BREAKING NEWS: Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB201J1 European Limited Edition 2021
In October we announced the Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB199J1 limited edition. And now, at the dawn of 2021 (the most anticipated sequel in the history of years), we have a new Seiko Alpinist to announce. Allow me to introduce the Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB201J1 limited edition, exclusive to Europe.
The Seiko Prospex “Alpinist” range is soaring. The modern iterations of this beloved family are taking the brand and the Alpinist name in a new direction. With October’s emerald green/gray sun-ray dial, the collection welcomed its second “artful” dial, with the blue/green joining the ever-popular forest green available in the regular collection. Now, however, we’re treated to a new flat shade of grey, brilliantly accented by flashes of red, white, and silver.
The inspiration for this dial colorway? A mountain sunset. The result? A beautiful, mid-tone edition that complements the existing black- and white-dialed models expertly. The good news? You can pre-order it right here.
The complete package
While the SPB199J1 came with a rich green strap and a tan sailcloth alternative as standard, the Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB201J1 comes with a hearty, vintage brown leather band on a Seiko deployant clasp. It’s a rather interesting choice for a dial that is otherwise quite austere and serious. The dark brown placed next to the gray dial doesn’t so much soften the whole appearance as it does make it more well-rounded. The tiny flashes of red connect with the brown brilliantly and pull the two almost disparate elements together.
Color choices of this nature convince me that nothing in watch design happens by chance. Every single element must be considered to arrive at a cohesive whole. And it is interesting to note that, sometimes, further contemplation of a design is needed to see its true character.
Oftentimes, I am confronted with a watch that doesn’t seem to sit perfectly with me upon first glance. It is always worth looking a second, third, fourth time. Some watches take time to reveal themselves to you. In my opinion, this is one such watch. The fusion of brown and gray seem at odds at first. However, the more I look at it, the more I see the mounting scene behind it shine through.
What can you expect from the watch?
As mentioned in our previous Seiko Alpinist release article from October, these watches represent the culmination of years and years of experience. Sure, the Alpinist collection we have today was born in 1995, but the ethos behind the line stretches way back to the fifties (1959, to be exact).
What we have here is the very latest in Alpinist technology. It doesn’t so much honor the model’s past as it does set the stage for its exciting future. This watch is driven by Caliber 6R35, which is visible through a sapphire display back. Despite the glass back, the watch is still water-resistant to a handy 200m. That should be enough to satisfy even the soggiest camper.
It balances really nicely with the Seiko deployant clasp included…
The Seiko SPB201J1 stainless steel case is 39.5mm across, 13.2mm thick, and boasts a palatable 46.4mm lug-to-lug. It balances really nicely with the Seiko deployant clasp included on the vintage brown leather strap. I really can’t wait to hear what you make of this one. Please, let us know in the comments below. And happy trails!
You can pre-order the Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB201J1 here. Learn more about Seiko here.
