Measurements

The size of the watch is the first important criterion when choosing between the SARB017 and SARB033. Unfortunately, most people only look at the 38mm case diameter and think both watches will wear the same.

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This is a mistake since the SARB017 wears considerably larger than the SARB033. Not only is the lug-to-lug 1.5mm longer, but the case is also a bit thicker. Although it doesn't seem like a big disparity on paper, it does make a noticeable difference.

For this reason, I think the SARB033 will look better on men (or women) with small wrists (6.25'' and below), whereas the SARB017 will look a bit better on men with larger wrists.

Specs

Crystal

Since the SARB017 and SARB033 are part of the higher-end Seiko offering, you shouldn't be surprised to hear that both watches use a sapphire crystal. This is a nice upgrade from the usual Hardlex crystal; sapphire is much more scratch-resistant.

It's also nice to know that the two crystals are flat, which reduces the reflectivity that's usually associated with sapphire crystals.

Water Resistance & Crown

Water resistance is another factor that should play a role in your buying decision. As you can probably tell from its styling, the SARB017 is the sportiest of the two watches. While it's not a dive watch per se, it still gets 200m of water resistance, which is standard for dive watches.

On the other hand, the SARB033 is marketed as a dressy watch, so water resistance isn't a priority. Nonetheless, Seiko still gave it a 100m rating, which should technically be enough for snorkeling (and swimming of course).

Some people are skeptical about the SARB033's 100m WR because Seiko uses a push-pull crown, but there's no reason to be doubtful. In most cases, a screw-down crown (such as the one on the SARB017) is used to prevent pulling the crown unintentionally, not add water-resistance.

Bezel

When talking about the outer stainless steel bezel of the two watches, there's not much of a difference (they are two polished fixed bezels).

However, the sporty SARB017 has a rotating inner bezel, which can be used as a compass. You simply have to rotate the bezel using the 4 o'clock crown (and follow a few simple instructions) to be able to locate the cardinal directions.

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This can be very useful for people that like hiking, trekking, practicing forest survival, etc.. Once again, this reinforces the SARB017's tool watch vibe, making it a bit out-of-place in a dressy situation.

Case

As I mentioned earlier, one of the biggest differences between the case of the two watches is the length of the lugs. Indeed, the SARB017's lugs protrude a bit more, giving a lankier shape to the watch.

Another thing I want to mention is that the SARB017's case feels more rugged/sturdy than the SARB033's case. This is normal considering the 017's sportiness; it will definitely withstand more shocks during its life.

In contrast, the SARB033's case is a bit more delicate, but it has the best finishing of the two.

Lume

Since the SARB033 is marketed as a dress watch, you might think it doesn't have lume. Au contraire, the SARB033 has pretty decent lume that glows brightly and lasts a long time. However, the surface area is quite small (tiny pips + hands).

In a similar fashion, the SARB017 uses Seiko's Lumibrite formula on the hands and on small pips at the extremity of the indices/numerals.

As far as lume quality goes, both watches are on par. However, some people might dislike the SARB033's lumed dial if they only plan on using the piece as a dress watch.

Movement

Any watch part of the Seiko SARB collection isn't just a fashion piece, it also has a high-quality movement that you would expect from a much pricier timepiece. The SARB017 and SARB033 share the same in-house 6r15 caliber.

Although this movement starts to be a bit aged (introduced in 2006), it's still an extremely sturdy caliber that's reliable and keeps time accurately. The greatest improvement between the 6r15 and the entry-level 7s26 movement is the addition of hand-winding and hacking.

However, this is not the main selling point of the 6r15 since the mid-range 4r36 movement offers these two features. The real reason why the 6r15 is the priciest caliber is that it upgrades a couple of components to allow for a longer power reserve (50 hours instead of 40) and much better accuracy.

The rest of the specs (21,600bph frequency, Diashock, Etachron, etc..) are pretty much the same as you're used to from the 7s26 or 4r36 movements.

Design

Styling

The styling is the biggest difference between the Seiko SARB017 and SARB033. The former is much more casual, whereas the latter is dressier. Also, the SARB033 is the most versatile for the following reasons:

1- The SARB033's black dial goes along with any outfit, whereas the SARB017's green dial is hard to pair with many types of clothes.

2- The SARB017 is very hard to dress up (crowded dial, sporty bezel, multiple crowns, etc.), whereas the SARB033's minimalist styling can be easily dressed up or down.

Dial

The first major distinction between the two dials is the texture/finish. The SARB017 has a sunburst green dial, which changes colors under different lighting. Conversely, the SARB033's black dial is matte, so it won't reflect as much light.

The rest of the dial is pretty similar, they both share the same small date display, applied Seiko logo, "Automatic 23 jewels" script, etc..

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In short, the SARB017's dial is more unique and distinctive, but it will be very polarizing (people either love it or hate it). Conversely, the SARB033 is a crowd pleaser so almost everybody will love it, but it won't stand out as much.

Hands

The Seiko SARB017's equipped with cathedral hands, which are often associated with military watches. This reinforces the SARB017's casual/field watch styling.

On the other hand, the SARB033's dauphine hands perfectly embody minimalism and class, while also leaving a bit of place for the lume.

I think the SARB033 takes the palm for the best second hand with its thin diamond-tipped needle that's perfectly machined. However, the SARB017's second is also beautiful, and its elongated shape that reaches the chapter ring helps with legibility.

Indices

The two watches have a very different approach for the indices. For instance, the SARB017 uses large numerals and slim triangles. This is clearly intended to help legibility, as any tool watch should do.

Conversely, legibility is rarely a priority for a dressier watch, so the SARB033 has simple baton indices. Paired with the chapter ring, this layout will make accurate time-reading possible, but you won't be able to tell the exact time at a quick glance.

Strap/Bracelet

When bought brand new, the Seiko SARB017 comes equipped with a leather strap, whereas the SARB033 has a stainless steel bracelet. I think the leather bracelet is a bit odd because I usually prefer steel bracelets or nylon straps for my sports watches.

On the other hand, the SARB033's OEM bracelet is super comfortable and high-quality, so it makes the price tag of the piece a bit easier to justify.

Value

Pricing

As you can see above, the Seiko SARB033 is usually a bit more expensive than the SARB017. This might sound a bit odd since the two watches had a similar MSRP and were discontinued at the same time (2018).

The reason why the SARB033 is more expensive is quite simple: supply & demand. With a finite amount of Seiko SARBs left, the price will continue to rise up quickly as people buy them. The price difference simply means that the SARB033 is more popular, and it might also be the most collectible.

Warranty

As I said above, the two watches have been discontinued since 2018. For this reason, you will either get no warranty at all (by buying from the grey market) or get a third-party warranty from a retailer. 

Neither of these options is as good as getting a Seiko warranty, but it shouldn't be a deal-breaker since high-end Seiko watches have pretty amazing quality control.

Heritage

If watchmaking history is important to you, the Seiko SARB017 is definitely the most relevant of the two watches. The SARB017 is part of the Alpinist collection, which is a big piece of Seiko's history.

Indeed, the first Seiko Alpinist, the Laurel, dates all the way back to 1961. Since then, Seiko released multiple classic Alpinist pieces such as the Champion in 1963, the Red in 1995, and much more.

On the other hand, the SARB033 is a descendant of Seiko's Spirit line. This collection had much less of an impact for Seiko as a watchmaker, so I consider it a bit less historically significant.

Conclusion