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The 2020 Seiko Prospex Alpinist trio shared a case and core specifications but offered three distinct looks: the SPB117 has a black dial and bracelet, the SPB119 a white dial and black leather strap, and the SPB121 a green dial and brown leather strap. Fratello Watches’ January 14, 2020 hands-on review treated them as updates to the familiar SARB017-era design, with the 6R35 movement and sapphire crystal among the changes.
Which Alpinist is which?
In his January 2020 review, Michael Stockton reports handling and photographing all three watches at Seiko’s Frankfurt boutique shortly after their release. He describes the principal differences as dial design and supplied band rather than a change in the underlying watch platform.
| Reference | Dial and markers | Supplied band | Price reported in the January 14, 2020 review |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPB117 | Black dial, triangular markers, and a red “20 BAR” detail | Stainless-steel bracelet with deployant clasp and micro-adjustment, as described by the reviewer | €739 |
| SPB119 | White dial with silver indices and black compass markings | Black calf-leather strap with white stitching and deployant clasp | €719 |
| SPB121 | Green dial with gold applied indices | Brown embossed calf-leather strap with deployant clasp | €719 |
The prices are historical launch-era figures from that review, not current offers. The reviewer favored the SPB117 for its simpler dial and bracelet; that is his personal preference, not a universal ranking.
What the three watches share
Fratello’s specifications list gives the trio the same stainless-steel case, automatic Seiko 6R35 movement, and internal rotating compass bezel operated by the lower crown. The review reports the following specifications for these models:
#1 Best Overall
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- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
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- Case: 39.5 mm diameter, 46 mm lug-to-lug, 13.2 mm thick, with a 20 mm lug width.
- Crystal: sapphire, with a magnifying date lens.
- Movement: automatic 6R35 with hand-winding, hacking, quick-set date, 21,600 beats per hour, and a stated 70-hour power reserve.
- Water resistance: 200 m.
- Other: display caseback and an internal rotating compass bezel.
These are specifications reported by the review, not independent test results. It does not identify a major performance difference between the three references.
How the 2020 models relate to the SARB017
The review presents the new trio as close in form to the earlier SARB017-era Alpinist, while noting technical updates such as the 6R35 movement and sapphire crystal. It also points out that the date magnifier returned. The name “Alpinist” does not appear on these watches’ dials or casebacks, although fans and boutiques continued to use it.
Rank #2
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Choosing between the SPB117, SPB119, and SPB121
Since the review reports shared core specifications, choosing among the three comes down chiefly to appearance and the band supplied:
- Choose the SPB117 if you want the black dial and the steel bracelet included in the review’s description.
- Choose the SPB119 if you prefer a white dial with silver indices and black compass markings, paired with black leather.
- Choose the SPB121 if you want the green-and-gold dial treatment and brown leather.
The review’s 20 mm lug-width specification gives the watches a shared strap size on paper, but it does not verify fit with any particular third-party strap.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
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- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Rank #3
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- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
