Seiko Just Updated Its Legendary Field Watch for the First Time in Over Half a Decade

When I was first bitten by the watch bug nearly a decade ago, one of the first watches I bought to support my budding addiction was the Seiko SARB017.

Better known as the Alpinist, the green-dialed SARB017 became a fan-favorite thanks to its unique and attractive design along with specs like a sapphire crystal and 200m water resistance that, for the time, were considered rare for the price.

The SARB017 remains the most beloved version of Seiko’s long-running series of mountaineering watches, which dates back to the original Laurel Alpinist from 1959.

Photo by Johnny Brayson for Gear Patrol

So the enthusiast community was understandably distraught when Seiko discontinued the SARB017 in 2018. A year later, the brand debuted the SARB017’s replacement with a new line of “Alpinist-inspired” models in its higher-end Prospex series, with the nearly identical-looking SPB121 effectively acting as the replacement for the iconic SARB017.

In the six years since, Seiko has offered up several limited-edition Alpinists, but the core line has remained the same. That is, until now, as the Japanese watchmaker has just updated the entire Alpinist line — and I think fans are going to like the changes.

The legend reborn

Seiko

Seiko has a new trio of Alpinist models in the Prospex line that should effectively replace the existing models (though they’re all still currently available), with the headliner being a new green-dial version to continue the lineage of the SARB017.

The new Alpinists receive updated dials, casebacks and movements. Perhaps most notably, they also receive Alpinist branding, meaning these are no longer “Alpinist-inspired” watches but true Alpinists.

The Alpinist branding is featured prominently on the dial in vintage script just below the reworked Seiko logo at 12:00. Not even the SARB017 received Alpinist branding on the dial — it was only on the caseback accompanying the mountain range logo — so it’s nice to see Seiko really lean into the Alpinist branding here. The other dial text remains the same, except that “3 Days” has now been added after the word “Automatic” to call out the improved power reserve of the new movement.

Seiko

The rest of the dial design is basically the same, with a sunray finish, applied hour markers that rotate between triangles and Arabic numerals, a cathedral handset and plenty of Lumibrite. It also still features two divisive features that were added when the Alpinist moved to the Prospex line: the cyclops date window and the “X” logo above 6:00.

The stainless steel case still measures 39.5mm across and 46.4mm lug-to-lug, but the thickness has been reduced by 0.5mm to 12.7mm. Despite this, the case hasn’t lost any of its functionality. You’re still getting a screw-down crown, 200m of water resistance, a sapphire crystal, a display caseback and a 4:00 crown to control the inner compass bezel. What’s more, the new case has been treated with a super-hard coating, making it even more suitable for outdoor use than before.

Seiko

The display caseback now features the return of the Alpinist branding along with the SARB017’s mountain range logo, both a welcome sight for OG fans like me. The new movement is also a bit nicer to look at, as the new Alpinist swaps in the Cal. 6R55 for the Cal. 6R35.

The 6R55 was launched two years ago in the King Seiko line and is effectively an evolution of the 6R35. The new movement boasts an increased power reserve of 72 hours instead of 70 and has nicer finishing, particularly on the gold-tone, Tokyo-striped rotor. Otherwise, the two movements aren’t very different.

Seiko

Pricing and availability

The new Alpinist debuts with three versions. The most popular will almost certainly be the SPB507, which carries on the tradition of the SARB017 and SPB121 with its green dial and gold-tone hands and indices. It comes on a familiar croc-stamped brown leather strap with a deployant clasp.

There are two additional versions available exclusively on a three-link steel bracelet. One has a black dial with red accents on the compass bezel, and the other a teal dial with orange accents, which may be a nod to the cult-classic Alpinist “SSASS” from several years ago.

Seiko

All three versions are slated to go on sale next month and are non-limited, but pricing is only available for the SPB507 at this time. It’s listed at $900, which is a decent-sized jump over the current Prospex Alpinist SPB121’s SRP of $725. Whether the thinner case, scratch-protective coating, slightly increased power reserve and added Alpinist branding are worth an extra $175 is up to you.

Seiko

Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB507

Specs

Case Size	39.5mm
Movement	Seiko Cal. 6R55 automatic
Water Resistance	200m

• $900 at Seiko

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