The Uncle Seiko beads of rice bracelet now comes with solid end links. Just got it for my SARB017 and really love the way it looks.

Agree with you on the Uncle Seiko BOR bracelet. Solid end links would make this perfect for me. Your review has convinced me that choosing the Beads Of Rice for my SARB017 was the right choice as it looks fantastic....as always, you hit the mark......Enjoy your videos.

Great review. I also love your photography!

Love a beads of rice bracelet. Tried a Rado captain cook on one and it was great. Hoping my next watch is gonna have one

Another great video. I own an uncle Seiko bracelet, the quality is superb! Keep it up brother and that alpinists looks beautiful on the president style Bracelet!!

Thank you for the great review.

I went for a Strapcode Angus and love it. The solid end links fit very well with no determinable gaps and I like the chunkier look of the Angus compared to the standard Jubilee.

Agree with the beads of rice, totally stunning. The president is actually pretty cool too. Some really nice options for the Alpinist.

I bought the OEM oyster bracelet a while back for my SARB. I just love that look. I also used a SKX013 jubilee with Watchgecko end links which was good but not as good as the oyster. I am tempted to try an Uncle Seiko bracelet for my Sarb033.

Great vid as usual , I have the prospex alpinist green dial with the uncle seiko beads of rice bracelet , believe me it looks killer and the quality is exceptional , highly recommended .

The Uncle Seiko BOR is what I chose for my original Alpinist. It’s terrific and I think BOR bracelets are the most comfortable bracelets you can get.

The only bracelet I’ve worn with beads of rice style is on my Dificianos. I find them to be one of the most comfortable bracelets I wear, especially given how tight I prefer to wear my watches. That bracelet dresses up the Alpinist nicely.

Love the UC BoR aesthetic, but the clasp was its downfall. it would flip open randomly during active use, then finally the bolt under the clasp either came loose or broke off never to be seen again. the search for the perfect BoR continues!

I don't have an Alpinist but I do love a good strap/bracelet review. Thanks, Shane. 👍 👍

My Ghost Alpinist arrived today, photos and videos don't do the watch justice, it is 10x more gorgeous in the flesh and guess what? Mine came shipped direct from Seiko Japan with no quality issues, the bezel lines up no matter where North is so I'm a very happy chap 😁👌 I am looking at a strap-code brushed bracelet so thanks for this video👍

I have owned the two Strapcode offerings for the Sarb. The Strapcode options IMHO are too big and bulky with very thick and heavy links that overpower the small Sarb head. Plus, large male end links add to the bulk. I returned both. Solid and well built…for a dive watch. Uncle Seiko says the beads of rice now has solid end links, but the price is up to $99 plus shipping. I may have to try the BOR from Uncle.

I’ve been considering buying the newer alpinist. This video may have helped convince me. I have their BOR bracelet for my SKX011, and it’s spectacular. It ads to the watch.

Thanks for that review - Seiko does amazing watches for the money, but their bracelets are not as impressive. It’s good to know of the alternatives out there.

If the clasp is a deal-breaker for you on the "tapers-down-to-16mm" bracelets from the Unc, I recommend using a 16mm clasp from strapcode/miltat. I did this with an Uncle Seiko Z199 bracelet that i modified the endlinks on to fit to an Orient Star Standard Date, and it makes a huge difference compared to the stamped clasp. I do wish that Uncle Seiko offered optional clasps for the 16mm clasped bracelets.

Another fantastic review! Thank you. For me, through my experiences with both Larry Bouligny aka "Uncle Seiko", and his products, there is no reason to shop anywhere else. For Seiko new & vintage (as well as other companies) bracelets, there's no reason to shop anywhere else.

My "midnight" alpinist is on the way SPB117. I found a good deal on a barely worn pre owned piece. I gotta say the solid end links or lack of is a deal breaker for me. The strapcode oyster is expensive but the best option imo.

Have "beads of rice" on Heuer Autavia. Very comfortable but no adjustments save on clasp so I have it maxed snug. Still attractive. Your "beads" had it looks like pins which is good. Have a Jubilee style on my Squale, but screws loosen with wearing. Will loctite. Saw a clip lamenting a "sag" with Jubilee bracelets with adjustments for large wrists. Good review would go with beads.

Planning on buying a BoR for my baby alpinist.

Thanks for doing the bracelet review! Very informative to lots of watch collectors. I trust you’ll say a couple of words about the Strapcode one once it comes. The beads-of-rice does indeed look classy and comfortable. It would just bother me knowing that the endlink isn’t a perfect fit :) But that’s just me. By the way, now I’ve got a Strapcode Super-O Boyer bracelet for my ”green” Kamasu. Really solid bracelet all over, with tight fitting solid endlinks that were nonetheless surprisingly easy to attach. Elevates the watch to a whole new level. It also makes the watch pretty heavy, we’ll see if that becomes a problem in the long run.

Definitely prefer the Beads of Rice - not sure why, but to my eyes it seems a better match to the Alpinist (despite the little issue with the end link dimensions).

Morning Shane. I have a StrapCode two-tone jubilee on my SARB017. The quality is excellent and the clasp is wonderful. I have several StrapCodes on other Seikos in the collection and they are all very nice. No experience with Uncle Seiko bracelets, but anything with a flimsy, pressed clasp doesn’t seem like much of an upgrade.

It is my understanding that the case design of the “new Alpinist” has not changed as it related to strap/bracelet fitment. I would imagine that the stock Seiko metal bracelet that will be supplied on the new “black alpinist” would be the same Seiko oyster style bracelet that has been available for the Sarb017. This bracelet has been well defined/reviewed on numerous KZfaq channels. Basically it is the same as the stock Seiko metal bracelet provided in the now discontinued Sarb033/035 with slightly different end lengths. These Seiko bracelets for the Sarb017 are available but they are expensive (around $170) and the clasp only has two micro adjustments.

Great reviews, I discovered your channel recently. Calm and cool style of presenting it! Information about the original bracelet from Seiko: It is possible to order one in addition to the leather straps for the green and Creme versions. I did it yesterday by ordering the same model you have chosen incl. the bracelet for the black one for 160 EUR list price in Germany.

Thanks for the videos! What size spring bars did you use?

The new version now has a solid end link :)

I’m not an Alpinist fan, but it does look good on both. Too bad no solid end links. BOR bracelets are usually very comfortable, I have one on my Doxa.

Love the beads of rice but was let down by no solid end links I’d of bought one at the end of ur video if it had ,I also have the black Alpinist on bracelet and have to say it’s pretty good but the beads of rice looks brilliant but not for me cos of ends ☹️what a let down

It’s hard for anything to look bad on an Alpinist, but I was impressed by the “Rice” style.

Too bad about the clasp on the president. Do we have any idea why Uncle Seiko opted for the stamped clasp extensions on the president but milled on the BoR? Cheers.

Do you think uncle Seiko bracelet would work on Hamilton khaki field? Thanks

Very nice! 😃

BOR make the Alpinist look really nice.

I own this and I somehow find jubilee bracelets engulfing the entire watch. I use the bracelet when I put it on but I prefer a leather or any other variations...

I am often surprised by the relative cheap prices of aftermarket long-lasting metal bracelets compared to the heavy cist of leathwr and rubber afternarket straps. Any reason why?

I wish it tapered more.

Love your reviews on this watch, I’m seriously considering it. Bit of a newby here so please bear with me for what may be a stupid question. In your last review you mentioned that you didn’t like the fact that the strap was reversed, ie the loose end of the strap pointed at you rather than away. I wouldn’t like that either, but would the solution not just be to flip the orientation of the strap, or does that not work?

Being that the Uncle Seiko beads of rice bracelet has hollow endlinks, I wonder if it could be made to fit the SARB035? I think that would look amazing.

Doesn't Watchgecko make alternative bracelets for the Alpinist? I considered getting a two tone President for my Alpinist from them, but I settled for Stapcode's jubilee.

I noticed they also fit Hamilton Khakis, does it work with anything else, like any Orients?

You need to take a look at Geckota bracelets!

I would like to see the beads of rice bracelet on the SARB017

I’m not sure Shane responds here, but anyone got suggestions for a nice looking aftermarket bracelet on a Hamilton King Khaki (Champagne dial)?

I've tried to get Uncle Seiko to make a modern hefty version of the president, but he refuses to. He says he seles more of the vintage cheap feeling ones. Nothing worse than taking you watch off and it feels fake because the bracelet is so cheap feeling.

I just don't care for bracelets in general. So as far as these guys go, well, no thanks. I'll take leather straps any time instead of a SS bracelet. Thanks for the video! Very well done, as usual!

Who the fuck wants folded end links uncle seiko!