Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT Black - Ref. AL-555DGS4H6

A new collaboration between Gnomon and Alpina allows us to offer you the Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT Black Ref. AL-555DGS4H6 at a one time off special price. We ordered the Startimer Heritage GMT in bulk and negotiated for a better price and passed on the savings to our customers. So if you are on the fence, order it now before it is sold out!

Founded by Gottlieb Hauser in 1883, Alpina has been a creative swiss brand from the early 20th century where they manufactured watch movements and calibers for both the Swiss and the German market. They focus much on rugged tool watches that provide supplies even to the military back then and continuing their legacy till today.

Alpina  Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT Black - Ref. AL-555DGS4H6

They are currently the sister brand of Frederique Constant, whose primary focus is classic watches. Alpina, on the other hand, specializes in sports watches, mainly the Alpiner 4 (Land), Seastrong (Sea) and Startimer (Air) while consistently providing accessible luxury watches. Today, we are proud to be the first to introduce, the all-new Startimer Heritage GMT collection.

Designed from scratch, the A≈ takes on a different design from their current lineup, but mainly still reminiscent of the retro tonneau-shaped case watches from the late 70s. The watch still has current specifications of 42mm by 45mm and 12mm thick. The lugs to lugs dimensions of only 45mm make this watch extremely comfortable on all wrist sizes.

An additional detail we particularly love is ’Alpina’s use of the classy “Boxed” sapphire crystal with double anti-reflection coating on the outside and inside. The boxed sapphire crystal gives the watch an old school charm only found on vintage dive watches using acrylic crystals. Date legibility further enhances through the use of an integrated magnifier inside the date window.

 

Sunburst Black dial with unique rotating GMT disc

The case and dial layout remind one of the Omega Seamaster Memomatic Alarm from the 1970s. While the Memomatic has an alarm function indicated by the inner disc with an arrow, the Startimer Heritage has opted for a more practical GMT function for the frequent traveler.
 
Furthermore, the screwed-in knurled crown at 2 ’o’clock allows users to rotate the bidirectional inner GMT bezel for a third timezone reference.

The Startimer Heritage GMT uses ’Alpina’s AL-555 automatic caliber to have an actual GMT function like the GMT Master II. Adjust the crown at 4 ’o’clock to quick set the central white hour hand to your local time while still keeping your home time displayed by the inner GMT hand-designed into the rotating disc.
 

Intricate case finishing with mixture of satin brush and polish

Like most Alpina watch cases and not commonly seen for watches in this price range, the case is hand satin-brushed on all surfaces, except for a polished bevel that runs along its length to give it a more refined-finish look. The ’Alpina’s case is finishing rates highly for watches costing even 2-3 times more.


The Startimer Heritage GMT splashes a good old-school color combination, the orange second hand against it’s sunburst black dial coupled with the inner matching GMT disc. This combination pays tribute to sports watches at all levels and ages. We are totally in love with the color of this watch. The white GMT chapter ring, the utilitarian black dial with an inner matte GMT disc is the perfection combination. Combined together, the dial gives the wearer quite the visual stimulation found on higher end luxury watches.

Like the name suggested, the Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT Black Ref. AL-555DGS4H6 comes on an old-school aviation style calf leather strap with signed buckle that harks back on those days where professionals strapped on their tool watches with one. Further, the strap enhanced the utilitarian look of the Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT.

Rotating inner bezel using cross-hatched crown

The Heritage GMT is a fresh addition to the Startimer collection and certainly a welcome addition for those looking to add something unique from the golden age of watchmaking to their collection. Or only someone who is looking for a refined dual time tool watch with modern specifications and vintage charm, at an unbeatable price point. Again, this is one of the few Alpina models we are collaborating with Alpina to give customers the best price you can ever find online or offline.