Alpina Alpiner Extreme Integrated: Or how I came to love the Band Wagon

[@underachievingwatchcollect1878]

I laughed when I saw the picture of 20 blue dial integrated sports watches. I have a Casio 2100 blue dial with a metal case and bracelet mode kit-so I guess I’m a member of the bandwagon 😆!

[@jeffone]

I gravitate to certain brands as well. I think it is part of the "warm and fuzzy" that makes me like a watch. Yours is a great example. The weird stuff around brands for me is when people try to set up tiers or rankings, as if one brand is clearly better than another. "Well no one would choose an Alpina if they could get a "whatever". Or "everyone would choose the original whatever". The truth is some people would choose to jump on the band wagon of their favourite brand. I am one of those people too! I like what I like! 😀

[@PeteMcConvillWatches]

I had a weird experience on watchuseek a few weeks ago - I recommended Alpina to someone and got the worst kind of snobbish response "they are crap - only bought by people that cant afford better, once you buy a 'real' watch you'll never buy another Alpina ....". Dropped a link to my SOTC video - funny the guy hasnt responded.

[@biggles54321]

My blue-dial Tissot PRX Powermatic case shape has similarities to the Seiko quartz I wore for forty years before I discovered that watches would ward off the lockdown. I have a Tissot PR100 as well.

[@Gumby56]

I have 2 Alpina Alpinar4's, blue and green dials, love them!!!

[@yukonthornsaengsanoh7942]

looking great one

[@ads-porewealth96]

You’ve always got an alternative perspective to everyone else and always make great points. Great vid

[@brysoga]

I love the dial on this watch.

[@tods.9947]

Yes, I think you are right. Seiko is a great example. It can mess things up but the ardent fanatics will criticize but buy the watch anyway. Rolex falls into this model. Great cerebral show!

[@rorrt]

If I had the dosh, I'd go for the Extreme, on a rubber strap.. I recently got the Alpina Heritage GMT. And so far, it's pretty great.. Its a bit large.. But it doesn't look like a dinner plate on my wrist. To be honest, and I might end up completely wrong! But I think the integrated sports watch thing, is something to stay.. Like the 40mm with 20mm lug width, used by almost every field watch.. It's gone too far now to say that was a fad. It just works.. And it will stay. I think the integrated strap, will stick around..

[@rickfowler3710]

There is only so much that can be done with watch design and the colour of a dial and the fact the bracelet can't be removed is not really that restricting. I think the picture of all the watches shows that well. If you were to ask non watch people what all these watches have in common then very few would notice the intergrated bracelet and most of those watches do also come in other colours

[@jb-hw9if]

I agree with you. I think social media platforms with digital urgency cause so called experts that try to appear authoritative to damn certain watches or brands but often they're just really portraying their own opinion, informed or otherwise, rather than subjective assessment. Unfortunately their opinion can be too quick or too narrow yet it exists in a wide social network that gets regurgitated, their echo chamber. Of course the likes of Alpina, Yema, Citizen and Baume and Mercier should offer their versions 👍

[@stephengarratt8027]

Most definitely brands should produce what's on trend as long as it's in their DNA. For example I love Sinn , but, would be sceptical if they produced an integrated sports piece. Thinking about though I might be a moth around light. Always an interesting perspective on your channel Pete and hope you always remain " off- piste"

[@PeteMcConvillWatches]

True but some of their watches skate pretty close - some minor tweaks to their 240St for example and you're there.

[@karimdelakarim]

It's cool man.

[@kk7sm]

So, Levi Strauss & Co made blue jeans. One day, people started wanting to wear blue jeans. Other companies started to make denim blue jeans. Personally, I don't like Levis, so I buy another brand. The other brand just fits my butt better! So, I decided I wanted a green watch. A couple of years ago, I couldn't have been bothered with a green watch. I bought the JLC Polaris. Now, did there need to be a Polaris? Maybe not, but I don't like Mercedes hands, magnifiers on date windows, and paying three times what I feel the value of something is (my subjective valuation, not market valuation), so I was glad the Polaris was there for me. Plus, I like it way better than I would the alternative my friend owned. In other words, if Ford was the only company making blue cars, the rest of the world that didn't want a Ford would be sad. I drive a Ford, but it's not blue. 🙂

[@masterwatch]

spend most of my time thinking about watches and specifications.. and the rest of the time I work and do life and that kind of wasteful activity.

[@marcusrawlinson5024]

I think any business has a duty to it's employees and shareholders to chase success, that business may have the talent amongst it's staff to produce what people want, functionally, aesthetically and with the right balance of quality and price, Rolex comes to mind. If your business can't consistently hit the sweet spot with new products there's no shame in taking proven design or styling cues and putting your brands interpretation on it as long as you don't compromise your brand values and do more harm than good.

[@BAF605]

As Paul Weller so wisely wrote "The Public wants what the Public gets".

[@malcolmwordsworth4638]

It’s all about £$€ really. It’s going to sell in numbers and it might also attract customers to their brand.

[@garystaker-king3202]

I watched this and saw Christopher Ward's latest release shortly after 😂

[@epicv7dayz824]

Came to find out more about this good looking watch as alpina has been on my radar every now and again. Got a spiel about watch politics

[@PeteMcConvillWatches]

thats how I roll

[@pei8988]

For me, there are two type of brands out there. The one I really like( Seiko) and the rest of them, i will buy watches outside my favourite brand, but i will be way more picky about any small detail even its on the movement under a solid caseback. But when it come to my favourite brand, i just dont care that much. As long as the theme of the watch is what i want and it dont have too much flaw in its design. I really like the wire lug design but cant really find the watch that i can connect to, until Seiko release the SPB359, i had decided to buy that watch with in seconds i saw the release!

[@markwheeler4417]

The brands I like and buy from make watches I want to buy. Bugger the heritage. If you as a brand see a niche that your fans want you to sell into then that's what you should do. The whole internet/social media improper use of homage thing is overdone and quite tiresome.

[@jeremyrice3719]

I’m not for or against trends. If I’s a fan of a trend-integrated bracelets, colorful dials, etc., that’s great. However, other trends are not my thing - gold, smaller watches, vintage (ancient watch styles l) etc. It all depends and, again, if I don’t like a trend or even a more unique feature it doesn’t matter if it’s Oris, Zenith, or some other brand I appreciate - I still won’t like it. I’m a fan of watches far more than brands.

[@stavros_katsopr]

In all honesty Peter, can you see yourself wearing this precise Alpina in - let's say - 5 years time? I doubt, it's kind of a weird "mix-match"/hype design elements/styles imo, would be outdated before...yesterday! At least that's how i see it mate. Just take minute to think about it. Cheers.

[@PeteMcConvillWatches]

I think so - remember I hate the concept of 'timeless'. In 5 years time when these are passe I might start to really love it. Also - its actually a bit of a call back to earlier (post FC buy out) Alpinas (but executed 100 times better) - so it really fits my Alpina collection and fills a hole. blog.breitlingsource.com/2014/04/13/alpina-avalanche-extreme-automatic-swiss-watch-review/ watchcharts.com/listing/1519709-alpina-avalanche-extreme-auto-stainless-48-mm-watch-al525lbs5e6b-barely

[@stavros_katsopr]

@@PeteMcConvillWatches Totally understand the "timeless" hate thing, but in design - timeless - it stands... "all in" in fact. Although it's more of a matter of our brain's evolution through the (thousands...) of years of eye/brain ease/pleasure. Going against it, is a personal stride. You see this watch as part of a "story", your Alpina collection, i see it as an individual watch, and doesn't ring a bell. To each his own... PS I never mentioned "timeless" btw (😉), weird design i said, thus (somehow) edgy, but not for me, For you... maybe(??). That's what i asked (and you replied. Thanks.)

[@Rundismutti2001]

Your camera focus is off....

[@anthonynowlan9765]

Cannot blame a company for noticing what is working in the market. Hopefully your brand have an identity of their own. Save from being all derivative of innovators. If you like a watch buy it. Just wait for the Tiffany blue.

[@PeteMcConvillWatches]

I think you've got that right - IF a brand cant take a trend and integrate into their brand identity so that the watch looks like a 'natural' product of the brand you're on a winner.

[@oftheessencetimeis1892]

I don’t think you’re making excuses for anything other than justifying to yourself why you are going to buy another watch 😉

[@billcore6295]

Great video 🎉 It's about business 😊 It's across sports gear and fashion....even music....companies follow trends and capitalise for profit

[@Watchgang123]

Nice watch, but late to the party and it’s extremely overpriced. It’s 70% more expensive than the CW Twelve, and 3x the price of PRX automatic. There’s lots of competition and alternatives in the entry level integrated bracelet market. Only die-hard Alpina fans would buy it. And the 41mm case size would be a deal breaker for many. Shame it’s a pretty watch but it’s missed priced and on the large side. Sorry, this is a bit off topic.

[@PeteMcConvillWatches]

Cant really disagree with much you said. I bought it (at a discount) but Im an Alpina fan with an 8in wrist. On the price thing the only point I'd make is that I think you over estimate how many normal (is just want a nice watch) people cross-shop and compromise for 'value'. I find most people if they are will to spend 3k (for example) on a luxury they are happy spending 3k for the watch they really want. In my experience its the value seekers inside the watch hobby arent a majority outside it. This is why all the brands are doing everything in their power to move upmarket.

[@BlagoP]

There's nothing overpriced about this watch, it's one of the best integrated sport watches for the price. For starters it's better quality and more durable than the CW. Better dial, case, bracelet, screw down crown, and 200m water resistance. The Tissot is great for the price, and there's a reason for that price. It has a cheap movement made with plastic parts, only a 21,600 beat rate vs this watches 28,800 beat rate, and a 100m water resistance, you get what you pay for.

[@awnik99]

Whats with this guy beeing unable to pronounce "L" ? When he says "collection" it sounds like cowweection

[@PeteMcConvillWatches]

Yeah, I've got a speech impediment arising from a slight tongue tie. I'm physically incapable of doing a trilled r and I can do an L but it's tricky. Thanks for pointing that out, that's obviously the critical thing about this video.

[@jaer.6540]

They should have made this a tad smaller...39MM would have way easier to wear for more people

[@PeteMcConvillWatches]

if they can I'd love to see a 36mm version - I think a 36/37 plus 40/41 mm strategy ends up a far better compromise than a single 38/39mm size.