History
Released in 1959, the Seiko Laurel Alpinist marked a new and exciting era for the Japanese watch brand. Initially designed for Japanese mountaineers known as Yama-Otoko, the Alpinist seamlessly merged an elegant aesthetic with a durable functionality, solidifying Seiko's position in the realm of field watches. After 61 years and many successful reinterpretations of the Alpinist, Seiko released what may be my favorite model so far, the Seiko “Baby” Alpinist SPB155.
Major Changes
For those familiar with the beloved SARB017, you will quickly notice the absence of the internal compass bezel, crown at the 4 o’clock position, and the cyclops date magnifier. All of these are welcome changes in my eyes, seeing as though I never use the compass and prefer a perfectly smooth crystal. These major changes show me a clear and decisive move to break away from the bigger brother, appealing to those that prefer a more compact and no-nonsense timepiece.
Dial
Seiko has a long history of creating beautiful dials at an affordable price, and there is no exception here. The SPB155 boasts a dark green dial with a granular finish that gives the piece a sense of durability and adventure. The dial also has a color-shifting effect that changes from light to dark as you venture closer to the edge. Printed in pale gold are the Arabic numerals at the even-hour positions and triangular indices in the odd-hour positions, with lume plots located at every hour position. Sweeping across the dial is a set of gilded cathedral hands that pop against the dark green background. You will also find impressive, though not nearly enough, lume on both the hour and minute hand as well as at the tip of the second hand.
When it comes to text on the dial, there is quite a bit. The standard “SEIKO” badge is located at the 12 o’clock position, while the Prospex logo, followed by the cursive “Automatic”, and finally the “20BAR” water resistance rating is all located at the 6 o’clock position. To better maintain the original refinement of the piece, I would like to have seen less text at the bottom of the dial. Although the text is fairly small, it can start to feel cluttered. Last but no least, the date window is at the 3 o’clock position displayed in white text on a black background.
Case
Encompassing everything is the slim and attractive stainless steel case. Coming in at 38mm in diameter, this case is bound to fit well on any sized wrist. The mixture of brushed lugs and highly polished sides solidifies the theme of elegance and adventure. Surrounding the sapphire crystal is a highly polished bezel that catches the eye with ease. A screw-down crown is located at the 3 o’clock position, adding validity to the 200 meter water resistance. Making our way to the back of the case, we find the exhibition case-back made up of mineral crystal, allowing us to see the internal workings of the movement.
Bracelet
Accompanying the case is an Oyster-style bracelet with a lug width of 20mm. As seen below, I have replaced the original bracelet with an Uncle Seiko Jubilee bracelet. This decision was not made because the original bracelet was bad per say. I just prefer a more elegant bracelet that matches the highly polished sides of the case and bezel. For someone that doesn’t spend the majority of their time out in the wilderness, I felt as though this bracelet swap made sense.
Movement
Replacing the older 6R15 movement is the new and improved 6R35. The 6R35 moves along at 21,600 beats per hour (roughly 6 beats per second), is equipped with 24 jewels, and has a total power reserve of 70 hours (a 20 hour increase from the 6R15). This allows you to take the watch off on Friday night and throw it back on Monday morning without skipping a beat…get it?
While the power reserve is impressive, my biggest concern with any new piece is the accuracy. After one week of wearing the watch, only taking it off to sleep for 7-8 hours a night, I found the 6R35 had an average loss of 11 seconds a day. Each reading differed based on the position of the watch when I was asleep. Dial down resulted in a loss of two seconds a day, while dial up resulted in a loss of 15 seconds a day. Crown up and crown down resulted in a loss of 11-13 seconds a day. Although an average loss of 11 seconds a day isn’t great, it falls well within the advertised deviation of -15/+25 seconds a day.
Conclusion
Overall, this is a beautifully crafted and functional piece that any field watch enthusiast would love to have in their collection. Although some will try and compare the SPB155 to other field watches such as the Rolex Explorer, Tudor Ranger, or Omega Railmaster, one has to remember that you are still getting a great quality timepiece for a fraction of what you would pay for one of the so called “grail” pieces, 10% in relation to the Rolex Explorer. With a loyal fanbase that has high expectations and a long illustrious history, the new “Baby” Alpinist does not disappoint. The Seiko SPB155 is sure to serve you and your adventures for decades to come.
Technical Details
38mm x 12.9mm, 316L stainless steel case, 316L stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp, curved sapphire crystal and exhibition case-back, 200 meter water resistance, 6R35 movement with 70 hour power reserve. Price: $725.00.
About the author
Jonathan Wigington is a Marine veteran, writer, and watch enthusiast. To see more content, you can follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/quartzandauto.
On the Wrist is an in-depth and hands-on review that dives into the design, features, and history of each timepiece in question. Each article represents the honest opinion of the author.
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