#TBT The Mystery Of The Alpina 10 Seastrong With Red Hands
The Alpina 10 Seastrong was on my shopping list for a long time. These watches are not easy to come by. They are not exactly rare, but they do not pop up for sale too often. What we can call rare is the specific model we’ll be checking out today, which features a set of red hands. It has been four years since I got my hands on it, and the reason for their red tone is still a mystery.
I have a very fond relationship with the Alpina 10 Seastrong. My first Alpina 10 came from an original owner, and I didn’t even bother to change the crystal. It was listed for sale by Claes, a Swedish man, on behalf of his 72-year-old friend, Larson, who doesn’t own a computer. I had no clue about this story before I purchased it. But learning more about the previous owners is part of the fun of collecting vintage watches.
My first Alpina 10 Seastrong
Ingemar Larson is the CEO of a small road-train company, of which Claes is a shareholder. Larson was the original owner of the watch, which he bought in Lysekil with his father in the early sixties. It was its smart appearance and diving capability that drew him to it. He used the watch while diving on the German SS Antares and the SS Amasis, making him one of Sweden’s pioneers in sports diving. You can find the full story here. While you read that, I’ll go take it out of the safe.
My second Seastrong
I bought my second Alpina 10 Seastrong four years ago. It also came from Sweden. “I don’t know much about it. I found it with another Alpina at an antique fair in Helsingborg. I bought it from an older gentleman, who was a real collector,” says the message from Ozgur, from whom I bought the watch. I bet he liked the red hands, but he had no clue they were not a factory fit. I hoped I could learn more. But as is often the case, I didn’t get to speak with the original owner or others who may know more about this unusual hand-set.
Two-tipped minute hand
You can see the difference in a side-by-side picture. The frame of the triangular minute hand tip is painted red. It also has a tiny red tail, which makes the red hand look like a rocket ship. At the same time, the extra red on the tail end creates another tip. This extra detail makes it look like a minute hand has two tips.
No sloppy craftsmanship
The quality of the painting is pretty astonishing. I had no idea where it was done or by whom, but have a look at the closeup shot above. The red paint’s application is super thin and consistent. What fascinates me most are the sharp edges where the line breaks, especially on the hour-hand tip. The contrast of the red lining and the wabi-sabi that developed on the lume gives it a great look.
Central second
Everything is identical except for one detail. The hatched super compressor crowns, inner bezel, dial markings, case back, and lugs are all identical. The only differences can be found on the central second-hand, which has a lume-free arrow tip and a slightly longer counterpoise. So, to me, it seems to be a standard Seastrong with an upgraded hand.
The case back
Determining which watch has seen more action is simple: all you have to do is flip the watches over. On Larson’s watch’s case back, you really have to try hard to see any stamping. Only if you turn the watch and follow the reflections closely can you see that there is still an Alpina logo in the middle, although it is barely visible. The other example has one of the best Alpina 10 Seastrong cases I have ever seen.
Last thoughts
So, how did that unique red lining get there? Was it right after purchase in the sixties? Or did someone put it there at a later date? My wild guess is that it was done right purchase, probably to increase the hands’ contrast with the dial. These watches were functional tools back then, so modifications like this are not uncommon.
Interestingly, both of these Alpina 10 Seastrong watches came from Sweden. But this is not a huge surprise. Alpina held a strong market position there back in the ’60s. A fact confirmed by the number of watches from the brand that have resurfaced there after so many years.
If you have more thoughts or theories on red hands, please share them in the comments below. Happy hunting!
