Where have all the Seiko Monsters gone?
Discussion
One of my most regularly worn watches is an early Seiko Monster (Black dial) which I bought for about £150. It is an excellent, solid-feeling watch with striking looks.
A few years after buying that, I noticed the next generation Monsters coming out with the shark tooth markers, improved hacking movements and unusual face colours. I was planning on getting one of these newer ones.
For the last couple of years though, I haven't seen any for sale. They used to be everywhere. Does anyone know if the Monsters have officially been discontinued?
A few years after buying that, I noticed the next generation Monsters coming out with the shark tooth markers, improved hacking movements and unusual face colours. I was planning on getting one of these newer ones.
For the last couple of years though, I haven't seen any for sale. They used to be everywhere. Does anyone know if the Monsters have officially been discontinued?
I've just sold an original Orange monster on eBay, theres a fair few around still.
Seiko are continuing to release them, this is the latest version - https://www.francisandgaye.co.uk/seiko-prospex-men...
I think the popularity of them has dropped a little as of late, the seiko crowd have moved on and as such its just the real collectors who are buying up all the old models.
Seiko are continuing to release them, this is the latest version - https://www.francisandgaye.co.uk/seiko-prospex-men...
I think the popularity of them has dropped a little as of late, the seiko crowd have moved on and as such its just the real collectors who are buying up all the old models.
I have a mark 1 BM (SKX779), which I bought for £90 when I first got into watches in 2013. Since then I've bought and sold numerous Monsters of various kinds, but you're right that they are less common now. I think your hypothesis is right: the mark ones are now worth upwards of £200, so collectors are hanging on. Seiko has also diluted the purity of the original Monster spec somewhat, so the options are a bit more confusing as to what is a Monster and what isn't!
I am personally keeping an eye out for a mark 2 OM to complement my SKX779...
Pic- I got hold of a black bezel, I reckon it looks great (still have the steel one too).
I am personally keeping an eye out for a mark 2 OM to complement my SKX779...
Pic- I got hold of a black bezel, I reckon it looks great (still have the steel one too).
AmosMoses said:
I've just sold an original Orange monster on eBay, theres a fair few around still.
Seiko are continuing to release them, this is the latest version - https://www.francisandgaye.co.uk/seiko-prospex-men...
I think the popularity of them has dropped a little as of late, the seiko crowd have moved on and as such its just the real collectors who are buying up all the old models.
I am no watch expert, but I thought the Prospex range was a cut above (and priced as such) than the base Monster which I am wearing. Do the Prospex range have the same movement as the Seiko 5 which is what I thought the Monster was?Seiko are continuing to release them, this is the latest version - https://www.francisandgaye.co.uk/seiko-prospex-men...
I think the popularity of them has dropped a little as of late, the seiko crowd have moved on and as such its just the real collectors who are buying up all the old models.
There were Monster-a-like Seiko 5s, but Monsters were better than 5s but definitely inferior to Prospex marked models.
In answer to the where are all the Monsters? question, I suspect that a lot of them are in the back of a drawer somewhere. They were very much a fad watch for people who probably wear an Apple iWatch or a maybe a G-Shock now. The latter arent fad watches, but theyre definitely more popular with people who dont actually really like watches.
When the fad appeal has worn off theyre a bit too big, excessively chunky, a bit crap from a practical point of view and they dont keep time well enough. An SKX007/9 would probably have been a better choice for most of the people who bought one: they still dont wind or hack but they arent unnecessarily chunky and garish so theyd probably still be worn after the 'look at me Im joining in on the Ive got a Monster thread' attraction has passed.
In answer to the where are all the Monsters? question, I suspect that a lot of them are in the back of a drawer somewhere. They were very much a fad watch for people who probably wear an Apple iWatch or a maybe a G-Shock now. The latter arent fad watches, but theyre definitely more popular with people who dont actually really like watches.
When the fad appeal has worn off theyre a bit too big, excessively chunky, a bit crap from a practical point of view and they dont keep time well enough. An SKX007/9 would probably have been a better choice for most of the people who bought one: they still dont wind or hack but they arent unnecessarily chunky and garish so theyd probably still be worn after the 'look at me Im joining in on the Ive got a Monster thread' attraction has passed.
I have to admit that Im not a fan of the Monster in its regular form, and I do have an SKX009 and a youll never find another mint JDM 7002-7001 which is very similar in style (and a Prospex with a bright orange dial, so it isnt the colours that put me off them). This said: the only Seiko that I have really wanted and failed to get IS a Monster, but it is black with a purple dial and despite being based on the same watch, looks completely different.
Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff