Here's Why Seiko Just Made The ULTIMATE Alpinist! 

Actually bought the re-release for 400 bucks about a year ago. It was the re-release with a bracelet as well, it's pretty nice and I quite like it. So if you keep an eye out, you can probably find these fairly cheap, it's just a matter of finding the right websites. The company I got it from was one of those Japanese importers, I'm trying to remember the name but I can't off the top of my head. So I effectively got the Japanese version for 400 bucks which is pretty nice, and of course it was new not used.

@@draakisback amazing find!! I’ve never seen it for a price even double that👍

@@watchmitch3699 I think it was on sale, normally they go for 600 to 750. The place they got it from was called Sakura watches. If you keep an eye on their selection, they will occasionally give you these nice discounts. Looking right now, they have two alpinist models for 300 bucks, in fact, they have one on a bracelet without the compass bezel for a 396 and then one on a strap with the compass bezel for 413. They are a legit company, in fact the guy sent me a birthday card this year which was kind of funny. When I first got my alpinist, the rotor was slightly loose. So I sent it back to them and they dealt with it for free obviously because it's under warranty. I know there are also a couple other companies that do something similar to Sakura where they sell you the Japanese versions of these watches. I can only vouch for Sakura since I've only used them, but I'm sure the other ones are legit as well

Chrono24

I just use a phone😂

Not really clear how it works?

Not if battery is dead!​@@Laughingorcorp

BUUUUUT if you really like it ?

Are you talking about Row Lecks ?

Gray market?

@mlzs_ I ended up getting a SARB017, and I'm hunting down the white dial JDM seiko 5 GMT SBSC009. Same amount of money, but I get 2 watches with a bit left over for a strap or two

I’m with ya!

Sigh...this is just one reason why I'd never give up my 017 Alpinist, as much as I like this new one.

Exactly. Needs to be off the wrist to be used efficiently. Hence no real need of a ratchet.

Never said it should be fixed?! The fact I’ll never use a map nor want to find out where north is only makes the red arrow for north offline every day nothing short of annoying my friend! Don’t stick up for it , it needs a ratchet, my Pogues got one and it’s 40 years old!

@@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTOR Well come on, you gave the impression it's too easy not to function properly: "Is there any point to it?" Not that it was just annoying.

It truly doesn't need to be fixed, but maybe some sort of damping or resistance would be nice.

I had one about 5 years ago. Like you I think the bezel is crap. Yes you want it to be easily moveable for that 1 time you are in country, lost, without a working phone, not on a designated walking trail or within sight of either a transmission line or road, but also have a reliable map. For the other 1000 times when you want to use the bezel to time a swim, or hike or the poached Bass in the oven, it’s completely useless. Plus, at least with mine, because the bezel crown is not screw down, I’m pretty sure it’s what contributed to mine starting to lose chunks of time about 9 months in and stopping altogether after 2 years by letting in moisture or dust. There is no way I’d trust that watch at 50m of water let alone 200m.

I use the red North as a timer all the time.

Hang on!!! This bezel moves if I brush my wrist against my jacket?!?! There HAS to be some resistance otherwise it won’t be accurate??????

@@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTORit can do yes. My point was more that the compass is used each time on the fly. So you find south between the hour hand and 12, set the bezel to this and immediately check your orientation and then your done. You move on and if the bezel moves it’s fine. I appreciate some will want it to stay in place a little longer perhaps, if they want/need to check it again within a few minutes. I guess I see the feature as an emergency back-up for when a real compass isn’t available and you need to know quickly an orientation. So a quick one and done check type thing. I assume this is Seiko thinking too hence the design choice. I sometimes use the technique to check for south/north etc on watches without a compass bezel. It’s a handy hack.

@drdesign6886 I hear ya my friend. I have a slight ratchet or click in my inner rotating bezel of my 40 year old pogue! I personally think it’s lazy and as not many have loaned about it , it has stayed!

@@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTORI guess given either system would work for what I am saying then Seiko could easily add this extra feature to ensure everyone is happy. Perhaps it’s lazy - to be fair the main annoyance for me would be the bezel North not staying at 12 when I’m not using it. A Ratchet would fix this. Actually thinking about it I guess this is what would annoy most people!

@@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTOR I was lucky and just bought one of these new but opened box on ebay for 800, I will fit a suitable sized gasket to cause a slight friction on the internal bezel crown. This should do the job and be easily removed to be original.

Exactly;)

No you see, Seiko took that from Rolex in the future (at the time)

Guess it's not a homage... Since it's copying from the inside...

​@@couldntthingofone269seiko definitely looked into the future to steal from Rolex frfr

Ok good one mate carry on with the stand up comedy

The word "limited" for seiko is a joke.

​@@SassyPants-00Not when you consider Seiko's size and market reach.

@@barrettwbenton Then I recommend you to buy this "limited" model and next week another limited version.. because seiko releases a dozen limited versions of that model and when you said they stopped, they release a few dozen more limited versions of the limited model.

@alex-98701 Well, I meant the number of watches produced of a given "limited" model, but I certainly get your point. ;-)

Yeah, $2,200 Aud is very steep - but Wamada got me a great deal - save $500 off RRP - still a lot for my budget but a deal I couldn't refuse!

It’s the fact it’s at 4:10?!?!???! I hate a date window anyway my friend.

Me to!

I managed to grab the last Seiko 5 110th version that Gnomon Watches had in stock, a JDM one at that. It's a killer piece for the money. Wish there were more JDM models floating about in the UK though.

I’m gonna find out however the export tax maybe a lot!

How can they make you spend more money though my friend?!?;)

Then this channel would make zero money. Hardly makes anything as is ?! What fun would that be to me either?!?!

@@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTOR haha. Oh yeah no not in place of the normal video reviews, but released a few weeks after the video, in addition to.

Oh please... the CWs look appalling.

@@kelorednaxela haven’t handled a Sealander in the metal but my Aquitaine is a thing of beauty (which - as the old man says - is of course in the eye of the beholder 😉)

@@Umslopogas666 well... maybe the white sand dials on those models. They look quite good. I think my choice would be the plain Dune.

Some vintage military watches had hands like this .

It’s an adventurers watch for someone that adventures abroad!