Seiko Alpinist SPB245J1 Crown rant

Hi, I've just found out I don't want this watch anymore after a proper hands on feel of this Alpinist model in the title,

I love everything about the look of this watch but the feel of the screw- crown really lets it down for me,

For the monies asked for this it has to be the cheapest feeling made screw crown on any Seiko I have ever known, it feels like it could snap off easily, plus a few times screwing it back in the hands went round!!, Am I losing the plot? or has anybody else had a feel of one of these?

Reply
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The crown on the Alpinist 1959 pretty much feels like every other Prospex model. The only difference is the crown on these Alpinist models is more compact like the ones on their Presage models, so if you are used to chunky crowns then this may feel different.

If the watch you handled is some exhibition piece, then it probably would have been handled a lot by others, and I won't be surprised if the screws are damaged from mishandling.

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Crowns vary. My SPB143 is gritty. It’s unfortunate but I’d rather have that over a misaligned bezel. That being said, my baby alpinist has a phenomenally smooth crown. These are mechanical pieces and each one will have some variations.

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Mine is OK, feels solid and quality, sorry you got a poor one.

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nightfury95

The crown on the Alpinist 1959 pretty much feels like every other Prospex model. The only difference is the crown on these Alpinist models is more compact like the ones on their Presage models, so if you are used to chunky crowns then this may feel different.

If the watch you handled is some exhibition piece, then it probably would have been handled a lot by others, and I won't be surprised if the screws are damaged from mishandling.

If this is the same as the Presage models thanks for the heads up, but I have yet to experience one of those for myself as yet, I do not think this was a shop damaged test model by the way,

The many Prospex models I have owned have never given me any cause for concern regarding their screw-crown system, I know the Alpinist is a smaller watch but from an engineering point of view I think we are literally being screwed, this is not a dress watch it's rated to 200 Meters!, it should not have a pissy thin delicate "oops I'm gona break it" crown stem