Is The Seiko SARB017 The Best 'Alpinist'? | Missed Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ก.ค. 2023
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We all have unique origin stories about the watches that got us into the hobby, or the watches responsible for pulling us in deeper. As varied as those stories surely are, the overlap of appearances by a certain handful of watches is likely quite high. While not universal, I’d wager that the highest percentage of overlap is among Seiko watches, stuff like the SKX007, the 6139, and the Alpinist SARB017. Each of those references make appearances somewhere along the early stages of my own journey, and this Missed Review will focus specifically on that last one, the Alpinist SARB017, a watch that’s easy to take for granted these days. There was a time, however, when this watch had a near mythic appeal. In some ways, it still does.
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Ah, the SARB017. Literally my first ever watch, got it a year into my first real, real job. It pretty much stamped the maturity into my adulthood. Not quite sure how I came upon this watch (it was a photo on the Internet or maybe a video, not sure from where), but one look and I immediately knew I must, must have it.
Looks brilliant on a jubilee strap, awesome on NATO, and on a leather rally strap: immaculate! The original strap however is terribly uncomfortable.
Still loving my SARB017 Alpinist. A classic. A watch that can be dressed down or dressed up and look equally at home...And still manage to look ten times more expensive than it costs.
Got mine in 2015 (?) off Amazon for about $379.00. Dumped the horrible strap for an Oyster and I’m rocking right now. Always in rotation. Fine vid Sir! Thanks
I got hold of mine from an online AD (Long Island Watch) literally a month before Seiko announced their pulling the plug on the entire SARB line. Incredibly glad I did - this watch has maintained its allure for me in the five years Ive owned it, and in my eyes certainly qualifies as a modern classic, as well as just a damned cool watch.
same for me but i picked up a sarb 33 from long island and then a week or 2 later they were NO MAS .
The fact that it does work as a legitimate compass (as any analog watch will) is pretty mind-blowing. For whatever reason the universe gives us little Easter eggs if we can figure them out
Good vid. I have the OG (Sarb 017) on an Oyster. Many years later and still gorgeous. Thanks!
😊 My case back has identical scratches! One of the things that makes the SARB017 so special is the character of the dial. It’s like a chameleon, changing its character drastically it different types of light. It can feel like a totally watch in diffuse lights vs more direct lighting. I would like to see them bring back the Alpinist GMT!
It has the best green dial ever when you see it in person.
I was lucky enough to buy the sarb033 and the sarb017 a few years ago around 350eu each.
brand new in box , never used.
Just ordered a sarb017 nos from Japan after wanting it for years and watching the prices climb. Fingers crossed. Great video!
Hope you enjoy it!
It really is quite the oddball when you look at the design decisions, but after more than a decade of ownership mine still finds itself on my wrist at least once a week. Love the thing. it's seen so much sun the red on the compass ring has almost completely faded away.
Right on!
I love my SARB017 I will never sell it, no matter how much it appreciates in value. I was infatuated at first sight so it became my first watch and I still wear the heck out of it. The specs are perfection.
The alpinist set the standar and mold my watch preferences, after all these years I know thanks to it that im a field/GADA watch guy, so I dont deviate, Im not planning on a big collection, my goal is 4 pieces in total and the alpinist is what started all
I have had my sarb017 for eight years now. I wear it every day. It will stay with me forever.
Great watch, but maybe the worst leather strap I've ever encountered. And the faux alligator seems such a strange choice. Throw that bad boy on some good leather or one of the StrapCode bracelets and you've got a keeper.
It’s definitely a strap monster!
Switched it to a Hirsch on day one..
The first watch I got as a collector. Still my fav.
an absolute classic. if you are a millennial collector, this watch played an outsized role in shaping your tastes and determining the direction of your collection, whether because you loved it or hated it.
My collection of millennials isn't affected by any watches at all. Things like the size of my basement are more important factors.
I owned a SARB017 for about two years. I found it on Amazon just before they shot up in price. What was not mentioned in this review is how much this watch offered for the original MSRP. Sapphire, 200m WR, a 6r15 with a 50 hour power reserve, screw down crown, great size, and nice lume, Those are the kind of specs one expects to see in a much more expensive watch. I ended up selling mine because I never connected with the green dial.
I have one, and love it, it's a strap/bracelet monster, looks good on almost anything, but mine is on a Strapcode Jubilee two colour bracelet in silver and gold.
I bought it about 8 years ago as a replacement for an old pulsar,I saw it and thought it was the most stand out watch I had ever seen.I love the green dial and gold bits.Very unique,I paid £350 for it and am surprised to see the prices being asked for today.I also think it is way ahead of the so called replacement by seiko.
I swear I had the chance to buy one when it came out and was in love with the gold hands. It was 500 back then....
BTW The solar navigation aspect works great. Once you get it figured out it’s a very small leap to using that trick on any watch :-)
Thanks for the tip!
I still have never seen this in the metal. But I do have the blue one and I love it.
The Prospex version (newer SPB release) with the gold hands and deeper green dial is my favorite. It’s such a classic watch.
Forever a classic!
Don’t wear it too often these days but it is a very charming watch and I enjoy it from time to time. The case design and color aesthetics punches well above their weight considering initial prices. It has been a part of my collection for over a decade and not surprised to see the secondary market prices rise. The newer Prospex variants don’t have the same charm.
My oldest and favorite watch.
I have the SPB119 (cream dial) that I wear on a Strapcode Jubilee bracelet because I’m not fond of the strap it came with. It was one of the first pieces I bought when I started my watch collecting journey. It’s actually a beautiful watch and I still wear it quite frequently.
Great to hear!
I am a happy owner and it is definitely one of my favourite watches ever.
Congrats!
Excellent review, thanks
Very welcome!
Great review, brings some nostalgia. Now do one of one my favorite watches, the sarb033 please.
Noted!
Love my SARB017. I have fancier timepieces, some of my watches come and go, but i treasure my SARB the most and i don't really know why!
The one and only time i've ever used the compass was when i was property shopping and i wanted to know which orientation the property I was looking at faced. Was quite useful.
Compare the front-to-back silhouette of a SARB017 to that of a Rolex 16570. I think you'll find that there are many similarities between the two cases, and I believe is one of the reasons why the Alpinist has served to be a gateway watch for so many people in the last 15 years. It's similar in size and proportion to not only the Explorer II, but really any Oyster Perpuetual with out a rotating bezel. The Alpinist is an "Explorer 1.5" in many ways.
Good point!
Bought one when it first came out and ended up trading it. Instant regret... so I bought another along with the OEM metal bracelet and a couple of Hirsch Mariner straps. To me, it is a classic and is quite possibly the perfect simple, mechanical, analog watch, second only to a Rolex Explorer. I know that is saying a lot, but I love my Alpinist LOL. And yes, the factory strap is terrible.
The Seiko SARB017 is probably the best affordable Seiko of our lifetimes. It’s no longer available at a fair price new, but when it was, it was unquestionably one of the most impressive $400-600 watches of all time. I’m so happy to have had a few in the collection, with the last one going as a gift to my grandmother. She was instrumental in my upbringing and has a deep love of nature. It suits her more than anyone else, and I’m glad she likes it!
Hi bud thanks for the great video! I just found a Chinese dealer selling an unused, brand-new sarb017 with a warranty and original package for 4050 RMB, which is around 555 USD. Do you think this is a good deal? How would you recommend?
I've noticed that there are several different model numbers for these green alpinists. They all look the same. Am I correct in assuming the reason for the difference in model numbers is what band it comes with?
It’s even better with a asteroid strapcode bracelet on it.
My inability to commit to the checkout process with a SARB (white/cream my pref dial) always came down to the indecisive polished/brushed aesthetic Seiko chose. Many sport watches share that ambivalence and I appreciate them fine, but something about the shift from front view to sides and back says parts bin on this model line to me, as if it was not conjured with due thought to the whole. Then again, if it was all brushed steel apart from edge and/or bezel accents, would the dressier aspects of the dial seems strange? Good video on a niche piece.
Thanks for watching!
What…?
I put this watch on a MiLTAT bracelet from Strapcode some years ago , transformational. Original brown strap was terrible .
I bought from Japan in the early days and still wear it . I must have won the lottery because it keeps excellent time, perhaps these JDM early watches were better regulated but I think that I just got lucky.
Awesome to hear!
The best ever
Don’t even have to watch the video to answer that question......Yes it is....by a long long way compared to the modern version.
A lot of people swap that default band out for others, especially the metal ones...am I the only one who loves the original brown strap? Such a beautiful colour combination with the green and gold.
I thought I was the only one who likes the original brown strap : -)
I have a strap for barton's that looks exactly the same but is a little nicer.
What band do you have on yours?
I don’t even know where my strap is lol. But mine has lived on a nato for 6 years!
Didnt they bring back the alpinist name with the SPB121?
I've got my Sarb017 stolen 😢 i miss it.
Seiko pro-spex. It’s stand for professional specifications.
I really the look of this watch and not a watch guy at all or watch snob but I would have a hard time buying a Seiko
Loving my Alpinist. I'll never sell it.
Sorry Blake - the 60s style, modern dial, Alpinist Ginza is the best 😜 ❤
Will not buy another Seiko until they fix the quality issue, my Sarb017 Alpinist has movement issues within 6 years, stays behind in 1-2 days with 10-15 minutes without wearing it, just winding it and the rotating bezel was broken because it was flimsy from the start, now it repaired itself automatically.
i just can't get over the crown guard - - I'd rather not have it.
that said, you had me at not comparing it to another rolex.
PS. i am beginning to realize whether the way to pronounce PROSPEX isn't "pro specs"... you know, because it's got, well pro specs. it's an asian thing ;)
I've never liked the SARB017. Green and gold just does not work for me. I much prefer my Ginza Alpinists or any of the 1959 version Alpinists. I also really like the Mountain Glacier Alpinist and the current black dial one. The SARB017 is definitely fsvorite of a lot of people. Not for me though.