The Seiko Monster – A Diving Watch With Character
Diving watches from the Seiko Monster collection have a strikingly masculine design, something unique in the world of sports watches. Extremely limited models are hotly sought after by Seiko fans.
This page contains information about:
- A Monster Among Diving Watches
- Price Overview: The Seiko Monster
- How much does a Seiko Monster cost?
- First-Generation Seiko Monsters
- The Second Generation – New Caliber, New Look
- The Third Generation – Third Time’s a Charm
- The Fourth Generation's Fully-Fledged Monster
- The Seiko Baby Monster – For Small Budgets
- FAQs
A Monster Among Diving Watches
The Seiko Monster is what fans of the brand call a series of diving watches first created by Seiko in the year 2000 as part of their Seiko 5 Sports collection. The nickname refers to the watch's unique design. Monster models have substantial dimensions, measuring just over 42 mm in diameter and approximately 13 mm in height. They also feature large indices resembling teeth and a powerful rotating bezel, which also seems to be inspired by the ivories of a predator.
Other characteristic Monster design elements include a crown at 4 o'clock, a broad arrow-shaped hour hand, automatic in-house caliber, water resistance up to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft), and short lugs. The latter merge seamlessly into the timepiece's shield-like case, which protects both dial and crown from impacts. A similar construction can be found on another popular Seiko diver, the Tuna.
So far, Seiko has released four generations of Monster watches, including a number of extremely limited models and editions originally intended only for the Asian market, now highly coveted by collectors.
Seiko's Monster watches have been part of the Prospex collection since their second incarnation. There are also a number of models in other collections that borrow design elements from the Monster, such as the Trek Monster, Land Monster, and Baby Monster.
Reasons to Buy a Seiko Monster
- Diving watches with automatic in-house calibers
- Water-resistant to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft)
- Unique design
- Limited collector's editions
Price Overview: The Seiko Monster
Model, reference number | Price (approx.) | Generation, caliber |
Moon Monster, SRP457K | 2,500 USD | Gen. 2, 4R36 |
Blue Monster, SZSC003 | 900 USD | Gen. 3, 6R15 |
Monster Dracula, SRP313K1 | 730 USD | Gen. 2, 4R36 |
Black Monster, SKX779K1 | 550 USD | Gen. 1, 7S26 |
Monster PADI, SRPE27K1 | 500 USD | Gen. 4, 4R36 |
Blue Monster, SRPD25K1 | 480 USD | Gen. 4, 4R36 |
Black Monster, SRPD27K1 | 450 USD | Gen. 4, 4R36 |
How much does a Seiko Monster cost?
Prices for a Seiko Monster start at around 450 USD and climb to over 2,000 USD for particularly rare limited editions. The first category includes most of the current fourth-generation Monsters, such as refs. SRPD27K1 and SBDY033. For about 50 to 100 USD more, you can get a special edition like the Monster PADI (SRPE27K1) or the “Save the Ocean” ref. SRPG57K1. The first generation watches, called the Orange or Black Monster, are available at prices starting at around 560 USD.
If you're interested in rarer editions with such illustrious names as the Halloween, Dracula, or Snow Monster, plan to spend quite a bit more: prices of between 800 and 1,700 USD are not uncommon. You'll see similar sums for third-gen Monsters, which come equipped with the high-quality caliber 6R15.
Collector's editions such as the Moon Monster SRP457K1, limited to only 1,313 pieces, demand an investment of up to 2,500 USD.
First-Generation Seiko Monsters
In 2000, Seiko introduced the first Monster, reference SKX779, which fans dubbed the Black Monster due to its black dial. Shortly thereafter came the Orange Monster ref. SKX781, which, as the name implies, has an orange dial. You'll recognize a first-gen Monster by the small Arabic numerals printed above the bar indices marking the minutes; later models do not feature these numerals. Later models do not feature these numerals.
The watch is powered by the simple but robust caliber 7S26, known to be a real workhorse among movements. However, you'll have to do without stop seconds or a manual winding mechanism. The watch has a day/date display at 3 o'clock (a typical feature of the Seiko 5 line) and boasts a power reserve of 40 hours.
You can vanquish one of these primal Monsters for between 450 and 600 USD on Chrono24.
The Snow Monster and Its Colorful Brethren
Along with the two standard variants intended for the international market, Seiko also released a number of limited edition Monsters intended exclusively for the Asian market. The latter differ from their international counterparts in two ways: First, the limited editions are powered by the caliber 7S36, which features 23 jewel bearings, i.e., two more jewel bearings than caliber 7S26. Second, the limited Asian market editions offer a significantly wider array of dial colors. These include yellow, blue, red, and green, as well as a white dial with a blue railroad minute track.
The latter is known by its nickname, the Snow Monster, and is highly coveted among collectors. Models in good condition are rare and often fetch over 1,700 USD. The same goes for the other color models, which are often even harder to find; the Yellow Monster, for example, was limited to just 300 pieces.
Dark As Night – The Night Monster
Seiko expanded the collection in 2007 with the Night Monster. The nickname derives from the fact that the case, bezel, and bracelet are coated in black. In all other aspects, the watch is identical to the stainless steel version. The dial comes in orange, black, white, or purple.
First-gen Night Monster models like the Purple Monster SZEN007 changes hands on Chrono24 for roughly 400 USD.
The Second Generation – New Caliber, New Look
The second generation of Monsters, released by Seiko in 2012, feature a re-designed dial. Here, the bar indices of the first generation have been replaced by tapered hour markers. The shape is strongly reminiscent of fangs, lending this generation of Monsters an even more aggressive look.
The release of the second generation also marked the introduction to the Monster line of the caliber 4R36. In contrast to the 7S26 and the 7S36 of the first generation, the 4R36 can also be wound by hand. The movement also has a stop-seconds function. These two functions represent a qualitative upgrade to the Monster. A second-generation Black Monster ref. SPR307 demands an investment of approximately 450 USD. A second-generation Orange Monster ref. SRP309K1 is notably more expensive at around 750 USD.
Second-Gen Special Editions
The second generation also offers a wide range of variants. A relatively affordable variant known as the Orange/Black Monster (ref. SRP315), combines a stainless steel case with a black bezel and an orange dial with an underlying black minute track. You can buy this model on Chrono24 for around 425 USD.
The Monster “Dracula” and Monster Halloween are also popular among Seiko fans. The former, ref. SRP313K1, combines a stainless steel case and bezel with a black dial featuring white hands and indices trimmed in red. The color design makes these features look like bloody fangs – hence the nickname. The Monster Halloween is reminiscent of a Halloween pumpkin. The watch belongs to the Night Monster family. The case, bezel, and bracelet are coated in black, while the dial is orange, running to black, with white indices. Depending on the model and condition of the watch, plan to spend between 730 and 850 USD.
References SRP457 and SRP459 are coveted collector's items. Also known as the Moon and Sun Monsters, these timepieces are limited to a few thousand pieces, and were released exclusively for the Asian market. Both are technically Night Monsters with special dial designs. The Moon Monster has a gradient from yellow to black. A crescent moon can also be seen in the center of the dial. The diving scale on the rotating bezel is also yellow. The Sun Monster, by contrast, has a red dial running to black, with a red, orange, and yellow sun at its center, and matching red markings on the bezel. Both watches are extremely rare and change hands for upwards of 2,000 USD.
The Third Generation – Third Time’s a Charm
The third generation of the Monster collection made its debut in 2014. Seiko once again revised the dial design and fitted these watches with wedge-shaped indices. Another notable difference is that third-gen Monster models only have a date display. The reason for this is the line's new movement, caliber 6R15. Like the caliber 4R36, the 6R15 comes with stop seconds and hand-winding function, but also boasts a 50-hour power reserve – almost 10 hours more than the 4R36. The X above 6 o'clock on the dial is a visual reminder that the watch belongs to the Prospex line, the home to all Monsters since the second generation.
Third-gen Monsters are only available in stainless steel, with a stainless steel bezel. Along with the traditional Monster dial colors orange and black, this generation also offers blue, white, and numerous sunburst dials. Prices range from around 900 USD to just over 1,200 USD.
The Fourth Generation's Fully-Fledged Monster
Seiko presented the fourth generation of Monsters in 2019. As with each previous generation, the manufacturer made some design changes. Just one example from this generation is the return to bar indices. This time, however, the bars are thinner, giving the dial a less aggressive look. Furthermore, the fourth generation also marked the return of the caliber 4R36 and the day/date display. Another new design element can be found in the bezel, which on standard models is now black with white hour markers.
The dial is comes in black (ref. SRPD27K1) and blue (ref. SRPD25K1). The black dial has a matte finish, and the blue dial has a discreet sunburst pattern. Depending on the variant you choose, plan to spend between 450 and 500 USD.
The fourth generation also includes some especially popular special editions, like the Monster PADI and the Monster “Save the Ocean” Antarctica. The PADI ref. SRPE27K1 is dedicated to Seiko's long-standing cooperation with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Like all previous PADI models, the Monster PADI also utilizes the diving association’s blue and red color scheme. In this instance, the bezel is blue, while the minute and second hands are red, as is the zero marker on the bezel. The dial itself is black, with “PADI” inscribed at 6 o'clock. The Monster PADI will set you back about 500 USD.
The Monster “Save the Ocean” Antarctica ref. SRPG57K1 sets itself apart from other fourth-gen models primarily by having a stainless steel bezel. Furthermore, the dial on this timepiece comes with a fine pattern reminiscent of frost. This is further enhanced by the light blue gradient. The watch was created in collaboration with Save the Ocean, an organization dedicated to saving the world's oceans. The Monster STO Antarctica changes hands on Chrono24 for roughly 450 EUR.
The Seiko Baby Monster – For Small Budgets
The success of the Monster line prompted Seiko to create timepieces with similarly striking design elements as part of its more affordable sports watch collection 5 Sports – but with some modifications: The crown, for example, is located at 3 o'clock on this watch, and the lugs, with their protective shield for bezel and crown, so typical of the Monster, have given way to conventional lugs. This watch is also powered by the simple caliber 7S36, and the water-resistance has ebbed to just 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft). Because this Monster isn't as high-quality as Monsters in the standard line, fans refer to this watch as the Baby Monster.
A version of the Baby Monster known as the Mini Monster differs from the former in two ways: the Mini Monster has a dial that is much closer to the design of traditional diving watches, and is powered by the caliber 4R36.
Mini Monsters in mint condition are normally more affordable than Baby Monsters. Expect prices for these Rolex watches to come in between 280 and 450 USD. Prices for a Baby Monster start at around 670 USD and climb to just over 1,200 USD.
FAQs
When did Seiko first introduce the Monster?
Seiko introduced the first generation of the Monster in the year 2000. This was followed by the second generation, which the manufacturer unveiled in 2012. Generations three and four arrived in 2014 and 2019.
What makes the design of the Seiko Monster so special?
Watches in the Seiko Monster collection are characterized in particular by their large indices, which are often reminiscent of the teeth of a predator. The same goes for the protruding bezel, which fans of the line say looks like a set of teeth. The watches also feature a crown at 4 o'clock and distinctive arrow-shaped hour hands.
What kind of activities is the Seiko Monster best suited for?
Thanks to their robust construction and water resistance to 200 meters (20 bar, 656 feet), Seiko Monsters are ideal for outdoor and underwater activities. With their decidedly sporty and sometimes aggressive designs, Seiko Monsters are often the first choice of young and dynamic watch fans.