The Accessible and Retro-Styled Alpina Heritage Automatic

Alpina is adding to its small yet growing Heritage collection with two pieces inspired by Interwar period styling (1918 to 1939, although Alpina leans into the 1940s as well). The pair have different dials within the same case that adopt a retro yet more contemporary size for 2024. Overall, the new Heritage Automatics are clean, simple and stylish, effectively capturing the vibe of a distant era that really pushed wristwatches into the mainstream.

The polished stainless steel case is 38mm in diameter and 10.15mm in height. A box-style AR sapphire crystal replaces vintage acrylic but maintains the look and distortions of the past. The threaded case back is solid and water resistance is rated at 30 metres, typical of the era. Both pieces come fitted with a black calf leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching and a pin buckle. 

The two dials are the attention-getters and complement the retro cases. The first dial is matte beige with oversized black (printed) Arabic numerals and a detailed minute/seconds track. The dauphine hands have a blue PVD finish. The second dial has a matte beige centre and satin silver outer ring with a sunray finish. Indices and Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock are printed in bronze within the silver ring and a black railroad minute/seconds track spans the perimeter. It features the same blue dauphine hands from the other model and both dials have Alpina’s original typeface. 

Powering the Heritage Automatic is the AL-520 calibre, based on the Sellita SW200 (a clone of the ETA 2824). It has 26 jewels, beats at 28,800vph (4Hz) and comes with a 38-hour power reserve. Functions are limited to central hours, minutes and hacking seconds here, but the movement also has a date complication. 

Each version of the new Alpina Heritage Automatic retails for EUR 1,695. For more information, please visit Alpina’s website.