Another highly anticipated sequel to one Seiko’s most historic and collectible families, the new Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB201 retains the attractive, reliable, and sporty aesthetic we have come to know with a new colourway exclusive only to the European market.
While the Seiko Prospex line is most highly regarded for its diving watches, there’s no denying the Seiko Prospex Alpinist watch collection is just as unfailing. Last year, in 2020, the Japanese watch manufacturer relaunched the historic sports collection with a series of stunning references: SPB117, SPB119, SPB121, and SPB123. Following on from the success of these beloved pieces, Seiko have treated us to a simple, yet handsome variant dressed all in grey with subtle flashes of silver, red and white: the Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB201 Limited Edition.
History of the Seiko Alpinist
The inaugural Seiko Alpinist was released in 1961 and was regarded as the brand’s first attempt at a true sports watch. It was designed especially for Japanese ‘Yama-otoko’ mountain men who required a formidable, robust and resistant instrument that could overcome even the most treacherous terrain. The series was only manufactured from 1961 to 1964 and after that, it was another 30 years before the Alpinist name was used again by Seiko.
From 1995, Seiko unveiled several re-editions of the iconic Alpinist but they found themselves slowly mowing moving away from the vintage dress style and in its place delivering a more sporty, hallmark aesthetic. The new designs were inclusive of bold cathedral hands, an internal rotating compass bezel at 4 o’clock and a screw down crown which heralded at least 200 metres of water pressure. The modern-day Seiko Alpinist has become an instant hit with Seiko collectors, proven not only by the interest in the 2020 Seiko Alpinist collection but the instant curiosity over the new Seiko Prospex Alpinist 2021 SPB201 Limited Edition.
The Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB201 Limited Edition
An attractive, reliable timepiece with impressive technical specs to back it up, the Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB201 watch retains its core identity as a go-anywhere, do-anything watch. As expected, the new design features ungraded specification from its historic counterpart which includes the Calibre 6R35 automatic winding movement. Boasting a 70 hour power reserve, central hands for hours, minutes and seconds and a magnified date window at 3 o’clock, the in-house calibre is put on display through a sapphire crystal case back which despite its glass construction still delivers an impressive 200 metre water resistant rating.
The Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB201 is presented in a handsome stainless steel case measuring to 39.5mm in diameter and 13.2mm thick and sits comfortably on the wrist thanks a vintage brown leather strap and a Seiko engraved deployment clasp. The combination of the brown leather strap and grey dial at first sounds like an unusual pairing, but up close, the colourway actually looks really stunning especially with the addition subtle red accents on the interior compass bezel. The interior rotating compass bezel retains the collection’s heritage and is paired with a screw down crown and scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment.
Limited to 2,021 pieces in commemoration of the year its released, the Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB201 watch retails at an affordable price of £720 and is available exclusively to the European market. The limited edition is also delivered in a special commemorative box which includes a unique Alpinist pin bdge.
You can shop the Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB201 Limited Edition and learn more about the full Seiko Alpinist range on the Jura Watches website. Get in touch with the team today on 01335 453453 or at help@jurawatches.co.uk more information on the interest free finance and free next day delivery available.
Specifications: Seiko Prospex Alpinist 2021 Watch (SPB201J1)
- Case Size: 39.5mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Internal rotating compass bezel
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the underside
- Case Back: Screw in with sapphire crystal display
- Crown: Screw down
- Water Resistance: 200 metres
- Movement: Calibre 6R35 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Jewels: 24
- Frequency: 21,600vph
- Dial: Grey with luminous hands
- Strap: Brown calfskin leather
- Buckle: Deployment
- RRP: £720
- Limited Edition: 2,021 pieces
