Alpina Avalanche Extreme Automatic Rose Gold Watch Hands-On

Popular in Europe but plausible for mass popularity here, Alpina is a fancy watch for X-Game goers and participators. The styles are actually what I consider subdued aggressive sport watch. What do I mean? Well, they are actually rather restrained in their designs compared to some of the competition. Catering greatly to European tastes, the watches are modern and "active" feeling, but lack the busy, trendy look that other pieces such as this can embody. Alpina retains traditional watch making values, but with a different face on. While some of their higher-end pieces can be an acquired taste this entry-level priced luxury watch is a good starter piece for the brand.

The Alpina Avalanche Extreme Automatic comes in steel and an 18k rose gold plated steel version (with a few different dial styles). While the watch isn't exactly the definition of "extreme" it does have its share of attractive qualities, and has a character that can grown on you. The large 48mm wide case (200 meters water resistant) has an attractive screwed in PVD black steel bezel and multi-texture dial. There is also a large crown with a sporty rubber ring around it. The black rubber strap with its textured surface is a good look as well. Inside the Avalanche Extreme watch is Swiss Sellita SW200 automatic movement - visible through the sapphire caseback window.

One thing which is purely cosmetic about the watch is the inner flange ring. While it does have some minute indicators on it, it looks like an inner rotating diver's bezel, but is not. It looks nice enough, but leaves me searching for a second crown to rotate it, but one isn't there. The steel versions of the watch are in the $1,500 range, while the pictured model is closer to $2,200.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.