Alpina Official Timekeeper 12 Hours of Sebring 2010 Limited Edition

Luxury, Beauty, Exclusivity of Exotic Sports Cars for Your Wrist

Now in its second year of collaboration with the exciting endurance race, Alpina is celebrating this year's event with a new, limited edition, chronograph watch. The Official Timekeeper 12 Hours of Sebring 2010 commemorates the 58th anniversary of the race, which attracts over 150 000 spectators every year and kicks off the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season. The decisively sporty allure of this new limited edition of 158 pieces will appeal to motor-racing fans thanks to its themed styling and specifically selected features.

The Official Timekeeper is quite different from the other models in the Alpina collection thanks to its unique case and gmt function. The complications offered by the automatic movement are chosen specifically to relate to racing. A second timezone is calculated on a 24 hour dial reflecting the international character of the sport and the indispensable chronograph function is conveniently calibrated to measure time in twelve hour cycles. While the second feature is quite standard for automatic chronographs, this does not detract from the fact that the twelve hour register at six o'clock is perfectly matched to the race format of the Sebring circuit. The 30-minute counter at twelve o'clock offers better legibility than a more crowded 60-minute counter. The spectator - or professional driver - wearing the Alpina 12 Hours of Sebring watch will have a clear and accurate marking of the race's progress.

As always Alpina, keeps up with the demand for large size watches. The black PVD coated stainless steel case is 47 mm in diameter with a relatively low profile and comfortable ergonomic design. The large crown, consisting of rubber, steel, and enamel is screw-locking to add to the resilience of the timepiece. It suits the complexity and sportiness of the other case elements. The back of the case, also securely screw sealed, is fitted with a sapphire window to exhibit the automatic movement and its black, decorated rotor.

In its young past, Alpina has delighted their fans with numerous cool straps. The new strap fitted onto the Official Timekeeper 12 Hours of Sebring continues this tradition. Supple, grained leather is the base for vinyl sheathing that acts both to protect and beautify the strap. The red stitching adds contrast to the case, and mirrors other red accents present on the dial.

Aside from the high quality movement and case, what really makes the watch what it is is the many stylistic details incorporated all over the watch. The rotating, all-black bezel with its surprisingly photo-luminescent markings and the integrated, aerodynamic look of the chronograph pushers are two examples, but small, defining details are peppered all over.

The 2010 Alpina Official Timekeeper 12 Hours of Sebring offers the style of a modern, exotic, sport car's dashboard, with its functional features and quality adding to this likeness. As only 158 of these watches will be produced, the exclusivity factor is also taken care of.

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For over five years, Matt Baily has set itself apart from other watch stores in Montreal by bringing in exciting, new, up-and-coming brands. When looking at a possible new brand to carry, quality is the first prerequisite and is followed by value and potential. This is how we took up dealership of brands like Bell & Ross and U-Boat for which we were the first dealers in Canada. With this list, we highlight five watches from our collections that have swayed trends and turned the most heads.

#5. Alpina Avalanche Extreme Manufacture Regulator

The Avalanche Extreme Manufacture Regulator represents the future of mid-range luxury watches. It is a sporty watch; able to withstand the strain of outdoor activities with a water resistance rating of 200 meters and a rubber strap. Like many watches in its class, the elements of its case are almost as complex as those of its movement. Several different tones, wild shapes, and a multi-layered dial make up the head of the watch. With watch enthusiasts accepting mechanized manufacturing as an integral part of watchmaking, many modern watches portray the same attributes.

What makes the Manufacture Regulator special is its movement. The automatic-winding AL-925 calibre is manufactured in the company's Geneva factory. The reason that this is so important is due to the restricted supply of mechanical movements that will take effect in 2010 (more on ETA's change in supply in this past blog post). Alpina's in-house movement adds great value and uniqueness, yet the Manufacture Regulators are offered at prices comparative to those of watches equipped with ETA mechanisms. The Regulator attracts many collectors thanks to its traditional complication and fine finishes. It reinforces the notion that a rugged sport watch can portray many features of sophistication.

#4. Hamilton Jazzmaster Maestro.

Aside from being unusually large compared to other elegant watches, it's styling is not particularly unique; nor are its day, date, and chronograph functions. What sets the Hamilton Jazzmaster Maestro aside from other watches in its class is value. This is true for every Hamilton watch, making it difficult to choose one that has been most influential. It finally came down to choosing a watch that is amongst the best sellers and also captures Hamilton's long history.

The Maestro is an automatic-winding chronograph, with a sizable 44mm stainless steel case and a simple, classic look. The infamous 7750 calibre movement is what runs its functions and is also a major reason for its great value. ETA's 7750 is a proven, precision mechanism. Thousands of these have been certified by the COSC to be chronometers, a denomination symbolizing superior precision and quality. It is the movement of choice for many high-end automatic chronograph watches. The Portuguese Chronograph, Chronomat, and Daylight chrono are three examples of models that rely on the 7750. These three models are also priced between three and six times more then the Maestro.

Thanks to their extraordinary value, the Hamilton line of watches has enabled many watch lovers to purchase their first high-end, Swiss-made, automatic chronograph.

#3. Corum Golden Bridge

The Golden Bridge did not "change" how we see luxury watches as much as it "reminded" us how we should look at them.

Corum has always staid current with trends such as the large size of watch cases and extreme luxury for sporty watches. However, they never severed their strong relationship with the traditional methods of watchmaking. This is what makes the Golden Bridge such an important watch. While modernized in design, with a relatively large case and precise machining, it could not exist without the skilled hands of traditional watchmakers.

To manufacture the narrow, manual-winding CO113 movement that gives the watch its name, the skilled hands of watchmakers and artists are essential. Due to this labour intensive process, the production quantity is naturally limited to small numbers each year. A video produced by Corum captures some key aspects of manufacturing the Bridge movement like engraving, assembling, and finishing, which are all done by hand. Visit the Film Gallery in the Communication section of Corum.ch.

Once completed the Golden Bridge watch embodies all the aspects of what luxury watches represent. Value, technological innovation, precision, and the artist's touch that is unreproducible by any machine. I don't think I have ever heard a negative comment about the Golden bridge watches, and their value is obvious to first-time watch buyers and ardent collectors alike. The Golden Bridge is in this list because it re-sparked our fascination with the storied trade of watchmaking.

#2. U-Boat Italo Fontana Classico

U-Boat watches are definitely buzz worthy. Amongst all the articles that I have posted on mattbaily.ca and other sites, the ones that receive the most tweets, clicks, and visitors, are almost always about U-Boat watches. This is not to say that everyone that reads these articles is a fan, but they are certainly interested. This visibility is what accounts for the inclusion of U-Boat Classico watches in this list.

When Matt Baily discovered U-Boat watches and was the first to bring them to Canada, they almost all worked on quartz movements. Italo Fontana decided to improve the quality of those original, fashion-oriented watches and equip them with high-end Swiss mechanical movements. The prices naturally increased and many were sceptical of U-Boat#39;s breaking the higher end, luxury market. Instead it was the market that was drawn towards the new and improved U-Boat Classicos.

U-Boat does very little advertising. The vast majority of the U-Boat Classicos that we sell are discovered in our window or on the wrists of friends and family. They are watches that you just fall in love with. What we learn from their success is that the style of a watch - if backed by quality - is still its most important attribute. U-Boat watches also show that if the product is valuable, then advertising and branding is of lesser importance.

#1. Bell & Ross BR-01 92

When this watch was released by Bell & Ross, the company was already steadily growing thanks to its high quality, value, and brand image. While it was obvious from the start, that the "Instruments" would be a success, it was less evident how profoundly they would affect the company's popularity.

When the BR-01 92 was released, many people seeing it for the first time reacted as if they had never seen a square watch before. It is arguable that before this point, square watches were a niche that went largely unnoticed. Judging from the amount of square, military-style models that were released after the advent of the Instruments, it is safe to say that they have had a strong, positive impact on the watch making industry.

Since the BR-01 92 and 94, Bell & Ross has greatly expanded the Instrument collection including extremely complicated watches such as the BR Tourbillon and the more fashion oriented BR-S Ceramics. While this article is meant to feature only watches amongst those we carry at Matt Baily, the BR Instrument would surely figure on any list of top influential timepieces of the past ten years.

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While all these watches have had an impact on the luxury watch industry as a whole, we chose pieces from our brands only, so it is likely that many watches that you may consider more influential are not present.

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Limited Edition of 18 Pieces

Here is another from the pre Basel information we're getting in. Alpina Extreme Tourbillon Regulator Manufacture. Limited to 18 pieces worldwide.

The case is available in titanium with a black ceramic bezel and measures 48mm. It has sapphire crystals and is water resistant to 100 meters.

The movement, the automatic caliber AL-980 with 33 jewels, comprises 188 components, and is the fruit of three years' research. It is distinguished by a silicon escapement wheel and by a new Alpina technological innovation: silicon pallets. It has a power reserve of 48 hours.

Matt will be reporting in a while, he is at the fair, we'll post all the new products as it comes in.

The large watch fashion trend is still going strong. It makes quite the fashion statement when you see an elegantly dressed woman or celebrity wearing a large sporty timepiece. It exudes confidence and attitude, while still being functional and incredibly easy to read.

Watches that have been great sellers with the ladies, are the Bell & Ross BR01 and BR03 Instrument models, the U-Boat Flightdeck and Classico models even up to 55mm if you can believe that, as well as the Alpina 48mm Avalanche Extreme and Corum Admirals Cup 48mm Competition.

Imagine your husband or boyfriends face when he sees you wearing a watch that is bigger than his.

The Swiss watchmaking brand Alpina recently organized a photo contest on the theme, Outdoors, in order to illustrate the spirit of the brand.

Alpina watches are particularly dedicated to the amateurs of extreme sports, nearly linked to the Mountain environment, but also linked to the pleasures of the effort and discovery.

Not less than 1300 photos were submitted to a jury composed of specialists who studied each picture before rewarding the one of Mr Tilo Grapenthin. His picture illustrates a sailor on a 3 masts boat into the heart of the Antarctic, see the picture below.

The happy winner of the competition, Mr Grapenthin, received an Alpina Ortovox Patroller set, combining a Alpina Extreme Regulator model, to a small equipment (Ortovox) destined to localize victims under avalanche into a rescue pack.

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