In my opinion this is the best watch in Seikos current lineup. A rich history, great modern design elements combined with seikos first original-design. It's crazy what you get for the price. Look for identical specs in swiss-watches and you are in the "far above 2000 dollars"-segment. I think it really is the ultimate field-watch.
This is the kind of watch if you own and enjoy slightly smaller watches it is absolutely perfect and can last you a lifetime and can be matched with almost any outfit
I didn’t buy this piece because it was a remake of anything cos I’m not a Seiko nut, I bought it because the indices, the piano black and the beautiful bubble box sapphire just mesmerise me, it’s growing on me everyday and just maybe it might remove my need for an explorer, oh and I can’t believe you sold it Sanjay, what were you thinking!!!!?
I was seriously considering this watch, (I have the SARB017, which I love) but I just can't get past the date at the 4.30 position. I am also not keen on it having Automatic instead of Alpinist on the dial, two major errors. So, reluctantly, I am not going to purchase what is otherwise a really lovely watch. I am a Seiko fan but they are really taking their customers for a ride with some of their watch prices. I was tempted by the SLA065 and the 067, but not at £2700.
Been looking forward to this review for a while now! Personally, I love it for what it is as well as all the design elements it keeps from the original Alpinist. The date is by far the biggest con for me (even more than not having "Alpinist" ANYWHERE on the watch), but honestly, it really doesn't come off as an eye sore when on wrist. That inky black dial and GORGEOUS handset/indices really steal the show (along with that beautiful crystal). As a self proclaimed nato fanatic, it looks stunning on a variety of nato's as well (just like another famous "explorers" watch does). Honestly, despite its flaws, it's a homerun if I view it as "its own thing."
Thanks as always for watching Korey. Yeah the date is a bit of a bummer and I totally forgot to get some Natos for this thing lol. Looks great on your wrist man!
That box alone says it all, I haven't seen Rolex come in anything like that 😊 As for the bund strap, I totally agree with you Sanjay, I was a little put off as well so I have not looked further into this watch. Now I am keen to get into a Seiko AD and check out the watch for myself. Excellent review 👍
Thanks for the kind words, Peter! Would be really great to get your thoughts on this watch! Hope you're keeping well, my friend! P.S.For some reason it always felt to me like you would enjoy a bund strap 😅
@@engineer_wannabe I do enjoy it, but the look of this particular one doesn't do it for me. The watch head itself is absolutely superb, i can see that, but I think the bund that Seiko matched it up with looks like an afterthought. A nice tan vintage looking bund would be ideal with this watch IMO 😊 Enjoy it my friend 👍
Hideous is exactly the right word here. I picked one up used from Chrono24, and am over the moon with it. It makes my King Seiko limited look bad. In fact, aside from a Cartier Santos and Nomos Ahoi, this is the most comfortable watch I own. And like you, I almost didn't purchase it because of the strap and date. And much like you I discarded the strap immediately (hideous, although good quality hideous, as opposed to the bad quality hideous of the green Alpinist of yore), and like you I find that the date melts away in the dial, until you need it. It is discreet and unobtrusive, but I find myself enjoying the presence of it. Between the modern Santos, Ahoi and this Alpinist, I could simply be done for a three piece. That said: Thanks for doing these. I like honest owner's reviews that don't fawn and are not sponsored. Keep on keepin' on, as some would say.
Watches like this one make me wish for a normal size wrist 😆 I would snag this one for sure! I agree with your take on this watch. It’s sort of an accidental success story. A swing and a miss on the Alpinist part, but a homerun on the overall design and execution. Great job on the video, as always. I love your reviews! I have a feeling this one will hang around for a little while 🤔 time will tell 🙌
Sanjay - great RUclips channel - thank you. Glad you can look past the strap/bracelet. The strap/bracelet means very little to me, as they can easily be changed. It's all about the dial for me --- the look of the watch. Take care and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Hi! Nice review! I bought this watch a few months ago and love it! I was able to get a discount on it. It’s still expensive obviously for a Seiko but it’s a beautiful watch! I don’t care about the “Alpinist” wording and I’m fine with the date at the 4:30 pm although I would have preferred it without the date. I did not like the brown strap with the beige stitching - ugly! I eventually bought a Eulit black leather bund strap but it turned out that the bund piece was too small even though I bought the correct size strap. I wound up using the black leather strap with the Seiko grey bund piece that came with the watch and it looks good together! I also took the Seiko buckle and placed it on the black leather strap but I agree that the tang is too thick and I had to widen the first two holes on the leather strap. My husband and I share watches (I’m a woman) and he loves the 1959 Alpinist Recreation also.
Bye bye Alpinist, Snajay's reviews are the kiss of death! All kidding aside that is about as perfect of a watch as you can get. The date of course but its pretty well hidden here.
Forgive me if I missed but what is your wrist size? I too cannot wear an Explorer at 6.25mm and like to keep my watches at 38mm or less. I wonder if there would be a metal bracelet that would work with this watch?
A great watch regardless, as long as you like it, it is good. I recently was able to acquire the KIng Seiko reissue and it is really nice. Some may say the price is too high, for me, it is worth the price for the craftsmanship Seiko put in. The Alpinist reissue is a very well made watch, Congrats to you and enjoy it,
lovely watch that trades under retail right now! I wish Seiko did a caseback design or did an exhibition window. A bit curious how the other Prospex Alpinists with the 6R35 are rated at 20 atm. In any case, I am willing to overlook these type of drawbacks because of the dimensions, beautiful design language, and drilled lug holes for strap changes!
You are valuable to :). In never get the hype around the Alpinist. I never get the appeal of the Compass or the cathedral hands. but then i saw the recreation and the reinterpretation, and i was in love. i think, the recreation is heavely overpriced, wich is sad, because the watch looks great (exept the date position) so i bought myself the green reinterpretation and im totaly hooked and in love. it becomes my favorite watch whitin days. sadly, the the great looking strap from the recreation is missing.
Ah yes, the price is high...I personally never questioned it I do like the SPB variants but could not manage the thicknes. The SPBs have a more complicated finish to the case too! So nice! Congrats on your pickup my friend. I'm glad you're enjoying it!
The dial, when you have the watch in hand, is superlative. It is a really nice, luxurious piano lacquer dial with gorgeous real estate. The movement is also many leagues above the 6r35's of this moment, and the crystal and handset are beautifully done. This would easily register as a 2000 buck watch if they sold it head-only. As a total package, 2700 was a tough sell for me initially, but now that I've owned it for a year I'd say it's well worth it. It's just that good. I only wish they would ritually burn the bund strap and just include a nice chestnut flat Cordovan strap at that price. At the moment I own a couple of Seiko's. The King Seiko limited recreation KSK, this Alpinist, a Presage enamel limited and a GS Quartz, and I must say... This thing is the bomb. Hands down my favourite.
Can I buy the OEM strap from you? I'll send you an email. I just picked up this beauty at a local AD on a Memorial day sale. Thanks for helping me make the decision.
(Formerly triniboy05) Awesome review Sanjay! I appreciate how thorough it was and you mentioned things that many wouldn’t, such as the setting with the hash marks. I like the watch for sure. If I didn’t have an Explorer, I would be all over this. My only hesitation is the vintage aesthetic, as that’s not really my thing. Hope all is well, Merry Christmas, God bless.
I tried this on in the shop where they were asking £2700 and ended up buying it online for £850! Such a nice watch to wear. There's something about the 1959 Alpinist that has kept me constantly wearing it for the last few months. I love the domed crystal and the glossy black finish of the dial. It's been very accurate as well. Really love it.
Love the look-but how to avoid tripping on the PRICE?!! $2600.!!! Its appeal is diluted by many similar-looking Seikos. Note that the SJE085J1 is the SBEN001 on the Japan watch sites. Negs for me are the "automatic" script on the dial that looks faux-antique-Seiko uses the same script font on its $300. watches. Again, this gorgeous Seiko 1959 Alpinist Recreation is watered down by its own lower-priced lesser movement lookalikes. Congrats, nonetheless
Thanks so much! I hadn't thought about the price because the watch was so perfect for me. But yeah, the price is rather high. 😅 Hope you and your family are well my friend!
In my opinion this is the best watch in Seikos current lineup. A rich history, great modern design elements combined with seikos first original-design. It's crazy what you get for the price. Look for identical specs in swiss-watches and you are in the "far above 2000 dollars"-segment. I think it really is the ultimate field-watch.
I’ve always loved this piece.
It's a super clean watch and works with practically any strap. Hidden gem of a watch for a true seiko enthusiast! Keep enjoying it
Thanks so much Sam. I will 😉
This is the kind of watch if you own and enjoy slightly smaller watches it is absolutely perfect and can last you a lifetime and can be matched with almost any outfit
Great review! I just picked one up on the used market. It lands today so I'm super excited!
I don't mind the date at 4:30, I even like this position. But why is it at 4:40? It's such an eyesore!
I have one too. Love it!
Nice review, thank you. I appreciate you too, keep up the good work.
Been waiting for this review. Thanks for your thoughts Sanjay!
Thanks so much for watching, Toran! 😃
I didn’t buy this piece because it was a remake of anything cos I’m not a Seiko nut, I bought it because the indices, the piano black and the beautiful bubble box sapphire just mesmerise me, it’s growing on me everyday and just maybe it might remove my need for an explorer, oh and I can’t believe you sold it Sanjay, what were you thinking!!!!?
I was seriously considering this watch, (I have the SARB017, which I love) but I just can't get past the date at the 4.30 position. I am also not keen on it having Automatic instead of Alpinist on the dial, two major errors. So, reluctantly, I am not going to purchase what is otherwise a really lovely watch.
I am a Seiko fan but they are really taking their customers for a ride with some of their watch prices. I was tempted by the SLA065 and the 067, but not at £2700.
Been looking forward to this review for a while now! Personally, I love it for what it is as well as all the design elements it keeps from the original Alpinist. The date is by far the biggest con for me (even more than not having "Alpinist" ANYWHERE on the watch), but honestly, it really doesn't come off as an eye sore when on wrist. That inky black dial and GORGEOUS handset/indices really steal the show (along with that beautiful crystal). As a self proclaimed nato fanatic, it looks stunning on a variety of nato's as well (just like another famous "explorers" watch does). Honestly, despite its flaws, it's a homerun if I view it as "its own thing."
Thanks as always for watching Korey. Yeah the date is a bit of a bummer and I totally forgot to get some Natos for this thing lol. Looks great on your wrist man!
This is the best Seiko watch and perfect size to be dress watch! You are lucky buddy! Only 1959 people are that lucky on the earth!
Thanks so much! Yeah, it's a really great piece!
It's a great looking piece. The date window is the one complaint I have. Great video and I love your positive message at the beginning 🍻
Thanks so much for watching, Omar. Hppe you and your family are well 😀
That box alone says it all, I haven't seen Rolex come in anything like that 😊
As for the bund strap, I totally agree with you Sanjay, I was a little put off as well so I have not looked further into this watch. Now I am keen to get into a Seiko AD and check out the watch for myself.
Excellent review 👍
Thanks for the kind words, Peter! Would be really great to get your thoughts on this watch!
Hope you're keeping well, my friend!
P.S.For some reason it always felt to me like you would enjoy a bund strap 😅
@@engineer_wannabe I do enjoy it, but the look of this particular one doesn't do it for me.
The watch head itself is absolutely superb, i can see that, but I think the bund that Seiko matched it up with looks like an afterthought.
A nice tan vintage looking bund would be ideal with this watch IMO 😊
Enjoy it my friend 👍
Ah that makes sense. Good to know that I kinda have an idea of what you like 😉
Thanks again, Peter! Talk to you soon 😀
Hideous is exactly the right word here. I picked one up used from Chrono24, and am over the moon with it. It makes my King Seiko limited look bad. In fact, aside from a Cartier Santos and Nomos Ahoi, this is the most comfortable watch I own. And like you, I almost didn't purchase it because of the strap and date. And much like you I discarded the strap immediately (hideous, although good quality hideous, as opposed to the bad quality hideous of the green Alpinist of yore), and like you I find that the date melts away in the dial, until you need it. It is discreet and unobtrusive, but I find myself enjoying the presence of it.
Between the modern Santos, Ahoi and this Alpinist, I could simply be done for a three piece.
That said: Thanks for doing these. I like honest owner's reviews that don't fawn and are not sponsored. Keep on keepin' on, as some would say.
Seiko needs to make more 36mm watches! Emulate the classic Rolex Explorer…
Awesome review Sanjay I always wanted to get a alpinist this one looks great 👍
Thanks so much, my friend! Hope you are well! 😀
Thank you for the review but mostly for the message.
Some of these throwbacks, Seiko is hitting it out of the park! Great review btw
Thanks so much for watching, Ed!
Watches like this one make me wish for a normal size wrist 😆 I would snag this one for sure! I agree with your take on this watch. It’s sort of an accidental success story. A swing and a miss on the Alpinist part, but a homerun on the overall design and execution. Great job on the video, as always. I love your reviews! I have a feeling this one will hang around for a little while 🤔 time will tell 🙌
Thanks so much for your encouraging words, Chaz! Yup, this will hang around for a while 😉😀
Sanjay - great RUclips channel - thank you. Glad you can look past the strap/bracelet. The strap/bracelet means very little to me, as they can easily be changed. It's all about the dial for me --- the look of the watch. Take care and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Thanks so much for watching, my friend! Happy Holidays to you and your family as well 😀
Hi Sanjay !
Merry Christmas ⛄
We appreciate you !
Merry Christmas Junior. Thanks so much for the kind words!
Happy holidays my friend, I enjoy your videos
And to you as well, my friend! You're far too kind 🙂
Nice Leonardo paring! Although a nakaya maybe nicer ;)
Hi! Nice review! I bought this watch a few months ago and love it! I was able to get a discount on it. It’s still expensive obviously for a Seiko but it’s a beautiful watch! I don’t care about the “Alpinist” wording and I’m fine with the date at the 4:30 pm although I would have preferred it without the date. I did not like the brown strap with the beige stitching - ugly! I eventually bought a Eulit black leather bund strap but it turned out that the bund piece was too small even though I bought the correct size strap. I wound up using the black leather strap with the Seiko grey bund piece that came with the watch and it looks good together! I also took the Seiko buckle and placed it on the black leather strap but I agree that the tang is too thick and I had to widen the first two holes on the leather strap. My husband and I share watches (I’m a woman) and he loves the 1959 Alpinist Recreation also.
Hi, thanks so much and thanks for sharing!
Great strap choice and I'm happy you both are enjoying yours! 😃
Bye bye Alpinist, Snajay's reviews are the kiss of death! All kidding aside that is about as perfect of a watch as you can get. The date of course but its pretty well hidden here.
Haha This one will be sticking around. I think....I'd have to be an idiot to sell/trade this!!
Haha! @Nef ! With Sanjay in denial, who is managing the dibs list?
Hi I’ve got the same watch, but the back of case is marked from wearing on the strap? Have you heard of this? Thanks
Is that a black rubber strap you have switched on there? Looks good, what strap is that?
Great review of a great watch. Thanks Sanjay 👏👏
Thanks so much Ken, You're too kind!
Hi! Can you also make a video about the SARB013 aka the Unicorn Alpinist?
Hi Mate, if you can recommend tge best strap changing tool to swap our the bund strap on this model as I note those tiny lugs? Cheers ash
Forgive me if I missed but what is your wrist size? I too cannot wear an Explorer at 6.25mm and like to keep my watches at 38mm or less. I wonder if there would be a metal bracelet that would work with this watch?
A great watch regardless, as long as you like it, it is good. I recently was able to acquire the KIng Seiko reissue and it is really nice. Some may say the price is too high, for me, it is worth the price for the craftsmanship Seiko put in. The Alpinist reissue is a very well made watch, Congrats to you and enjoy it,
Thanks so much. I really love the 44KS recreation as well!
Congrats, my friend!
Great looking watch and a worthy substitute to an Explorer.
Thanks so much for watching! 🙂
lovely watch that trades under retail right now! I wish Seiko did a caseback design or did an exhibition window. A bit curious how the other Prospex Alpinists with the 6R35 are rated at 20 atm. In any case, I am willing to overlook these type of drawbacks because of the dimensions, beautiful design language, and drilled lug holes for strap changes!
Great Review.....This is the Alpinist to have! Seiko needs to take more pride in how they present their watches and invest in better boxes.
Thanks so much my friend. This really is an incredible watch! 👌😀
Do you have under 6" wrists?
Does it have a screw down crown?
Hey, no, no screw down crown on this guy 👍
Great review Sanjay! In my experience some of the people I work with are not infinitely valuable-I’ll have to work on that 😎.
Thanks so much UWC, you're too kind!
Haha there are some people I struggle with as well. Still infinitely valuable though 😛
What’s the size of your wrist?
You are valuable to :). In never get the hype around the Alpinist. I never get the appeal of the Compass or the cathedral hands. but then i saw the recreation and the reinterpretation, and i was in love. i think, the recreation is heavely overpriced, wich is sad, because the watch looks great (exept the date position) so i bought myself the green reinterpretation and im totaly hooked and in love. it becomes my favorite watch whitin days. sadly, the the great looking strap from the recreation is missing.
Ah yes, the price is high...I personally never questioned it
I do like the SPB variants but could not manage the thicknes. The SPBs have a more complicated finish to the case too! So nice!
Congrats on your pickup my friend. I'm glad you're enjoying it!
The dial, when you have the watch in hand, is superlative. It is a really nice, luxurious piano lacquer dial with gorgeous real estate. The movement is also many leagues above the 6r35's of this moment, and the crystal and handset are beautifully done. This would easily register as a 2000 buck watch if they sold it head-only. As a total package, 2700 was a tough sell for me initially, but now that I've owned it for a year I'd say it's well worth it. It's just that good. I only wish they would ritually burn the bund strap and just include a nice chestnut flat Cordovan strap at that price.
At the moment I own a couple of Seiko's. The King Seiko limited recreation KSK, this Alpinist, a Presage enamel limited and a GS Quartz, and I must say... This thing is the bomb. Hands down my favourite.
Does it has screw crown?
No, unfortunately it doesn't
Very nice! I think you'll actually keep this one haha
Haha thanks Clayton, I have your vote of confidence! 😉
Oh man. I actually liked that Alpinist. Sorry to see it go.
Haha It is safe for now and shall remain 😝
Great job Sanjay - Is this watch for sale ?
Thanks so much, Marcus.
No sir! I couldn't part with this yet 😝
Have you handled a Rolex Explorer ?
Not the new 36mm one. Not yet at least.
I have handled the 39mm 🙂
Can I buy the OEM strap from you? I'll send you an email. I just picked up this beauty at a local AD on a Memorial day sale. Thanks for helping me make the decision.
good watch for hunting in Africa, logo S on buckle meen like Safari.
(Formerly triniboy05) Awesome review Sanjay! I appreciate how thorough it was and you mentioned things that many wouldn’t, such as the setting with the hash marks. I like the watch for sure. If I didn’t have an Explorer, I would be all over this. My only hesitation is the vintage aesthetic, as that’s not really my thing. Hope all is well, Merry Christmas, God bless.
Thanks so much Jamal! You're always so kind! All is well here, hope all is well with you too!
Merry Christmas to you as well, my friend! ❤
I tried this on in the shop where they were asking £2700 and ended up buying it online for £850! Such a nice watch to wear. There's something about the 1959 Alpinist that has kept me constantly wearing it for the last few months. I love the domed crystal and the glossy black finish of the dial. It's been very accurate as well. Really love it.
no you won’t 😳, i mean you can’t 😱, please don’t 👀
I won't 😉👍
Love the look-but how to avoid tripping on the PRICE?!! $2600.!!! Its appeal is diluted by many similar-looking Seikos. Note that the SJE085J1 is the SBEN001 on the Japan watch sites. Negs for me are the "automatic" script on the dial that looks faux-antique-Seiko uses the same script font on its $300. watches. Again, this gorgeous Seiko 1959 Alpinist Recreation is watered down by its own lower-priced lesser movement lookalikes. Congrats, nonetheless
Thanks so much!
I hadn't thought about the price because the watch was so perfect for me. But yeah, the price is rather high. 😅
Hope you and your family are well my friend!
Look, this model is good and classic but it is very boring to wear it, given the very cool line up of prospex series
I agree, if this was the only watch in my collection, I’d probably get bored of it very quickly 😅
Goodbye Alpinist.
Haha no way! Not this one 😝
Nice, but it doesn't deserves 3000€
very expensive watch!
Overpriced AF , 500 euro more you can get an Omega De Ville .