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 In 2011 the Swiss company Alpina Genève presented its new Startimer Pilot at the BaselWorld fair. This collection issue symbolizes the return to aviation heritage. Its laconic and strict design is inspired by the Alpina pilot watches of 1920s and 30s. In the first half of 20th century, Alpina Watch International was known as a specialized manufacturer of military watches, utilized by pilots. The “military” watches had strict requirements: extreme precisement, uninterrupted movement and ultimate shock resistance. The military time indicators with high-contrast dials were provided with oversized luminous numerals and hands for readability at absolute darkness. Alpina is one of the first companies, which used anti-magnetic cases in the manufacture of aviation watches. During the “aviation rush”, the new achievements were recorded each day. Before and during the war, much attention was focused on aviation, and pilot watches became necessary. But the pilot’s success depended much on “reliable companions”, measuring the time during the military operations. An ordinary time indicators showed low accuracy in the air because of active magnetic fields, radiated by the navigation devices of plains. To avoid it Alpina started using the anti-magnetic cases.
The modern “military” collection of Startimer Pilot watches was created in collaboration with the famous airplane manufacturing company Cessna Aviation (USA) and international aviation group PrivatAir (Switzerland). A 3-year partner agreement is concluded with both companies.
The characteristics of new models are a light-absorbing stainless steel case (44 mm diameter), mat black dial with oversized white luminous numerals, and a signature red Alpine-triangle on the second hand. The frontal glass is made from sapphire crystal. To further improve user-friendliness and comfort, an original solution was found to secure the leather strap: it closes on the front side of the wrist, not on the reverse or lower sides, hereby resembling the vintage leather straps of the past. A newly designed metal bracelet is available too. The watches are very practical and reliable: the water resistance of the model allows diving to 100 meters.
  The Startimer Pilot collection includes 4 models. The Aviation Automatic (Ref. AL-525B4S6) is based on the movement AL-525 (25 jewels, 28800 a/h, power reserve – 42 hours). The dial is characterized by a two-level system of indication: central hands and date indicator.
The Aviation Manufacture (Ref. AL-710B4S6) is provided with manufacture caliber AL-710 (25 jewels, 28800 a/h, power reserve – 42 hours). The watch originality is featured by an unusual way of date indication: small dial at 6 hours indicates the alternate days of month.
The Aviation Manufacture (Ref. AL-950B4S6) runs the caliber AL-950 (25 jewels, 28800 a/h, power reserve – 42 hours). This model is a modern interpretation of aviation indicators of time, its design is not subject to traditional canons of pilot watch manufacture. The central hand counts minutes, the hour and second hands are on small dials at 9 and 6 hours correspondingly.
The last model of collection is Aviation Chronograph (Ref. AL-860B4S6). The watches are provided with manufacture caliber AL-860. The specific feature of this model is the chronograph function, which allows to note and count the time with the use of 30-minutes and 60-seconds counters.
The Alpina Startimer Pilot watches are issued in a limited series of 8 888 pieces. All models are equipped with an original case and model of Cessna Citation Mustang plane.
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