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Hammerfjord Moderator 
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It finally arrived friday morning after 10 days of LONG waiting...As anything coming from the US takes a bit of time to arrive up to north Norway. Why buy it from the US? Well, I just had a deep problem about refusing this special price for a brand-new-in-box model. Shortly about Alpina: The Swiss brand started in 1883 and deposed the brand's name in 1901... Here's the automatic Regulator entirely builded in the manufacture of Alpina.  After 2 years of hard work, in 2008, Alpina present the caliber AL-950 to celebrate them 125th anniversary: A 100% inhouse, 25 jewels, 28800 vb/h, antichoc and 48h power-reserve well decorated regulator movement. Hour hand, minute hand and date hand...  The Regulator Manufacture is inspired by the Avalanche model using modified ETA movements and has few milimeters less in the size. Still, we come to 46mm for the diameter without the crown and 13mm thickness: Way enough to give a good presence on the wrist.  The bracelet is made of soft and comfortable ruber/silicon? with Alpina signatures all the way inside and Alpina/Geneve on the tops. I've never been much of a ruber guy but I must say that it fits very well this sporty watch and snuggs perfectly around the wrist. The closing clasp is superbe with screws taking back the triangle sign of the brand and can be open by pressing on each sides.  The clasp's folder is no less than 2mm thick and very well executed: Lot of attention to the detail and comfort there...  The PVD bezel and case-back ring are screwed in the brushed case, as a flange system, using the special traingle screw heads again and the crown is covered with a special texture(seems like hard ruber tips) who gives a perfect grip. Note that the red triangle logo comes in perfect position when the crown is fully screwed in: That's a great detail... The lugs have a screwed-in system for holding the straps: So this piece isn't ready to leave your arm, even in some water-sports stunts. This watch will also keep tight until 200 meters deep.  Seriously, everywhere I look, I just see a superbe time-piece who is a real pleasure to look at and the dial's relief puts the cherry on the cake...  Then we come to the lume: I can't complain there either...After few seconds under a torch-light, this is what you got!  A last look in the heart of the beast: The very special rotor have a tail who's diving inside a circular groove made in the movement and gives a very unique look... Blue screws, gold tones, côtes de Geneve, perlage: Full package on the decoration's side... The way this movement is builded, shows something sturdy and ready for adventure   I hope you enjoyed this review as much as I enjoy my new baby...  |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS 
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One sweet watch. Congrats and enjoy. |
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watchdaddy1 3T WIS 
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 I LOVE IT WILL. CONGRATS ON A WELL PUT TOGETHER TIMEPIECE I THINK THEY MAKE THE BEST LOOKING CASEBACK W/ THE BAD AZZ ROTOR, I ALSO LOVE THE KNURLING ON THE CROWN. |
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Tony Duronio 3T WIS 
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Love the newer dial on that one. Much easier to read. Congrats! |
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stew77 Admin 
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Congrats on this great looking new arrival William!!! Love the very cool in-house regulator movement (very cool to look at too!)...great dial detail and sweet/unique overall design. Enjoy this one!!! |
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tenbosch 3T WIS 
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That's a beautiful regulator you got there. Congrats! |
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Gregger 3T WIS 
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I love that watch...congrats and enjoy!! |
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Devin 3T WIS 
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Will that is one sweet watch! I love the big numbers on the sub-dials! very cool! |
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bigrustypig 3T WIS 
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That's a great review of a well-made and well-designed watch, William. I like the watch a lot because of the Regulateur feature and all the ETA mods. That red triangle aligning with the back-lock hits it right on the nail, too. Small details that make a lot of difference. Enjoy it in good health, amigo. |
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Hammerfjord Moderator
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Thanks to all! Jeff: Alpina was and are still using 2893,6498,7750 ETA movements that they modifie and decorate for most of them models. But like many brands they realised that they should innovate to do not fall inside the future ETA supply problem :As Panerai, Breitling and others who came up with them first in-house movements few years ago. This regulator version is inspired by them previous models but shows up like an upper-grade with the new AL-950 in-house movement. The year after launching the AL-950 they presented them Tourbillon variant at the 2009 Bazel-world exposition. I think that it come as a natural developpement of the brand who's in the right direction to consolidate it's bases |
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Paxman 3T WIS 
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Fantastic manufacture regulator, William. I can attest the Alpina watches are top notch with no detail left to chance. What a fantastic evolution of their regulator! |
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bigrustypig 3T WIS
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Hammerfjord wrote: Thanks to all! Thanks, William. I think what Alpina and many other companies are doing (making their own movements or modding ETA ebauches) is a prudent move. What I like about yours is that Alpina went further and developed a regulator. This is good. I haven't been following Alpina very much but I guess now is a good time for me |
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Hammerfjord Moderator
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Thanks Mark, yes it's a thrue evolution other brands should take exemple from... Yes, Jeff, it's exactly what you say, that usualy, the first in-house movements are "simples" and the fact that Alpina jumped into the regulator complication at once, really proves them determination to do different. They are definitely in the leading path. |
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Jeep99dad 3T WIS 
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congrats! it is an amazing watch!!! |
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murphy j 3T WIS 
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Very good review William and a Very Nice watch. Congratulations. |
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Hammerfjord Moderator
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Guys! Brice, by the way: Congrats on the 1500! You finally got it! |
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ncvol17 3T WIS 
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Never was a fan of the look of a regulator BUT this model helps change my mind. A real beauty built with so many details. well done |
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afc14284 3T WIS 
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William.. I had never seen that model.. it certainly is a very interesting and unique watch.. your review... the best... Please do post more pics whenever you have a chance.. enjoy your new toy hehe-- |
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Hammerfjord Moderator
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afc14284 wrote:William.. I had never seen that model.. it certainly is a very interesting and unique watch.. your review... the best Thanks! Well, let's see it as it works: If nearly every watch aficionados would have seen it and knew about it, Alpina would have take up them price to cover the huge expenses made on the media cover... Then over that price, you add a pinch of prestige due to few years of "publicity stunts" with few stars and you have an even more expensive watch, with the same quality at the end of course. It would become then, another overpriced watch on the luxury market... Anyway, Alpina don't seem to be interested in this overdriven prestige maneuver, even if they profile themself with some champions. There will be more pictures for sure! |
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Hammerfjord Moderator
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Some more shots as promised     |
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oagaspar Site Founder 
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Congrats on a very cool Alpina Will!... |
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Hammerfjord Moderator
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oagaspar wrote:Congrats on a very cool Alpina Will!... Thanks Oscar! I really enjoy it: Super comfortable on the wrist |
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FrankA6 3T WIS 
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Very nice! looks really solid, congrats! |
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Hammerfjord Moderator
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FrankA6 wrote:Very nice! looks really solid, congrats!Thanks Frank! Yes, all models concieved around the "Extreme Avalanche" design are made for action. |
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Hammerfjord Moderator
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FrankA6 wrote:Very nice! looks really solid, congrats!Thanks Frank! Yes, all models concieved around the "Extreme Avalanche" design are made for action. |
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