“Mama Mia! ALBA’s gone to town with its 2023 collection!”
Not like it’s a bad thing, to be honest. While some of us deep down the rabbit hole may be familiar with ALBA, there are portions of the general public who may not be too familiar with it. So, one can’t really blame them for going all out and releasing not one, not two, not even three but six Malaysia-exclusive models alongside two new SIGNA models. First, the six stars of the day.
“ALBA’s Six Shooter(s)”
We’re talking AL4529X1, AL4531X1, AL4527X1, AL4525X1, AL4533X1, and AL4535X1 – trust me they look better than they sound. These bad boys (and girls) sport dials that range from calming light blue to bold dark green, and even a rugged black half-matte sunray vibe. And guess what? You get to choose between stainless steel bracelets and black silicone straps. Case size measures a rather large 43 mm and on my wrist, it wears closer to a 41 mm. For reference, my wrist measures six inches. The case is 13 mm thick and lug width is 22 mm.
Powering all models is the Y676 movement which is essentially Seiko’s 7S26 so no hand-winding and hacking here, folks. Just good ol’ swing your watch from side to side. Beat rate is 3 Hz and power reserve is approximately 41 hours. Water resistance is quoted at 100 m.
Also, an interesting thing to note is that when I handled the silicone strap models, there were drilled lugs but the same can’t be said for the steel bracelet models. A bit of an oddity there, tbh. Price wise, the silicone strap models will retail for RM655 and opting for the bracelet variants will add just another RM10.
“Now, on to the SIGNA and (other) new mechanical release!”
For the guys, there’s the AT3J09X1 chronograph. Black and blue patterned dial – talk about making a statement! It’s like channeling your inner Samurai warrior. And ladies, don’t worry, they’ve got your back too. The AH7BP6X1 chronograph is all about subtle sophistication, taking cues from Japan’s Sashiko embroidery and the mesmerizing Kabuki culture.
Next is the AL4453X1. The dial’s got this striking blue pattern that’s like riding the waves, reminding you that you’ve got what it takes to ace life’s challenges get through the work week. And the best part? It’s as adaptable as your favorite jeans – perfect for everything from office hustles to after-hour shindigs.
