Seiko Orange Monster purchase

[Debaser]

I'm considering buying an Orange Monster off eBay, but not knowing much about watches I have a few (probably very basic!) questions.

• When it arrives the bracelet may well be too large for my wrists - can I just pop along to my local jewellers to have it adjusted? Whilst doing some research on TZ-UK I spotted a brief comment that made me think getting it adjusted might not be easy.
• How simple is it to change the strap? I have seen pictures of the Monster with a Toshi strap which I think look very nice and might be tempted to buy at some point.

Thanks for your help!

Simon

[CommanderJameson]

If you decide to take your watch to the jeweller to get it sized, take a moment to make sure that they know about the collars on the pins. If they just bosh the pins out and replace them without re-fitting the little collars, your watch will fall off your wrist.

[Seight_Returns]

The bracelet is quite big as standard, I think my wrists are about average sized and I took three links out of mine.

I bought a cheap set of watch tools off Ebay like this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-16-Watch-REPAIR-TOOL-KIT...

and resized my bracelet following these instructions.

http://www.pmwf.com/Watches/WatchTools/BraceletSiz...

It was very straighforward and took 15 mins, would take 2 mins to do it again now I've done it once.

The monster has drilled lugs so removing and refitting another strap is a doddle - the steel strap that comes as standard is very nice though.

Edited by Seight_Returns on Wednesday 15th April 22:28

[Superhoop1904]

Debaser said:

I'm considering buying an Orange Monster off eBay, but not knowing much about watches I have a few (probably very basic!) questions.

• When it arrives the bracelet may well be too large for my wrists - can I just pop along to my local jewellers to have it adjusted? Whilst doing some research on TZ-UK I spotted a brief comment that made me think getting it adjusted might not be easy.
• How simple is it to change the strap? I have seen pictures of the Monster with a Toshi strap which I think look very nice and might be tempted to buy at some point.

Thanks for your help!

Simon

I have a Black faced Monster and have adjusted the strap myself, just need a bit of patience.

You'll enjoy the watch.

SH

[Debaser]

Many thanks for all your replies! I'll buy the tools and adjust the strap myself.

Cheers,

Simon

[Family Guy]

Really glad i have just read this. I bought an Orange Monster earlier this week and was going to take it to a jewellers on the weekend to get the strap adjusted (too big even for my fat wrists). Think i'll buy the tools and have a go myself instead.

[Seight_Returns]

Didn't know of the existance of Toshi straps before this thread - but I agree, I think one would look great on a Monster - not sure about the orange stitching though.

Edited by Seight_Returns on Friday 17th April 18:05

[Family Guy]

Family Guy said:

Really glad i have just read this. I bought an Orange Monster earlier this week and was going to take it to a jewellers on the weekend to get the strap adjusted (too big even for my fat wrists). Think i'll buy the tools and have a go myself instead.

Changed my mind and phoned around a few jewellers this morning. Found one that had done plenty of Seiko diver watches before and knew about the types of pins used in the strap. Picked it up after an hour or two and the watch fits perfectly

Have to say, it's a hell of a watch

[Debaser]

Watch arrived, and I managed to adjust the bracelet myself. I'm very happy with it! But I do have another question..

It loses around 9 seconds a day, and I understand that an automatic movement may not be as accurate as a quartz but was wondering if it could be adjusted to be a bit more accurate? Or is this about as good as I should expect?

Thanks

[CommanderJameson]

Debaser said:

Watch arrived, and I managed to adjust the bracelet myself. I'm very happy with it! But I do have another question..

It loses around 9 seconds a day, and I understand that an automatic movement may not be as accurate as a quartz but was wondering if it could be adjusted to be a bit more accurate? Or is this about as good as I should expect?

Thanks

-9 secs isn't too bad for a non-chronometer watch.

Wear it for a few days to get it fully wound (the Monster has no manual wind), then re-set it and check again.

[Debaser]

It's been on my wrist for a week now, and it seems to have settled into losing 9 seconds a day. I don't think I'd be as fussed if it was gaining instead of losing, but if -9 seconds a day is reasonable I'll leave it alone and just enjoy wearing it!

[CommanderJameson]

Debaser said:

It's been on my wrist for a week now, and it seems to have settled into losing 9 seconds a day. I don't think I'd be as fussed if it was gaining instead of losing, but if -9 seconds a day is reasonable I'll leave it alone and just enjoy wearing it!

Take it off at night? Then experiment with leaving it in different positions (dial up, dial down, crown up, crown down). You might find that it likes a particular position better.

Still, if you were that bothered about 9 seconds a day, you'd have bought a quartz, right?

Edited by CommanderJameson on Tuesday 28th April 19:35

[Debaser]

CommanderJameson said:

Debaser said:

It's been on my wrist for a week now, and it seems to have settled into losing 9 seconds a day. I don't think I'd be as fussed if it was gaining instead of losing, but if -9 seconds a day is reasonable I'll leave it alone and just enjoy wearing it!

Take it off at night? Then experiment with leaving it in different positions (dial up, dial down, crown up, crown down). You might find that it likes a particular position better.

Still, if you were that bothered about 9 seconds a day, you'd have bought a quartz, right?

Edited by CommanderJameson on Tuesday 28th April 19:35

True! I have an old quartz watch that seem to keep perfect time, so if I want accuracy I can always wear that. I'll try leaving the OM in different positions at night and see what happens.

Thanks for your replies!

[sneijder]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but does anyone know the right way to set down a Monster for the night ?

I'm gaining around 10 seconds a day.

... and thanks to whoever it was who posted a picture of theirs on a black Rhino strap, I was very taken and one arrived this morning. Very chuffed !

[ShadownINja]

sneijder said:

... and thanks to whoever it was who posted a picture of theirs on a black Rhino strap, I was very taken and one arrived this morning. Very chuffed !

• curtseys*

[sneijder]

Thanks ! I have a confession to make, when it came I was convinced they had stitched the thing back to front and inside out. I could see no way in hell how to fit the thing, and had to go crying to Google for help.

[Maris]

The Seiko Z20 looks good on the Monster. Got mine for £11 from justseiko on ebay. Its cheap, great quality, takes 2 mins to swap and makes a change when you get bored of the bracelet.

[C8PPO]

Does anyone know of a particularly good deal on the orange Monster at present? A few on eBay around the £140-ish mark +p&p. Is that a fair price - I'm sure I've seen them around £120? Would prefer to buy within the UK if possible.

Edited by C8PPO on Tuesday 4th August 19:00

[sneijder]

As per the back end of this thread :

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Half way down this page :

http://www.creationwatches.com/products/search/res...

I know they come from Japan, but that means they come in a proper box with instructions and (they claim) two year warranty.

[sneijder]

There are some 'Trek' Monsters floating about too now, but they will command a premium I guess.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?p=1569...



(I'm not going to go looking for them as I'll only end up wanting one)