Introducing: The Alpina Heritage Automatic

What We Know

For Geneva Watch Days 2024, Alpina Watches has announced a handful of new models, but one specific new line caught our eye – the Heritage Automatic. Following the development and eventual launch of the Alpiner Heritage Carrée and the Seastrong Heritage, Alpina is back again with a pair of steel field watches that capture a range of inspiration from popular designs from the '20s, '30s, and '40s.

Offered in the two versions shown above, the Heritage Automatic line is differentiated only by dial treatment as both SKUs have 38mm steel cases that are 10.15mm thick (Alpina does not quote a lug-to-lug measurement, but all of the available specs are listed below). Both cases look to capture a specific vintage appeal with a fully polished finishes, bubble sapphire crystals, and solid steel casebacks.

Ticking inside those steel cases is an Alpina-prepped version of the Sellita Sw200-1, which Alpina calls the AL-520. It's an automatic movement with 38 hours of power reserve and a rate of 4 Hz.

Neither of the two models is limited and pricing is set at $1,795 for either iteration with availability starting in October of this year.

What We Think

While much about these two new Alpinas is similar, the dials are quite different, with one (ref AL-520BG3SH6) being a beige/tan with Arabic numerals and the other (the AL-520SBG3SH6) having a two sector dial that has a beige interior element and a silver outer track with a mix of Arabic numerals and baton markers. Both watches are presented without a date and have blued steel hands for hours, minutes, and seconds.

While we (I) might expect Alpina to go after Hamilton and the ubiquitous Khaki Field Automatic, I have to admit that this more elegant and less toolish take offers something of an alternative (albeit at a much higher cost) without compromising the wearability. At 38 x 10.15mm, these should suit a wide range of wrist and work with a litany of your favorite straps.

It's not a groundbreaking release by any stretch, but the new Alpina Heritage Automatics offer two handsome takes on the idea of a dressy everyday watch that feels like it was directly evolved from a sports watch, rather than a dress watch (it's a good format, just ask Patek).

At well under $2,000, I definitely prefer the all-Arabic dial. I think the beige coloring, the vintage Alpina signature, and the blued hands combine to form quite an attractive and subtle watch.

The Basics

Brand: Alpina
Model: Heritage Automatic
Reference Number: AL-520BG3SH6 and AL-520SBG3SH6

Diameter: 38mm
Thickness: 10.15mm
Case Material: Steel
Dial Color: Beige or beige/silver
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Black calf leather strap with steel pin buckle

The Movement

Caliber: AL-520 Automatic (Sellita SW200-1)
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Diameter: 25.6mm
Power Reserve: 38 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Jewels: 26