This Alpina watch from the Heritage Pilot collection lives to the rhythm of an AL-727 automatic movement of great precision. Its robust stainless steel case 42 mm in diameter, 13 mm thick, gives it an “Old School” look that will appeal to fans of neo-vintage timepieces. On the back of the case, there is an interesting engraving: a stealth plane flying over a mountain, reminiscent of the Swiss origins of the brand; this drawing comes to imply the slogan “Alpina 1883 GENEVA” The very straight lines of the hands and indexes reinforce the retro style of the watch. As for the colors, the contrast between the blue of the dial and the silvered bezel make the design of the original case and paradoxically very current. The legibility of the indexes and hands is accentuated by a Luminova treatment; a non-radioactive and phosphorescent component making the reading of the time legible, even in the darkest recesses. The appearance of this automatic watch is deeply marked by two characteristics that make it special: – The sapphire crystal, made in Switzerland, is both domed and reinforced. We also find the engraving at the bottom of the case mentioned above. – The double crown of the Startimer gives it an innovative design and ensures a seal at 100 meters (10 ATM) of the product. The first crown located at 2 o’clock allows the adjustment of the internal telescope. The second, in turn, has the classic function of setting hours. The bicompax chronograph, with sub-dials at 3 and 9 o’clock, is used to measure short time intervals (30 minutes) with the precision of the AL-727 caliber. This new movement, made especially for the Startimer, has a 55-hour power reserve which is fully 45% more than its predecessor. At 14.75mm thick, the Startimer Pilot Heritage Chronograph is not exactly thin, but it’s right in line with other automatic chronos at this price point, and a good chunk of that height is taken up by the crystal. It’s worth pointing out that despite the vintage-inspired appearance, spec for spec, this is a proper purpose-driven sports watch, with 100 meters of water resistance and plenty of lume for legibility in all lighting conditions. It has a feature that’s rare at this price point: a mono-pusher mechanism. Based on a movement designed by La Joux-Perret, the single pusher on the right case flank gives the Startimer Pilot Heritage chronograph a distinctive look and some added functionality with start, stop and reset all controlled by the same button. The most critical reason is that with only one pusher, there is basically zero chance of user error causing a malfunction to the somewhat delicate chronograph mechanism. With a traditional two pusher chrono, hitting reset while the chronograph is engaged could, in theory, damage the movement. That’s not a problem with a mono-pusher — it’s impossible to “start, stop, reset” out of order since only one button is used. By the same token, you can’t temporarily halt the chrono and pick up where you left off. It just goes to show that there are always trade-offs in watchmaking. But all that aside, it’s also just really cool, akin more to a classic stopwatch that gives it a pleasing neo-vintage charm. This watch is now a part of enthusiast-focused chronographs near the $2500-$3000 mark but offers something unique with its mono-pusher design, making it a compelling choice if you’re after a robust and sporty chronograph with a healthy dose of wrist presence.
