The Three Watch Collection for $5,000: Reader Edition – Bill B.

Editor’s Note: In this edition of the Three Watch Collection for $5,000, reader Bill B. gives us three often overlooked and perhaps underappreciated watches from Alpina, and manages to come in under budget in the process. I love the everyday practical considerations made by Bill, and salute his dedication to a single brand trio.

If you’d like to submit your own 3 watch collection for $5,000 can you do so at the form right here

All in, at retail and sourced with additional bracelets, low to mid 4’s. But the world we live in, the options on the gray and used marketplace; this 3 watch entry level Swiss made collection can be had for far less. With money left over to buy additional strap options, or a weekend G-Shock or Ironman beater, tough to go wrong, as long as you are ok with a larger 44mm watch. If you have old eyes like me, maybe it’s worth a second look.

Alpina Alpiner 4 – $1,395

What drew me to the watch was the steel bezel and unique teal blue sunburst dial. Alpina’s history with the 4 “sports watch” foundations, stainless steel, water resistant, antishock & anti-magnetic create a well rounded everyday watch. The 44mm case is big, but as I age and my eyesight continues to regress, I am thankful for the easy to read 3 hander. Finally, the finishing is on par with watches priced at a might higher level in my opinion, a very solid everyday watch. I typically wear it on a bracelet, but also have the brown leather strap, with blood red underside and also enjoy wearing it on a Nato.

Alpina Seastrong – $1,395

Unlike many Rolex inspired dive watches, the particular model I have with the Ti pvd coating is in my opinion an  attractive call back to Genta design cues but in a modern package. All three of my selected watches run a Sellita SW 200-1, a robust and reliable movement, can be serviced at a reasonable cost and should provide a lifetime of use. While people often find exhibition casebacks on workhorse movements a waste; the custom rotor & robust depth rating make it a winning combination in my book. I also tracked down the Ti pvd bracelet and own the blue heritage leather strap.

Alpina Startimer – $1,395

The visually largest of the three Alpina’s I spotlighted in my personal collection, the case still comes in at 44mm; this modern day interpretation of a pilots watch has bold yet intricate hand as well as prominent numeric indices, while utilizing vertical and horizontal markers for the 12, 3, 6 & 9 hour makers. The slate blue dial partners with the Ti pvd coating of the case providing a visual aesthetic on the cooler side. The thinnest of the 3 Alpina’s,  a plus that trades off some other qualities found in the previous models, it is a welcomed surprise on my 7 inch wrist and once again my old eyes are grateful for such ease of readability. Worn on a matching bracelet, I am looking forward to finding the right leather strap to borrow the styling themes from the traditional IWC range.