As I write this, it’s nearly midnight on Wednesday, and I’m a bit behind on my #TBT submission for this week. This morning, I wakened in Bucharest and pitched laborious at a convention, solely to hurry to the airport to get residence. I’m drained, sure, however I really feel like a champion. I made some unbelievable enterprise contacts, bought residence in time for my night routine with my youngsters, and even uncovered the fascinating navy background of one of many watches I scored not too long ago (keep tuned; that’s coming quickly). However the watch on my wrist proper now additionally makes me really feel like a champion. It’s my Seiko Champion Alpinist 85899. There’s simply one thing so particular about this little ray of sunshine, how its case seems to be, and the way it feels on the wrist…
The poor future of my Seiko Champion Alpinist 85899
Sadly, with too many watches in my assortment, a few of them find yourself sitting in a protected untouched for months, even years. Such is the case with my little Seiko “Sunshine” that I scored about three years in the past. However let’s take it slowly.
When Mike shared a narrative about his magnificent Seiko Champion Alpinist J13043 about three years in the past, I needed to get one urgently. I used to be fascinated by the sector dial that seemed prefer it was simply torn from some technical documentation guide. It was on my looking checklist already, however each instance I’d come throughout had both slipped by my fingers or been so eaten by time that I made a decision to cross.
Is it a poor man’s Grand Seiko?
Whereas I used to be researching and monitoring down a Seiko Champion Alpinist J13043, I ran into one other gold model of the Seiko Champion Alpinist 85899 that I used to be not conscious of. The stamping dates it to the identical period — December 1963, to be exact. However the case with beefy lugs jogged my memory of some Grand Seiko fashions.
The identical however completely different
In the event you have a look at them sitting facet by facet, you’ll battle to consider that each of those watches bear the Seiko Champion Alpinist identify. Whereas the metal one is characterised by delicate and strict industrial geometry, the opposite one strikes with shiny, heat tones, both from the gold case or the virtually pearl-like dial. Discover that my metal Alpinist has the identical case model because the gold one.
Regardless of that, the gold one — or, to be extra exact, the EGP (electro-gold-plated) one — appears to be a hair greater. How come? Examine the rehauts. On the gold-plated mannequin, it’s about 1mm thinner, which permits the dial to be about 2mm greater in diameter. In the event you think about the broad black border holding the hour markers on the metal model, you’ll be able to perceive why it feels a lot smaller than the gold-plated one.
Excellent indexes
Do you keep in mind Jean-Claude Van Damme’s business for Volvo Vehicles? It got here to my thoughts after I studied the indexes. “What you see is a physique crafted to perfection,” says Van Damme in considered one of my all-time favourite trendy TV adverts. As a former promoting inventive, some headlines and slogans come to my thoughts randomly. That was considered one of them, and it’s what stated half-aloud after I was crouching over my desk, finding out these indexes beneath a magnifying glass. They’re merely good. Eleven match-like indexes with barely angled heads are dominated by a barely wider index at 12 o’clock that’s formed like a jewel. But it doesn’t look overdone. Somewhat, it’s fairly first rate and serves to set off curiosity and curiosity.
The “Seiko Champion” font
That’s in a league of its personal. Every time I see it, I need to break into RJ’s home, “borrow” a few of his fancy fountain pens, and begin studying learn how to write like that. Inform me what it’s if it’s not poetry. And you need to admit that this clear, pearly dial is a way more pure habitat for it than the economic metal Alpinist.
The final word dresser
This Seiko Champion Alpinist 85899 is dress-watch perfection. It sits near your wrist prefer it needs to hug you. The lugs’ shapes and angles are essential for this sense. Additionally, the unique Plexi is pleasantly flat, so it simply slides beneath a cuff. Primarily, although, it offers an undisturbed view of the dial. At occasions, it nearly looks as if the watch has no crystal in any respect.
Final ideas
The 17-jewel motion inside is comparatively easy, so sourcing components if needed shouldn’t be an issue. If you’re in search of a low-budget watch with numerous potential, I extremely suggest placing this clear little ray of sunshine in your shortlist. Oh, did I say “clear” once more? Take a look at the lume within the macro shot above. I guess you see that typical Seiko wabi-sabi and surprise as a lot as I do why it doesn’t spoil the visible pleasure. Removed from doing so, the growing old lume gradient that developed within the longer minute hand underlines the watch’s appeal. Pleased looking!
