Introducing the Alpina Alpiner Extreme Automatic in Ice Blue

Alpina doesn’t always get the hype it deserves and hopefully this year that starts to change. The brand’s been quietly cranking out tough, stylish, well-finished tool watches for years, and yet it still somehow flies under the radar of most mainstream collectors. But that’s kind of what makes it cool. Case in point: the latest addition to the Alpiner Extreme Automatic line, a new model with an ice blue dial that lands somewhere between rugged utility and low-key elegance.

Alpina is leaning into its mountain roots hard with this one—both in terms of design and dial color—and the result is one of the most compelling everyday watches I’ve seen them release in a while. It’s sporty, compact, and extremely wearable, with just enough detail to keep it interesting without going over the top. And best of all, it doesn’t cost a fortune.

The Basics

Case: Stainless steel, 39 x 40.5 mm, 11.5 mm thick
Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire
Movement: AL-525 automatic movement, 38-hour power reserve
Water Resistance: 200m / 20 ATM
Strap Options: Brushed and polished stainless steel bracelet with folding buckle
Price: $2,195

The Juice

At first glance, the new Alpiner Extreme Automatic might remind you of something a little more familiar: you might argue that there’s a touch of Royal Oak-lite in the brushed surfaces and cushion case silhouette. But give it more than a passing look and it becomes clear that Alpina’s doing its own thing here, and doing it well.

The 39 x 40.5 mm case hits that sweet spot where it wears compact but still has enough wrist presence to not feel lost. The cushion shape, with its rounded corners that slightly soften the squared-off structure, adds a nice dose of vintage sportiness, while the brushed and polished finishing is way above what you’d expect in this price range. The contrasts between the vertical brushing on the bezel that flows into the bracelet links, the circular brushing on the case itself, and the polished accents give it a bit of shine when the light hits just right. It’s a lot of detail for a sub-$2,200 watch.

Then there’s the dial, which is really the star of the show here. Alpina cooked up a brand-new “ice blue” shade for this release, and it’s one of those colors that photos probably won’t do justice. It’s light and crisp, somewhere between glacier meltwater and cloudy sky, with just enough gray in it to keep it from looking loud or trendy. The raised triangular motif is subtle, but it adds texture and ties everything back to Alpina’s alpine heritage and their logo, which gets a little easter egg nod on the crown, seconds hand, and bezel screws.

The hands and applied indices are polished and filled with lume, and the date at 3 o’clock is cleanly integrated without breaking up the dial flow. Even the seconds hand gets some love here, with a little red triangle at the end to keep things interesting. It’s a small touch, but again, this is a watch that rewards a closer look.

Under the hood, you’ve got the AL-525 movement, which is basically Alpina’s take on the Sellita SW200. It’s not flashy, but it’s reliable, easy to service, and gets the job done. The 38-hour power reserve is standard fare, and you can catch a glimpse of it doing its thing through the see-through caseback.

The watch is rated to 200 meters of water resistance and comes on a brushed and polished stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp and push-buttons. It’s the kind of bracelet that press images don’t really do justice to: it’s solid, comfortable, and well-matched to the case.

Final Thoughts

This is the kind of release that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel and that’s exactly why it works. The Alpiner Extreme Automatic in ice blue isn’t chasing trends or screaming for attention. It’s a thoughtfully executed tool watch with great proportions, subtle details, and real wearability.

At $2,195, it’s not trying to compete with the big dogs in the integrated bracelet world, but it’s also not trying to be a cheap imitation. Instead, it’s staking its own ground, quietly making a case for Alpina as one of the more underrated brands out there when it comes to affordable Swiss-made sport watches.

If you’re looking for something different from the usual suspects—something versatile, well-built, and genuinely cool—you could do a lot worse than this icy little sleeper from Geneva.

Find out more about this watch here.