For those of you who can’t afford a Royal Oak or Nautilus, the Alpina Alpiner Extreme has been a favorable alternative for a couple of decades now. Two years ago, the lineup was revamped with an integrated bracelet and then, last year, with a smaller 39mm case. Throw in a micro-adjustable bracelet and you have yourself one of the best sub-$3,000 sports watches on the market.
For 2025, this robust timepiece just got even more compelling with the introduction of a full titanium variant, which is the brand’s first-ever foray into this lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal. Let’s take a look…
Mountain Heritage in Metal
Proving a long history in the mountaineering arena, Alpina debuted the Alpina 4 back in 1938, becoming one of the first dedicated sports watches around. Now under the Citizen Group umbrella, the watchmaker has managed to maintain that rugged identity with the Alpiner Extreme line.
Featuring everything from skeleton dials to regulator models, the collection has become the brand’s playground for delivering genuinely capable instruments with a modern edge, and this titanium iteration feels like a natural evolution. It also shows Alpina’s willingness to experiment beyond their stainless steel comfort zone, and without skyrocketing the admirable price point.
Seriously Squared Away
The Alpiner Extreme’s most striking feature remains its distinctive cushion-shaped case design. While plenty of watches claim the “integrated bracelet” title, Alpina’s approach is refreshingly different, with a three-part case construction creating an angular sandwich effect with the bracelet flowing organically from the inner section.
In titanium, this architectural quality comes alive with contrasting brushed and polished surfaces that highlight the geometric interplay. The bezel’s six exposed screws (shaped like Alpina’s triangular logo) add industrial character without veering into AP knockoff territory. At 39mm, it has both wrist presence and wearability.
Industrial Evolution
Even the most perfunctory watch enthusiast will notice a giant leap in titanium usage in the industry, in part due to recent manufacturing innovations that have made it easier to work with the metal. However, titanium’s benefits are clear, weighing nearly half as much as its stainless steel counterpart while offering better corrosion resistance too. Pairing well with the natural aesthetic of titanium, the satin-silver dial on this Alpina creates a monochromatic effect that also plays well with the watch’s signature triangle pattern. A date window at the 3 o’clock spot nearly camouflages with the rest of the dial. However, a splash of red on the second hand creates just enough contrast.
Alpina retains the 39mm case size with a mere 40.5mm lug-to-lug and 11.5mm thickness, despite still boasting 200m of water resistance. Under the hood, Alpina sticks with their reliable AL-525 caliber (based on the Sellita SW200-1). While not exactly haute horology, this workhorse movement delivers consistent performance with its 4Hz beat rate and approximately 38-hour power reserve, all while keeping things affordable. It rests behind a solid titanium caseback adorned with an alpine mountain motif.
Completing the package is the H-link titanium bracelet with a push-button folding clasp that provides a secure fit without adding unnecessary bulk.
Spec Sheet
Model: Alpiner Extreme Automatic Titanium
Case Size: 39mm
Lug-to-Lug: 40.5mm
Case Thickness: 11.5mm
Case Material: Titanium
Water Resistance: 200m
Crystal: AR-coated sapphire
Movement: Alpina AL-525 (Sellita SW-200-1 base) automatic
Power Reserve: 38 hours
Bracelet: Titanium H-link bracelet with folding clasp
Pricing & Availability
Set to come out this month, Alpina’s Alpiner Extreme Automatic Titanium comes with a retail price of $2,695. While this represents a $500 bump from its steel counterpart, the material upgrade, improved wearing comfort, and monochromatic appeal make this a considerable value proposition in the high-performance sports watch category.
Recap
Alpina Alpiner Extreme Automatic Titanium
Still remaining under three grand, Alpina decks out its Alpiner Extreme Automatic in titanium for the first time ever, bringing lightweight comfort to your wrist and creating a monochromatic appeal with its silver dial.
