Seiko Alpinist Alternative

Call 1888 powermatic for further details..

One things about the alpinist is the 200m depth rating..I not sure what this has

100m on this one. 200m is over-engineered imo unless it is a dive watch. Most people don’t realize how deep that is… 650ft+. 😂 Why would I need a 200m water resistance on a field watch?

Powermatic 80 is an detuned eta2824 with slower beat rate for extended power reserve. The Swiss tune them to higher standards then Seiko does so there is that. Overall performance and longevity lean toward the Swiss despite what the Seiko die hards say. I love Seiko but the Swiss do a better product for the price point. Certina and Tissot are entry level Swiss brands that punch above their weight.

The ETA 2824 is a reliable Swiss workhorse for sure. 80 hr power reserve due to its detuning. Lower beat rate lengthens the power reserve although I am a sucker for a smoother seconds hands sweep.

Dunno..I don't need a 600 hp vehicle but I'll sure as hell drive one lol.. I'm a dude I'm all about the specs

I get it. I’d probably do the same just because it has that capability. 😜

Anything over 100m water resistance is overkill but the real spec difference is under the dial. With age they all start to lose water resistance because they use neoprene seals which age causing cracks and shrinkage. Oil based seals are like tires which all start to fail at the 6 year mark. I have some actual rubber tires from the 70's that still look new sitting in a shed. Any tire younger than that cracks and fails. The ETA2824 has been a reliable work horse for decades they still use in Tudor models costing far more than his Certina.

It is a nice looking watch though

Love the Alpinist but you hit the nail on the head about the overly wordy dial... I feel like the only person who likes the overall design but isn't very interested in buying a SARB017...

I agree completely about Certina being an underrated brand. I’ve got 2 and think they’re great.

Certina is underrated for sure but they are not available in most markets and Swatch doesn't market Certina and Mido similarly to Tissot and Hamilton. Plus if you have the Powermatic 80 movement without the grade specification, you need a regional warranty to take advantage of Swatch service centre if something goes wrong in that period or it is a nightmare to find some watchmaker to take a look at that movement.

This is a nice-looking field watch but I would personally still take an Alpinist over this since the Alpinist wears much better and is more comfortable to wear plus the added specs are a bonus for a lesser price compared to this model. Also comparing this to an older SARB Alpinist model doesn't make sense, the newer ones have less text. This model leans more into a dressier side than a field watch, and 41mm case with long lugs is never an option if you don't have large wrists.

Love my Powermatic 80 with a blue dial. Also love my Alpinist. Both have great, distinctive style. I didn’t remember seeing the white dial Powermatic 80 when I got mine. I hit the Junghans Max Bill when I want a white dial usually.

I heard a rumour that Swatch will start to promote Certina into Hamilton/Mido range more than to Tissot.