SEIKO PROSPEX SPB117J1 ALPINIST AUTOMATIC MEN WATCH

Seiko Prospex SPB117J1 — Alpinist Automatic Field Watch

The Seiko Prospex SPB117J1 is a modern expression of the Alpinist — a watch originally created in 1959 for Japan's "Yama-otoko," the mountain men who climbed the Japanese Alps before modern outdoor equipment existed. The black dial with inner rotating compass ring gives this variant a darker, more purposeful character than the colour-dialled siblings — a tool watch aesthetic that is as functional in the field as it is refined on the wrist. The compass ring is the Alpinist's defining functional feature: rotatable, independently set, and used by mountaineers and navigators to track bearing headings without a separate instrument.

Powered by the in-house 6R35 automatic calibre with a 70-hour power reserve, hand-winding capability, and accuracy of +25/-15 seconds per day, the SPB117J1 is built for extended outdoor use. The screw-down crown reinforces the 200M water resistance rating, the sapphire crystal provides scratch resistance, and the see-through caseback reveals the 6R35 in action. Lumibrite on the hands and hour markers ensures readability in the low light conditions that mountain and wilderness environments regularly present.

Key Features

• Seiko 6R35 automatic movement with manual winding — self-winding with the convenience of hand-winding when needed
• Approx. 70-hour (3-day) power reserve — reliable performance through a long weekend in the field without wearing
• Accuracy: +25/-15 seconds per day — dependable automatic timekeeping
• Inner rotating compass ring — independently settable bearing reference for navigation in the field
• Black dial with baton markers — purposeful tool watch aesthetic with clean legibility
• Lumibrite on hands and hour markers — superior legibility in low light and wilderness conditions
• 200M water resistance — robust protection for outdoor and water activities
• Sapphire crystal — scratch resistance and superior optical clarity
• 39.5mm stainless steel case — refined, versatile proportions at 13.2mm profile
• Screw-down crown — enhanced water resistance for field use
• Date display — everyday practicality built in
• See-through caseback — view the 6R35 automatic movement in action
• Stainless steel bracelet — durable, comfortable, and corrosion-resistant

Why You'll Love It

The SPB117J1 is the Alpinist for the collector who wants the full functional heritage — the inner compass ring is not a decorative element, it is the feature that made the original 1959 Alpinist the watch of choice for Japanese mountain climbers, and it remains as useful today as it was then. The black dial gives it a gravity and versatility that the colour-dialled variants approach differently — more urban, more at home under a jacket, and more focused on the compass ring as the sole colour accent. The 6R35's 70-hour reserve is exceptional for a 39.5mm automatic at this price point, the sapphire crystal keeps it pristine through outdoor use, and the see-through caseback adds the mechanical story for those who appreciate what lies beneath. A genuinely purposeful field watch — and the most functionally complete Alpinist in the current lineup.

About the Seiko Alpinist

The Seiko Alpinist was born in 1959 — a watch designed for Japan's mountain climbers at a time when domestic watchmaking was finding its identity in extreme environments. The original Alpinist established the inner compass ring, the cathedral hands, the Arabic numerals, and the compact case proportions that define every Alpinist to this day. The compass ring was its functional signature — a tool for navigation in terrain where landmarks disappear and bearing heading is everything. Over sixty-five years the design has been refined but never fundamentally altered, because the original solved the problem it was designed for with a precision and elegance that has never been improved upon.

The Seiko Prospex Story

Prospex is a combination of the words "Professional" and "Specifications." Seiko Prospex timepieces are designed to be practical, reliable, and durable — built to meet the high standards required in extreme environments for sports lovers and adventure seekers alike. The story begins in 1881, when Kintaro Hattori founded a clock and watch shop in Ginza, Tokyo — the business that would become the Seiko of today. The Alpinist has been part of the Prospex story since before the Prospex name existed — a mountain watch that predates the dive watch, the field watch, and the GPS solar by decades, and remains as relevant today as it was in 1959.

Backed by Seiko's official warranty. Authentic Seiko Prospex watch, sold by authorised retailer City Chain Singapore.

Explore the full Seiko Prospex Collection or browse all Seiko watches at City Chain Singapore.

Extra $20 OFF with min. $250 spend
Use Code: CC20

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Use Code: CC30

Extra $40 OFF with min. $500 spend
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Calibre Type: Automatic - Powered By The Movement Of The Wearer
Calibre Number: 6R35
Calibre Function: Analogue - 3 Hands
Accuracy: +25 / -15 seconds a day (5°C–35°C)
Power Reserve: Approx. 70 Hours
Display: Analogue

Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Color: Silver
Case Diameter: 39.5mm
Case Thickness: 13.2mm
Case Length: 46.4mm
Water Resistance: 200 Metres
Glass: Sapphire
Crown: Screw Down
Rotating Bezel: Inner Ring

Dial Color: Black
Dial Markers: Batons
Hand Indicators: Hour, Minute, Seconds
Calendar Indicators: Date
Lumibrite: Hands & Hour Markers

Band/Bracelet: Bracelet - Stainless Steel
Band Color: Silver

Hand Winding: Yes
See-through Case Back: Yes
Warranty: Compass

Delivery within Singapore | Order by 11AM
(Checkout options may vary depending on minimum order requirements)

• Free Standard Delivery (3 business days)
• Free Next Day Delivery
• Express Delivery at $30 (order by 2PM)
• Click & Collect (ready in 2–3 business days)

Weekend & Public Holiday Orders
Orders placed during this time will be processed on the next business day.

For online purchase, you can have bracelet or leather strap adjustments done at any City Chain store. Please bring along your warranty book for the service.