• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • We would like to welcome House of Huntington as an official Affiliate Vendor. Shop past season Drake's, Nigel Cabourn, Private White V.C. and other menswear luxury brands at exceptional prices below retail. Please visit the Houise of Huntington thread and welcome them to the forum.

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Kappelan

Distinguished Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2008
Messages
2,915
Reaction score
8,848
Love these two :)

51013223451_61e073a051_b.jpg


51013312717_ae60e0d778_b.jpg
 

Adsky Luck

Timed Out
Timed Out
Joined
May 21, 2020
Messages
550
Reaction score
758

Adsky Luck

Timed Out
Timed Out
Joined
May 21, 2020
Messages
550
Reaction score
758

Kappelan

Distinguished Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2008
Messages
2,915
Reaction score
8,848
colors are gorgeous, especially the blue. What model is this?

It is the "Baby" Alpinist SPB157J1 38mm.

I love the blue one better. The dial plays beautifully in the light.

50594077802_51be48e520_b.jpg


But the green one has its own great vibe too and it's the only model that comes with the bracelet. So I bought them too. Now I wear these two more often than my other watches )

50851561097_bf9d55da4f_c.jpg


50650158222_bc69e29f12_c.jpg
 

brokeassp

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2011
Messages
1,429
Reaction score
246
Been eyeballing the Seiko mini turtle first gen in black dial. Don`t like the red text on the newer one
 

am55

Distinguished Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2014
Messages
4,950
Reaction score
4,658
It is the "Baby" Alpinist SPB157J1 38mm.

I love the blue one better. The dial plays beautifully in the light.

50594077802_51be48e520_b.jpg


But the green one has its own great vibe too and it's the only model that comes with the bracelet. So I bought them too. Now I wear these two more often than my other watches )

50851561097_bf9d55da4f_c.jpg


50650158222_bc69e29f12_c.jpg
Textbook example of losing the function and retaining only the successful form. I do think the compass bezel and its wheel made the original a little special...
 

Adsky Luck

Timed Out
Timed Out
Joined
May 21, 2020
Messages
550
Reaction score
758
Textbook example of losing the function and retaining only the successful form. I do think the compass bezel and its wheel made the original a little special...
Very true.
That's why I'd personally steer clear of this one.
For objectivity's sake though, the one thing it has over the original is a bit more water resistance that it has precisely due to there being no compass bezel.
But still the look is just off for the seiko purist.
 
Last edited:

am55

Distinguished Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2014
Messages
4,950
Reaction score
4,658
Well, actually, "the original" didn't have any compass.

Original-Alpinist.jpg
That's literally correct, the best kind of correct, and to reply in kind, I'd point out that the "compass" functionality is provided by the hands and the compass *bezel* is only helpful, but not necessary to said functionality, so the second predicate of your statement is incorrect ;)

A Google image search (together with examining the design cues carried over to the discussed model from the implied model) makes it clear, though, what is generally considered a 'Seiko Alpinist' today.
 

am55

Distinguished Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2014
Messages
4,950
Reaction score
4,658
Very true.
That's why I'd personally steer clear of this one.
For objectivity's sake though, the one thing it has over the original is a bit more water resistance that it has precisely due to there being no compass bezel.
But still the look is just off for the seiko purist.
I did not pass judgment beyond expressing nostalgia, truth is when you look at the bottom right it seems that most things discussed on this forum have long since departed the realm of usefulness:

1615215612338.png

If I were to criticise one thing it'd be Seiko's choice of departure from the spirit of their Grammar of Design (which to be fair is not that recent) towards a kind of post-modern pot-pourri. It feels smashed together from multiple watch ideas rather than thought out and integrated but that is the point, I guess. I miss these:

1615216005214.png
 

Kappelan

Distinguished Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2008
Messages
2,915
Reaction score
8,848
That's literally correct, the best kind of correct, and to reply in kind, I'd point out that the "compass" functionality is provided by the hands and the compass *bezel* is only helpful, but not necessary to said functionality, so the second predicate of your statement is incorrect ;)

I think you know what I meant. You can't be talking about "the original" Alpinist without knowing that "the original" was far from what is "generally considered a 'Seiko Alpinist' today". Saying that I understand that for many Seiko fans the one with the compass bezel probably would be the only true Alpinist, which is fine.

But I am happy that they came up with the idea of the "Baby" version. I love them more that the one with the compass bezel, which I was never really considering buying.

A Google image search (together with examining the design cues carried over to the discussed model from the implied model) makes it clear, though, what is generally considered a 'Seiko Alpinist' today.

With the re-creation of the original Alpinist that perspective could change soon )
 

Featured Sponsor

How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 55 35.5%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 60 38.7%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 17 11.0%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 27 17.4%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 28 18.1%

Forum statistics

Threads
505,170
Messages
10,579,188
Members
223,889
Latest member
bakadoni
Top