren't entirely clear either, which makes this design element all the more intriguing.

The origin of the California dial

Explanations range from a simple error by the dial supplier to a genuine military invention to avoid any inaccuracies in reading. What is clear, however, is that the California dials originated in the interwar period, probably in the 1930s.

Since then, they have not disappeared from the watch world, but they have also never become mainstream, which gives them a true vintage character today.

The new “Alpiner Extreme Automatic California” models showcase this with large numerals and luminous material in beige.

The stainless steel case, water-resistant to 20 bar and with a compatible 39 x 40 millimeter diameter, features the same surface finish as the previous models and is equipped with a vertically brushed bezel and a satin-finished case edge, while the bevels are highly polished.

The automatic caliber AL-525 with a 38-hour power reserve can be viewed through the sapphire crystal caseback. The "Alpiner Extreme Automatic California" timepieces are worn on a rubber strap with a folding clasp.

(RRP 1,695 €)

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