1959 Alpinist Recreation!

AveConscientia · Feb 25, 2021

https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/prospex/special/1959-alpinist-recreation/
Looks wise this is a home run in my book! I’m afraid of price here. As we know Seiko has decided to try their hand at a more up market approach. Look at the bottom for the more hopefully fair priced modern interpretations(love the green dialed version!)

Tony C. · Feb 25, 2021

I like it, but have to call it (only) a triple, as I would would far prefer a non-date. And as others have noted, no "Alpinist" signature?!

36.6mm is a perfect "modern" size, though.

Of course I'll stick with my original...

kip595 · Feb 25, 2021

I was THIS close to narrowing down my Seiko selection to 3.... ::facepalm1::

Walrus · Feb 25, 2021

That’s really interesting. I think my simple green alpinist is one of my favorite watches. I really like the look of this. How many Ltd/special additions does seiko do a year? Most of them seem to move as well. @Tony C. that is a remarkable piece you have there seiko really has sucked me in over the years.

sleepyastronaut · Feb 25, 2021

Would have been nice to see Seiko bring back the vintage Alpinist logo:

AveConscientia · Feb 25, 2021

sleepyastronaut
Would have been nice to see Seiko bring back the vintage Alpinist logo:

I agree that’s the watch’s greatest flaw in my mind(or the lack of the original white dial)

JohnRaz · Feb 26, 2021

This watch looks so great ! I try to limit my collection of Seiko too, it's quite impossible they release so many good pieces all the time 😵‍💫

I love this retro index marks and the dimension of the case is perfect to me, it reminds me the Rolex Explorer a "watch for everything" put a leather strap it's a dress watch, put a nato its an all day casual watch.

The only minus to me are the price that is a little high and the lack of the iconic "Alpinist" mark. It's the most specific element on the original dial and they forgot it ::facepalm1::

The new date is very well integrated.
I am sure this piece will be quickly sold out.

smoothsecondscom · Feb 26, 2021

Lovely! Damn, that strap is ugly though.

jaegodylan · Feb 26, 2021

I think it looks pretty great and I love the bund strap. Do wish they had left the date function off though.

the pricing is pretty skewed here in the UK it’s £2700. In the US $2900. At current exchange rates that works out to $3760. Even if you remove VAT that comes to £2250 which is about $3130. If you are purchasing in Las Vegas for example you’d pay $3140 after tax.

I guess that’s the peril of 20 percent VAT.

smoothsecondscom · Mar 4, 2021

jaegodylan
I think it looks pretty great and I love the bund strap. Do wish they had left the date function off though.

the pricing is pretty skewed here in the UK it’s £2700. In the US $2900. At current exchange rates that works out to $3760. Even if you remove VAT that comes to £2250 which is about $3130. If you are purchasing in Las Vegas for example you’d pay $3140 after tax.

I guess that’s the peril of 20 percent VAT.

Wow, that is some steep pricing. I don't know what it is with Seiko (and citizen too for that matter) asking 1000+ for relatively standard watches. Same thing for the King Seiko or some re-editions/limited editions. They're just not worth it in my opinion. Grand Seiko has some great pieces that are (easily) worth their money, but Seiko should stop trying.

JohnRaz · Mar 4, 2021

Grant046
Wow, that is some steep pricing. I don't know what it is with Seiko (and citizen too for that matter) asking 1000+ for relatively standard watches. Same thing for the King Seiko or some re-editions/limited editions. They're just not worth it in my opinion. Grand Seiko has some great pieces that are (easily) worth their money, but Seiko should stop trying.

I am agree with you, for 2 K more you can get a Sknowflake Grand Seiko. Or you can have a great true vintage from Omega or JLC and not a re edition from vintage.

rcs914 · Mar 4, 2021

Knock a zero off the end of the price and they have a great watch. I'm not seeing $3K in value here. Especially when they leave "Alpinist" off the dial. I don't really understand re-issues that sell for more than mint condition vintage pieces of the same watch would. I mean I may be off in this case - really not sure what the market value of a '50s Alpinist really is, but this just seems WAY too high for a Seiko that doesn't have "Grand" in front of the name.

I mean that's the same price as the 55th Anniversary Automatic Chronograph SRQ031!

Ok, I went and looked further - that's only the Limited Edition that is that price, and frankly I don't like the looks of it nearly as much as this one, which is $750:

Still needs Alpinist on the dial though.

JohnRaz · Mar 5, 2021

rcs914
Knock a zero off the end of the price and they have a great watch. I'm not seeing $3K in value here. Especially when they leave "Alpinist" off the dial. I don't really understand re-issues that sell for more than mint condition vintage pieces of the same watch would. I mean I may be off in this case - really not sure what the market value of a '50s Alpinist really is, but this just seems WAY too high for a Seiko that doesn't have "Grand" in front of the name.

I mean that's the same price as the 55th Anniversary Automatic Chronograph SRQ031!

Ok, I went and looked further - that's only the Limited Edition that is that price, and frankly I don't like the looks of it nearly as much as this one, which is $750:

Still needs Alpinist on the dial though.

I dont like this model, I prefer the limited edition, the date kills the symetry of indexes and the big cross X is too modern for a vintage design re creation, I am agree it still needs Alpinist instead of this X 20 bars than everybody doesnt care. Honestly it's a nice watch but it doesnt look right for a re creation of the original Alpinist, they should keep the original design, maybe give it a more modern case shape and a more modern size with new applied Seiko and it was far enough.