Seiko first introduced the Alpinist wristwatch back in 1961, positioning it as a reliable timepiece for Japanese mountain climbers and other sports enthusiasts alike. The model was also a milestone as it marked Seiko's first real attempt at making a sports watch by Seiko.

In 2006, Seiko released the Alpinist Green Ref. SARB017 along with another two that included the SARB013 (Cream white) and SARB015 (Black dial).

Seiko has now released a new version of the Prospex Alpinist Green SBDC091/SPB121J1 equipped with their latest 6R35 caliber and several upgrade features.