This 1940s Alpina pairs a hand-wound Cal. 586 with a Roman-numeral dial, small seconds and distinctive Pontife hands. It is an unusual-looking time-only watch, but the available account does not establish an exact reference, production quantity or verified market value.
What makes this Alpina Cal. 586 distinctive?
The watch featured by Tomas Rosputinsky is a 1940s Alpina with a simple time-only display. Its visual character comes from the combination of Roman numerals and Pontife hands, set against a dial with a small-seconds register. Long, thin lugs and an old-style Alpina logo complete the period look.
Rosputinsky says he had not encountered another Alpina with this particular pairing of Roman numerals and Pontife hands. That is a report of his own collecting experience, not proof that no other example exists.
What are Pontife hands?
“Pontife” describes the distinctive hand style seen on this watch. Here, the term matters chiefly because the hands create an unusual contrast with the Roman-numeral dial. The feature does not provide a separate technical definition or establish that this design was unique to Alpina.
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What is the Alpina Cal. 586?
Cal. 586 is a hand-wound movement identified in Rosputinsky’s feature. The account says it was available in two seconds configurations: a small seconds subdial or a centrally mounted sweep-seconds hand. The featured watch has the small-seconds version. The feature quotes Alpina’s 140th-anniversary book: “Caliber 586 was offered with either a small subdial for the seconds or with a centrally axial ‘sweep’ seconds hand.”
Rosputinsky places Cal. 586 in the context of Alpina’s Alpina 4 sports watches, noting that the brand used calibers 566 and 586 for that line. He also distinguishes this particular watch from the Alpina 4 examples discussed: it lacks Incabloc shock absorption. The feature describes the four advertised Alpina 4 characteristics as anti-magnetism, watertight cases, Incabloc and stainless-steel cases. That context does not establish that every Cal. 586 watch was an Alpina 4 or shared the same features.
Rank #2
- Powered by the In-House Orient F6222 Automatic/Hand-Winding/Hacking Movement
- 38.4mm Case Diameter, 44mm Lug to Lug Length
- 20mm Lug Width
- Domed Mineral Crystal
- 30 Meter Water Resistance
Was this Alpina watch original?
Rosputinsky considers the example consistent and original based on the apparent coherence of its elements. That is the author’s assessment, not a third-party authentication or a guarantee about other watches with the same movement.
Vintage watches can be difficult to judge when documentation is limited. For another Cal. 586, assess the specific watch rather than relying on this example: ask for clear photographs of the dial, hands, case and movement, and seek a qualified watchmaker’s opinion if originality or condition matters to a purchase. The feature does not provide this watch’s service history or a formal authentication record.
Rank #3
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What is not established about the watch?
The feature identifies the watch as a 1940s Alpina, but does not give an exact reference number, case diameter, lug width or production quantity. It also does not establish a verified current price or current availability. Treat any listing as an individual vintage watch: confirm its movement configuration, condition and originality claims with the seller before making a decision.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Case diameter: 43.5mm
- Gold tone second hand
- Water Resistant To 165 Feet
- Power reserve: approximately 41 hours
- 21,600 vibrations per hour
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