Alpina will serve as official timekeeper of the 13th Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe on 1 November 2026, and marks the occasion with two limited editions that favor purpose over pyrotechnics.
The Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic Route du Rhum edition is capped at 313 pieces. It pairs a turquoise dial engraved with Atlantic currents to a 39 x 40.5 mm steel case, a carbon bezel insert, and a turquoise-and-black Cordura-effect rubber strap. Rated to 300 meters, it reads as a practical offshore companion rather than a desk diver playing dress up. Inside beats a self-winding movement, which is exactly what you want when both hands are busy with sheets and halyards.
The Alpiner Extreme Solarmetre Route du Rhum edition leans into autonomy. Limited to 513 pieces, it houses solar technology developed since 2025 with La Joux-Perret. Light passes through a translucent dial, charging a system that can sit for up to 10 months in complete darkness, then wake within seconds when exposed to light. The compact 37.5 mm steel case keeps the watch wearable when conditions get loud.
Both watches share a clear visual brief: cushion case, bezel with carbon insert, turquoise accents on the rehaut, and a rubber strap. Casebacks are engraved with the race route, a nod that feels earned given Alpina’s role as timekeeper and its support of French skipper Eric Peron. The aesthetic link ties the pair without forcing them into the same job description.
There is a certain honesty here. The diver offers classical capability and legibility. The Solarmetre offers endurance without theatrics. Neither tries to be a regatta timer in disguise, and that restraint suits the task. In rough seas and long watches, clarity is a kind of luxury.
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