Alpina Worldtimer Manufacture gives us a bit of a surprise

As we’re wont to do, your editors recently had an email exchange about worldtimers. You know, the kind of watch your ruby-red eyes attempt to read as you drink and dial your latest inamorata halfway round the world. The Fool, conservative and predictable as he is, pointed to the IWC Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer as his latest interest, while Straight-Six thought it rather staid and predictably flat. Oh, and with a case diameter of 45mm big enough to serve as an emergency rim for your car, should you need one. The price? Around $10,000…

And then a little mail from Alpina Genève arrived in our Inbox. Lo and behold, it was to announce the launch of the world’s most affordable worldtimer with an in-house movement. This is entirely in line with Alpina stating they are “a Swiss manufacturer of accessible luxury watches”. It should therefore come as no surprise they they belong to Frederique Constant, whose Runabout model we recently reviewed.

So, what do we mean by affordable, and why should folk not scream “IWC rip-off!!” before running through the streets of Schaffhausen drooling and naked?

Well, it’s clear that worldtimers will usually run you $10,000 and up. Turns out its damned expensive to see what time it is in 24 time zones across the world (we’re being facetious, folks). The Alpina clocks in at….wait for it: $3,450. We spilt our Westvleteren 12 all over our keyboard upon reading that.

And for that astounding price, you get a 44mm case (emergency rim for your kid’s tricycle…) with what we find to be a more invigorating and expansive worldtimer design than the IWC. Seriously. OK, it’s not perfect, what with the red accent on the seconds hand and the slightly effeminate hour/minute hands. However, we’d argue that the sub-dial and careful spread of all the dial design elements ironically comes across as less crowded than the IWC Worldtimer, with its outer dial design “crunch”.

But you know what really grabbed our attention? The matte polishing of the side of the case and the manner in which in gives way to the polished beveled lugs; that’s something we have only seen on vintage pieces to date. It’s incredibly sexy and total watch nerd, hanging-tongue territory.

Anyways, to round things off, the Alpina Worldtimer has a mechanical automatic caliber AL-718 with 26 jewels and a 48-hour power reserve; it’s water resistant to 10 ATM; sports a black leather crocodile strap and a transparent caseback.

Now, fancy a giggle? Alpina is stating that this is a limited edition. With just 8,888 pieces being made. Yes, that’s really pushing it guys. But we forgive you. This piece has our interest, and if they’ll forgive us our Cola Sambuca-infused review of the Runabout, we’re pitching to get one for review…