Seiko Alpinist Black
Laurel Seiko Alpinist Black is amongst the few watch manufacturers that will always exceed your expectations. When it comes to churning out iconic timepieces.
As befitting its name. The Alpinist collection from Seiko offers a range of robustly constructed sports watches.
These watches were originally crafted to serve as a reliable reference for Japanese mountain climbers. But currently boast the same spirit as the people it was made for.
Kintaro Hattori, Seiko’s founder. He had the vision to be one step ahead of the rest. So he started it by creating accessible watches with great quality at prolific rates.
He launched the very first Alpinist in 1959, which turned out to be Seiko’s first real attempt at a sports watch.
Little did he know that this robust watch would soon become one of the greatest legends among the Seika lovers’ community.
Since the Seiko Alpinist line was established with mountain climbing in mind. The construction is robust and bears a no-nonsense appeal of a tool watch.
And if you’re thinking that since it was only meant for mountain men in the 1960s.
It would look like a tank, you are wrong my friend. As Seiko has released a series of reinterpretations of the Alpinist.
That too with distinctive 21st-century designs. They add elegance and class, as well as historical appeal.
History Seiko Alpinist Black
The story of Seiko Alpinist starts way back in 1959 with Laurel Alpinist.
A watch built for Japanese mountaineers known as Yama-Otoko (which means mountain men). The Laurel Alpinist featured highly legible luminous hands.
A waterproof screw-down case back with a display. To protect the display they wisely choose a domed acrylic glass.
It made it tough enough to withstand dust and specks of dirt. Although it had a non-sporty look. It was powered by the robust Seikosha manual movement with Diashock shock protection.
The 17 jewels, boasted great accuracy and shock resistance for their time. The launch of the Laurel Alpinist marked the entry of Seiko into the sports watch arena.
Also discharged the trail for many iconic watches. Still desiring to meet the needs of mountain climbers. People who traversed dangerous topographies for leisure and work.
Seiko introduced a more rugged version of the Alpinist. It was the Alpinist Champion in 1963. It was a redesigned version of the Laurel Alpinist.
They sported a light-colored centred dial. It had a darker surrounding with square-shaped, applied hour markers.
Re-Creation Of Alpinist
From 1963 to 1992 the Alpinist seemed to have been buried in the canals of time. But after 30 whole years, the Red Alpinist hit the Japanese market.
They did so under the Prospex line and gained a lot of popularity thanks to its unique features. Unlike its previous models. The watch had a new dial design with luminous cathedral hands on a display.
It was no longer covered with acrylic glass but with Sapphlex. Which happens to be a mineral glass with a layer of sapphire. It now featured a rotatable bezel with compass markings.
This helps mountain climbers with orientation in the open terrain. A date display is neatly located under a magnifying lens at 3 o’clock. Along with the well-regarded Seiko 4S15 Hi-Beat automatic movement.
It is hackable and also supports hand winding. Nicknamed Red Alpinist by fans of Seiko. because of the word “Alpinist” written in red above 6 o’clock.
The model was released with three dial colour alternatives. They were black, cream, and emerald green.
It remains well-loved to this day. From the first generation of vintage Seiko Alpinist models. Released in the year 1959. To the latest special editions from the iconic line in 2021.
Seiko Alpinist keeps getting re-born in a re-creation. This characterizes the spirit of the very first timepiece. As they had evolved over six decades.
It now comes with a more current automatic movement as part of Seiko’s professional specifications “Prospex” line. On the occasion of the company’s 140th anniversary last year.
The brand launched a modern recreation of the original ‘Alpinist’. It took inspiration from the Seiko Laurel Alpinist. As with 1959 original.
The design is simple and practical though more recognizable. With Lumi Brite on the dial and hands and a full 100 meters of water resistance.
What Makes Seiko Alpinist Special?
The Seiko Alpinist brand possesses a history. Ask most Seiko collectors and they’ll tell you they own an Alpinist.
One amazing thing about the Alpinist line. It is that Seiko ensures that there is something for every collector.
The robust timepiece is one of the favourite collectables among Seiko fans. It is well known for its distinctive and sturdy design.
It is for adventure seekers in the water, in the sky, on land, and businessmen.It is popular because it is versatile and you can wear it in about any situation. Whether professional or casual outings.
From the start, the Seiko Alpinist was well received. Over the next six decades.
Its reputation extended beyond the Japanese and Asian markets. Without swaying you further. Here are some specs of the Seiko Alpinist brand that makes it spectacular.
- Unquestionable quality and sturdiness
- Many rare collector’s pieces come at a very affordable rate
- Great finishing
- Versatility tool watches that you can wear anywhere
- Compact with a wearable proportion that conforms to various wrist sizes
- Robust shock-protected in-house movement with updated automatic movements in the re-released editions
- Large selection of model variations
- Crown guard & screw down movement crown with nice design
- Date display
- Affordable watch for connoisseurs
This was the reason why other watch enthusiasts love these alpinist watches. Now let me tell you in detail what I think about this watch.
Case
The case diameter is close to that of the 35 mm vintage original, but a little bit enlarged to 36.6 mm. By contemporary standards, it is still small.
This is one of the smallest Seiko sports watches of recent years. This is good news for collectors who fancy retro-sized cases.
And it is also slim, but the case design still manages to incorporate some nuance in its form. It has an elegant profile, with a narrow case middle that calls to mind today’s Credor dress watches.
The case does have a very tall, sloping bezel. Similarly sloped case back ensures it still feels like a sporty watch. Amongst the other appealing, vintage-style designs. It is the unsigned crown, which is typical of Seiko.
It replicates the look of the original, wide but flat with a domed, polished top. This gives it a convincing vintage feel.
A visually interesting element is the lugs. They are thin and long but made more interesting with wide, polished bevels on the top edge.
That said, the distortion of the reflections on the surfaces of the lugs. It gives away the fact the case is simply stamped and polished. The case finishing is confusing.
Given that similarly priced models use the same movement. The recent King Seiko KSK reissue SJE083.
For example, typically have cases that are well-polished. Along with the “Zaratsu” method that results in flatter surfaces.
Dial
The most attractive part of the watch is the piano-black dial. Deep and glossy – black enough. The hands seem to float – the appeal of the dial is enhanced by its simple but smart design.
To start with, it’s heartening that the designers decided against faux patina. While “aged” luminescent material or “tropical” dials are good-looking. They lack authenticity, while also being too common now.
The curated colour of faux patina is made to appeal to enthusiasts. But diminishes its intrinsic appeal for the same reason. While modern, the greenish lume on the Alpinist Re-creation.
It does bring what radium would have looked like when fresh. It is still radioactive in the late 1950s. The green lume also complements the black dial.
Since both have a cool tone, which makes for a harmonious colour palette. Though not obvious at a glance. The printed white minute track plays a major role in the design of the dial. It separates the dial into two rings.
A chapter ring for the hour makers and a central section with text. While avoiding the empty expanse that accompanies a minute track on the outer edge of the dial. But the dial layout doesn’t get a perfect score.
“Automatic” at six should have been “Alpinist” instead, as it was on the original. That would have given the watch more character. In any case, buyers of this watch will know how the movement is wound.
And the second hand is longer than it needs to be. Since the minute (or seconds) track is on the inner edge of the hour markers. On the vintage original the second hand is short to suit the inner track.
But here it extends almost to the edge of the dial. Hands Like the case, the dial is simple in execution.
Hour Markers & Hands
The applied hour markers are stamped and polished, though their edges aren’t perfect. The result is a workmanlike finish. But the markers have charm, in part.
As they resemble the hour markers found on the dials of some vintage Seiko dive watches.
Even they were stamped from the back to create a relief effect. That said, the finishing of the hour and minute hands are too simple.
The edges of the hands appear softer compared to those of the markers. The thicker hands are cut with a diamond-tipped tool. It would have given them more definition and refinement.
Movement
The 6L35 inside is hidden under a screw-down steel back. It is concentrically brushed in its centre and polished on its edge. They etched the central part of the back with the material, calibre and brand.
It is in strangely large font, making them seem out of place. But that was the typography on the vintage original. Though there the markings were engraved rather than shallowly etched.
As they are on the Alpinist Re-creation. The cal. 6L35 was reputedly developed as a drop-in substitute for the ETA 2982. Explaining the similar thickness, beat rate, and power reserve.
It also became the foundation of the Soprod A10. It’s a Swiss-made movement that is marketed as a substitute for the ETA 2892.
As a result, the cal. 6L35. It is one of the few Seiko movements in its class that runs at 28,800 beats per hour (or 4 Hz).
As most Seiko movements run at a lower 21,600 beats per hour. The movement isn’t especially small, but the date is for some reason positioned awkwardly.
The date window sits at an unusual position – between four and five o’clock, but closer to four. So it ruins the symmetry of the dial and also sits asymmetrically between the two-hour markers.
Conclusion
The 1959 Alpinist Re-creation has more charm than the typical modern Seiko. Though it’s more vintage in feel than modern. It’s clean, simple, and compact, an uncommon combination in the brand’s current catalogue.
While the design scores well, several of its details could be improved, given the hefty price of only under US$2,900. That puts it in a category with strong competition.
The US$2,100 Longines Heritage Silver Arrow is an obvious candidate. To be fair, the Alpinist Re-creation is a good watch by many measures.
But it isn’t quite the same value proposition as other current offerings from Seiko.
All in all, it’s a pleasing watch that will no doubt win over many Seiko enthusiasts. Due to its evocative, historical design.
