Seiko is one of the biggest brands in the watchmaking industry right now. The famed Japanese watchmaking company has produced a number of classic timepieces. Perhaps you have heard of the all-time favorite Seiko Prospex Solar Chronograph or the Seiko 5. And maybe you’re familiar with the Seiko Green Alpinist.
The Seiko Green Alpinist is a mountaineering watch that many watch enthusiasts love (mountaineers and non-mountaineers alike). The production of this popular watch was discontinued by the Japanese watch company in early 2018, which made watch lovers around the world a bit sad. But the Green Alpinist is making a comeback this year.
So, if you want to know more about this classic timepiece, read this no-nonsense review on the Seiko Green Alpinist.
Table of Contents
History of the Seiko Alpinist Watch Line
The very first watch model in the Alpinist collection was launched in 1961. The Laurel Alpinist was Seiko’s first sports watch, specially designed to be sturdy and reliable for all sports fans and watch enthusiasts.
Since the introduction of the first Seiko Alpinist watch, other versions of this iconic timepiece were launched by the Japanese watchmaker. There’s the Alpinist Champion 850, the Red Alpinist, the Alpinist 8F56, and the SARB series, which include the iconic Alpinist with green watch face (aka the Seiko Alpinist SARB017).
The Green Alpinist Design
This version of the Alpinist just oozes out class and style with every feature. Indeed, it’s not only a timepiece for the sports devotee but also for the metropolitan dapper. That’s why it’s not surprising that this watch model is one of Seiko’s bestsellers because it’s for every man and every occasion.
The green dial and the gold hands and markers of this watch work perfectly together to create a classic look. The gold hands and markers also have a generous luminosity, which makes the time display of this watch legible even in the dark. The long thick minute hand and the thick round hand also make a bold statement.
Add to this distinctive design features the compass ring and the brown crocodile-patterned leather strap. The brushed steel of the compass bezel also matches well with the lugs and the rest of the stainless steel case. You can operate its compass bezel through the second crown located at the 4 o’clock position.
Then, the deep-green dial is covered with a durable, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The Green Alpinist also has an in-house anti-shock system that safeguards it against impacts.
Water Resistance
Of course, it’s worth mentioning the 200m water-resistance of the Seiko SARB017. This feature is a big deal for a timepiece that’s not even marketed as a dive watch. It makes the Green Alpinist one of the best automatic watches in the market today.
Size and Weight
The Green Alpinist is a medium-sized timepiece with a 39.55 stainless steel case with a thickness of 12mm. Of course, you can’t expect this watch to be thin as it houses an automatic caliber with lots of moving gears and springs.
It’s also not light because of its stainless steel case and automatic movement. But it has a decent weight at 2.4 oz (68g), which makes it an ideal timepiece to bring with you anywhere without a hassle.
What’s New with the 2020 Green Alpinist?
The best thing about the return of the Green Alpinist is there are upgraded features that you’ll surely love. If the timepiece runs on a 6R15 automatic movement before, now it’s powered by Seiko 6R35 automatic caliber with a robust 70-hour power reserve and 24 jewels. So, there’s an addition of 1 jewel and 20 hours of power reserve to this iconic timepiece.
When you think these upgraded features are enough, you’re wrong. The Japanese watch company also enhances the timepiece’s sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. Plus, there’s now a date magnifier on the Green Alpinist.
However, you can now see an “X” logo located at 6 o’clock of the watch, replacing the “Diashock 23 Jewels” marking of the previous version. This new marking is due to the fact that the Green Alpinist is now under the Seiko Prospex line.
Full Specs
If you want to know the full specifications of the Green Alpinist, read on below:
- Case: 39.5mm diameter and 12mm thick stainless steel case with see-through back
- Movement: Seiko 6R35 automatic caliber with a robust 70-hour power reserve and 24 jewels
- Water resistance: 200 meters
- Crystal: scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Strap: brown crocodile-patterned leather strap
- Features: rotating compass bezel and a date window at 3 o’clock position
- Weight: 2.4 oz (68g)
Takeaway
The Seiko SARB017, aka the Green Alpinist, is indeed a must-have watch. It has an exquisite design and useful features. This timepiece is perfect to wear on every occasion, from business meetings and parties to your hiking and diving adventures.
