Seiko Monster Questions

[sneijder]

I really wish I hadn't found this little bit of PH. Two weeks after finding this watch bit, I have come to realise how much I need a Monster in my life. I hope you don't mind me asking those who own one a few questions.

1) Is it just over 40mm side to side, ignoring the crown ? I have skinny wrists and anything over 45mm will be too big.

2) Orange or Black face ? I would get myself a Toshi strap, with contrasting stitching. If I get a black face, I would want white stitching. Would this get a bit grubby over time ?

3) Could I get away with wearing it every other day or do they need to be worn daily to keep going. I have read they have a reserve of 42 hours, but is this realistic ?

4) I've heard some folk say the metal straps are not the best, would you just take a rubber strap to use as a spare for a Toshi ?

5) Has anyone here actually modified one themselves ? I've seen a black face with an orange inner ring that looks fantastic.

Thanks in advance. I collect old vintage Swatches, so this kind of thing is all a bit new to me, but some of the pictures you've been posting have been too tempting. I did have a Seiko Frequency, bit bonkers but it started a bit of a love affair with Seiko.

As an aside, I don't think I've seen this mentioned yet, the SRP029J. It's waaay to big for me and unless I'm mistaken I don't think you'd be able to put a Toshi on it ?? Looks fantastic though :

[Arun_D]

Hello, I seemed to find myself needing a Monster after discovering this place too! So I got one...

To answer most of your questions, it is just a smidge over 40mm from side to side, ignoring the crown.

I alternate wearing it with my Speedy and so far found the power reserve hasn't allowed me to do this daily, whereas the Omega has no problem if I wear the Monster for they day and go back to the speedy the next morning. *edit (my particular speedy is an auto)

As for straps, I didnt' like the look or feel of the metal one that came with it, so got a watchworx rubber strap with contrastic stitching. I went for the orange face, as I wanted a cheap-ish 2nd watch that was completely diffrent from my main watch, so a chunky diver with rubber strap and bright orange face fitted the 'polar opposite' spec perfectly.

I DO like the look of that other one you've posted too!!!

Edited by Arun_D on Wednesday 8th July 14:18

Edited by Arun_D on Wednesday 8th July 14:22

[wong]

Hello, This forum made me buy a Monster too!!

Black or Orange? I ended up with Orange. If I got a black one, I'd know that I'd still want an Orange one as well.
The original bracelet is very well made. The pins are a pin and collar type and a bit fiddly to DIY.
I have mine on a black NATO at the moment, but change it every so often - bracelet , matt black leather, rubber.

Have fun.

[lowdrag]

I take a size S glove and certainly don't have large wrists but this watch, at 42mm, certainly doesn't look out of place at all. See the photo. A solid and dependable watch frankly as good as many others I've bought at 20 times the price. You won't go wrong.



Edit: The SRP029J above - I can't find a site in english to read about it and compare but it seems to be twice the price of a Monster.

Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 8th July 16:01

[sneijder]

Thank you very much for the advice, I think it's going to be Orange !

I shall scuttle off and find one to order right now.

Thanks for the pic too Lowdrag, I think it'll fit the same as yours (and stretch my arm too)

[lowdrag]

Don't you dare scuttle off! Now where can I find (legible) details of the SRP029J? I'm interested in buying one! Every site I've googled seems to be in Korea. Can't read the size but it seems to equate to about £285.

Edit. Look out for rkwatchhouse on Ebay which I where I got my Monster. Damned good seller and highly recommended here. Careful about the spelling though - two "h" which fools some.

Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 8th July 16:17

[sneijder]

Sorry, try SRP029K1. Guess it's not a Japanese movement. I think it's quite new, I was searching for Monster info this morning and found some Korean vintage collectors blog. He was waffling about visiting a watch show and posted a picture. There were no model numbers, so I right clicked the pic and luckily the model number was in the .jpeg name.

I think it's 45+mm so too big for me.

I have seen that watchhouse seller mentioned on here before, but he has no rubber OM's in right now.

I have however found this :

http://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-dive...

103 quid, free delivery, box, and two year warranty.

They seem legit : http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Creation_Watc...

And they take Paypal.

I'm in Norway and I think anything much over the 100 GBP mark I have to start paying VAT, not entirely sure as I've only been here a year. The folks sent me a Harrods Hamper at Christmas, and I had to pay 70 quid tax on what was so obviously a gift.

[lowdrag]

Seems a darned good price too. Good luck.

[Debaser]

I bought an Orange Monster after reading about it here. It's a great looking, chunky, solid watch and it didn't look too big on my small wrists.

I've since sold mine and bought an SKX011J which I think I like even more!

[bikemonster]

sneijder said:

I really wish I hadn't found this little bit of PH. Two weeks after finding this watch bit, I have come to realise how much I need a Monster in my life. I hope you don't mind me asking those who own one a few questions.

You and a fair chunk of the rest of us!

There's Werner's too, y'know.

sneijder said:

1) Is it just over 40mm side to side, ignoring the crown ? I have skinny wrists and anything over 45mm will be too big.

I too have skinny wrists. With the way that the strap departs from the watch, IYSWIM, skinny wrists are not a problem with Seiko Monsters.

sneijder said:

2) Orange or Black face ? I would get myself a Toshi strap, with contrasting stitching. If I get a black face, I would want white stitching. Would this get a bit grubby over time ?

Orange. Gotta be orange. No question.

Unless you can find a Night Monster...

sneijder said:

3) Could I get away with wearing it every other day or do they need to be worn daily to keep going. I have read they have a reserve of 42 hours, but is this realistic ?

If you give it a few enthusiastic shakes at bedtime...the watch that is, it will prolly be OK. If not, adjust the time and date when you want to wear it and away you go.

sneijder said:

4) I've heard some folk say the metal straps are not the best, would you just take a rubber strap to use as a spare for a Toshi ?

The steel strap is very comfortable, but I find that if I wear my Monster for a long swim (30 minutes of crawl) it rubs on my wrist. For regular wearing though it is remarkably comfortable.

James

[ShadownINja]

Got a Black Monster and have recently put it on a Rhino strap. Looks and feels fantastic. I have quite slim wrists, too.

Edited by ShadownINja on Wednesday 8th July 21:23

[Alexj800]

I've just realised that this old Seiko I bought the other day could be considered the predecessor to the Orange Monster. It's 43mm across. You can rotate the bezel by twisting the knob.

Can I join the monster fan club too please?

[sneijder]

I've had a good trawl through Werners, but nothing really grabbed me. I have wanted a Seiko for a while now, and was originally looking for a good vintage LCD. But a Monster it has to be.

I was about to jump in with both feet for a Night Monster, If it came in a matt finish then I'd be sold.

[Athlon]

And the best place to buy a Monster would be??????

[lowdrag]

ebay really. There are several trusted sellers on there with great feedback. Prices seem to be moving gently upwards but the one in my picture above I paid £125 for from rkwatchhouse and importantly for me it came with all papers and box. Some don't. Orange monsters seem in the main but not always to command a slight premium.

[Athlon]

Thanks!

[CommanderJameson]

ShadownINja said:

Got a Black Monster and have recently put it on a Rhino strap. Looks and feels fantastic. I have quite slim wrists, too.

Pix please! I'm pondering strap options for my BM, you see.

[ShadownINja]

CommanderJameson said:

ShadownINja said:

Got a Black Monster and have recently put it on a Rhino strap. Looks and feels fantastic. I have quite slim wrists, too.

Pix please! I'm pondering strap options for my BM, you see.

Hope this works:



It's the hardware that matches the chunkiness of the watch plus the thickness of the strap. Thicker than good quality NATO G-10s. Put it this way, I had to remove the spring bars and fit them with the strap in place rather than slide the strap through.

Edited by ShadownINja on Thursday 9th July 15:11

[Arun_D]

Alexj800 said:

I've just realised that this old Seiko I bought the other day could be considered the predecessor to the Orange Monster. It's 43mm across. You can rotate the bezel by twisting the knob.


Can I join the monster fan club too please?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/AlexC1981/s...

Well, you know the Seiko 5 Divers are still going strong too?!!

Edited by Arun_D on Thursday 9th July 18:38

Edited by Arun_D on Thursday 9th July 18:39

[Frederick]

sneijder said:

I was about to jump in with both feet for a Night Monster, If it came in a matt finish then I'd be sold.

The night monster isn't half as blingy as the photos make it out to be.

When I'm wearing mine, it's just like any other black watch until the sun hits it. Matt black would make it look a bit too drab. It's really no more blingy than the standard silver monster.