– Seiko officially launches the green-dial Prospex Alpinist GMT HBC007 for international markets, ending its 3-year Japan-exclusive status.
– Design is nearly identical to the JDM SBEJ005, featuring a deep green dial, gold hands/markers, and a brown calfskin strap.
– Powered by the automatic Caliber 6R54 with a 72-hour power reserve and GMT function, housed in a 200m water-resistant 39.5mm steel case.
– Includes a 24-hour bezel for GMT and an inner rotating compass ring operated by the 4 o’clock crown, echoing the 1959 original.
– Previously, the green GMT Alpinist was a gray-market favorite; the HBC007 now offers an official global purchase route.
Seiko Debuts Prospex Alpinist GMT HBC007 Internationally
Seiko has announced the Prospex Alpinist GMT HBC007, an international release of a watch that Japan-based collectors have had to themselves for almost three years. This info was published by @plus9time on their Instagram account. The HBC007 is a direct international variant of the SBEJ005, which launched in Japan on October 7, 2023. The watch keeps practically everything intact from the JDM original.
Design and Specs Kept the Same as the Japan Model
It has a deep green dial with gold-tone hands and markers — it’s the colorway the Alpinist is most closely associated with, going back to the cult-favorite SARB017. The case is stainless steel measuring 39.5 x 46.4 x 13.6 mm, and it is fitted with a brown calfskin strap. Inside is the automatic Caliber 6R54, which offers a 72-hour power reserve alongside a GMT hand for tracking a second time zone. Water resistance is rated at 200 meters.
Bezel and Crystal Features Explained
The outer bezel carries a 24-hour scale for reading the GMT hand, while the inner rotating ring doubles as a compass — operated via the crown at 4 o’clock — again, another design trait that goes back to the original 1959 Alpinist. The sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective coating on the inner side.
How the Green GMT Alpinist was Previously Only in Japan
When the mechanical GMT Alpinist line first came out in 2023, it was somewhat of a big deal — the Alpinist had previously only been available in a dual-time config as a quartz model. The black (SPB379) and blue (SPB377) variants launched internationally at the time, but the green dial SBEJ005 stayed as a Japan-exclusive, which made it a gray-market favorite. The HBC007 will give global buyers an official route to the green GMT Alpinist for the first time.
Pricing and Final Availability Details
Pricing for the international market hasn’t been confirmed yet; the SBEJ005 carries a Japan retail price of ¥141,800 (~$970). This new model is expected to be a sought-after addition for collectors who missed out on the Japanese version.
- Caliber: 6R54 automatic
- Power reserve: 72 hours
- Case size: 39.5 x 46.4 x 13.6 mm
- Water resistance: 200 meters
- Strap: Brown calfskin
- Crystal: Sapphire with inner anti-reflective coating
- Japan retail price of SBEJ005: ¥141,800 (~$970)