Alpina dropped two modest and subtle watches between this year’s watch and wonder. In fact, they became modest as they owned to all the noise made by other manufacturers. Luckily, we had a keen eye for Fratello’s Mike to find the eagerness of the Alpina heritage. The two watches were impressed with him, so I took the opportunity to see if they were in fact the winners as the dust settled down.
The Alpina Heritage Tropic-Proof comes with a black or white dial. Each version costs 1,795 euros. Let’s take a closer look!
The roots of the alpina heritage
As you can see from both the photo and the name of the clock, these are tribute to Alpina’s past. To find the heritage of the Alpina Heritage Tropic-Proof, you will need to go back to the 1960s.
Alpina has collaborated with case maker François Borgel to create a new water-resistant watch. Borgel made waves with well-made, well-finished cases. These cases are used on Movado, Mido, Doxa, and even Patek Philippe watches. Boninki provided a neat matching crown. Postwar globalization and obsessions among Europeans with exotic destinations led to the name “tropics” to explain a more water-resistant model.
The exact timeline is vague. Luckily, Alpina is completely transparent about this. The brand’s archives have modelled in 1968, but tropical labels can be traced back to the early 60s. Analysis of serial numbers indicates that production began early in 1965. Whatever the exact year is, the original anti-tropical watches certainly represent the mid-’60s watchmaking.
Specifications of Alpina Heritage Tropic-Proof
The original hand-winded time-only model has a diameter of 34mm, so I was totally hoping for a 40mm reissue with an automatic movement and date. After all, how is it that most big brands are reissuing these days? I’m happy to report that Alpina failed to follow that template. Instead, the Alpina Heritage Tropic-Proof is a 34mm watch that housing hand-winded time-only movement. Praise, Alpina!
The case has a 9.25mm profile containing box-type sapphire crystal. That’s right; the watch looks like the original, but the sapphire is one of them, with the latest updates. Alpina rated water resistance at 30 meters. This can be done with an update/upgrade. Along with the original, the caseback is still all steel and has a distinctive decagon shape.
Inside, checks the caliber Alpina al-480, which is the Serrata SW215. This means you get manual windings, 4Hz beat rates and 42 hours of autonomy. Please don’t expect chronometer standards here, as Alpina does not provide any information on accuracy.
New dial
The biggest aesthetic difference between the original and the enthusiastic tropic proof of the heritage of Alpina is on the dial. The original featured a sunburst dial, but the reissue comes with a glossy dial. This is another atypical move, as most manufacturers go for the ever more complicated dials rather than simplifying them like this.
However, this is a mixed bag. I really like the black and white glossy dial. They are fresh and charming, and look vintage and modern at the same time. For me, the big mistake is printing. The Alpina logo and “tropic proof” script are simply too big. Especially in fonts like this Arial, the text is not refined or plump. Recently, we are fortunate to see more and more manufacturers who are paying close attention to typography. Especially with such a loyal reissuance, it must be done correctly. Unfortunately, Alpina has decided to deviate from the elegance of the original in this sense.
You’ll also get a little bit of a Fatina room. I’m usually opposed to this, but I think it works here. The beige shades add a bit of character and warmth, making sure these are in fact vintage reissues. I can throw a debate about authenticity, but the simple truth is that I think it looks good here.
Wearing the heritage of Alpina
Let’s keep it simple. Both Alpina Heritage Tropic-Proof variants are an absolute joy to wear. They fit like a true vintage watch and fall within my 18cm wrist range. But they don’t look like they’re incompatible in a little bit. Of course these are small watches, but there’s such a nice mid-century vibe about them. You can see Don Draper rocking one of these, but frankly, I felt so surprised when I was wearing them.
The Dress Watch Form Factor features a soft spot for mid-century sports watches. The Alpina Heritage Tropic Proof reminds us of the Seamasters of the 1950s. The combination of formal elegance and toughness tips is very appealing. It makes a very versatile watch suitable for carefree everyday wear. The sandy Alcantara straps perfectly complement this vibe. It highlights the more casual aspects of Alpina’s heritage. However, you’ll enjoy the watch straps, because these are once again incredibly versatile watches.
I noticed that I was tilting towards the white dial version as I switched between the two. In my eyes it has a more clear appearance. Still, I would be happy to rock the black version too. Overall, Alpina offers two very attractive vintage reissues to the tropical of Alpina Heritage. If you like styles, I highly recommend them. I’d like to see the second version with improved water resistance and smaller dial printing.
What do you think about Alpina Heritage Tropic-Proof? Please let us know in the comments section below.
