The Real Time Show

Episode: The Alpina x TRTS Seastrong Introduced By Oliver Van Lanschot Hubrecht

Date: December 7, 2025
Host(s): Rob Nudds & Alon Ben Joseph
Guest: Oliver Van Lanschot Hubrecht (Head of Alpina)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the story and collaborative process behind the brand-new Alpina x The Real Time Show (TRTS) Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic. Hosts Rob and Alon, together with Oliver Van Lanschot Hubrecht of Alpina, dive deep into the watch’s heritage inspiration, the design journey, decision-making behind key features, and the ethos of both brands. It’s an affectionate, often humorous discussion that blends technical watch talk with reflections on Swiss watchmaking tradition and modern collaboration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Genesis of the Collaboration

[00:36 – 05:47]

• The idea started as The Real Time Show gained traction, leveraging Alon's longstanding relationship with Alpina and Frederique Constant.

• Alon reveals a personal favoritism for Alpina within the FC Group because of its collaborative origin and heritage:

  "...within the FC group, Alpina is kind of my favorite." — Alon [01:06]

• The urge to collaborate grew after seeing early prototypes at the Alpina manufacture in Geneva:

  "I fell off my chair and I loved what they did." — Alon [03:05]

2. Historical Context: Alpina’s Legacy

[03:31 – 05:47]

• Oliver shares that Alpina was founded as a cooperative in 1883, uniting designers, manufacturers, and retailers—the first collaborative platform in Swiss watchmaking.
• The brand’s hallmark has always been building strong and reliable watches, evolving into dive watches in the 1960s (Seastrong 10).

3. The Design Journey – Fusing DNA & TRTS Signature

[05:47 – 12:00]

• Rob admires the 39.5mm case and the wearable proportions:

  "...it has a very compact 40.5 lug to lug, which is an incredible wearing experience..." — Rob [05:47]

• Discussion shifts to the importance of balancing Alpina DNA with new, bolder elements and TRTS signatures (like the orange seconds hand):

  "The base of the design I thought was really, was really looking awesome, I must say." — Oliver [09:44] "...it's really going back and forth and you coming with a bold idea and then me coming back a little bit and bringing it into the Alpina DNA..." — Oliver [11:14]

• The team debates dial features, logo placement (ton sur ton “ghost” text), the sandwich dial with its granular texture, and the polar white lume.

4. Internal Decision-Making and Creative Autonomy

[12:06 – 14:49]

• Alon is surprised Alpina dared to go so minimalist/subdued on logo and branding.
• Oliver explains Alpina enjoys more creative liberty and can “take some bolder moves”:

  "...we have the chance of also being able to take some Boulder moves...a history of innovation, of trying things, of pushing the limits." — Oliver [13:15]

5. Launch, Availability, and Community Integration

[14:49 – 18:45]

• Online exclusive starting Nov. 27, 2025, through January 2026, then to retail partners.

  "We've got a second batch coming into January and following...we then open it also to our retail..." — Oliver [15:18]

• About 50 pieces in the first batch; not strictly a numbered limited edition but production is limited by batches.
• TRTS community can physically try the watch (not for sale) in Amsterdam or London at Alon’s offices; opportunity to wear via the WhatsApp community.

6. Naming and Nicknames

[17:38 – 18:45]

• The official name: “Alpina x The Real Time Show Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic”—a mouthful, so the team laughs about giving it a community nickname, “The Shadow,” in reference to the distinctive dial.

7. In-person Reactions and Perceived Value

[19:49 – 22:28]

• The prototype wowed even industry insiders during Geneva Watch Days; many guessed a price well above €10,000.

  "Almost everyone thought it was above 10k euro. So it shows the pedigree of the brand and the product you make." — Alon [19:49]

• Price is revealed as €2,195, keeping Alpina at the top for value in premium yet accessible Swiss sports watches.

8. Value Engineering and Brand Strategy

[21:34 – 24:35]

• Oliver lays out Alpina's goal to offer more than expected at the sub-€3,000 price point.

  "We want this perceived value to be high and much higher than expected." — Oliver [22:02]

• The four-layer, multi-finish case construction produces impressive light play and tactility.

9. Strap Choices and “Strap Monster” Status

[24:39 – 26:49]

• Plenty of internal debate over rubber vs. bracelet; ultimately, the collab watch comes on a black integrated rubber, but blue, orange, and a stainless steel bracelet are also available.

  "...for the price point on bracelet is also quite amazing. Now, being a diver, I think the original design from Rob also was on the rubber. It looks awesome that way. But that's the beauty of it. Right. I mean, the options are there." — Oliver [26:21]

10. Wearability and Ergonomics

[26:49 – 27:37]

• The 12mm thickness, ergonomic rapid lug drop-off, and well-distributed weight on both straps and bracelet offer supreme comfort.
• Oliver shows the watch on camera for the first time ("Keeping us in suspense" — Alon [27:34]).

11. Homage, Reflections, and the Alpina Philosophy

[28:01 – 29:17]

• The extreme case design was the creation of Manuel Dasilva Matos, recently passed; the watch serves as a tribute.
• Oliver shares Alpina principles: Stay true to your roots, trust your instincts, and persevere—key to both this collaboration and the brand's ethos.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On collaboration:

  "It's obviously we're humans behind it, you know, and we listen to each other and we share and we get excited and we cry and we review." — Oliver [07:42]

• On daring design:

  "...start high and then you'll see where you land. And we were actually amazed that you ran with that because a lot of brands wouldn't have dared to do so." — Alon [12:14]

• On value:

  "We want this perceived value to be high and much higher than expected. And that's the proof when you were at Geneva watch days...it often gets positioned 3,000 and above." — Oliver [22:02]

• On the importance of roots:

  "...stay true to your roots. So that's really true to the Alpina legacy, the Alpina heritage of collaboration..." — Oliver [28:51]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:36 | The origins of the TRTS x Alpina partnership | | 03:31 | Alpina’s cooperative heritage and dive watch history | | 05:47 | Early thoughts on Seastrong Extreme design & collaboration | | 09:44 | Decision-making: dial, lume, logo, and balancing identities | | 14:49 | Launch, availability, retail/channel strategy | | 17:38 | Official naming, nicknames “The Shadow” | | 19:49 | Geneva Watch Days reactions and value perception | | 21:34 | How Alpina keeps pricing accessible without sacrificing quality| | 24:39 | Straps/bracelet: choices and the “strap monster” debate | | 28:01 | Tribute to designer; Alpina philosophy |

Tone & Style

• The conversation is open, friendly, and occasionally humorous, brimming with genuine enthusiasm and respect for both the history and evolution of Alpina, as well as the collaborative spirit driving modern watchmaking.
• Both hosts and guest are candid about the negotiation and creative process, sharing behind-the-scenes insights that fans and collectors will appreciate.

For listeners, this episode offers lively firsthand insights into how a modern watch collaboration is born—from mutual inspiration to technical detail—while celebrating the enduring values and innovations of Swiss horology.