Alpina Heritage Tropic-Proof Hand-winding
Swiss watch brand Alpina presents the Heritage Tropic-Proof Hand-winding, the first re-release of a historic 1965 timepiece.
The Tropic-Proof was a quintessential Alpina piece from the mid-1960s that embodies the adventurer’s watch. Featuring an ultra-robust case by master case makers François Borgel, a Swiss Made movement with a two-day power reserve and a design focusing on readability, it paved the way for the Alpina watches of today.
Now, the brand has produced the most faithful of tributes: two versions of the piece with, as before, a black or white dial, a 34-millimetre steel case, Dauphine hands and a manual movement, mounted on an Alcantara strap.
The precise date is hard to pin down; concepts such as collections, ranges, product lines and inventory were much more loosely-defined in those days. History records an official launch in 1968, but there is evidence of the ‘Tropic-Proof’ name being used right from the early 1960s; careful analysis of serial numbers 760XXX-809XXX suggests that production first started in 1965.
At that time, ‘Tropic-Proof’ referred to a certain type of watch construction and was characterised first and foremost by the use of a case marked with the initials ‘FB’ for François Borgel. In the early twentieth century, Borgel was a leading Geneva casemaker.
Like many other brands, Alpina commissioned the firm to make their toughest cases and more especially those with screw-down casebacks. The Tropic-Proof designation also called for the use of some of the finest Swiss calibres, such as Alpina’s hand-wound 598R movement. Designed in the 1950s and used uninterruptedly thereafter, by 1965 it had become a watchword for reliability and robustness.
At that time, rather than opting to specialise in any one field (such as dive watches), Alpina chose to focus on producing sturdy watches at affordable prices, capable of withstanding tropical climates and suitable for adventurers and globe-trotters. Non-magnetic, waterproof, rustproof and impact-resistant, the Tropic-Proof embodied the Alpina ethos encapsulated in the legendary Alpiner 4 – and as such, was the epitome of the brand’s DNA.
The two new versions are the worthy heirs of this horological adventure. This being the first new edition of the Tropic-Proof since 1965, Alpina has taken great care to remain true to its heritage. In a rare occurrence in watchmaking, the two reissues feature a case inspired by the original: in stainless steel, with a diameter of 34 millimetres.
Similarly, the new non-reflective sapphire crystal (naturally no longer made of resin so as to offer better impact resistance and UV protection) retains the characteristic ‘glassbox’ shape, curving down towards the bezel to ensure the dial can be easily viewed from any angle.
For these two reissues, Alpina is offering the same colours as on the legacy dials: black and white. While the hand-polished Dauphine hands also remain unchanged from the 1965 edition, luminous coating has of course been applied instead of the original tritium. The hour markers have been faithfully reproduced too, including the unusual use of double markers at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock as well as at noon.
The beating heart of these two unlimited editions is the AL-480 calibre – hand-wound, just as it was in the watch’s first iteration, with a power reserve of 42 hours. In homage to the original’s solid caseback (designed to ensure the 1965 Tropic-Proof remained watertight) the 2025 edition uses exactly the same type, with the discreet addition of the word ‘Heritage’.
Both timepieces feature a beige Alcantara pin buckle strap with topstitching.
Model: Alpina Heritage Tropic-Proof Hand-winding
Movement
AL-480 caliber, hand-winding
42-hour power-reserve
28’800 alt/h
17 jewels
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds
Case
Brushed and polished stainless steel 3-part case
Diameter of 34 mm
Height of 9.25 mm
Anti-reflective glass box sapphire crystal
Water-resistant up to 3 ATM/30m/100ft
Threaded solid case back with engraved Heritage pattern
Reference AL-480S2H6
Dial
White dial with shiny finishing
Applied silver color indexes
Minute track with beige Luminova dots
Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands filled with beigeLuminova
Polished silver color second hand
Strap
Beige Alcantara strap with tone-on-tone stitching
Pin buckle
Suggested retail price
1,795€
Reference AL-480B2H6
Dial
Black dial with shiny finishing
Applied silver color indexes
Minute track with beige Luminova dots
Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands filled with beigeLuminova
Polished silver color second hand
Strap
Beige Alcantara strap with tone-on-tone stitching
Pin buckle
Suggested retail price
1,795€
