Alpina Startimer Pilot Solarmetre: Solar Power Takes Flight
Alec
Alpina is bringing solar energy to the skies. With the new Startimer Pilot Solarmetre, the Swiss watchmaker introduces the light-powered technology first seen in its Alpiner collection to its aviation-inspired line. The result combines impressive autonomy with a more compact and versatile 38 mm case.
Developed by Swiss movement specialist La Joux-Perret, which belongs to the Citizen Group alongside Alpina, the Solarmetre calibre draws its energy from both natural and artificial light. Once fully charged, it can run for up to ten months in complete darkness. Even after stopping, only a few seconds of exposure to light are needed to restart the movement.
The system is cleverly hidden beneath a dial that looks entirely conventional. Its slightly translucent surface allows light to reach solar cells positioned underneath, while a rechargeable battery stores the converted energy. An integrated circuit manages the distribution between immediate use and storage. There are no visible panels and no futuristic display, just the familiar appearance of a mechanical-style pilot’s watch with the convenience of solar power.
The new 38 mm diameter is perhaps the most significant change for the Startimer Pilot collection. Smaller and easier to wear than previous models, it gives the watch more universal proportions without losing its aviation character. The case combines circular and vertical satin finishing with mirror-polished bevels, while water resistance remains at 100 metres.
Three versions will be available. The first pairs a steel case and black grained dial with a black leather strap. The second combines steel with a blue dial and matching textile strap. A third model brings a warmer mood through its sand-coloured PVD case, brown dial and NATO-style strap.
All three feature a date window at 3 o’clock, luminescent hour and minute hands, and a central seconds hand carrying Alpina’s triangular signature. Usually rendered in red, the triangle appears here in blue, a subtle reference to the watch’s solar technology. The Alpina logo and Startimer inscription follow the same colour treatment.
With its restrained size, clean pilot-watch styling and near effortless autonomy, the Startimer Pilot Solarmetre feels less like a technical demonstration than a genuinely practical everyday watch. Solar power may be the headline, but the new proportions could prove just as important.
