The Alpiner Extreme gets a new face with a rather unexpected aesthetic twist: stripped of its dial, the watch reveals all of its Swiss-made mechanics. Two versions with a case made of polished steel measuring 39 x 40.5 mm for the first time give the masterpiece an even more technical and watch-typical style. The first is made of 100% steel – case and bracelet – while the second is coated with blue rubber, the flange, crown and bracelet.
According to a mysterious custom, sports and skeleton watches are traditionally contrasted with stability and finesse, but the two new Alpiner Extreme Skeleton Automatic prove the opposite.
For the first time in its history, the Alpiner Extreme Automatic collection is available in a skeleton version, in a smaller case measuring 39 x 40.5 mm (previously 41 x 42.5 mm). This is intended to emphasize the contrast between the iconic cushion-shaped case, made for discovery, with the finesse of the automatic Swiss-made caliber that powers it.
The taut and restless lines of this compact and powerful geometry correspond to the curves of the barrels, the spirals of the gear train and the subtle interaction of the escapement, which is visible at 12 o’clock. A large part of the caliber is deliberately skeletonized between 8 and 1 o’clock. This allows light to penetrate into the heart of the movement, also with the help of the sapphire crystal back.
This mechanical window also shows the fine workmanship – sometimes polished, sometimes satinized, it testifies to the complex art of decoration, of course Swiss Made. Between 4 and 6 o’clock, the trained eye can see the large barrel with a power reserve of 38 hours. Since no power reserve display is required, this skeleton version always displays the watch’s spring tension directly and in real time.
The first version of the new Alpiner Extreme Skeleton Automatic is monochrome gray. The mineral character of the Alpine Extreme can also be found there, a historical masterpiece from the edge of the Alps, to which the Alpina company also owes its name. Fifty shades of gray adorn the flange and minute scale up to the handle of the screw-in crown, which is designed to be easy to grip even when exploring. The indices are all applied by hand. In this new skeleton configuration, they appear to hang in empty space, giving the dial a unique depth. The three central hands are also processed by hand, with the hour and minute hands luminous. At the tip of the second hand is Alpina’s iconic red triangle. This also appears discreetly around the bezel, where it adorns the six associated screw heads.
The watch is worn on an all-new steel bracelet developed exclusively for the Alpina Extreme. This has been part of the collections since last year and reinforces the power of the piece through a single oversized central link. As with the case, the bracelet alternates between polished and satin-finished surfaces.
The second version also offers navy blue components instead of a 100% mineral gray – another indication that the watch is made for both the mountains and the sea with a water resistance of up to 200 meters. This nuance adorns the flange, minute track, crown and bracelet, which is held here in textured rubber on a secured folding clasp. The contrast between mineral gray and navy blue creates a versatile watch on water and land, with the skeletal architecture even more prominent.
