Alpina Heritage Carrée Mechanical 140 Years

Quick specs Alpina Heritage Carrée Mechanical 140 Years
Price: € 4.995 | CHF 4.995 | approx. $ 5,300 | approx. £ 4,400
Size: 29.50 x 35.70 mm
Reference: AL-490BA3C10 (black dial) | AL-490SA3C10 (silver dial)

To mark Alpina’s 140^th anniversary, the brand introduces the Alpina Heritage Carrée Mechanical 140 Years. It is inspired by the 1930’s art deco rectangular Alpina versions – the brand did not only do sporty watches. And this new one is equipped with a historical, restored caliber 490 which was created exactly 85 years ago. Which means, Alpina found ‘a few of them’, restored them and build them into a new watch. Where they get these old calibers, they don’t tell, so let’s stick to a dusty attic…

This new classic dress watch has a rectangular case in 29.50 x 35.70 millimeters, with two parts and comes in polished silver. You can choose between a black or silver-ish dial that takes its design from a 1938 Alpina model. The brand doesn’t tell which one. But as you can see, it displays an old Alpina font and a cool vintage railroad minute track. The beige or black Arabic numerals are printed, and it has beige or black minute hands. At 6 o’clock is a small minute counter with a beige or black hand.

The Alpina Heritage Carrée Mechanical 140 Years has an 85 years old movement

In the heart of the watch beats this old hand-wound Alpina caliber AL-490 which you can admire through the transparent case back. And no matter how old it is, it still delivers 42 hours of power reserve. Due to the new case the watch can withstand 3 bars of water pressure, something a 1930s model never could.

The Alpina Heritage Carrée Mechanical 140 Years comes on a light brown Ostrich leather strap, with off-white stitching. Both models are limited to 14 pieces and sold out already. However, you can buy a look-a-like at Alpina which is just a little bit bigger. And it is around one-third of the price, has a steel case and a modern automatic movement.