Watchlopnik: Seiko Alpinist?

[Boxer_4]

Alternative title: What Seiko should I buy?

I've been thinking of picking up a nice Seiko for a while now, and am thinking now might be the time (there's a pun here, I can feel it...)

@Chariotoflove kinda gave me a nudge in this direction with his post from a few months ago, too...

I currently have a few Seiko 5 India specials, and while they have sold me on Seiko Automatics, I think I'm ready to move on from the quality of these particular watches.

A release notice from Seiko for the Alpinist Re-Imagination showed up in my inbox a few months ago, and its really speaking to me, especially the SPB-245 (green face).

I mean, look at that face!

These look nice with a matte brown strap, too.

I'm liking the design of these (Prospex logo aside) - especially how clean and simple the design is overall. They are a bit thick (the display back doesn't help), but are still thinner than the Casio G-Shock I currently have. The SPB-245 only comes in a strap version, but I think I'd want to go with a strap version anyway.

I'm open to other suggestions, too. Really, what I'm looking for is something that is built well for the price, can be worn everyday, and can be versatile / not out of place in most situations. I intend to wear this a lot for many years to come. A simple dial is a must, and no numbers is a nice bonus. The price of an SPB-245 is about my limit, I think.

[AestheticsInMotion]

@boxer_4 that with a brown strap. Mmmmm

[Boxer_4]

@aestheticsinmotion I know, right‽

[e90m3]

@boxer_4 Love the dial color, get this one.

[ttyymmnn]

@boxer_4 said in Watchlopnik: Seiko Alpinist?:

I think I'm ready to move on from the quality of these particular watches.

Is this to say that you are moving on from the build quality of these specific watches, or Seiko in general?

[Boxer_4]

@ttyymmnn The build quality of piece together Seikos bought for $20 off of eBay.

[AestheticsInMotion]

@boxer_4 how the heck did you get a special exclamation point/question mark hybrid.

[Boxer_4]

@e90m3 I'm pretty sure this is the correct answer.

[Boxer_4]

@aestheticsinmotion It's called an Interrobang, and I borrowed it from Wikipedia.

[Chariotoflove]

@boxer_4
Oh, I quite like that green face. Seiko does simple elegance so well. I very much like the leather strap not only because it looks good, but also because when good leather gets scuffed, it looks even better, unlike polished metal bracelets, which just look scratched.

Also, the Seiko automatic movement has continued to be nice and accurate for me over time. It gains maybe a minute over a couple of weeks.

[facw]

@aestheticsinmotion How do you get an interrobang‽

There's a bunch of ways!

For example on Windows you can use the symbol/emoji picker thing (windows key + . ) :

There's also an emoji but it sucks: ️ (doesn't even overlap them)

You can also find it in the charmap:

Additionally you are supposed to be able to type alt+8253 on the numpad and get it, but that doesn't work for me.

And yeah, as @Boxer_4 said, the easiest way is probably just to search google for interrobang and then copy/paste.

[Boxer_4]

@facw The alt-code works in MS Word for me, but not here.

[facw]

@boxer_4 Hmm, same story for me...

[EssExTee]

@boxer_4 I wear a Casio Wave-Ceptor watch. It's been great, it's solar powered and synced to a radio signal so you never need to adjust. I can't find my exact model for sale anymore but it's basically this with a white face and numbered dial. Here's another one that's more expensive but also a lot dressier.

[Italia]

@boxer_4 the green reimagined one is Quite pretty but to me it's not an alpinist without the inner rotating bezel I would literally never use. Also it should have gilt indices and hands.

What is your use case for the watch? You might even want to look at a cocktail time if you're not in it for the compass complication that really makes it an alpinist.

[Boxer_4]

@essextee I currently have a Casio G-Shock Waveceptor MTG-900. I've been really happy with it over the past 8 years or so. No issues with the solar rechargeable battery, and I don't see it going anywhere until it dies. I had a WV-300 which was much dressier, but the case broke at the band mounting point many years ago.

[RPMesq.]

@boxer_4 I have nothing but good things to say about Seiko automatics. I have two Alpinists from the previous generation, and the green one is probably my favorite watch of all time. The expanded Alpinist range is great and you can't go wrong with any of them.

If you want to consider some other options along similar lines and in the same price range, you also can't go wrong with a Hamilton khaki field watch, and there are plenty of great Seiko divers.

[AkioOhtori]

@boxer_4 That green is excellent

[Future Next Gen S2000 Owner]

Want. I'm turning into a watch guy. This fits most of my criteria. I'm more of a metal band guy but I dig the green/brown combo.

[Boxer_4]

@italia One could argue that the these re-imaginations are actually closer to the original Alpinist which did not have a compass bezel... I don't know about the gilt indices or hands though. I also have no use for a compass in a watch.

The cocktail time series is definitely also a consideration. The Mockingbird (SRPE15 & SRPD37) is quite pretty, too. And cheaper. It looks like the movement is different, but I really should research that some more.

I'd say the use case for this watch is to have something "nicer", but something that can really be worn everyday. Ideally it would be the watch I would wear in most general life activities, but also wouldn't be too out of place in the rare dressier setting... there are very few days a year (I can count on one hand) where I wear a watch and am not wearing some combination of jeans/polo/leather shoes or jeans/shorts/t-shirt/flannel/sneakers. The cocktail time watches seem maybe slightly too dressy, but maybe not?

The SPB-245 seems like it would be a great all-around watch, at least from what I can tell.

[Boxer_4]

@rpmesq Those are both very nice! The expanded Alpinist range seems like just the ticket, and Seiko's green dials are just spectacular!

[Boxer_4]

@future-next-gen-s2000-owner It's a slippery slope. I had several cheap watches in quick succession as a kid, then a nicer Casio Waveceptor or two in high school and college (still have one of them), several dirt cheap Seiko 5s currently, and now I'm here...

It's too bad that Seiko doesn't let you mix and match strap styles. I'm a fan of the leather, but I know many people would like it with a metal bracelet.

[Italia]

@boxer_4 yeah the SRPD37J1 looks good with Levi's and a long sleeve shirt some brown leather shoes. Not really dressy for Italy lol. For my old house in Utah it seemed like no one had taste and all the bros wore the biggest Nixon or Rockwell watch they could buy.

[blacktruck18]

@boxer_4 I have no opinion on Seiko's that I can add.

Just here to say I am very disappointed in everyone that has said leather straps are good. SHAME ON YOUR HOUSES!!

I really don't like leather or NATO straps. Metal all the way.

[MUSASHI66]

@boxer_4 If you like them, you can't go wrong. I got sick of them when I used to frequent watch forums as everyone and their mother has or wants a green Alpinist, and I find the design very boring.