“The Seiko Prospex Australasian Limited Edition Alpinist launch event in Sydney was a celebration of the brand’s Prospex collection alongside Australia’s natural beauty.
On Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024, Seiko held its first-ever Prospex event in Sydney, Australia. The event was a great way to showcase Seiko’s Prospex line, with a variety of different Prospex collections on show. The main event, however, was the release of the much-anticipated Australasian Limited Edition Alpinist watch (SPB489J). This timepiece draws on Seiko’s rich legacy while also showing the design inspiration of the striking red deserts of Australia.
The launch of this very special timepiece dedicated to Australia was held in the heritage-listed Bell Shakespeare’s The Seed. As you walk to the event space, you are treated to stunning views of the Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Upon entering, it was very lively and certainly unique, as you saw different collections of Seiko models spaced out throughout the event floor. It was almost like a club vibe with the live DJ and lights putting on a show.
As you make your way through the event, Seiko has displayed its different Prospex collections in a carefully curated manner. The 100+ guests in attendance were treated to an immersive experience where the Prospex collections of Sea, Land and Speed were shown. The Seed, also had an outdoor balcony, with large “Prospex” signage where guests can take stunning photos, with the background being the Sydney Harbour Bridge beautifully lit up!
The event also had a fun interactive experience for driving and racing enthusiasts. As a way for Seiko to express their gratitude for Speedtimer fans, two racing simulators were set up, with proper officials taking note of lap times. These lap times would then be put onto a leaderboard, and by 9 pm that night, the top-ranking driver would leave home with a Seiko Speedtimer SSC943P timepiece! I must say, never having been on an F1-style racing simulator, handling those machines is no joke and takes some skill!
Midway through the event, Daniel Findlay from Seiko Australia gave a speech to introduce the Australasian Limited Edition Alpinist watch (SPB489J). The timepiece was unveiled in a captivating manner, with a display, beautifully decorated to show red gravel and landscaping of Australia’s red deserts, lowered from the ceiling at the centre of the event floor. On this display were four Prospex Australasian Limited Edition Alpinist timepieces, which the guests could use to get a close-up hands-on feel and try on the timepieces.
The Seiko Alpinist was the brand’s first sports watch, introduced in 1959. It was designed to meet the needs of mountain climbers and outdoor sports enthusiasts. While the timepiece has had different design cues over the years, its core identity has remained the same. A timepiece dedicated to the outdoors is the perfect model to use when devoting a watch to the natural beauty of Australia’s red deserts.
The standout feature of this latest Seiko Alpinist is the lucid red dial, which evokes the rich, earthy tones of the Australian desert at sunrise and sunset. The vibrant red colour of the dial embodies the untamed spirit of the outback, while the brown leather strap that the watch comes with reflects the rugged yet character of the Alpinist series of timepieces. The Seiko Australasian Limited Edition Alpinist watch (SPB489J) is limited to 1000 timepieces. Keep an eye out for the full, in-depth review coming soon on Watch Advice!
The guests at the launch event were treated to a carefully curated selection of drinks and canapés along with live DJ music to keep the party going into the night! The guest list also included some star-studded celebrities, such as Olympic Gold Medallist Zac Stubblety-Cook, FMX champion Pat Bowden, Paralympic medallists Rowan Crothers and Ben Tudhope, Seiko Prospex Ambassador Alex Hayes, Triathlon Coach Timmy Franklin, Actor Nick Slater, and prominent men’s style content creators Marty Thomas, Shaun Birley, Marvin Osifo, and Thales Zoli.
This Prospex launch event was an inspiring evening where sports lovers, adventure seekers and watch enthusiasts gathered to connect while celebrating the Seiko Prospex collection. The brand’s Prospex collection is a testament to Seiko’s dedication to creating tools for daring and bringing together precision with beautiful aesthetic looks. This launch event wasn’t just about showcasing the brand’s new Seiko Australasian Limited Edition Alpinist watch, but also about celebrating Australia’s natural beauty and the resilience and curiosity of the Prospex collection.
