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In Review: The Seiko Monster (both old & new)

June 3, 2014 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Seiko SKX7 Automatic (old) – $172 | Seiko SRP3 Automatic (new) – $200

The Seiko Monster is quite possibly the perfect summertime automatic. It’s certainly wearable and then some, year round, but for the summer in particular? Whether you’re water-skiing (update: perhaps it’s not the best for water skiing), sweating buckets doing yard work, or hosing down the dog after she rolled in something dead on the trail (seriously Matilda, just once, could you not find the rankest corpse in earshot?), Seiko’s line of monsters are tough enough to handle it.

True dive watches with a 200 m water resistance rating, a beefy case & screw down crown, good lume and a toothy rotating bezel– the Monsters are pretty much legends in the watch community at large. The fact that they’re so affordable also helps.

The Monster was not “broke”.  But Seiko “fixed” it. And they did a fine job.

A review of Seiko's new Monsters on Dappered.comKirk? Meet Picard. 

Same large case (43 – 42mm, but wears a touch smaller), same toothy bezel, same water resistance rating. Stylistically, there’s a few changes. The hands and indices are now pointy all around and lined in red, and gone are the Arabic minute numerals. So they gave it a little color on the hands, but made the dial less busy. Some will like it, some won’t.

The biggest switch is at the crown, and what that crown is your access point for. Unscrewing the crown on the old model can be a little harsh on the fingers, and the edges they put on the crown didn’t help a lot for grip. On the new model the crown has diamond pattern knurling, and it’s noticeably easier to grip. Nice change from Seiko.

But the most impactful change is in the movement. The new option is hackable (the seconds hand stops when you pull the crown out fully, meaning you can set a more precise time)… and you can hand wind it at the crown…

Alright, so it’s not THAT big of a deal, but if you wear multiple watches during the week, chances are one or more of your automatics will stop (assuming you don’t use a watch winder). Hand-winding is a good way to kick start them once they’ve run out of power, or, to make sure they’ll make it through the night if you haven’t worn it that day.

A review of the new Seiko Monster on Dappered.comThe two crowns. Top: the older version. Bottom: the 2nd generation.

Pricing is all over the place, but when it comes to the black dial/rubber strap options shown here, the 1st generation model is costing a little bit less than the new 2nd generation. Amazon has the old option for around $170 depending on the band/dial color/etc… while the 2nd generation is more like $200.

Are those new features worth an extra $30? Maybe, maybe not. But when the supply of the 1st generation runs out, it’s nice to know that the new Monster will be a worthy successor with an improved movement.

Thoughts on the new Monster’s design? It’s not a big difference, but is the more aggressive look a turn off? Leave it all in the comments section below…

Filed Under: Reviews, Watches Tagged With: Automatic Watch, seiko, Watches

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Comments

  1. TheLordFlasheart says

    June 3, 2014 at 5:40 AM

    Wow…that’s an ugly watch.

    It seems like it’s trying way too hard to look tough, like a little boy in the schoolyard repeating phrases he heard in an action movie the night before. I could almost see myself wearing the old version when swimming, but the new one with the “pointy teeth”…yuck. I can’t imagine any outfit it would look good with. A rare miss for this site.

  2. BigBayesian says

    June 3, 2014 at 5:53 AM

    My first gut reaction to the monster was always a little negative – I feel like it’s (more than) a little too much. A little too aggressive, a slightly over-done hour hand, and a little too thick-looking. That said, I like the new face a LOT less than the old one – the outlined white markers, and their angular-toothy shape, kill the last nods to classic dive watch style / subtlety (if such a word can be used to describe a dive watch). The new movement’s a plus, though – especially for those of us with more than one watch – hacking and hand winding are both very nice features. Conflicted on the crown – definitely a nicer shape for the hand (important because hand-winding can put more wear on your fingers), but doesn’t mesh as well with the design – the old crown matched the coarse-machined feel perfectly.

    Also, I think you’d be remiss to review the monster and not mention the bracelet. It’s hard to size yourself, but it’s a gorgeous bracelet, perfectly matching the case, and a beautifully machined heavy hunk of stainless steel (and if you don’t like wearing a heavy hunk of stainless steel, I’d skip this watch entirely).

  3. beatle says

    June 3, 2014 at 5:56 AM

    I disagree that the monster is “tough.” I received an orange monster for Christmas in 2010. It’s a nice looking watch, but I ruined the mainspring while waterskiing in 2011, and I just had it overhauled again a couple months ago. These repairs cost about $80 each. In general, mechanical watches are not nearly as resilient to shock and abuse as a quartz, no matter what they look like or who makes them.

    I’ve gotten plenty of compliments on the orange monster though. It’s a “fun” watch and I’m glad to have it, but I have a cheap G-shock I wear if I’m going to beat it up.

    I prefer the indices and crown of the old model, but the hackable and hand-windable movement of the new one are features I really wish I had.

  4. Josh says

    June 3, 2014 at 6:55 AM

    I mean, ultimately a bunch of tiny little gears and weights aren’t as resilient as a quartz, especially a G-shock. But its a DIVING watch, not a waterskiing watch. And I assume it broke when you fell. But for normal use, in a pool or around the house, the Monsters are tougher than quite a lot of other options.

    I wear my G-shock for Tough Mudder runs. I don’t ever consider my Monsters for it.

  5. ALand says

    June 3, 2014 at 7:07 AM

    It really is hideous. But I guess I get function over form.

  6. Jose says

    June 3, 2014 at 7:37 AM

    Really? MSRP of $595?

  7. Phil Davis says

    June 3, 2014 at 8:13 AM

    I think the redesign solidifies the uniqueness of the watch. Looking at the old one, it seems that the indices and hands don’t really compliment any of the exterior aesthetics of the case in any meaningful way, and the minute/second numerals seem like an afterthought.

    The current Monster removes the unnecessary clutter from the dial, unifies the indices design-wise and does a nice job with finishing details the first generation lacked (painted or chromed indice edges with matching hand paint/chrome). While I’m not a fan of the “bloody fang” color combo, I think this design is much more successful overall, and personally, I fancy the PVD timing ring with the orange face (SRP315). http://i.imgur.com/diAy2Xr.jpg

    Is it a classically-styled dive watch? Nope. Not supposed to be. Seiko makes plenty of those, and some are practically legendary in the watch community. But there’s only one Monster, and the new one fully lives up to the name.

  8. bryclops says

    June 3, 2014 at 8:13 AM

    I can never come up with a reason to get one of these instead of the SNE107, which is the cleaned-up solar cousin to these monstrosities.

    http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-Mens-SNE107-Solar-Watch/dp/B004JONRWG

  9. Adam says

    June 3, 2014 at 8:39 AM

    While I’m not a fan of the watch myself, I wouldn’t consider this a “miss”. It’s a great value option if you’re in the market for a dive watch. Value, of course, is what Dappered is all about.

  10. BenR says

    June 3, 2014 at 8:47 AM

    Most people (myself included) think the Monster is incredibly ugly at first. Unlike most ugly watches, however, the Monster almost invariably grows on its critics. For me, the same goes for the new shark-teeth version, which I initially disliked, but have now come close to buying on a couple occasions. There is something about the watch’s planes and proportions, its combinations of matte and polished surfaces and the domed crystal, and the true originality of its design, that is just undeniably cool. The “bloody teeth” variant (pictured above) isn’t my favorite but I do like the plain black and orange versions.

    It’s also easier to wear the Monster than you might assume. Obviously you wouldn’t wear this with a jacket and tie, but it works perfectly well for more casual fare. When I owned one, it worked great with more rugged casual outfits, like chinos, henley, and canvas sneakers.

  11. Joe says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:04 AM

    “rare miss”? Well thanks.

    But at the same time, not everything featured has to look like you’re headed to mother’s day brunch. And the Monster is awfully well loved. This, was honestly, a long overdue review.

  12. Nicholas says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:20 AM

    I actually think that it’s a beautiful watch in a non-traditional
    sense. I could see myself wearing it several days a week and to
    different events. Parties, Concerts, Coffee Shop etc. I’d especially
    wear it at a business function or a networking event like a mixer; the
    watch could be a great accessory to keep a conversation going if someone
    comments on it.

    The only reason I wouldn’t be likely to wear this watch swimming or for doing outdoor/athletic stuff is because I have a GPS heart rate monitor that I use to track those activities.

  13. Domainer Nation says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:24 AM

    The Monster on a Watchadoo band is is one of my favorite combinations.

  14. Domainer Nation says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:24 AM

    http://api.ning.com/files/aEYE59uVQ5zJkTBbesMhJ7Gl6nqAH6cZrn2P3fE30-GYdTSobs7esZKlVxYIrZVbQCUmKpCc8zOamOpsKHBQMLvmO9DMRgFU/4142416605_33ee56c612_o.jpg

  15. AllDappedUp says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:29 AM

    Just FYI, the new ones come in a lot more colors than the red. Thankfully, one option has the more normal black / white with no red outline. I have the gen. 1 and it is an outstanding value watch. I get that the look isn’t for everyone, but I’ve gotten tons of compliments on it and love wearing it.

  16. beatle says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:50 AM

    Yes, exactly. My comments were in reference to the article’s first paragraph which sings the watch’s praises for being tough, even for waterskiing. The first time my watch failed probably did happen when I hit the water. The second time it failed there was no known trauma.
    I took my Monster with me on that vacation because it was the toughest looking watch I owned at the time and figured it would be good for all the activities the article mentioned.
    I got my G-shock for Christmas later that year.

  17. Thomas says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:52 AM

    Anyone know if the lug width on the new version is the same 20mm as the old Monster?

  18. Joe says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:54 AM

    Okay then, well, shit. I’ve always heard the monster was a beast. I’ll add a note.

  19. beatle says

    June 3, 2014 at 10:06 AM

    Had it not been for my personal experience, I’d believe you! It definitely looks the part.
    Also, my watchmaker said, “You were waterskiing with this when it broke? Yeah, don’t do that.”

  20. Phil Davis says

    June 3, 2014 at 11:34 AM

    It is the same.

  21. Invictus says

    June 3, 2014 at 2:03 PM

    It’s a Seiko, the watch equivalent of a Jeep Wrangler. Don’t like it? Change it! Here’s a couple of monsters done absolutely beautifully by Dagaz Watches:

  22. Bruce says

    June 3, 2014 at 2:42 PM

    I’ve always wanted a Monster to add to the collection, just never pulled the trigger.
    Here’s why:

    I got to try on the first gen monster, and at 42mm, it did wear incredibly small (didn’t mind). I couldn’t justify purchasing it then since I already owned many Seiko 5s that had the 7s26/36 movement that would compete for wrist time. So, I held off and just hoped I’d stumble upon a deal.

    And then the new gen Monster was released and while it does hack and handwind (which are serious pluses), I couldn’t get over the new toothed design. I thought it was clever that Seiko would have the look of the watch play up to its name, I just didn’t see any kind of practicality in wearing it. I love the features, just not the look

  23. Josh says

    June 4, 2014 at 8:43 AM

    True story. Its probably my favorite hiking watch, and it certainly looks the part especially on a NATO strap.

  24. gdot says

    June 6, 2014 at 10:49 AM

    The monster is a beast, and high value watch to boot! I happen to own and prefer the original skx779 look over the new design. However, the hacking feature found in the new model is a plus. IMHO they look much nicer with a metal band. You didn’t miss anything at all, I get compliments all the time when I sport it.

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