ALPINA SEASTRONG DIVER 300
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ALPINA PRESS RELEASE: https://alpinawatches.com/the-alpina-seastrong-diver-300-automatic/
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IDENTITY
● ALPINA SEASTRONG DIVER. REF AL-525G4TS6
● DIVE AND DAILY WEAR/ONE WATCH - REALLY A DIVE INSPIRED DTW
○ “THE DESIGN PRIVILEGES OPTIMAL DIVE TIME READABILITY AND STANDS OUT THROUGH ITS ESSENTIAL AND FUNCTIONAL BEAUTY, WHICH TRANSFORMS THIS TIMEPIECE IN A BEAUTIFUL MASCULINE OBJECT ALSO OUTSIDE THE WATER.”
● ENTRY LEVEL SWISS
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DESIGN
● DIVER. A CORE AIM AND GENERALLY THERE BUT SOME COMPROMISES.
○ WATER RESISTANCE - 300M PLENTY
○ UNIDIRECTIONAL BEZEL - GOT ONE
○ LEGIBILITY - SEE MINUTES ELAPSED AT A GLANCE
■ BIG FLAT DIAL AND CRYSTAL,
■ HIGH CONTRAST MARKERS - WHITE, NO FAUX PATINA
■ FURTHER EMPHASISED WITH POLISHED BOUNDARIES AND 3D EFFECT OF APPLIED MARKERS.
■ LONG MINUTE HAND
● NO MINUTE MARKERS BETWEEN 5’S, DIAL OR BEZEL - A BIT VAGUE
○ OVERALL STURDY BUILD
■ PRETTY TOUGH. BANG ON. 316L STEEL CONSTRUCTION, SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL, SCREW DOWN CASE BACK AND CROWN GIVING 300M WATER RESISTANCE.
● CROWN GUARD ARE THERE BUT MINIMAL FOR SYMMETRY
● EVERYDAY: ALMOST PERFECT - ONLY QUESTION - TOO BIG?
■ WEARABILITY: 44MM/49MM/13MM. ROUND DIAL/BEZEL MOUNTED OVER A SQUARED OFF CUSHION MID-CASE GIVING THE WATCH “SHOULDERS” PLUS FURTHER MINIMAL SHOULDER PADS. ALTOGETHER A VERY IMPOSING LOOK
● BUT (LIKE MANY ALPINAS) SURPRISINGLY WEARABLE.
○ THIN (FOR A DIVER - SUB SAME THICKNESS) -
○ LOW SET AND
○ AGGRESSIVE ANGLED LUGS HELP
● HOWEVER IN THE END IT’S STILL A 44MM AND MIGHT NOT FIT.
■ A LITTLE CLASS.
● DEEP PERFECTLY MATT DIAL -
● SIMPLE NO NONSENSE INDICES -
● EXCELLENT DATE INTEGRATION HIDES WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO POPS WHEN YOU DO -
● COHERENT (SHAPES AND COLORS WORK TOGETHER AND SYMMETRY) AND PROPORTIONATE CASE - SUBTLE CASE SHAPING AND FINISHING.
● WISE DECISION TO GO WITH ALUMINIUM BEVEL INSERT - DULL FINISH MAINTAINS OVERALL AESTHETIC OF DIAL
○ LESS PRINT ON DIAL WOULD BE GOOD THOUGH TO DOUBLE DOWN ON MINIMALIST AESTHETIC
■ A LITTLE FLARE.
● ALL GOOD.
○ SILVERING OF NUMERALS AND INDICES
○ HINTS OF COLOUR IN ALPINA INSIGNIA
○ SMALL SHOULDER PADS TO AVOID SLAB SIDES
○ DELICATE CHAMFERS
○ MIX OF POLISHED AND SATIN FINISH
○ BLACK INSERT IN CROWN.
● DISPLAY CASEBACK -
○ PLUS A BIT OF EFFORT GONE INTO DECORATING THE WORKMANLIKE MOVEMENT IN THE ENGINE BAY.
EXECUTION
● MOVEMENT: AL525/SW 200 PERFECT CHOICE - SOLID/ACCURATE/SERVICEABLE
● BAND: COMES WITH A REALLY NICE SOFT RUBBER BAND
○ PERFECTLY GOOD BUT I PREFER NATOS.
● BUILD: CANT FAULT IT.
○ EVERYTHING CLEAN/NEAT/ALIGNED.
○ BEZEL ACTION LOVELY - SMOOTH BUT POSITIVE CLICK - NO PLAY
○ CROWN SCREW FEELS REALLY SMOOTH - BETTER THAN PILOT
■ BEZEL NOT OVERLY GRIPPY - SACRIFICED FOR LOOKS?
■ WOULD HAVE LOVED DRILLED LUGS
● LUME - OVERALL PRETTY GOOD.
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MARKETPLACE
● PRICE:
○ MSRP: 1400USD
○ LIKELY: 700USD
● ALTERNATIVES: LOTS - EVEN IF WE STICK TO SWISS
○ OBVIOUS:
■ ORIS AQUIS (1700/1200):
○ BETTER NAME, MORE DIVE FOCUSED, BUT INTEGRATED BAND/TWICE THE PRICE
○ NOT SO OBVIOUS:
■ HAMILTON KHAKI FROGMAN/CERTINA DS ACTION/LONGINES HYDROCONQUEST - ALL MORE DIVE/FUSSIER/LESS EVERYDAY
■ MIDO OCEAN STAR - VERY SIMILAR/BIT SMALLER/TITANIUM
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TAKE AWAY
● ALPINA WERE REBORN AROUND 2002 WHEN TAKEN OVER BY FREDERIQUE CONSTANT AND THE FIRST YEARS WERE ROCKY - PROBLEM COULD BE SEEN IN THE NAME. TRYING TOO HARD.
● FOR ME - BIG GUY 19CM WRIST - THE ALPINA IS A BRILLIANT BLEND OF ITS TWO ROLES:
○ CLEARLY A DIVE WATCH BUT WITH LOTS OF LITTLE TWEEKS TO SEPARATE IT OUT OF THE CROWD AND GIVE IT REAL EVERYDAY ONE WATCH VERSATILITY.
○ ALPINA HAS FOUND A REALLY COOL TAKE ON THE DTW - THIS ONE DIVE INSPIRED (STARTIMER PILOT INSPIRED)
○ WELL EXECUTED AND LIKELY TO LAST A LIFETIME AND BE EASY TO SERVICE OVER THE JOURNEY.
■ ONLY REAL CONCERN IS SIZE.
■ HAVE TO COMMIT TO FORM OVER FUNCTION FOR DESIGN
● COMPETITORS: STACKS UP REALLY WELL - COMPETITIVE ON DESIGN/EXECUTION/PRICE/ WITH EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS SEGMENT. SERIOUS VALUE PROP.
● HIGHLY RECOMMEND IF YOU NEED A REALLY MODERN DIVE INSPIRED DTW BUT ONE THAT IS STILL ACTUALLY A FULLY CAPABLE 300M DIVER.
