Seiko Orange Monster Review

The Seiko Orange Monster. You may never have seen one, but it is the dive watch of choice for many watch enthusiasts. The distinctive ‘teeth’ markers and bright orange dial stand out amongst the conservative wristwatches worn by the majority of people. What is the Seiko Orange Monster like to live with?

History of the Seiko Monster Watch

First up, a bit of history: the Seiko Orange Monster was originally released as the SKX779. That watch featured the venerable Seiko 7s26 automatic movement as featured in the Seiko 5 series. It had luminous ‘teeth’ shaped markers which gave it its name, and it was renowned as being built like a brick.

Seiko Orange Monster v2

Seiko Orange Monster v2

My version of the watch is the facelifted version. The signature ‘teeth’ are now really shaped like teeth and surrounded in black, which makes them stand out more. As it has been upgraded to the ‘Superior’ range, the movement has been updated to the Seiko 4r36 movement. Unlike the older movement, the 4r36 hacks and hand winds. For the uninitiated, ‘hacking’ is the ability to stop the second hand when setting the watch to ensure it is accurate. Hand winding means that you can wind the watch before you wear it, and so you spend less time swirling it in your hand to get it going.

Fit and finish

Let’s get this out of the way first: this thing is built like a tank. The 42.5mm case is fashioned from a thick block of stainless steel. A partial ‘shroud’ around the bezel means that slight knocks won’t accidentally turn the bezel, and the crown is protected by crown guards. The crown itself is a sizeable, knurled piece of steel at the 4 O’clock position. It is easy to unscrew and feels positive. Hand winding is buttery smooth. Weight is about 300g, which is substantial but not too ungainly. Holes in the lugs make strap changing a cinch.

Seiko Orange Monster Bracelet

The bracelet is superb – very heavy and solid-feeling. The watch has a 20mm lug size, but the bracelet is actually 22mm wide at the ends which makes it look even more substantial. Adjustment is by the world’s most fiddly pin and collar system. Best of luck if you try to adjust it yourself as the tiny collars are easily lost. It has a diver’s extension to increase its length if you wear it over a wetsuit. Four micro-adjustment positions in the clasp mean it is easy to find a size that fits without constantly having to add and remove links.

Features of the Seiko Monster

The Orange Monster’s Glow

As a functional dive watch, the Seiko Monster is hardly brimming with features. It has a day and date function. Days are in English and French in black text except for at the weekend. Saturday is in blue and Sunday in red. This makes the Seiko Monster an ideal weekend wear for me! The hands and dial markers appear creamy white until you move into the shade, whereby you need a pair of sunglasses. The lume on this watch is amazing. It glows brightly for a long time after dark in a lovely shade of green. The 60 click bezel is firm and precise.

Living with the Seiko Orange Monster

Sundays are red days with the Seiko orange Monster

I love the Seiko Orange Monster, and I don’t know why. The looks are undoubtedly Marmite. Most peoples’ first impression is “urgh!”. It’s a real grower, though, and thanks to its solid build it is my first choice for decorating, gardening and other activities. Its water resistance means I never worry about it and even if I were to smash the Hardlex crystal a replacement would be affordable and easy to come by. My watch has picked up all kinds of scratches and scrapes, but none of them spoils it. I do not feel the need to baby it like some of my other watches.

Negatives? Well, there are those Marmite looks. Some days I just can’t bear the thought of wearing it! I also find the bezel guard at the top of the watch cuts into my fingers when I turn it. It’s a little top-heavy, especially if worn on a strap, and although it looks great on rubber, I find myself returning to that bracelet time and time again.

Overall

Seiko Orange Monster on Rubber Strap

The Seiko Orange Monster is, for me, probably the ultimate tool watch. It is relatively inexpensive for such a well-built piece. Seiko’s movements are accurate and run for years without servicing. As it is an automatic watch, the second hand has a pleasant sweep and, of course, there is no need for batteries. 200m water resistance is more than enough for most users. And it can take a knock without missing a beat. If you bump into another watch enthusiast, they will recognise it and respect your choice of timepiece. I love mine and recommend you try one for yourself.