Alpina watches are Swiss-made sporting timepieces from a brand established in 1883, recognized by a red triangle emblem, and known for being antimagnetic and resistant to shocks and water. The Watch Connection carries four Alpina collections: Alpiner, Seastrong dive, Startimer pilot, and Heritage dress, with prices ranging from $1,255.50 to $4,295. Below are the differences between the collections and each one's value.

We have 14 Alpina watches on display at our Costa Mesa boutique, split across four collections: Alpiner, Seastrong, Startimer, and Heritage. The Alpiner Extreme gets most of the press, but there's a lot more to choose from than just that one model. In this guide, we'll cover the different collections in stock at our California boutique, along with details on each timepiece so you can find the model that offers the best value for money.

What defines an Alpina watch?

Alpina is a Swiss company that began producing watches in 1883. The brand is famous for sport watches built to withstand extreme conditions, usually antimagnetic, shock-resistant, and waterproof.

You can recognize an Alpina by the red triangle in its logo. This marking also appears on several of Alpina's current models, including the Alpiner Extreme Quartz models, whose dials carry the signature triangle pattern.

The models we carry feature stainless steel cases, anti-reflective sapphire crystals, and Swiss origins. Movement types include mechanical automatics as well as quartz, and, new for this year, solar.

Alpina Alpiner: the collection most people mean

The Alpina Alpiner is our largest Alpina collection, with eight models in stock. The majority of them are Alpiner Extreme, which is characterized by a brushed, cushion-shaped steel case with an integrated design, available in a choice of sizes from 34 mm to 41mm.

The automatic versions are the real stars of the range. The navy AL-525N4AE6 and green AL-525GR4AE6 are both 41 x 42.5mm, with a date at 3 o'clock, a display caseback, and a matching integrated rubber strap. If you're looking for something a little smaller, the AL-525LB3AE6B measures 39 x 40.5mm and features a glacier dial that sits between blue and light grey.

Extreme Automatic Watch AL-525N4AE6

See Details

The Alpiner Extreme Solarmetre AL-140BRG3AE6B is Alpina's first-ever solar-powered timepiece. Featuring an AL-140 solar quartz movement that runs up to 10 months on a single charge, this sports watch has a 37.5mm case and is just 8.35mm thick. It also features a burgundy dial, a steel bracelet, and 100m water resistance.

The pinnacle of the range is the Alpina X Label Noir Special Edition AL-706W4E6, a Geneva studio Label Noir collaboration limited to 130 pieces. This white timepiece, reminiscent of fresh mountain snow, features Alpina's in-house AL-706 movement, which has the longest power reserve of any Alpina we carry: 72 hours.

Alpina X Label Noir Special Edition Watch AL-706W4E6

See Details

The three Extreme Quartz models are the first Alpina Extremes with quartz movements. They come in a unisex size with the triangle-pattern dial.

Alpina Seastrong: built for the water

The Alpina Seastrong Collection presents the brand's professional diving watches. Both models that we carry are water-resistant to 300 meters. Both share black dials with a triangle emblem, a date window at 6 o'clock, a rubber strap (orange on the Diver Extreme, black on the GMT), and a fold-over clasp with push buttons.

The Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic AL-525BO3VE6 ($2,495) is a diver's watch with a 39 x 40.5 mm stainless steel case, 12.65 mm thickness, and an Alpina AL-525 automatic movement. Its hands and hour indexes are filled with a luminous compound, making the time readable in the dark. The date is displayed in black digits on a white date window background. It comes with a bright orange rubber strap.

The Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic GMT AL-560B3VE6 ($2,515.50, down from $2,795) is a three-time-zone automatic GMT Mechanical Watch. Its extra central hour hand shows the wearer's home time zone, while the main hour and minute hands show local time. The watch also features a 24-hour rotating bezel for a third time zone. A single screw-down crown at 3 o'clock controls time setting. The AL-560 Automatic movement has a 38-hour power reserve. The watch has a black rubber strap and a 12.8 mm thick case.

If you travel and swim, the GMT is the more useful watch for nearly the same price.

Diver Extreme Automatic GMT Watch AL-560B3VE6

See Details

Startimer and Heritage: the pilot and the dress watch

The Startimer Pilot Automatic is Alpina's pilot watch. All three of our versions feature a 40mm case, a date at 6 o'clock, and a 68-hour power reserve. That means you can take it off on Friday evening, and it'll still be going on Monday morning. The three versions differ only in finish and strap:

• AL-525BW4S36: black Cordura textile strap with red stitching, $1,795.
• AL-525BW4SB36: black PVD coating of steel on a brown leather NATO strap, $1,695 (was $1,895).
• AL-525KW4S36: dark brown leather strap, $1,545 (was $1,795).

The Heritage collection features a single model, the Alpiner Heritage Carrée Automatic AL-530N3C6. It features a polished stainless steel case (32.5 x 39mm) with a convex sapphire crystal, set on a light brown ostrich leather strap. The movement is an automatic AL-530 with a 38-hour power reserve. Priced at $1,695 (down 20% from $2,122), it's the dressiest Alpina we carry, and at 20% off, it also has the biggest discount in the range.

Alpina watch value: what your money buys

In this guide, value is defined as the amount of watch you get for the price, not the potential resale value. We don't sell Alpina as an investment piece, and we'd be wary of anyone who pitches it that way. Here's how the range breaks down at the current price points.

Around $1,250 to $1,450. The Solarmetre is the big one: ten months of light storage, an 8.35 mm-thick watch with a bracelet, and 100 m water resistance; the affordable entry into Alpina. The Extreme Quartz suits smaller wrists and anyone who wants the Alpiner look without a mechanical movement.

Around $1,500 to $1,800. This is the perfect place for a mechanical watch. The 41mm Alpiner Extreme Automatic is $1,795.50 and features the signature integrated case and display caseback. The Startimer offers 68 hours of power reserve, and the Heritage Carrée is a dress watch at 20% off.

Around $2,250 to $2,550. Here you're paying for a specialist timepiece. Choose between the Seastrong for 300m diving, the Seastrong GMT for three time zones, or the smaller 39mm Alpiner Extreme with its glacier dial.

$4,295. The Label Noir edition is about rarity and the movement. Only 130 exist, and its in-house AL-706 has the longest power reserve of any Alpina we carry.

How to choose and buy from The Watch Connection

Start with how you'll wear it:

• Swimming or diving: the Seastrong.
• Frequent flying: the Seastrong GMT.
• An everyday watch you never have to set: the Solarmetre.
• A watch for both the office and the weekend: the Alpiner Extreme Automatic or the Startimer.

Then there is the question of size. The 41 x 42.5mm Alpiner Extremes look big on the wrist thanks to the integrated straps, so if you have a smaller wrist and want something to balance out your watch, then the 39mm glacier model or the 37.5mm (Solarmetre) or 34mm quartz pieces will take up less space. Our 36mm or small, 37 to 40mm, and 41 to 44mm filters should help narrow it down.

The Watch Connection is Orange County's destination for high-end mechanical watches. Our nearly 3,000-square-foot retail store is located in Costa Mesa at 3033 Bristol Street. We are open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. Stop by the store to try before you buy, or call 714-432-8200 for more information.

A few things worth knowing before you order:

• Orders of $350 or more qualify for free shipping, so your Alpina arrives free of charge.
• Sales are for exchange or store credit only, with no refunds, unless merchandise is defective or not delivered as specified. Special order watches are the final sale. See our return and exchange policy.
• Need a price check or a model not shown? Use our watch inquiry form.
• We also provide post-sale watch service.