The 'Black Monster', as it is officially called by Seiko, is a fantastic, durable watch. Be advised that the size of it may look deceiving. It is a large watch - bulky and big. The band is large and can fit those who have a hard time with standard size watches. The face is magnified so it is very easy to read with the glow features. This watch puts any bulky Breitling or similar overpriced watches to shame, for the simple reason that the watch is a durable great looking watch and its better to save a few THOUSAND dollars.
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br /I like that the bezel is off center so its comfortable and doesn't get in the way of your wrist.
br /Everything about this watch is durable. I never plan to wear it for scuba diving but the quality is there. It's obvious.
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br /The only con is that I did not buy it sooner.
br /Make a smart purchase and save the money over those overpriced competitors. Get rich in 20 years putting that money away. Your Black Monster will probably still be working too.
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br /Good Luck!
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Originally written for the Orange Monster, this review holds equally true for the black version.
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br /From the moment you first hold this watch in your hand, you realize it is a quality timepiece. The first thing that strikes you is its large size and heavy feel, yet despite that, it feels comfortable on the wrist due to its fine balance.
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br /BRACELET:
br /The bracelet end links (those that attach to the watch case) are solid rather than formed sheet metal like you will find on most other watches in this price range. The pins holding the bracelet to the watch are the sturdiest I have ever seen. Each of the bracelet's subsequent links is also made from a solid piece of steel, not folded sheet, each component being feather-edged to prevent it digging into the wrist. Its removable link pins are of an unusual machined pin and collar design which, though fiddly to remove and replace, nevertheless ensure that the pins remain under-flush and secure when correctly installed. The bracelet is perfectly flush on the side that contacts your wrist making it feel very smooth during wear.
br /The clasp is very high quality, having both a fold over security buckle, which deploys with a satisfying click, and an Omega style double button catch. The security buckle closes onto a spring pin whose ends are spherical thus ensuring a tight fastening which should not wear with use. All in all these features add up to a watch that is very quiet on the wrist, the only faint sound coming from its automatic winding mechanism.
br /Finally the bracelet incorporates a clever hidden diver's extension (to allow the watch to be worn over a wet suit).
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br /CASE:
br /The watch case, back and bezel are made from stainless steel. The case has an attractive mix of polished, brushed and machined finishes which all add to the feel of quality and function. The overall impression is that this is a precision instrument rather than a fashion piece; that's not to say though that it would look out of place with a dinner jacket any more than a wet suit.
br /The unidirectional bezel is of a heavily scalloped design, protected by bezel-guards which extend upwards from each of the lug pairs. The lower guard also functions as a crown guard and, all in all, the impression is of a case machined from a solid billet of steel. The bezel sits slightly higher than the domed crystal, thus providing protection from scratching and the crystal itself is of a proprietary Seiko material "hardlex" which, as I understand it, is better at resisting scratches than mineral glass but less susceptible to shattering than sapphire.
br /The luminosity of this watch is astounding due partly to the use of Seiko's proprietary "lumibrite" paint but also to the large coated areas on the hour markers and hands.
br /The bezel only turns one way, as a safety feature for timing dives, and feels silky smooth, the best I've experienced on any Seiko or Invicta diver. It has 120 clicks per revolution and is nicely aligned with the face.
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br /MOVEMENT:
br /The watch uses the 21 jewel Seiko 7S26 movement running at 21,600 bph (5 ticks per second). It is non-hacking which means that the second hand does not stop when the crown is pulled out. Although this makes it difficult to synchronize, if a slight backward pressure is applied to the fully extended crown, it is possible to stop the second hand. The watch can not be hand wound but the self winding mechanism is very efficient and I have found that it has a power reserve of at least 24 hours. The 7S26 has been around for many years and has a reputation for ruggedness and reliability.
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br /ACCURACY:
br /There are several reviews where people complain of poor accuracy. Typically, when new, automatic movements will be set to run fast at the factory because they tend to slow down after a few weeks of use. I own three watches with the 7S26 movement and after their breaking in period all are now keeping time to within 10 seconds per day.
br /I have a few thoughts on accuracy. You have to ask yourself how accurate does your watch need to be? If it is running 10 or 20 seconds fast per day then set it one minute slow and you will only need to re-set it once every week or two when it has advanced to one minute fast. If you need more accuracy then, unless you are willing to pay at least five times as much for a swiss watch, then buy a quartz.
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br /Finally, if you do a search on the Seiko Monster you'll quickly come to realize that in its various colours, these watches are firm favourites amongst those who are members of internet watch forums. I would highly recommend that you purchase one and see for yourself!

This is one of those iconic watches. A quick search on the net will show that the Black Monster and its colour variants have quite a following. Have had this watch for a short while but am totally impressed by its build quality and accuracy. It really puts some of the more expensive brands to shame. If you want a rubber strap better to buy the steel band model and then buy an aftermarket strap. The metal band is a work of art in itself. It also has a clever wetsuit extension built in. A note of caution. If you are getting the band resized at a local dealer, make sure they dont loose the pin sleeves. See the pink things on this page.
br /http://www.pmwf.com/Watches/WatchTools/BraceletSizingTools/AFBraceletSizingToolUse.htm

This is the ultimate rugged built-for-life mechanical automatic watch. It truly is a Munsta! It's nice and heavy, built like a tank, still wears very well-balanced on the rubber strap provided and keeps perfect time. The hands and dial markings easily glow very bright all night long or in merky waters. A great time keeping machine! I wear it every day everywhere. [...]

I received the Seiko "Black Monster" and basically the photos don't do it justice.This is a very big and bold watch and it seems that all the reviews I've read are positive.The price is such a steal on this watch,and it's very competitive with other diver's watches costing 2 or 3 times the price tag.I picked up the one with the stainless steel bracelet (which is a work of art itself).The only complaint I have is with the time frame for the delivery...I selected the 1 day shipping feature for an additional $14.98 but it took almost 3 days to get here.It was no big deal... but it should have been more clear when I was ordering. There was a little note that stated "If ordered within the next 2 hours you get 1 day shipping".

Hello everyone. Up for review today is the SKX779K3 otherwise known as the Black Monster. I received my watch today in a rather cheap looking plastic Seiko box, but everything else was there nonetheless. This watch, like many have said, is probably one of the best that can be had at under $200. It is a very solid watch that carries a heft that is enjoyable on the wrist, but those not used to heavy watches will have to get used to the extra weight. The plain black dial and white writing on the dial make it easy to read, and the black on white day and date wheels are a nice touch for this black faced watch. The bezel has a very smooth operation that feels well made vs. other watches in this price range. Unless you have lived under a rock, you know the lume (glow in the dark stuff) on this watch is second to none, literally. While I haven't tested for accuracy yet, the newer 7s26b movement in this year's Seiko's is said to have better accuracy than the older 7s26a. While the rubber strap is rather comfortable, it tapers to 18mm which IMO is a bit thin for a large watch. I'd prefer the strap off of the other SKX series divers such as the 007 009 or A35. Overall, if you are looking for a high quality watch that is as tough as it appears to be, look no farther than the SKX divers, especially the Black monster. Stay tuned as I'll post some wrist shots shortly in the customer pictures section.
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br /P.S. For those also considering an Invicta 8926, this watch in an honest opinion is a step above and beyond in quality. And you don't end up looking like you are wearing a fake Rolex. Just my 2 cents.

Living in India, I purchased this off Amazon and had it delivered within the timeframe said alongwith the watch. The watch itself reached India within 96 hours of reaching my US office.
br /The watch itself is a heart-warmer... the rubber strap was a let down... and I think one should consider the original metal strap and get an after-market replacement in rubber/polyurethane...
br /Anyway, am miles away from the source and am mighty kicked about owning the watch...
br /It is solid and the envy of the others watching 'Nemo' with me... Looks and feels indestructible and at $149... an unbeatable price.
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br /I am happpppppyyyyyyyyyy.
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Bought this to use at work since I had to send in the one I usually wear for repairs. Lumi is extremely bright when charged. The Monster has gained 1 minute in 2 days which is not bad for an inexpensive Seiko. Swapped the band with a NATO, fits a little bit better on my wrist. Overall a good purchase.

Really nice watch, solid and reliable. If you like the brutish design, go for it! I heard they are out of production. I love it, and it gets attention. I have both a rubber strap and a bracelet for it, but wear my rubber strap the most. Lots of good design details, like that the glass is domed, but still protected by the bezel, and wholes on the lugs mean that changing wristband is easy.

Just got the watch today. Great watch. Big face, and enough "heft". I really like it. The second hand sweeps (it does not click between seconds the way a quartz watch does). The automatic mechanism is totally silent, from all I can tell. Great watch for an amazing price.

the pic doesn't do this watch justice. it's simple in it's elegance and functionality. i love it. i bought this watch after a marine corp buddy of mine said his had lasted him 15 years. amazon service was super as always.
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br /i highly recommend this watch.

Regarding I am currently in Africa, and all my orders have been delivered via P.O. Box in NY City, I am more than satisfied. Moreover, all the purchases I made, but one, Kingston memory, were delivered on time, with no problems at all regarding the state of product, package, etc. That's the way how to do the job. I will continue to be your customer because of your full profesionalism.
br /Best regards.
br /Mario Sebetovsky

Great watch at a great price. Relatively accurate (+/-5 seconds per day for me), and a bit heavy on the wrist, but that's to be expected for a watch as rugged as this. Very easy to read night or day and easy to set the day date as needed. The rubber strap is nearly as rugged, good and long (especially if you need to strap it over a wet-suit or jacket sleeve), and tapers a bit at the buckle making it a bit more comfortable on a bare wrist. I also own the Orange Monster with the steel bracelet and its a nice option to wear one or the other knowing that both will stand up to almost anything you can dish out. Highly recommended!

I'm fairly big and most watches look dinky on me. This is big enough to look normal on me. It's of better quality than much more expensive watches, but it's cheap enough that I can do stuff in it and I won't go nuts if I wreck it.
br /I've worn it every day for over a year - no scratches or dings.

br /I bought this watch because I wanted a sturdy watch that goes underwater and never needs a battery. I got that and more. This watch is durable and accurate. You need to continue to wear it but for me that's not a problem as I like the appearance of the watch. The date/day adjustment was a little difficult at first but I did not read the instructions. The stem is off-center and that is a great design as I no longer have a stem gouging my wrist.

This watch is a pretty nice watch for the money I spent.
br /Only thing I dont like about it is that if you dont wear it for 2 days or so it will stop working,losing all time and you have to reset the date.Otherwise it looks great,and it is made really well.It weighes twice as much as most watches(built like a tank)Well worth the cash I spent.

The watch is running about 4 min. fast per day. Has to be reset every day. If left that way it continues to speed up. Running fast. Is there any setting for this or do we need a replacement?
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br /Reg: Seiko Men's "Black Monster" Sutomatic Dive Watch #SKX7779K3

I have owned a Seiko divers watch for the last 25 years. I finally replaced my old Monster (they weren't called monster in 1982) with a new Monster because I had lost the bezel, and love it. I can attest to it's ruggedness. My old watch and this new watch has endured extreme temperature fluxuations. I ware this watch firefighting. I have yet been scuba diving with this watch but the old watch held up in water depths of 200 feet. My only complaint is that it runs about 1 minute fast each week. That is only reason I don't give it 5 stars. I highly recommend this watch if you need a durable sharp looking man's watch.

10 Stars! I've owned multiple watches throughout the years and by far, this is the coolest watch in my collection. I really dig my Kenneth Coles, Guess, Swatches, even my Timex are great, but none compare to this watch. It simply looks cool and functions flawlessly. So what more can you want in a timepiece, style substance on your wrist! This watch is highly recommended the fact it never needs a battery goes beyond expectation. Buy this watch!!!

Finally broke down and purchased my Black Monster after mulling it over for a few months. So far, so good. Replaced the stock rubber strap with a Seiko Z22 strap...not too difficult a feat to manage, only required some trimming and the wider strap compliments the watch much better than the tapered original. As far as accuracy is concerned, although I've only had the watch for about three days or so, there has been no "break-in" period or severe fluctuation. The watch has been running dead-on. Let me repeat that...the watch has been running dead-on. I imagine that it'll start floating after another couple of weeks or so, but suffice it to say that I'm pretty impressed with the accuracy so far. Big wrist presence, but not "bling." Just a good, substantial, solid watch.

The newer Monsters, late 2007 production, are much more accurate because of the 7S26 "B" movement. It took sometime time to break in, but after a few weeks it's running + or - 5 seconds per 24 hrs. That's ROLEX type performance.
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br /Do yourself a favor tho. Buy it on the bracelet instead of the rubber strap, it way more comfortable. The "waves" on the rubber strap tend to uncomfortably dig into the wrist.

I am very pleased with it. I accept that a mechanic/kinetic will lose a little time weekly, so what? It is rugged, comfortable and I can read it at the bottom of a mineshaft at midnight. I recommend it for those people tired of replacing batteries.

I am very pleased with this watch. I am still evaluatig its accuracy. When I first received it it ran abut 4-5 sec slow/day. Then for no appearent reason it started to run 10 sec. slow/24 hrs. I am now running a week time period and after 2 days it ils runnilng slightly fast. Perhaps it is still breaking in or it is evaluating my activity rate. Maybe I should put it on a watch winder for consistancy, but, that would not be a real world evaluation. Even at worst case it is still in the 10 +or- sec/day per its specifictions.
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br /If you want a good solid reliable watch, and can dive 200 meters, even if you never do. It has my highest recommendation
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br /Warren Schrick

Good watch. But I had mine one month and then it started gaining 5 minutes every hour. I sent it in to COSERV (Seiko's authorized repair center) and they fixed it no charge. Not sure what happened. The ticket only said "service movement, new gasket, and pressure test" In any case, my experience seems to be the exception, and the repairs were covered. (a side note: Don't send your nice box and pillow in for service. They didn't return mine. Oh well.)
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br /To me the watch isn't that big. It's small compared to my Marathon JSAR. It's plenty accurate enough... especially since you need to reset it on months without 31 days anyway.
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br /I can't imagine that there's a watch with a better lume out there. You can wake up in the early morning hours and still read the time in the dark.
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br /I'd buy another one... No doubt about it.
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I bought the Seiko Black Monster several months ago at a great price, delivery was slow even though I paid extra.
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br /The watch arrived well packaged, in new condition and works as it should.
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br /It is a beauty, well made, and now one of my favorite watches. It goes good for going out dressed up or casual wear.
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br /BTW, Mine came on the reknowned SS metal bracelet, well made and comfortable.
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br /I would buy it again.

Got the watch and was real happy with it,expect the band.It dont match the size of the watch,nor does it look right on a person who is 6'4"@345lbs,it looks like i got a rubber band on my wrist.But i replaced it with a larger band,and to me looks better.But the watch is great,tough and relyable......real good watch...

bought this as a gift for my brother. he was impressed by the quality and feel of the watch. he wears it, so i think i did pretty good considering he's a tough person to buy something for.

Just recieved my Monster and its great. Excellent price. I owned a Rolex Submariner and got tired of paying alot when it needed repairs. This watch is durable and keep excellent time. Great price thru Amazon and quick delivery

Let me start by stating that Amazon prices are the best for this product. I also kept the free shipping (3 - 5 days), and received the monster in three days from the purchase date.
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br /This time piece is awesome. I'm a avid watch collector and have had my eye on the one for a few months. A friend of mine purchased the Orange Monster and I had to have one too. I opted for the Black Monster with the rubber dive band; more my style. I can say without a doubt that I am very impressed. There are a lot of compliments to go around too. Everyone who sees it wants to check it out closer, try it on and/or ask where I bought it. Nice balance, accurate, attractive, and very, very large.
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br /James

I just received this today. The watch face is larger than I expected. It is a very heavy and sturdy watch.

Recibi el b.m. luego de un mes de esperar por mi servicio courrier en miami. Debo aceptar que ya estaba preocupado..el servicio de entrega de amazon si estuvo a la altura.
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br /Este reloj posee una fea-belleza que te atrapa. Como he leido en reseñas en ingles,se siente lo que llevas en la muñeca,yo compre el modelo correa de poliuretano y aun asi el peso se deja sentir. Al momento de esta opinion,lo he tenido una semana y puedo dar fe de su buen desempeño,no he notado que adelante o atraze mas de unos pocos seg.(comparado con un reloj citizen quartz AP1010-51A.
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br /Imagino que si estas leyendo estas opiniones al igual que yo lo hice,es para estar seguro de estar tomando la desicion correcta..te doy fe de que si lo es. esso si,siempre ten en cuenta que es un reloj netamente mecanico,o sea que debes utilizarlo lo mas que puedas para que poco a poco vaya asentando su maquina y deje de adelantar/atrazar seg diarios.
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br /unos 10 seg +/- diarios esta muy bien. menos de eso..ideal! espero que la lectura de mi opinion te sea util para tomar dar el paso final y adquirir esta nuevo clasico de seiko.

GREAT WATCH IN EVERY REPECT, IT BEING AUTOMATIC -- IT WILL GAIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES PER MONTH, AS ALL AUTOMATICS DO. IF YOU CAN LIVE WITH THE IDEA OF CONSTANTLY SETTING TIME-PIECE, OK TO BUY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE SPLIT SECOND TIME--BUY A QUARTZ, THIS SEIKO WILL NOT GIVE YOU SPLIT SECOND TIME!!

This is a very well built watch. Make sure to calibrate it right at the beginning. Overall I am happy with my purchase.

This is a rugged no frills watch that uses old school technology to do the job so they won't be around for long.

See all over for double the price. Works great, get lots of compliments more the my more expensive watches.

I have had this watch for about 4 months. If you don't have a job operating a jack hammer it will probably run itself down. I am very disappointed in the watch. It was not cheap. I paid about $200. for it and I expected better. I am one of those people that never take my watch off and it still winds down and stops. I made a big deal about this watch with my wife, and now I get a lot of grief when I complain about it. It is sturdy, having hit the wall several times.

this watch looks very nice but, it is heavy and it does stop in the middle of the night if you happen to take it off your wrist a little early in the evening. remember, if the watch doesn't move, it doesn't get wound up. if it was 2/3 less on the cost i would of kept it.