I got into watches a few years ago by watching Teddy Baldassarre videos. I have long believed in wearing a watch but I was not a watch connoisseur. I wore a MVMT as my everyday watch. I had been enthusiastically watching men's style videos for years but ignored the suggested videos on watches until finally one day I decided to check them out. The watch videos gave me a new style topic to get excited about and now I am hooked. Just a few days ago my son saw me watching UA-cam and asked why all of my suggested videos are about watches! My first mechanical watch was an Orient Bambino, followed a few months later by a Seiko SNK803.
Great way to start. Same story about me. I weared fashion-watches a few years ago. Had some Nixons, a Fossil (absolute worst watch i've ever owned) and a stupidly expensive piece from Armani (which at least looks good even by my todays taste). My first mechanical watch was a Citizen Promaster, followed by an orient Dresswatch (Not a Bambino, it has two subdials day and date), Then i bought an Alpinist (The 1959 reinterpretation in green.), I recently got a vintage King Seiko 56Ks that is aboslutely phenomenal. I got a vintage handwinding swiss chronograph with diving bezel. Then i decided to get some Casios and my latest purchase was a Casio CFX - 200 that costs around 900 dollars but is worth every penny
Oh I loved this! I love hearing about how people got "into" watches. ;) And Seiko is awesome! As time goes on, I realise why they have such a cult following. I want to add a Seiko 5 to the collection soon!
The alpinist keeps surprising. It defies everything one would expect from a sports watch but it works wonderfully. And now a gold edition, would never have expected to like it but I genuinely do. The original SARB 017 will nevertheless remain one of my favourites in my collection. Great story about your beginnings in watch collection. Always a treat to hear you talk about your passion. 👍
I will buy the new one 21 as i don't want a used one. The 21 is updated, just fine. You guys are just being picky, besides the 21 has got a new engine. 21 forever! Don't forget, 70 hours reserve!
I bought absolutely the same watch last year and wear it in a Miltat Oyster Strap in completely gold... In summer I wear it on a brown (top)/beige (underside) silicone band from barton, but I tend to prefer the "whole-gold-look"! It is the only gold watch in my collection besides my omega seamaster from the sixties, but that one is in rosegold. The Alpinist is a winner and a totally statement for watch enthusiasts like you 'n me! So it is only naturally, that I liked your video!! I like your content as a whole, so THIS video brought you a new subscriber!!! 😊 Greetings from Hamburg, Germany Philip :-)
My first automatic was an Invicta pro-diver. Wore it for 13 years since 2006 and it started me on my collection all the way up to Rolex. Still have that workhorse. It served me well!
My first mechanical watch was a gift from my wife, a Tissot PRC200 in 2012. Prior to that I wasn’t really into watches and have worn a few non-familiar brands. In 2021, I bought myself a G-shock GM2100a as my daily driver. It was my first G-shock and I’m still very pleased with it. I turned 40 this year and after going through what kind of watches I like within my budget, I decided to buy myself a Rado Captain Cook. It’s beautiful on the wrist and my first luxury watch purchase. I’m thinking of buying a luxury watch every 5 years from now onwards. I like Tudor’s BB58/Pelagos 39.. that might be what I’m planning to get for my 45th birthday. I consider the Speedmaster as my personal holy grail, but that can wait. 😊
My first mechanical watch was a Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date Auto with bracelet. It’s the model worn by Mathew Mcconaughey in the Christopher Nolan film, Interstellar. Then came my 1917 Hamilton 940 pocketwatch. From there I branched to Omega, and Longines.
I purchased a 1999 used Omega Seamaster 300 Chronograph in 2002…and after all these years, she still looks and runs great. 2022 was my third service ever. And Omega returned it to me in a really special box, with a note saying that 20 year plus watches always deserve a new box. My AD offered to buy the box, because he they had never seen one… The Box and the Watch will remain in the family for as long as I’m alive. The Seiko you reviewed is not my favorite version. SPB243 and SPB241 are my favorites. They look as good as ANY entry level Rolex, and leave thousands in the bank for a rainy day. I like the ratings system. Good idea.
one of my very best friends bought this actual model. He showed us on a night out and it's fair to say it was admired by our Omega wearing friends. I have the glacier version!
Great looking watch, never new this Alpinist existed until I saw one in Jewelers, rang up next day and bought the gorgeous thing. Popped it on a Black NATO with a gold stripe and gold hardware looks even sweeter now
My first mechanical watch was my MIL-W-48374B General Purpose military watch issued to me by the Marine Corps in 1982. Still have it to this day. A very simple 7-jewel manual wind movement that looks like a Hamilton yet isn't. My first automatic watch was and is the Seiko SARB017. Now I am searching for the one perfect watch. Narrowing down the choices, and hopefully next year the trigger will be pulled.
My first mechanical watch was a Rolex Datejust that was inherited from my uncle. He bought it in Hong Kong in 1958. Two years ago, it was completely serviced by the Rolex repair center in Houston, TX. The watch looks dated, but it still runs great. The crown needed to be replaced at the time of servicing, but Rolex did not do a good job of replacing it. That was a disappointment.
Great video! I have a SARB017, and despite the unrest of constant tenant turnover that my watch box sees, it remains a constant, grounding presence in my collection. An absolutely dead-sexy watch.
Wish I had pulled the trigger on the SARB017.. but this is a nice alternative. My first mechanical was a seiko SARB033, and I wear it on occasion. The gold is electroplated, and will wear over time, so enjoy it for the years to come knowing that you can tell others stories of the journey when it starts to fade. That's the beauty of horology. Thanks for sharing.
My beginning of this addictive hobby started when I bought my first mechanical watch, just a few years ago; a 70’ original Citizen Diver, which I kept from about 3/4 year and then sold for double the price I paid for. Then followed by a Longines HC, Tissot le loc, Tudor BB, Omega Speedy 57, CW 65 Trident GMT, Seiko SPB147…a few G-Shocks:)
Great video and cool idea with the crunch score. My first mechanical watch is the Tag Heuer 2000 automatic gifted to me for my 20th birthday by my parents. I still have it and wear it! Can’t let that one go even though I’ve evolved to prefer other styles in my watch journey.
vostok komandirskie was my first mechanical watch, it isn't anything special but it is one of the watches that made me dive into the rabbit hole of the watch industry.
Big fan of the crunch score. I think it helps me figure out what I think and like and don't like a bit better. I guess since Aristotle, the world has always been about lists and checkmarks.
Great story. Although I think the Fossil was equally important in your story. I have a quartz Chrono Fossil my Aunt, who was very special to me, gave me as a birthday gift 30 years ago. I still wear it from time to time, keep batteries fresh and will never let it go. It reminds me of my Aunt regularly. Proud of that watch.
Dad has my 035. I truly wish Seiko would make a new edition. They come close but leave off the lume. Fingers crossed. Finally got the 38mm Murph we’ve wanted.
I have the SPB121 variant of the green Alpanist, and I really like it. My first mechanical watch was a Seiko 5 in the 80s. But the watch that really got me into mechanical watches was the classic hand-wound Junghans.
When I was in the Army in the late 80s early 90s I was going through watches, they couldn't hold up to the lifestyle. I bought a Hamilton field watch and took it to 29 Palms in the California desert. It didn't last the full two weeks. A friend suggested a Seiko dive watch. He said "Scouts wear Seiko Dive watches, they don't break." So I bought a Seiko 7002 diver, and I still have it. I've bought a whole bunch of Seikos since. I have other nice watches, my wife gave me a very pretty Tudor a few years ago, but I love my Seikos. I have a SARB017, and I adore everything about that watch except the strap. The original strap is absolutely the worst strap I've ever seen. A couple of years ago I was working at a university as the employee manager. I did the hiring paperwork for new Grad student employees. A new student came into my office wearing a SARB017 Alpinist on a leather NATO. I recognized the watch immediately. I had seen it online, but never in person. I then bought one for myself, and I will always have it. A friend recently told me that of all the watches she's seen me wear, it's her favorite because of the green dial.
I've got 4x Alpinist starting with the 017 and ending with the last European Rock Face, the last is an absolute beauty winning over the 3 others. And yes, definitely Seiko improved their calf made strap on butterfly clasp, I'm wearing the dark green one given with the 033 at the moment, mounted on an Hamilton Khaki King, and it's very comfortable.
Same! I just bought a Rock Face too, I'm just waiting on the Strapcode Asteroid bracelet I bought for it to arrive so I can finally rock it, the dial looks soo crisp in the flesh.
My first mechanical watch was giving to me by my grand dad on my 18th birthday - a Citizen 8200. The first one I purchased? An Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB
This was a great video! I got into watches because I wanted just one decent field-style watch for everyday wear. I bought a Seiko SNK809 and then fell very far down the rabbit hole. I picked up a SARB035, SARB017, and Hamilton KFM within the next three months and I’ve been addicted ever since.
I think they should’ve gone with bronze for this watch. I like the way this looks but still since it’s going to wear terribly over time I’d rather go for the stainless model. I wish they’d come out with a polar dial version of the one without the numerals, black dial SPB117, or even make a baby version with that dial style to bring back the more sporty feel of the Sarb033.
Imteresting video Max. I like the Sarb 017 Alpinist better, the dial is a nicer shade of green and the cyclops on the new versions spoil it for me. I too, bought the 033 first. I still can't believe what a beautiful watch that is. I recently bought a Grand Seiko that looks very similar and it's my daily wear. My first watch was a Timex field mechanical when I was 7yrs old. For my 11th birthday my dad got me a Seiko Pogue which I still have 47yrs later!
Great video! I like the more personal touch and the connection of the past to the present. It’s not just a watch journey, but a parallel life journey as well. My first watch was a mechanical Timex Camper with Tritium lume. It informs my watch taste to this day. Finally, I own a Ghost Alp and, man, there’s nothing like it. People love it or hate it for the same reasons. I love the asymmetry, the cluttered baroque design, and the bulbous/contoured features. Cathedral hands are the least of it. Give me that cyclops stacked with two crowns way too close to each other. All of the incongruity is somehow unified and harmonious. A watch that looks like this usually has 30-50m WR, but this guy has sapphire and 200m. What? This thing makes no sense, but somehow I get it and it gets me. Absolutely love my Alp and all the variations!
Seiko PADI Pepsi turtle, day date complication, Pepsi dive bezel, 4r36 movement workhorse. I love it. Seems dated by today's standard but I still love it.
My first mechanical watch that I purchased was a Seiko Analog Business SSA389J1. I wanted a SARB017 but could not find one at the time and got a steal of a deal on the one I have. I've never had any trouble with the 4R37A movement. I will have an Alpinist in my collection soon.
Great video on this legacy of your alpinist journey, thanks a lot for sharing ! Can someone tell me where to buy this amazing brown leather strap at 2:10 that matches so perfectly with the Seiko Alpinist SARB017, I definitely need one ??!!!
Very nice watch. Would definitely consider adding one to the collection. But I have to disagree with you on 2 points. The cyclops lens, I think it is great, it looks fine and serves a real function. When you get into your late 40's and presbyopia settles in your aging eyes, you'll appreciate having one. The gold plating, that's a no-no for me. That is a very nice watch and it looks great in SS. GP is akin to being a poser, trying to look like something you're not. I would have preferred they make it in bronze, that would've been awesome with a green dial. Sorry if I sound like a snob but I would never wear a gold plated watch, it will not age well. I really like the rotating compass function on the dial. Now I want one, the SS that is.
The gold on your Alpinist is a PVD coating which should be fairly robust. Just be careful not to have other metals such as press-studs on outdoor jackets, rub against too often.
meaning the coated layer is about 2 microns thick? I wonder how much it will cost to have the case gold plated generously, sooner or later it's gonna show signs of wear
My first mechanical watch was a Seiko Kinetic with Japan movement 5M62-OA89 on a stainless steel bracelet. That was 30 years ago and I still have it. It still works. Which watch store would you recommend for a local in Redmond or Seattle? Love your channel btw.
My first Alpinist, not first Seiko, was the 210. Something about green and gold. Though there’s also something about blue and gold (VC Patrimony, my grail). The blue baby Alpinist gets much more wrist time now though.
Great stuff! Just got into watches myself really. Swirling in the watch universe absorbing all and trying to figure out what should be MY first true automatic (as from a reputable brand with heritage). Which speaks and resonates to me. Alpinist is high on the list at the moment. One of those "one watch watch collection watches" (frase I heard reasently) for my budget at least. Can't go wrong with Seiko's they say. Still taking that with a grain of salt though. Anyways love the channel and "Watch Crunch Score" get my thumb's up. Though, it got me question my choice of Alpinist as my first automatic, even if I'm really lured and drawn to it 🤔
The case actually looked like bronze at first glance, so I’m a bit disappointed to find out it’s gold plated 😅 Wouldn’t br my choice from the new aplinist range, but they have so many options now that it’s hard to not find one that you like.
6R35 is a great movement, idk what did you mean by giving it just 5/10 points. It's a work horse movement which requires little to no maintenance and has a very high reliability rating among watch enthusiasts. 70h power reserve, low beat rate meaning high reliability and longevity, low maintenance and built like a tank.
Hi Max. I enjoy watching your videos so much so I ended up buying Sternglas Naos for myself and for my wife last November per your recommendation, thanks! I also have a seiko SARB017 and will always be part of my collection. Really like the brown leather strap that makes this watch “pop” in this video. What is the brand/manufacturer of this leather strap?
I wont buy one of those even if I like the general design because of the cyclops but I LOVE the dial design, the compass, and ESPECIALLY the cathedral hands.
Doggone it, Max! Just when I thought I had enough Seikos you post another review about a killer Alpinist. Oh well - I need a Christmas watch anyway, so...
I have and will keep my SARB017 and I'm considering getting one of the current single crown Alpinists. I find a natural stainless case more appealing than gold-tone.
I've been looking at Alpinists for some time now - I wanted a SARB017 but didn't want to pay exorbitant prices for a used watch that originally cost no more than £400. I'm not that excited about the SPB121, it just doesn't feel that special as the SARB-but-not-SARB retread - but when I stumbled across this golden gem, I very quickly realised the same as you - the SPB210 is the new special-feeling Alpinist! Hopefully I'll be able to get one in the next year or so.
Seiko needs an updated SARB033, there isn't anything that really replaces it in the current lineup. Seiko straps are on "backwards" do the deployment buckle moves the same direction as the deployment clasp on a bracelet. It's really awkward to try operating the "right" way round.
I'm sure im speaking for the majority of the watch community in that I love WatchCrunch. I was wondering if there were any plans for a watchcrunch app? Keep up the great work!
Further the discussion at WatchCrunch: www.watchcrunch.com/Max/posts/still-the-goat-20684
Crunch score? Than, you need to put it in your mouth!
Love the crunch score! Glad you’re enjoying the green & gold combo!
Oh it's my drug dealer 😂
I got into watches a few years ago by watching Teddy Baldassarre videos. I have long believed in wearing a watch but I was not a watch connoisseur. I wore a MVMT as my everyday watch. I had been enthusiastically watching men's style videos for years but ignored the suggested videos on watches until finally one day I decided to check them out. The watch videos gave me a new style topic to get excited about and now I am hooked. Just a few days ago my son saw me watching UA-cam and asked why all of my suggested videos are about watches! My first mechanical watch was an Orient Bambino, followed a few months later by a Seiko SNK803.
Great way to start. Same story about me. I weared fashion-watches a few years ago. Had some Nixons, a Fossil (absolute worst watch i've ever owned) and a stupidly expensive piece from Armani (which at least looks good even by my todays taste). My first mechanical watch was a Citizen Promaster, followed by an orient Dresswatch (Not a Bambino, it has two subdials day and date), Then i bought an Alpinist (The 1959 reinterpretation in green.), I recently got a vintage King Seiko 56Ks that is aboslutely phenomenal. I got a vintage handwinding swiss chronograph with diving bezel. Then i decided to get some Casios and my latest purchase was a Casio CFX - 200 that costs around 900 dollars but is worth every penny
Oh I loved this! I love hearing about how people got "into" watches. ;) And Seiko is awesome! As time goes on, I realise why they have such a cult following. I want to add a Seiko 5 to the collection soon!
Maybe the seiko 5 gmt batman?
Thanks Britt! Lots of good ones to choose from! 😊
hi mom
@@Alex_Fung nah the orange dial will suit Britt better
Nice reply here, Britt. Appreciate you supporting Max’s videos as I really enjoy his content and nice to see big timers like you do too!!
The alpinist keeps surprising. It defies everything one would expect from a sports watch but it works wonderfully.
And now a gold edition, would never have expected to like it but I genuinely do.
The original SARB 017 will nevertheless remain one of my favourites in my collection.
Great story about your beginnings in watch collection. Always a treat to hear you talk about your passion. 👍
Cheers Guy! Can't quit the alpinist 👌
I got my Sarb 017 about 7 years ago. Dumped the horrible strap and put it on an Oyster. Wearing it as I type. Totally love this watch :-)
I will buy the new one 21 as i don't want a used one. The 21 is updated, just fine. You guys are just being picky, besides the 21 has got a new engine. 21 forever!
Don't forget, 70 hours reserve!
There’s something about your energy man…it’s very manly and calming.
Thanks!
I bought absolutely the same watch last year and wear it in a Miltat Oyster Strap in completely gold... In summer I wear it on a brown (top)/beige (underside) silicone band from barton, but I tend to prefer the "whole-gold-look"!
It is the only gold watch in my collection besides my omega seamaster from the sixties, but that one is in rosegold.
The Alpinist is a winner and a totally statement for watch enthusiasts like you 'n me! So it is only naturally, that I liked your video!! I like your content as a whole, so THIS video brought you a new subscriber!!! 😊
Greetings from Hamburg, Germany
Philip :-)
My first automatic was an Invicta pro-diver. Wore it for 13 years since 2006 and it started me on my collection all the way up to Rolex. Still have that workhorse. It served me well!
My first mechanical watch was a gift from my wife, a Tissot PRC200 in 2012. Prior to that I wasn’t really into watches and have worn a few non-familiar brands. In 2021, I bought myself a G-shock GM2100a as my daily driver. It was my first G-shock and I’m still very pleased with it. I turned 40 this year and after going through what kind of watches I like within my budget, I decided to buy myself a Rado Captain Cook. It’s beautiful on the wrist and my first luxury watch purchase. I’m thinking of buying a luxury watch every 5 years from now onwards. I like Tudor’s BB58/Pelagos 39.. that might be what I’m planning to get for my 45th birthday. I consider the Speedmaster as my personal holy grail, but that can wait. 😊
Great script for the Video. I found it interesting to Watch and listen throughout. Kudos!
My first mechanical watch was a Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date Auto with bracelet. It’s the model worn by Mathew Mcconaughey in the Christopher Nolan film, Interstellar. Then came my 1917 Hamilton 940 pocketwatch. From there I branched to Omega, and Longines.
I purchased a 1999 used Omega Seamaster 300 Chronograph in 2002…and after all these years, she still looks and runs great. 2022 was my third service ever. And Omega returned it to me in a really special box, with a note saying that 20 year plus watches always deserve a new box. My AD offered to buy the box, because he they had never seen one… The Box and the Watch will remain in the family for as long as I’m alive. The Seiko you reviewed is not my favorite version. SPB243 and SPB241 are my favorites. They look as good as ANY entry level Rolex, and leave thousands in the bank for a rainy day. I like the ratings system. Good idea.
one of my very best friends bought this actual model. He showed us on a night out and it's fair to say it was admired by our Omega wearing friends. I have the glacier version!
Great looking watch, never new this Alpinist existed until I saw one in Jewelers, rang up next day and bought the gorgeous thing.
Popped it on a Black NATO with a gold stripe and gold hardware looks even sweeter now
I got the sbp210 a week ago and love it it’s my first watch I know zero things about them but I think it looks super nice !
excellent review mate great editing i subbed also you're really close to 50k hope to see your cross it by the end of the year
My first mechanical watch was my MIL-W-48374B General Purpose military watch issued to me by the Marine Corps in 1982. Still have it to this day. A very simple 7-jewel manual wind movement that looks like a Hamilton yet isn't.
My first automatic watch was and is the Seiko SARB017.
Now I am searching for the one perfect watch. Narrowing down the choices, and hopefully next year the trigger will be pulled.
Thanks for showing how different the finish looks from the catalog photo
My first mechanical watch was a Rolex Datejust that was inherited from my uncle. He bought it in Hong Kong in 1958. Two years ago, it was completely serviced by the Rolex repair center in Houston, TX. The watch looks dated, but it still runs great. The crown needed to be replaced at the time of servicing, but Rolex did not do a good job of replacing it. That was a disappointment.
Sounds like a beauty. I love me a vintage datejust
I like the intro outtakes to start. Good vid, thanks.
Cheers Brian 😊
Almost picked up that model but went with the brown dial 209. I just love the uniqueness of that dial in the series.
That's a nice one too!
Great video! I have a SARB017, and despite the unrest of constant tenant turnover that my watch box sees, it remains a constant, grounding presence in my collection. An absolutely dead-sexy watch.
It's an anchoring piece
This watch corrects my biggest pet peeve with luxury watches--the tiny date complication that you can't see.
Keep up the watch crunch score! It’s a great addition.
Thanks Michael!
Awesome review thanks for sharing big love from Australia 😊
Wish I had pulled the trigger on the SARB017.. but this is a nice alternative. My first mechanical was a seiko SARB033, and I wear it on occasion. The gold is electroplated, and will wear over time, so enjoy it for the years to come knowing that you can tell others stories of the journey when it starts to fade. That's the beauty of horology. Thanks for sharing.
We had the same first mechanical!
My beginning of this addictive hobby started when I bought my first mechanical watch, just a few years ago; a 70’ original Citizen Diver, which I kept from about 3/4 year and then sold for double the price I paid for. Then followed by a Longines HC, Tissot le loc, Tudor BB, Omega Speedy 57, CW 65 Trident GMT, Seiko SPB147…a few G-Shocks:)
Great video and cool idea with the crunch score.
My first mechanical watch is the Tag Heuer 2000 automatic gifted to me for my 20th birthday by my parents. I still have it and wear it! Can’t let that one go even though I’ve evolved to prefer other styles in my watch journey.
Thanks Marc 😊
I have it for 2 months and I love this watch! I got it for my 30th birthday ;)
vostok komandirskie was my first mechanical watch, it isn't anything special but it is one of the watches that made me dive into the rabbit hole of the watch industry.
My first mechanical watch was an Omega Railmaster from 2004 with co-axial cal. 2403.
My first Automatic was a Seiko 5 sport. A gift from my Father who was trying to get me into watch.
Big fan of the crunch score. I think it helps me figure out what I think and like and don't like a bit better. I guess since Aristotle, the world has always been about lists and checkmarks.
thanks for this great video, will be picking one of these up soon! ✨
Great story. Although I think the Fossil was equally important in your story. I have a quartz Chrono Fossil my Aunt, who was very special to me, gave me as a birthday gift 30 years ago.
I still wear it from time to time, keep batteries fresh and will never let it go. It reminds me of my Aunt regularly. Proud of that watch.
My first mechanical was a Timex; a Christmas gift when I was 7 years old. Still have the watch but the crown is broken.
I was wearing my Alpee when I came across this video! xD
Here to support my friend Max 👍🏼
You rock dude 👍
NWA!!! Got my News Alpinist "Rock Face" today! 😁
Dad has my 035. I truly wish Seiko would make a new edition. They come close but leave off the lume. Fingers crossed. Finally got the 38mm Murph we’ve wanted.
My first mechanical watch was a Nivada Aqua-matic . I have had it for sixty years, still going strong
Did it serve you well during the civil war?
I have the SPB121 variant of the green Alpanist, and I really like it. My first mechanical watch was a Seiko 5 in the 80s. But the watch that really got me into mechanical watches was the classic hand-wound Junghans.
When I was in the Army in the late 80s early 90s I was going through watches, they couldn't hold up to the lifestyle. I bought a Hamilton field watch and took it to 29 Palms in the California desert. It didn't last the full two weeks. A friend suggested a Seiko dive watch. He said "Scouts wear Seiko Dive watches, they don't break." So I bought a Seiko 7002 diver, and I still have it. I've bought a whole bunch of Seikos since. I have other nice watches, my wife gave me a very pretty Tudor a few years ago, but I love my Seikos. I have a SARB017, and I adore everything about that watch except the strap. The original strap is absolutely the worst strap I've ever seen.
A couple of years ago I was working at a university as the employee manager. I did the hiring paperwork for new Grad student employees. A new student came into my office wearing a SARB017 Alpinist on a leather NATO. I recognized the watch immediately. I had seen it online, but never in person. I then bought one for myself, and I will always have it. A friend recently told me that of all the watches she's seen me wear, it's her favorite because of the green dial.
I've got 4x Alpinist starting with the 017 and ending with the last European Rock Face, the last is an absolute beauty winning over the 3 others.
And yes, definitely Seiko improved their calf made strap on butterfly clasp, I'm wearing the dark green one given with the 033 at the moment, mounted on an Hamilton Khaki King, and it's very comfortable.
Same! I just bought a Rock Face too, I'm just waiting on the Strapcode Asteroid bracelet I bought for it to arrive so I can finally rock it, the dial looks soo crisp in the flesh.
@@shaagaknowsyou5295 don't know you, but she gives me the feeling of a baby Omega Aqua Terra 150M in silver.
An Alpinist in a bronze case would be a winner for sure.
My first mechanical watch was giving to me by my grand dad on my 18th birthday - a Citizen 8200. The first one I purchased? An Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB
This was a great video! I got into watches because I wanted just one decent field-style watch for everyday wear. I bought a Seiko SNK809 and then fell very far down the rabbit hole. I picked up a SARB035, SARB017, and Hamilton KFM within the next three months and I’ve been addicted ever since.
I think they should’ve gone with bronze for this watch. I like the way this looks but still since it’s going to wear terribly over time I’d rather go for the stainless model. I wish they’d come out with a polar dial version of the one without the numerals, black dial SPB117, or even make a baby version with that dial style to bring back the more sporty feel of the Sarb033.
Good call!
Imteresting video Max. I like the Sarb 017 Alpinist better, the dial is a nicer shade of green and the cyclops on the new versions spoil it for me. I too, bought the 033 first. I still can't believe what a beautiful watch that is. I recently bought a Grand Seiko that looks very similar and it's my daily wear. My first watch was a Timex field mechanical when I was 7yrs old. For my 11th birthday my dad got me a Seiko Pogue which I still have 47yrs later!
Yeah I'm removing that cyclops ASAP 😅
Love the Alpinist. Have the blue one on an Uncle Straps jubilee.
Great video! I like the more personal touch and the connection of the past to the present. It’s not just a watch journey, but a parallel life journey as well.
My first watch was a mechanical Timex Camper with Tritium lume. It informs my watch taste to this day.
Finally, I own a Ghost Alp and, man, there’s nothing like it. People love it or hate it for the same reasons. I love the asymmetry, the cluttered baroque design, and the bulbous/contoured features. Cathedral hands are the least of it. Give me that cyclops stacked with two crowns way too close to each other. All of the incongruity is somehow unified and harmonious.
A watch that looks like this usually has 30-50m WR, but this guy has sapphire and 200m. What? This thing makes no sense, but somehow I get it and it gets me. Absolutely love my Alp and all the variations!
Great choice! Love the ghosty 👻. Cheers bud, it's about the stories
Blue Orient triton RA-EL0002L00B with power reserve indicator - heavy definitely possessing magic...
SARB033 was my first watch too, you can never truly beat your first watch!
Still love that thing when I see it
Seiko PADI Pepsi turtle, day date complication, Pepsi dive bezel, 4r36 movement workhorse. I love it. Seems dated by today's standard but I still love it.
My 1st mechanical watch was an skx 013. It was the only watch I regret selling.
My first mechanical watch was an inexpensive Alba Divers automatic. Way back 2005, I think….
I like the crunch score
Cheers Rob, will keep it coming!
Just received this beauty.
Really appreciate your recommendation for this.
My first mechanical watch that I purchased was a Seiko Analog Business SSA389J1. I wanted a SARB017 but could not find one at the time and got a steal of a deal on the one I have. I've never had any trouble with the 4R37A movement. I will have an Alpinist in my collection soon.
Seiko ssa231 was my first mechanic watch and definitely a good idea to review past “treasures”
I loved the leather strap you put on your Alpinist! It matches the watch's style very well. Who is the manufacturer, and what is the model?
I have this one and it is a very nice watch. 😊 🇬🇧
So good 👍
Gorgeous watches. What’s that camel coloured leather strap on your SARB017. Need one for mine!😂
Amazing review really well done!
Great video on this legacy of your alpinist journey, thanks a lot for sharing !
Can someone tell me where to buy this amazing brown leather strap at 2:10 that matches so perfectly with the Seiko Alpinist SARB017, I definitely need one ??!!!
1973 Seiko Pouge, which I still have with the original bracket...
Very nice watch. Would definitely consider adding one to the collection. But I have to disagree with you on 2 points. The cyclops lens, I think it is great, it looks fine and serves a real function. When you get into your late 40's and presbyopia settles in your aging eyes, you'll appreciate having one.
The gold plating, that's a no-no for me. That is a very nice watch and it looks great in SS. GP is akin to being a poser, trying to look like something you're not. I would have preferred they make it in bronze, that would've been awesome with a green dial. Sorry if I sound like a snob but I would never wear a gold plated watch, it will not age well. I really like the rotating compass function on the dial. Now I want one, the SS that is.
Picked this up in the fall, have been a huge fan of it ever since. Definitely catch myself staring at it throughout the day
The gold on your Alpinist is a PVD coating which should be fairly robust. Just be careful not to have other metals such as press-studs on outdoor jackets, rub against too often.
Good call!
meaning the coated layer is about 2 microns thick? I wonder how much it will cost to have the case gold plated generously, sooner or later it's gonna show signs of wear
My first mechanical watch was a Seiko Kinetic with Japan movement 5M62-OA89 on a stainless steel bracelet. That was 30 years ago and I still have it. It still works. Which watch store would you recommend for a local in Redmond or Seattle? Love your channel btw.
Great video !
I given my dad like three of my fav watches. Always happy to do so, but I miss them.
My first is a Montblanc with a moon phase. I got into pens way before watches so that company has been my gateway drug
also if you havent, check out the frosted silver and blue limited edition alpinist reminds me of an aquaterrra
Great video
Came close to pulling the trigger on the 033 way back when
My first mechanical: Junghans Spektrum with Grand Seiko movement.
My first Alpinist, not first Seiko, was the 210. Something about green and gold. Though there’s also something about blue and gold (VC Patrimony, my grail). The blue baby Alpinist gets much more wrist time now though.
Nice for a new-series Alpinist. No, I'm not getting rid of my 017. (Wouldn't mind sourcing that strap for mine, though.)
Great stuff! Just got into watches myself really. Swirling in the watch universe absorbing all and trying to figure out what should be MY first true automatic (as from a reputable brand with heritage). Which speaks and resonates to me. Alpinist is high on the list at the moment. One of those "one watch watch collection watches" (frase I heard reasently) for my budget at least. Can't go wrong with Seiko's they say. Still taking that with a grain of salt though. Anyways love the channel and "Watch Crunch Score" get my thumb's up. Though, it got me question my choice of Alpinist as my first automatic, even if I'm really lured and drawn to it 🤔
The case actually looked like bronze at first glance, so I’m a bit disappointed to find out it’s gold plated 😅
Wouldn’t br my choice from the new aplinist range, but they have so many options now that it’s hard to not find one that you like.
It is bronze
If it was bronze and not plated I’d be in. I’ll stick with my SARB017.🤘👍
Same here. Plated metals are no longer acceptable in the 21st century.
@@rashakor So will be the price, wont be acceptable.
I agree. Also own the 017( and 033, 035, and SARG009). Bronze would have been the way to go.
Damn you, now I want one.
Haha, job done
6R35 is a great movement, idk what did you mean by giving it just 5/10 points. It's a work horse movement which requires little to no maintenance and has a very high reliability rating among watch enthusiasts. 70h power reserve, low beat rate meaning high reliability and longevity, low maintenance and built like a tank.
agreed just need to regulate it once and boom you have a cosc performing watch
Hi Max. I enjoy watching your videos so much so I ended up buying Sternglas Naos for myself and for my wife last November per your recommendation, thanks! I also have a seiko SARB017 and will always be part of my collection. Really like the brown leather strap that makes this watch “pop” in this video. What is the brand/manufacturer of this leather strap?
Awesome! The strap is from windup watch shop 👍
Do a SOTC before Xmas XD
Thanks for this review... I'm thinking about an Alpinist. What is the knife in the background?
I wont buy one of those even if I like the general design because of the cyclops but I LOVE the dial design, the compass, and ESPECIALLY the cathedral hands.
With the SARB’s being such a great watch, I am surprised you didn’t stop collecting! I am glad you didn’t though…😉
Haha it's never gonna stop
Doggone it, Max! Just when I thought I had enough Seikos you post another review about a killer Alpinist. Oh well - I need a Christmas watch anyway, so...
Haha, I got you bro
I have and will keep my SARB017 and I'm considering getting one of the current single crown Alpinists. I find a natural stainless case more appealing than gold-tone.
Can't go wrong with the OG
ginza alpinist is a mix of Blue , Green and Grey
Watching this made me think this Alpinist would have been even more amazing with a bronze case…
I've been looking at Alpinists for some time now - I wanted a SARB017 but didn't want to pay exorbitant prices for a used watch that originally cost no more than £400. I'm not that excited about the SPB121, it just doesn't feel that special as the SARB-but-not-SARB retread - but when I stumbled across this golden gem, I very quickly realised the same as you - the SPB210 is the new special-feeling Alpinist! Hopefully I'll be able to get one in the next year or so.
Seiko needs an updated SARB033, there isn't anything that really replaces it in the current lineup.
Seiko straps are on "backwards" do the deployment buckle moves the same direction as the deployment clasp on a bracelet. It's really awkward to try operating the "right" way round.
I'll definitely buy that watch when the price comes down to 500$
I'm sure im speaking for the majority of the watch community in that I love WatchCrunch. I was wondering if there were any plans for a watchcrunch app? Keep up the great work!
Is the SPB 210 stainless steel and not brass?
Check out the cyclops on the UN Marine diver. Its not on the outside but underside of the crystal. Enjoyed your video.
Thanks! Yeah that's a better execution
What is your take on the (Chinese origin) San Martin watches? Homage or knock-off or good value for money ?