Having made its debut two years ago with a dual-dial watch that combined an automatic and quartz movement, Klo & Co. is an unusual “microbrand”, having been started by a trio of young Filipino watch enthusiasts. The Manila-based brand has just unveiled the Alpesailer, a steel sports watch with an internal rotating bezel and an integrated bracelet.

Head-on, the Alpesailer clearly derived from Gerald Genta’s famous octagonal design – think of it as a “Super Compressor” style homage to the Royal Oak. That being said, the bezel is actually brushed and round on top, with a polished octagonal base, bringing to mind the Girard-Perregaux Laureato. While the watch wins no prizes for ingenious design, it’s well spec’ed and only US$400.

Depth rated to 100m, the case measures 41mm wide and 12.5mm in height. It features a “Super Compressor” style design with an internal rotating bezel and twin crowns – one for winding and setting, the other for rotating the bezel.

However, like most modern watches inspired by actual Super Compressor dive watches from the 1960s, this does not have the same, Super Compressor sealing technology pioneered by case maker Ervin Piquerez, which relied on a spring-loaded back that press against the case as external water pressure increased. While the twin-crown design remains attractive even today, advancements in the fabrication of cases, crystals and gaskets have made such sealing technology superfluous in a modern watch. The Alpesailer instead has a conventional and convenient screw-down back.

Available with either a white or blue sunburst dial, the watch features large applied Arabic numerals, offering excellent legibility. They are paired with pencil-shaped hands, which could be wider. Both iterations feature a date display at six o’clock with a black date disc.

Hidden behind the solid case back is the workhorse Seiko NH35 movement. It is a low-cost but robust self-winding movement that is easy to service. It has a hacking seconds and a power reserve of 42 hours.

Key facts

Diameter: 41mm
Height: 12mm
Material: Stainless steel
Water-resistance: 100m

Movement: Seiko NH35
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds; date; internal rotating bezel
Winding: Automatic

Frequency: 21,600bph, or 3Hz
Power reserve: 42 hours

Strap: Stainless steel bracelet

Price and availability

The Klo & Co. Alpesailer with a blue dial is priced at US$375 while the white dial model is priced at US$400. They are available direct from Klo & Co.