another Hodinkee collaboration: seiko alpinist

[sierra11b]

I actually meant that it looks like the original. So I don’t quite get the hype for it. If this was regular production and not a Hodinkee LE, I guarantee it’d be gathering dust on the shelves.

Maybe the Hodinkee effect is just bringing it to everyone’s attention, but I swear I never saw much love for the original version.

Really? There’s 3500+ post SARB017 thread on wus... the same thread introduced me to the watch years ago. The earlier rarer white dial of the watch commands a premium today. It wouldn’t have sold out as fast but me thinks it would have been successful.

I got the alpinist bug out of my system and would much prefer something akin to seikos earlier Ti landmasters, but must admit the sarb017 on TT SJ looks sorta classy.

[3migo]

Saw some folks already got theirs today.

Just got this email from the dinkster. Guess I'll just go fuck myself over here.

If this is reference to my post- I have nothing against the watch or owning one. It’s about Seiko’s choices. And Hodinkee ruining shit.
If this was a regular model I would probably pick this up.
Maybe Seiko will release with another dial color soon? Who knows, but they’ll probably slap a big X on the dial just to make sure they fuck that up too.

Nah, not a reference to your post.

Just that somehow a handful of folks got theirs the day after release, and the rest of us all got an email telling us to wait.

Funniest thing about the ordering process to me, was that shipping wasn't even included. I mean, it was only $8 for UPS ground, but c'mon, it's a $600 purchase.

[JBZ]

I actually meant that it looks like the original. So I don’t quite get the hype for it. If this was regular production and not a Hodinkee LE, I guarantee it’d be gathering dust on the shelves.

Maybe the Hodinkee effect is just bringing it to everyone’s attention, but I swear I never saw much love for the original version.

It’s one of those watches that I always wanted to try but hated the dial color.
If Seiko did blue or black it would be a lot more popular than it ever was.
Yes- I think the Hodinkee hype does just that.

This. Given that Seiko produces endless numbers of 44mm dive watches, I always thought the Alpinist was a nice alternative (39mm, sapphire crystal, good movement for the price, nice design). But the green dial and gold hands and markers ruined it for me - and I don't know what Seiko was thinking with the faux alligator strap. I like the blue dial and SS hands and markers a lot better.

And the Alpinist does have quite a cult following. Mark from LIW has a few videos on it - he always prefaces them by saying something to the effect of "I'm not sure why this watch is so popular, but it is."

[2thvet]

Has anyone confirmed the validity that the Seiko Boutiques, in particular the Miami Boutique, I've heard mentioned in the Forums, are actually taking pre-orders for the remaining quantities of this watch, supposed delivery in April?

Interest for me has cooled, somewhat, seeing the pics posted of the actual watch, with the high polish finish, compared to the renders that depicted a more bead blasted finish....

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[toxicavenger]

Its on the Seiko website right now. https://seikousa.com/pages/limited-edit ... NTQ935HFU4

Funny the pics on the Seiko site are different than the rendering Hodonkee used. I do not like the live pics on the Seiko site at all.

OOOps the are sold out there also now.

[59yukon01]

Its on the Seiko website right now. https://seikousa.com/pages/limited-edit ... NTQ935HFU4

Funny the pics on the Seiko site are different than the rendering Hodonkee used. I do not like the live pics on the Seiko site at all.

Agreed.......Hodonkey hiped them with better pictures so they'd sell out before Seiko site went up imo. Glad I didn't fall for it as I don't like the polished case.

[toxicavenger]

Its on the Seiko website right now. https://seikousa.com/pages/limited-edit ... NTQ935HFU4

Funny the pics on the Seiko site are different than the rendering Hodonkee used. I do not like the live pics on the Seiko site at all.

Agreed.......Hodonkey hiped them with better pictures so they'd sell out before Seiko site went up imo. Glad I didn't fall for it as I don't like the polished case.

Give me one in hodonkee pics I would be on it. Matte dial and a fully brushed case, or even blasted. Not the one they sold

[jtbenson]

here's one

[aikiman44]

Screw them.
So is this matte or polished? The H version looked significantly, deceptively matte.

[toxicavenger]

Screw them.
So is this matte or polished? The H version looked significantly, deceptively matte.

polished

[Jeep99dad]

Not what I expected.

Meh

[Jeep99dad]

On seiko site



Seeing real life pic, glad i didn’t order

[3migo]

here's one

LOL people are nuts

I love his intro "just not bonding with it"

Uhuh, I'm sure you totally didn't buy it just to flip it.

[JBZ]

here's one

LOL people are nuts

I love his intro "just not bonding with it"

Uhuh, I'm sure you totally didn't buy it just to flip it.

I guess he can do whatever he wants, but it's such a dick move.

[59yukon01]

Already two pages of rediculous prices and growing.

[Joeprez]

LOL what a joke. Hodinkee should try to blacklist them, Porsche or Ford (with the Ford GT) style.

[Joeprez]

LOL what a joke. Hodinkee should try to blacklist them, Porsche or Ford (with the Ford GT) style.

Disagree, people will do that when demand exceed supply.
The idiots are the seiko managers who thought offering a beloved watch in a new, very much liked color in only 1900 pieces was a good idea.

They would have made 2000x the money if they just offered it as a regular sku

"People will do that " makes it ok?

Yes, it's not illegal, but it fucks the market (hobbie, in our case).

[jtbenson]

oh wait, guys look at this, a field watch with matte blue dial, brushed stainless case, and it's half the cost of the seidinko le... hammy

[Joeprez]

Look at it as someone who truly wanted the watch... instead X amount of people bought it to flip it for profit the next day.

I understand the economics part

[manitoujoe]

I just got the Seiko email about it. Didn’t see any issues in getting one.


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[hidden by leaves]

Look at it as someone who truly wanted the watch... instead X amount of people bought it to flip it for profit the next day.

I understand the economics part

One just got listed on WUS for $1100. SMH.

[toxicavenger]

looks like hodonkee over sold so they are cancelling some people's orders.

Unfortunately, we are unable to fulfill your Seiko U.S. Limited Edition Alpinist SPB089 order at this time, as our system mistakenly accepted more orders than watches we have available.

You will be receiving an order cancellation notice and refund very shortly.

We expect to receive more of these watches in the summer, and will keep your name at the top of the waitlist so that you are notified first when these become available.

We sincerely apologize for the error and for any inconvenience this may have caused, and truly appreciate your support.

All best, The HODINKEE Shop Team

The Seiko Site is doing the same thing:
"Order #xxxx was canceled because we did not have enough stock to fulfill your order and your payment has been refunded ."

[logan2z]

[matt.wu]

Their inability to handle real time stock is further proof that their other limited editions are likely presold, as those all sold out within a couple minutes without much drama and with much less availability.

Hype isn’t luck; it’s hard work.

[59yukon01]

Just like the watch.......