Anyone have any Alpina experience?

[Brian Page]

Have a change to pick up a Alpina 31684 diver for a decent deal in france, looking for some owner input or brand opinion.

Thanks

[gte217e]

I just purchased the Alpina Startimer Pilot chronograph limited with sunray dial.
I know Alpina is not a brand that everyone talks about and that's kind of why I bought it.
Low priced when compared to the similar IWC brand. I found the leather band to be very comfortable and the dial is very legible.
If I didn't know any better and someone put an IWC next to it and told me to point to the more expensive watch, I wouldn't be able to choose.

Of the watches I have left ( IWC Ingenieur chrono, rolex gmt-ii blue/black, and the Alpina) it gets worn everyday.

However, I am not necessarily fond of the other Alpina designs; this one in particular made my head turn.

Discount of 30% on the Alpina should be standard and deeper discounts are likely possible; though I haven't tried. I purchased mine from an AD.

The above is a very amateur post; I am not in the watch business and this is just my personal experience as a consumer.