Woohoo!!! Got my Orange Monster

Buzzbait

Buzzbait

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Joined
Feb 25, 2001
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I'd been wanting one of these for a long time. Incredible watch, for the price.


 
A pumpkin watch ! I have a photo of a Unimog that matches that perfectly !!
 
Congrats!!! There is nothing like getting something that you have wanted for a long time!!
 
Well, where to start? This watch is a modern day legend!!!!

The Orange Monster, the Seiko SKX781, is an automatic watch. It is self-winding. No quartz. No batteries to be changed. It uses the Seiko 7S26 movement. It is non-hacking, but you can apply a hair of back pressure to temporarily stop the second hand. It cannot be hand wound. Accuracy is about 5 to 15 seconds per day. The movement is known for its durability. I have the 7S26 in a couple of other Seikos, and am very happy with it.

The monster is a diver, so it’s rated good down to 200 meters. The rotating bezel is BUTTERY SMOOTH. The mineral crystal lens is domed. The bezel slopes inwards, to keep it from getting all scratched up. It’s a big watch, measuring 42mm wide. The case back is of the screw-on variety.

The OM has a brother, the Black Monster. Both are available with either a rubber strap or metal band. I chucked the stock strap, and popped a Zulu dive strap onto it. A Google search will yield a large variety of reviews. I ordered mine from www.chronograph.com. I’ve dealt with them in the past, and have always been very happy.
 
Good one Buzz!.

Isn't it funny how these big, heavy, chunks of stainless steel are among the most comfortable watches to wear?

My SKX 171K is on my wrist through all kinds of rash inducing humidity that has me casting off other watches after half a day.

Plus if you are short of a workout you can just bicep curl your watch hand a few times - it gives a good pump and it won't get you locked up if you do it in public.:D
 
Looks nice Buzz.

Gotta get the ex to get me one of these for my birthday.
 
It is indeed, A great watch....I have two, the black and orange face models both with the metal bands, wearing the black one as I type :D

Here is a nice review of the Monster with pics...

http://www.watchuseek.com/cgi-bin/anyboard.cgi?fvp=/classics&cmd=get&cG=230333&zu=323033&v=2&gV=0&p=

And some great phots of each...

First the Black...
http://www.makedostudio.com/watches/seiko-divers/gallery/album07

And the Orange...
http://www.makedostudio.com/watches/seiko-divers/gallery/album08

Interesting note...My black monster shows the day of the week in English or Spanish.
My orange Monster shows the day of the week in either English or Arabic.


KA
 
Hate to do this to ya' Buzz, but there are even more family members you could collect. ;)

The Blue Monster

seiko_blue_monster.jpg



And the Yellow Monster

yellow_monster.jpg


These have the 7s36 movements, I believe, which add a bridge and a couple of non-functional jewels, plus sapphire crystals.
 
I have had my Orange Monster for a couple of years now and I really like it. I also got mine from Chronograph.com, good outfit in my opinion. I was in a shopping mall last Monday getting some shoes and walked by one of those watch vendors. The kid asked if he could help me with anything. He then said, oh you have a Seiko Orange Monster. I asked him what they were selling their Orange Monsters for, he said $345.00. I said, I got mine for $148.00 shipped (I got the one with the rubber strap), his jaw literally dropped. He asked where and I told him. He looked at me all excited and said he was going to go check that out for sure.

The Monsters, a good watch at a good price. In my opinion it's a very good value.
 
Ming - Funny that you mention the SKX-171. That's the Seiko I've been wearing for the last couple years. Awesome watch, also.
 
So I'm getting all set to order one but how does one decide on what strap to choose?

Looks aren't important to me this time around. Just that its light and as durable as possible. Whats going to work best for me?
 
I personally prefer the Zulu straps, available at TadGear. You'll need one that is 20mm wide for the Monster.
http://www.tadgear.com/x-treme gear/watches main/zulu_watch_strap.htm


If you like metal bands, I hear that the Seiko bands, available with the Monster, are superb.
http://www.chronograph.com/store/mli_viewItem.asp?idproduct=176


I personally hate the Seiko rubber straps. Very hard, thick, and uncomfortable. Especially on smaller wrists.
http://www.chronograph.com/store/mli_viewItem.asp?idproduct=177


This is the one that I bought. If you decide to go the Zulu route, this is the one that I'd suggest. You can remove this strap, and install the Zulu strap, without having to remove the spring bars.
http://www.chronograph.com/store/mli_viewItem.asp?idproduct=1255
 
The stainless band is great. I thought I was going to ditch it in favor of a Zulu, and even ordered one for my Black Monster, but the metal band stayed. I've got a Zulu band on my work watch, and kept the other for a spare. You'll find a better selection of colors, sizes, and styles at www.countycomm.com under "tactical nylon gear".
btw, great pics of the Orange Monster. I've never seen one in person, and all the pics I've seen made it look very bright orange. I hope those are more true to life, because that looks pretty good. Awesome watch, no matter what color the face is.
 
Love those Monsters, picked up an Orange Monster on a rubber strap over the summer at a Japanese mall for a little under $75 (guess it wasn't selling, the box was collecting dust). :D Which was a great excuse to get another one, because the strap on my Black Monster broke a while back.

I've swapped both of the straps for the two ring Zulus recently, they're great in terms of comfort and usability.

Thinking about getting the metal bracelet, but I dunno. For a dressier look, I think I'd get another watch, and for daily use, I don't think you can beat the Zulu straps.

But my O.M. doesn't seem to be holding it's 'charge' very well recently, should I get it checked out?
 
BOK said:
So I'm getting all set to order one but how does one decide on what strap to choose?
Click to expand...

Get the bracelet with the watch, much cheaper than buying it later. You can buy straps any time, and any time you get the urge for a new watch and don't have money for that you can play with straps. With just two or three watches and a few straps and bracelets you will not believe how much time you can waste....
 
I've had a few of those Monsters (3 black, and one orange), but if you REALLY want a TRUE "monster" of a watch, then you NEED to get a Citizen stainless "Ecozilla"...THAT watch makes the Seiko "Monster" look like a baby watch.:D.
 
Buzz, Congrats on your Orange Monster, it is one heckuva watch!

I have the Black Monster on the bracelet and I love it.
So far my has been running rather fast, gaining about 18 seconds a day.
I'm hoping it will settle down after a while since I've only had it for about a week.

I got it from Watchpavilion and I was very pleased.
The had one of the lowest prices I could find on the net, free shipping, and they were quick too (4 days).
They even sent a little cheap link removal tool along with it--and it was a good thing too, because those collar-pins are a royal PITA.

I'm curious about the Zulu straps, and pardon my ignorance, but what are the various rings on the strap for?
Are they for cinching the excess?
Any pictures that would explain their purpose?


Thanks,
Allen.
 
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