I used to make fun of my friend who collects automatic watches. Then my wife got me a nice titanium automatic dive watch for Christmas a couple of years ago. It's as big as a clock and as heavy as a door knocker. Sound similar to anything we might be discussing here?

The other day I dropped my beloved watch (made by an obscure German firm that specializes in "instrument watches"). Much to my horror, it fell off the nightstand and the hands froze. I figured I'd be without it for at least a month while the service center fixed it, so I took that as an opportunity to browse a few web sites to look for a temporary substitute. Wound up spotting this chunker.

The Black Monster. Cool name, strong reviews, three year warranty, well known brand, unbelievable price, what's not to like? I considered its Orange Monster sibling momentarily, then decided to go with basic black.

The Black Monster arrived today. Let me tell you, the pics on the site fail to do justice to this bad boy. It is one shiny big hunka steel, even more manly than the titanium timepiece my wife picked out. It took just a moment to set the date/time and adjust the stainless band. I put it on and really started to appreciate the heft of the thing and the huge glow-in-the-dark hands that contrast with the elegant black dial. (Must confess I have yet to try it with a dress shirt; might be a tight fit at the cuff.) I think I have a new favorite watch. Don't tell my wife.

Epilogue: After I had placed the order for the Monster and it was too late to cancel it, I picked up my other watch--the titanium one--and much to my surprise and delight, it sprang to life! Of course, I couldn't bring myself to send the Monster back. I rationalized my unplanned purchase as costing much less than the now-unneeded repairs on the other watch...though now I have to buy a watch winder since I can only wear one at a time. And so it begins. I will no longer laugh at my friend. And one of these days I'll take this thing diving.

I have been a Rolex man for as long as I can remember. When I was in college, I kept a Rolex brochure next to my study desk as inspiration of what might be achieved if I studied hard and kept my nose to the grind stone. Well, the hard work payed off because I have owned several Rolex watches--most recently a two tone Submariner. Like anything else I fancy, collectibles come and go--and almost everything is for sale. I had the chance to sell my Sub and took it--thinking I would upgrade either to a Daytona or an all-gold Yachtmaster. But a watch purchase like that doesn't just happen overnight, we are talking about some serious , serious money here. So now I needed an interim watch to get me through until my next Swiss beauty arrives.

Enter the Black Monster. First of all, I got this thing on Amazon for WELL below ANY of the so-called "discount" watch sellers--including the shop at home tv channels. Not only that, but I paid for 2 day delivery and got my watch overnight!!

I can't even begin to describe just how substantial and expensive looking this watch is. It is one serious hunk of metal that evokes memories of an all stainless submariner--not only in looks, but in heft, build quality and overall "feel". I paid about $150 for this watch delivered and had I not known its price and source, I would have guessed it to be AT LEAST 20 times that expensive. The stainless is beautiful and the band is a work of art--VERY well made, very substantial and very smooth. The bezel clicks with authority and the crystal is glossy and flawless. The luminescence is unbelievable! After charging it, I could read the time on this watch in a totally dark room from about 12 feet away---probably farther if not limited by my own eyesight.

The bottom line here is that Seiko and Amazon have saved me thousands of dollars because I no longer need a Rolex now that the Black Monster is here. You can bet I will be buying the Orange version in very short order and I have a newfound respect for this venerable watch maker. Honestly, I cannot for the life of me figure out how anyone can sell this watch for less than $5-600.

If you want/need a sporty watch that is diver certified to 660 feet (I never take mine off--swim , shower, etc), looks and feels really cool and doesn't cost a fortune, here it is. I am so happy with my purchase I would like to just keep typing and spitting out superlatives, but I think you may get the point.

Originally written for the Orange Monster, this review holds equally true for the black version.

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.

BRACELET:
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.
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.
Finally the bracelet incorporates a clever hidden diver's extension (to allow the watch to be worn over a wet suit).

CASE:
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.
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.
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.
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.

MOVEMENT:
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.

ACCURACY:
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.
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.

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!

I own a Tag Heuer Carrera Tachymetre, Omega Seamaster Professional, Accutron 26C03, and a Movado. I'm have a small but fair collection of other watches also. I've also handled Breitlings and a handful of Rolex from Submariners to Daytonas.

You can feel the general quality of a watch the moment you hold it in your hands. A fine watch will have high tolerance fit and finish as well as solid bracelets and clasps.

The Seiko definitely doesn't feel like a thousand dollar watch. You obviously can't expect that for a $150. The print and the markings are nice and bold but not as sharp and precise as the Tag. And the machined grooves on the bezel and case reminds me more of a Fossil or a Guess watch. The unpolished parts of the Omega are machined finish also but much more fine. The bracelet doesn't feel very solid. It doesn't feel heavy and substantial like that on the Omega. And the chrome on the bracelet is not extremely smooth. The clasp is made of stamped steel feels pretty cheap, again like a Fossil watch, but does it's job well.

I love the design of the watch. The case, face, and bezel are put together to make a very handsome and rugged watch. I'm a little disappointed in the size of the dial. It's pretty small. It's the huge bezel that produces an overall diameter close to the large chronometers. But it's also that huge bezel which makes this watch look so rugged. The actual face of the watch is as small as my mid size Omega. The bezel rotates extremely smooth like it's on ball bearings and has precise postive clicks. And the illumination is stunningly bright. I've never seen a watch with such bright lume.

People said that this is a huge watch and that it's heavy, etc but it's not really. I removed 3 links and it weighs 167.6 grams. My Accutron 26C03 which is a 25 jewel chrono automatic weighs 173.6 with a few links removed. And my Tag Carrera weighs 154.2. They're all virtually the same weight. My Omega is a mid size and the Movado is a thin dressy watch so I won't bother comparing weights.

I noticed that it doesn't have a hacking feature which is not really a big deal but when you pull the crown out and get it to sit in the right depth to adjust the day, date, and time, it's a little sensitive and unprecise. Totally expected from an inexpensive automatic. This is a Seiko 7S26 21 jewel movement by the way. Also, I set my watch to my Casio PAW-1200 atomic watch and after 10 hours, the Seiko is fast by 6 sec. Not too worried about this because usually over time, autos slow down a little. Also, the 7S26 is probably one of the most popular Japanese movement that's ever been made. And it has a long long history for reliability.

I might look into removing the black paint on the marks and numbers on the bezel because I think they stand out too much. But besides that, I couldn't recommend a better watch for less than a couple of hundred dollars. I'm really going to enjoy this as my everyday watch.

I must confess that I bought this watch for two reasons -- one practical and the other...emotional. On the practical side, I need a tough watch that can take everything I can throw at it while kayaking, mountain biking, doing yard work and any other activity, and this watch has stood up well. It cost half of what my Seiko Perpectual Calendar did, weighs less, is 100 percent stainless steel (no irreplacable plastic/rubber parts like the Perpetual Calendar has). Because the Black Monster is a self-winding mechanical watch it is not as accurate as my battery-powered Perpetual Calendar. However, the Black Monster won't need to be sent in for service every three years to have the battery replaced. Now, the emotional reason for purchasing this watch. I'm not a flashy guy but I like the way a quality watch turns people's heads. I've had people wearing a Rolex eye my watch enviously, then work up the nerve to ask me what it is. When I tell them "a Seiko diving watch" it starts a conversation about the active lifestyle I lead and the fact that, unlike a $5,000 Rolex (which I believe most people own purely as a status symbol), I'm willing to wear my Seiko all the time and not worry constantly about damaging it. Attractive, practical, functional, well-made sums it up.

The best dive watch money can buy, bar none. For $150, you are getting a product that is unparalleled in quality and performance. It's not perfect, and at around $150 it doesn't have to be, but what you are getting for that amount is far more what I can expect in Swiss Automatics 3x this price range or more. And don't listen to the lone naysayer out there...I'm not sure what pipe they are smoking out of, but the luminosity of this watch is legendary among watch collectors....charge it up in light for a few seconds and watch this bad boy light up like Chernobyl. I will echo a truth a fellow collector once related to me..."Any serious watch collector should have a Black Monster in their collection."

The Seiko Black Monster was my first mechanical watch - I bought mine in the summer of 2002. Since then I have bought 15 or so mechanical watches of various stripes, from a '50s Tudor to an early '60s Seiko Self-Dater to a modern Sinn 656. Ultimately I don't think I could have chosen better for my first mechanical watch - the Black Monster is a true beast. It is actually the only watch I have dived with to significant depths. The watch and bracelet are remarkably heavy, well-designed and crafted. I don't really think there is a watch under $1K that soundly trumps the Black Monster. I could downgrade the watch based on the existence of things like the IWC Aquatimer and Rolex Sea Dweller, but it would hardly be fair - this is a stellar watch, and argubly THE best value in a diver's watch on the market today.

I love this watch. It's big and heavy and macho. Easily worth the price. I'm not much of a watch guy but I can't take this one off. I love it so much I'm gonna' buy the Orange Monster too!

I have been researching this watch for the last four months. I have read several reviews and finally decided to purchase this watch. I have owned several mid priced watches, i.e., citizen, chase-durer, invicta and other seikos and this watch blows them away! Heavy as a tank, extremely easy to read in total darkness and it has the look and feel of watches ten times the price. I ordered the watch on Monday at 2pm and received the watch on Wednesday at 5pm. With 2-day shipping, this watch was less than $160. An incredible value for the serious watch buyer. You will not be disappointed with this watch!

Somehow, I've managed to avoid owning a watch for most of my adult life. I've generally worked in places where there was always a clock nearby. Now a days, through the miracle of the mobile office, this is less true, hence, my need for a watch. Being afflicted with higher education, I am a klutz, so I needed something sturdy and functional that I don't have to think about. I wanted a watch that winds itself, because batteries are stupid. I wanted a watch which was waterproof, because sometimes I might get caught in the rain, or forget to take it off. I also wanted a watch with hands, which glow in the dark, so I could see it at night, and because proper clocks have hands on them. This gizmo perfectly fits the bill. Sure, it's a dive watch, and I am not a diver, nor am I James Bond. If I were James Bond, however, I would prefer this to an Omega, because it is both more manly and more awe inspiring in its massive chunkiness, and it would probably make a more handy improvised weapon if I stuck it in a sock and used it as a flail. I looked at Omegas, Doxas, Invictas, Rolexes and a couple of other low end dive watches. Personally, I liked this one much better than any of the others. It was sturdier, was a nicer size and shape, had a better band than even the Omega or Rolex, and it had better, brighter phosphorescent material in it. Maybe a Doxa would be better if I were a real diver. Maybe it wouldn't. Either way, it doesn't cost $150 like this thing did, so if I should actually manage to break the thing (I don't know how I would do this: maybe if I shoot it with a high powered rifle), I will not be terribly sad. It is a tremendously satisfying and sturdy object; a veritable Colt-45 or Zippo lighter of watches.

I have owned both the black "Monster" with bracelet ( my daily work watch )and the orange with the rubber strap ( which I sold to an envious friend ).
Besides all of the compliments that I have received from those who cant help but to notice the robust build of this model, it has also paid dividends in durability under rough service on the job. I have not been diving in many years however this is the watch that I would be most confident to wear at depth. As usual, Seiko does not disappoint.

I really love this watch. I hate a thin watch and band so this suits me just fine. Looks twice as good in person as in the pictures, especially the markings. The biggest complaint I have is its accuracy. I've had it about 3 weeks and it is consistently running almost 2 minutes fast every 48 hours. I am hoping it will "settle down" over time. I wear it every day and its inaccuracy won't keep me from continuing to do so.

This watch is awesome. For the money, i think its the watch you can get.
Its very robust, pretty heavy and very well done

Bracelet is whole SS links, very high quality bracelet

Watch itself works good, its not quarts so its about min or so fast every week, but you would not expect them to be quartz

The watch itself looks very elegant on you, everyone kept asking what was i wearing when they seen it. very good conversation piece

Wow, what a great watch. I receive compliments practically every time it's on. Even the owners of a local jewelry store selling six thousand dollar pompous Rolex's remarked what an impressive watch it was. First of all, you want the metal bracelet; it's a work of art and pretty comfortable. The watch it's self is very substantial, heavy and solid. I researched this watch extensively, and it's a steal for $150, it definitely retails for $400. So strap this bad boy on, pull on your boots, and go get em'.

Great watch! Hands down the best watch I have ever owned. I love the fact that I never have to buy a battery - ever again! Keeps great time and is really comfortable on my wrist. I was worried when I ordered it, it would be to large (I have smaller wrists) but it looks great and fits perfectly (I had to remove a couple of links ). Can't comment on using it with scuba gear - yet but have had it on a couple times in the shower without any problem.
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br /Overall I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS WATCH!

Great watch - attracts a lot of glances. It is tough and functional. The face is very bright in the dark and easy to read in all lights.

A remarkably high quality watch carrying the famed 7s26 caliber movement -- a rugged, no nonsense automatic built to last and last and last.

The bracelet is hands-down the best bracelet I've ever seen. The lug pins are thick as turkey legs. Sheer, heavy boned quality. The bracelet abuts right into the case without the intermediating and sometimes cheap-feeling top links designed to transition between bracelet and case on other watches.

Further, I appreciate the holes in the lugs -- a sometimes uncommon feature in watches of this price range. This feature makes it very easy for a person to switch bands.

Both watch case diameter and case thickness slightly exceed other 7s26 caliber Seiko divers.

At first I did not like the aesthetics of the bezel and dial face: these features struck me as gaudy and needlessly busy. But the craftsmanship and quality of the watch are so apparent that the initial impression made by its ugliness and the slight busyness in the dial face is now no longer a concern for me.

Unlike a previous reviewer, the bezel on my particular watch is difficult to turn, far more difficult to turn than the classic Seiko diver. Both the unusual bezel guard and the smoothness of the scalloping contribute to this slight detriment in design.

The Seiko wave logo on the case back is much more crisply engraved than on other Seiko divers.

Its luminosity is famous. Its unusual brightness is a function mainly of the increased surface area of the hands and dial markings: it uses the same luminous paint (as far as I know) of other Sieko divers (though the color seems slightly different from theirs). And though it glows slightly more brightly than other Seiko divers (which are pretty bright in their own right), its luminosity fades at the same rate as those other divers.

Finally, a note about Amazon: This watch arrived in excellent condition, in short time, and well packaged. I have always had an excellent experience with Amazon's customer service department.

The watch is currently gaining 20 seconds a day -- not unusual for an automatic watch. I'll see how it settles in over time.

All in all, a superb watch that will probably last me fifteen or twenty years.

Just got this watch today after numerous recommendations from watch forums on the Internet and Amazon.com reviewers. I'm very impressed! The watch is incredibly sturdy, looks handsome (granted, I have a fairly large wrist), has an automatic movement (with the classic sweep-motion hand) and a bracelet that screams quality (get this watch and operate the clasp, you'll know what I mean). It even has a screw-down crown and unidirectional rotating bezel.

I've never been a fan of anything but Swiss or German made watches but this Seiko has shown me the error of my ways.

Solid watch. Been diving several times already and it held up wonderfully. Bracelet is very nice. This is a big watch, but wears quite well.

He's only had the watch since Christmas (3 weeks). The face is nice and big. The glow-in-the-dark features are really bright in the dark. It has a nice weight to it, but it doesn't seem to bother him. So far, I noticed that it only goes into hibernation if you don't move it for a day or so. I wrapped as soon as I received it. I didn't touch the gift under the tree, I should have though. When he opened it, the date was 2 days after I wrapped it so I had to reset everything. Knowing this, he makes sure that if he's not wearing it that day, he moves it around for a while to keep the automatic mechanism moving. All in all he's very happy with the gift.

I received my watch a few days ago and i am very impressed w/ it. A heavy big watch w/ a huge stainless steel band. I had to shorten the watch band as it is very big and I have big wrists to begin with. The dial shines brightly at night and I have had different people ask and inquire about this watch while wearing it. Only wrist motion is needed to "wind" the watch. I also own a Panerai watch and I have to wind it to start working.Very happy w/ this purchase.

This is the definitive man's watch. Whether you need it for diving or not, it looks mucho macho on your wrist. There's no way your going to get an equal quality watch for under $1000. The extra nice thing is that it's automatic. No breaking the gasket (effecting its waterproofness) because of it needing a new battery. I never write reviews for anything so save yourself a bundle of money. This one will put a smile on your face. Wish I bought two!

What a great price for this watch! Its big and has heft to it. Impressive braclet and clasp. Solid. I would buy this watch again.

Very pleased with the watch. Keeping excellent time. NICE looking and large iuminous face is easy to see at night. recommend to anyone who likes a large watch.

This is an incredible deal for the money! The Seiko Massive Dive Watch is tough, dependable, and well designed. Automatic, so it never needs batteries, this watch is a "massive" chunk of steel, which may take little while getting used to wearing. The face and hands are extremely well designed for easy readablity... day, night, underwater, on dry land, skydiving, whatever. The large luminous markers and fat luminous hands make for very quick reading. The domed mineral crystal prevents the "mirror effect" that many dive watches experience underwater. The sweep second offers a nice "touch of class", and day (in English or Spanish) and date are quite legible.
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br /I have more expensive watches (Swiss Army Men's Maverick II Chrono watch #24144 for example) and "classier" watches (Citizen Men's Calibre 8651 Gold-Tone Watch #AP1022-51A for example) and "cooler" watches (Black Ops, Khaki Dial, Black PU Strap and Technomarine Men's Marvel Comics The Punisher Black Rubber Watch #TSMVP for example), but the Massive "Black Monster" Dive watch is my everyday "go to" watch.
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This thing is a big hunk of metal, reasonably -- a few seconds, daily -- accurate and the photos do not do it justice. Compares favorably, in weight, appearance and impressiveness (sorry, but it IS) to watches 10x more expensive. There are a variety of reviews on the web that go into far more detail than I can, so look for them, but my metaphor comes straight from the watch's design homeland of Japan: this thing is a Honda Prelude. It will perform beyond machines costing much more, is bulletproof and sharp enough to go anywhere.
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br /One more thing to recommend. GET THE STAINLESS BAND. It's design, heft and sturdiness add much to the overall piece and presentation. To get this watch, in any face colour, without the thick stainless band is foolish, unless you're getting it all for 1/2 off. Kudos to Seiko!

The watch is quite heavy but an absolutely solid timepiece. Date offers english or spanish option, but you have to reset the calendar each month not adding up to 31 days. I have not yet had a chance to use it underwater, but read a plethora of reviews by owners who had and claim it to be suitable for diving. The hour-hand does tend to run a few minutes fast. However, keep in mind you are going to have a similar problem with any "automatic" watch wheather it be Seiko, Tissot, TAG, Rolex, Movado, or even Omega. The reason being is simple: any "automatic" watch is never going to keep time to the absolute second like a quartz movement or kinetic style system. I would go as far as to say that most watch enthusiasts tend to have 3 or 4+ watches, each for different occasions, and match their watch with whatever the need or lack of need they may have for any particular setting. If you need impecable time then try a Seiko Contura Kinetic Perpetual which never needs a battery, can keep time up to 4 years without being worn, and will automatically adjust from time to date until the end of the 21st century. However, if you want an inexpensive yet durable and aggresive "automatic" dive watch then the black monster is a good route to go.

July 2007 - update on the bezel: I'm not sure if it's because I didn't wash all the salt water out properly, but after a few months of use my bezel is loosing that "solid" feeling and sometimes you can actually rotate it backwards a little.
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br /[original review follows]
br /It's definitely a heavy watch, and if you have thin wrists you will find the winder can dig into your wrist. The bezel is very clear and easy to use - I have no problems seeing this watch when diving, and adjust the bezel to keep track of multi-level dives (as backup to dive computer). The bezel is a little "loose" and can be rotated accidentaly if you rub up against something, but that's only happened once to me.
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br /Some reviews complain of poor luminescence. Mine seems fine. It isn't bright enough to use as a backup night dive light :) but works well enough to see the time in the dark - I've had worse.
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br /Get the metal band. The expansion link gives a little too much extra for a 3mm wetsuit so the watch fits loosely (but not enough to slip off). It's perfect for a 5 or 7mm suit.
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br /Accuracy is good. About a minute per month.
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br /The only problem I have is setting the date at the end of a 28/30 day month. I have a hard time finding the "middle" setting on the winder (it isn't a winder, but I don't know what to call it).
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br /The crystal has taken lots of knocks and bangs, but still looks like new.
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br /SUMMARY: Great watch, great price, big heavy, easy to use at 100-feet.

Excellent choice for divers or not. Personally, I love to scuba using the "monster" and its fun. Superb quality, super precision (better than my other two citizens and an orient - all automatics). The bezel gives you the impression that it's too easy to move (you're like "OMG, this will move at every touch") but eventually you'll discover that it's simply smooth and stays where you want it to. Luminocity? Forget about it. It's the brightest ever. You will practically shine. Day-date mechanism is wonderful. The crown is protected and sometimes will not be so easy to unscrew (your finger will be pressed against a metal 'knee' near the crown) but for me that was a plus. Means you cant fool around underwater. And dont press the crown extremely hard cause although it doesnt break, next time you need it, it will be difficult..
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

My husband loves this watch. He never takes a watch off so this is perfect. A nice weighty watch that not only works great but looks fantastic. Being a sea captain, the watch has really been put to the test and has passed with flying colors!! It has kept perfect time! Don't hesitate!
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br /I should have waited a while before I posted the above review. If I had known, I would have given it 1 star!! It stopped working after 6 months - not as sturdy as it looks. Oh well, live and learn. I'm going back to the Citizen Eco-drive watches!!!!

Anyone not familiar with the issues of inexpensive automatic watches should pay careful attention to the reviews and do some research. Mine gains about 2 minutes a week, but I don't mind setting the time every once in a while. Practical enough to wear every day.

First off, I was concerned about the grey market versus the regular market. I researched for a week before making this purchase. This is a grey market watch. It is all Seiko, an original, but when you receive this watch form Amazon, the Seiko warranty card is blank. "Supposedly" you cannot take/send this watch for service to an authorized Seiko repair center and have the 3yr warranty honored. Typically the card is filled out when you purchase the Monster from an authorized dealer. There is an Amazon 1yr warranty that comes with this watch which is reassuring.
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br /That being said, this watch is awesome. Very heavy and well designed. The stainless steel band itself is very nice to look at. It's wide and rugged. I have a big wrist and I'm still going to have to have it resized. As another reviewer stated, "this is a nice chunk of metal." The Lume on this watch is amazing. Wore it one day in good sunny conditions and the Monster glowed all night and into the morning after 8 hours of sleep.
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br /As far as keeping perfect time, I'm not so concerned with that as I'm not a diver. Just a lover of dive watches. However my Monster has been keeping perfect time once the movement was exercised. Had no problem taking it off over night and setting it on the side stand. Kept time as far as I can tell.
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br /Summary: I was concerned about the warranty when purchasing this watch but so far it is performing well and it's one of the nicest "Diver's" I've ever owned. I have no idea how Amazon can offer it so cheaply but in my opinion it was worth the purchase. One other negative besides the warranty. I would've preferred that the day and date were painted with the Lume. You can't see it at night. Not a big deal but would've been nice. I give this purchase 5 stars.
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I just wanted to say how happy I was about this watch.
br /I bought it in May 2006, so over 1 year now, and never had a problem with it.
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br /First, when I use it every day for the entire day it stores enough energy for a good 36 hours and not 10 hours like some other customers said.
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br /Second, it is true that it runs a bit fast (about 2 minutes/week), but ALL automatic watches do that more or less. I don't care what brand, no automatic watch is as exact as a quartz watch, just because it is a mechanical watch fact.
br /I also have a Rolex, it is also automatic and it is also not very exact.
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br /So what? Fifty years ago no watch was exact and people lived very well, with less stress and hectic!
br /Now most people have that crazy notion of "everything must be exact to the second" and "have no time to waste" or no time for anything anymore.
br /For sure no time to relax and enjoy life! There are more important things then having a watch that is precise to 100's of a second!
br /As a side note: I noticed that most people that carry a watch that is precise to the 100's of a second, are always late for an appointment, how strange now, isn't it?
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br /To resume, the watch is great, really waterproof (I dive down to 100 - 150 feet), solid as a rock, looks good, very bright at night and makes me happy!
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br /I guess most of the "party poopers" who gave a bad review, got a lemon (this happens with any brand), so exchange the watch and relax a bit!
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The watch is indestructible. But as someone else has suggested, I should have bought the steel belted one, with a rubber strap as a replacement... The watch keeps a few mins plus/minus per month... Solid. Buy it if you like the image, the watch is better in real life. I prefer it over the rubber strapped one I got earlier...
br /Just got time to update from Jan 2008- the resin-silicone band gave way while on the wrist. An embarrassment of sorts to have the watch drop like that. Anyway, this just re-affirms that the steel belt is THE way to go. And for all the tricks that the Citizen (reviewed elsewhere) this watch remains my number one pet.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2Q44B6BYVJVZ8 I picked this one, and my friend picked the "Pepsi" model. They both use the same inner workings. Both were good deals here at Amazon and I did a lot of searching before I bought.

One minor nit, one of the other reviews has "The stainless steel unidirectional scalloped bezel moves freely at 120", it's actually only 60. But really, you aren't going to be able to time up to 30 seconds using a bezel. Comparing the two watches and the bezel on mine moves a tad more freely.

I got the one with the metal band on this watch and it is heavy. It's the solid link version and it's a good deal even if you plan on swapping it out for the black plastic version. So you might want to look at the other offerings.

The watch case looks bigger than it is. I compared it to another large watch and the case is identical, but because the edges aren't super rounded it looks bigger. On the other hand if you wear it with a long sleeve dress shirt it will hang on the edge of the cuff. No big deal really but some folks like the slim profile watches for going out on the town, or at the office.

The luminescence is good. It's very bright at first because there is a lot of the material to light up. And unlike the Pepsi model the end of the second hand that points to the seconds has the stuff on it. The X007/9 models have the stuff on the back end. But in the dark do you really care? After two hours, the glow in the dark was the same as my other watch. So they claim it's some sort of special stuff but it seems to work as well as all the rest except the Luminox watches which have some radioactive decay stuff which powers the luminescent stuff.

The video is to show how bright it is as the light fades. I charged it outside for 2 minutes and then took this video.

Anyway I'm pleased with it. Even being an automatic and keeping less than perfect time (my cell phone has the atomic clock in it) It's close enough.

Watch is a nice, well built stainless steel watch. Keeps good time.
Need to wear it all the time to make sure it is winding.If you wear a different watch all the time you may want to get one with a battery.
Nice stainless steel band with watch ,may need to have link removed by jeweler. If you dive ,this watch is nice for deep water 660'.
Never need to worry about watch seal, no batteries needed.
Just as I expected on the web. Watch was delivered in 2 days.

I admit I had a bit of a buyer's remorse after I had hit the BUY button to order this watch. This was, after all, the first Seiko automatic movement watch I was purchasing. But from reading the many excellent reviews here and elsewhere, I felt that I was making a pretty good bet on this watch. I don't think I can add more to the reviews here, but I do want to help others make a good decision on the watches they are adding to their collection. I can see why others are saying that this is going to be a classic. The watch has a very aggressive design, and the heft of it makes it feel like a very substantial watch. Granted, the 7S26 movement leaves something to be desired as a great movement, but I think it serves its purpose here at the price point we are talking about and the kind of watch in question. It is a tank of a watch, and it will be noticed. I don't dive, so I won't be able to test the watch for what it is made for, but from what I have read, the watch easily exceeds the 200M water resistance rating. Adjusting the bracelet was not too much of a problem, but I did think that the pins and retaining sleeves were a bit flimsy and hard to work with; be careful when you are using a the link tool with this. That said, the bracelet is actually pretty comfortable to my wrist and looks very nice with the watch. As the others have said, do buy the steel bracelet version over the rubber strap version. The rubber strap is available from strap retailers for around $40, and the ease of which you can change out the bracelet will give you more options. A great watch to start your Seiko auto collection with.

simply the best dive watch you can buy in this price bracket. the bracelet is my favorite part of the watch, and it is made better than many more expensive watches. the lume on the face is also one of the best, i can still see it when i wake up! the automatic winding works great if worn daily and the watch keeps really good time out of the box. the bezel rotates with ease and the screw down crown easily engages its threads. all in all the monster is one of the best seiko divers you can get.

I was in the market for a drivers watch that had a larger than normal dial for quite some time. I was trying to stay around $500. Initially, I was drawn to the Tag F1, but ruled it out for the size of the dial wasn't large enough. I looked at some Swiss Army models, but I was hesitant on the durability and couldn't find any reasonable discounts. My friend had an older Seiko auto divers watch that I liked, but hardly any retailers carried the Seiko divers or discounted more than 15%. The Monster on Amazon caught my eye compounded with the excellent price and reviews. I kind of upset when I received the watch, for it's not any larger than the regular Seiko divers. I had the watch for 3 months now and have no complaints. It will run more than 24 hours without any motion. Keeps good time and looks good. Great deal for less than $150.

Has a nice weight to it, and once you figure out how to set it the first time, its never a problem again. The recessed face, and domed glass, adds great depth to it. No matter what, some part of the watch will catch the light, making it really stand out well. Heavy, definitely but I prefer the weight to a plastic feeling Ti watch myself. Solidly built, I've had it for a few months now and there's only one scratch on the face (which is totally my fault) the offset crown is more convenient and easy to use. Overall a simple nice looking, durable watch for any occasion!

What a great watch. I mean, what a GREAT watch!!!! If you are even thinking about buying this, go ahead. You will not regret it. Be sure to get the metal band and buying the rubber strap later on. This thing is a hunk of watch. The lume is like a flashlight. I just think the watch is beautiful and for the price, an amazing deal. Go for it. GREAT!!

I received my Black Monster in the mail today. Paying $10 for the 'next day' service was well worth it for a watch that we're not supposed to even be able to buy in the USA. It arrived 'running' so I did not have to shake it for 30 seconds to start the automatic movement.
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br /This watch is replacing my battery powered Seiko Chronograph 50m that I had cracked the bezel on a few years back. Even after repairing that watch, I had been looking for a stainless Seiko diver ever since.
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br /I'm used to a big watch, but nothing as big as the Black Monster (BM). I had the band reduced by 3 segments by a professional jeweler for a mere $5. I'd say I have an average wrist, and it now fits perfectly. You don't want this thing flapping around loosely.
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br /I have quite a few timepieces, and this is my nicest watch so far. I look forward to the looks and questions I will get about it tomorrow!
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br /I think this watch would look nice with a dress shirt, but something a little more fancy like a dual metal Citizen Eco Drive might be in order if you were wearing a suit.
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br /Oh - this is supposed to be for diving, but I get the feeling the only place that I will get this watch wet is the pool or beach.

This past weekend I was at Macy's looking at automatic watches and I became very fond of the Seiko's, specifically the Black Monster. After speaking to the sales rep, she informed me they would be going on sale this weekend (regular price $375, sale was 25% off) so I decided to wait. Because I was so interested in this watch I began researching it and came across amazon.com selling the watch for more than 50% off. Wow, $150. I had to buy it and this is by far the BEST watch I have in my collection. I only SCUBA dive once or twice a year and cannot wait to take it with me. This watch has excellent features such as an awesome bezel, 21-jewel movement and the sturdy SS band. I am so glad I bought this watch and it is definitely worth the $150 bucks.

For the price, there's little competition for the black monster in terms of value. The watch looks and feels solid, great bracelet (definitely get the SS version instead of rubber), automatic (Seiko's 7s26 workhorse movement), 200m water resistant, etc. I took it to a local jeweler to resize the bracelet and mentioned that some people had trouble with it. It was done in less than 10 minutes without a problem, just take it to someone who knows what they're doing. Already thinking of also getting the orange version.

Classic Diver Automatic Watch: If Caterpillar Earth Moving Equipment Company bought out Rolex Watch Company, this is the watch that would most likely be built by the new company (Rolexpiller?). This watch is built like a chrome plated tank, it is an Automatic like the best Rolexes (Read NO Battery), which means it never needs to be opened, and is impervious to the things that kill other watches before breakfast. Perfect for a new Marine going overseas. Some don't understand the beauty of an "Automatic Watch" you need to wear it to wind it, but for those who need an extra durable, always reliable, brutally elegant watch look no further. From Quantico to Baghdad and back, you'll always know when to break for lunch, and the chicks dig it too. Note of caution: This watch is not for wussies. Photos by: John Davis

I have owned my black monster for 1 month now. I am completely statisfied with the operation and comfort of the watch. As others have stated, with proper sizing; the bracelet is very comfortable considering the fact that this is a rather large watch. The power reserve is between 28 and 32 hours as i have observed. Overall, I would purchase this item again.

Wow! It's a nice a watch as I've ever worn. It has the heft, the look and the feel of something that's much more expensive. It's built like a bank vault and looks great on my wrist. It's heavy but I imagine I'll get used to it. Thanks Seiko for building an affordable super watch for the masses.

I have the orange version (Orange Monster) of this watch, as orange dials as well as yellow dials work better in low light or murky water conditions. I have other divers as well (Citizen "Eco-Zilla" 300 metre, as well as some Omega 300 metre Seamasters). For around $200 (or less) this is a typical good quality Seiko diving watch. The bezel is 120 click, works smoothly, and is very readable. The lume is very good, even rivaling my Omega Seamaster watches.
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br /It has a slightly domed crystal, which aids in reducing reflections under water. The accuracy is OK, but not great. I suspect that if it was worn more, it would settle down a bit, but it spends a fair amount of time on one of my winders rather than my wrist.
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br /The band is really well made and very substantial. It does have a divers extension, but I replaced my band with an orange "Zulu" nylon divers band, as it is easier to use over a wetsuit, and isn't as heavy as the SS band supplied by Seiko. This watch takes a 20 mm band.
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br /The dial is very legible, well made, and uncluttered. I wish that they would make one with a yellow face, but the orange looks great too. The finish on the case and bezel is good, and the watch really looks more expensive than it really is.
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br /This is a great beater, and is a good addition to your dive computer as a timing back-up device. This is my second Seiko diver. My first was a 150 metre diver that I bought over 30 years ago, and that one still runs to this day. If that is any indication, this one should give years of service with only a few trips to the watch maker for adjustment, cleaning, and lubrication.
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br /Again, in typical Seiko fashion, you certainly get your money's worth out of this watch. I would not hesitate to recommend this, or any other Seiko diver, for actual diving use or for those "desk" divers out there.

Excellent watch. Better quality (less "clangy") than the Invicta diver I had. In fact, I'd rate the quality on par with Omega, but not Rolex. My bezel doesn't line up exactly at 12 o'clock, but neither did the $4000 Omega Seamaster PO that I tried on at the store. Incredible lume... better than the Omega 2254.50 that many people consider has the best lume... they've obviously never met the "Monster"!
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br /The reason I bought this watch is that it does not try to imitate any other watch. It's got it's own style. I'm so tired of all the watches that copy bits and pieces of Omega and Rolex watches.
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br /Highly recommended.
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I received this watch in three days. That was unbelievable. This watch is an outstanding value. It keeps perfect time. You can't go wrong with this one

I really enjoy this watch. The value,look, and nuance is unbelievable. It just gives that impression that you can side with legendary watches out there.

This is everything I wanted in a watch - great looking and so far keeps great time.

The Black Monster is a great, big watch. During the dark months it is easy to read the big glowing hands. Getting started and setting couldn't be easier. This compares favorably to the frequently nonintuitive programming for electronic movements. I couldn't be happier with the purchase. If it said "Swiss" instead of "Seiko" it would cost 10X.

I recently purchased this watch from a jewelry store and I am very happy with the watch. This watch is a classic for many reasons.
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br /Every now and then, a company produces a product that stands out from the other items they produce. The newer products may perform better, but the classic will retain its loyal following. An example of this is with golf club companies. I have heard golfers say that such and such clubs are the best clubs that the company Ping ever made. They continue to make changes to their clubs, but they cannot duplicate the impact of that certain model. Although the newer models may actually be improved versions, they will never have that certain feel of the original. The "Black Monster" is such a product.
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br /Casio has the original G-Shock watch that is another classic. The newer G-Shocks may have more features, and be more user freindly, but they will never replace the original when it comes to the faithful.
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br /Anyway, the "Black Monster" is a heavy watch. To me, that is part of the charm of it. It's also pretty shiny by my standards. Again, part of the charm. It's cool how the second hand moves around the dial like how all of the watches used to before quartz watches came along. Also, for people like myself that are farsighted, it is very easy to read the time.
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br /If you can afford it, and you want to get it, you should go ahead and get it. You'll love this watch! It is so different from any other watch out there. It is a simple watch with classic styling.

Thank you for selling me this fine watch. I have read about this Seiko diver (the Black Monster)on a lot of the watch forums, and it lives up to its reputation.
br /1. Delivery...sent over in a few days.
br /2. Package...kept very simple to keep prices down.
br /3. Watch face...great design...fun watch.
br /4. Bezel...nice and smooth. Solid stainless...tough.
br /5. Band...very solid and tough.
br /6. Time...good time.
br /7. Worksmanship...very good.
br /8. Price...compares to watches $500 to $1000. Makes it hard to understand pricing. This watch makes prices appear topsy-turvy.
br /A three hundred dollar watch should be two times as good as this
br /watch. I doubt if such a watch exists.
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I love the watch! Incredible strong as I am very tough on things. Keeps time well, but runs fast. Rolex owners are always loving the watch and asking who it's made by. Seiko, and it's an automatic, good to 200 meter's. It is sturdier than my Tag 2000 Pro. This Seiko is a "Monster of a Deal" That Glows in the Dark!A Must If You are Looking for A Great Looking Reliable, Sturdy Automatic for A Price This is it!

Great experience with the seller - excellent communication and the product arrived, exactly as promised. Highly recommend.

Finally got my black Monster, and it's an incredible value. I never really wanted one, read many, many reviews, then finally decided to purchase one, received it, and now I know what the fuss was all about. Let me tell you that Watch Pavilion.com did a good job: delivery as stated, and excellent packaging.
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br /It makes you wonder why this watch is about the most reviewed/talked about watch on the Internet.
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br /Angelis
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Ordered the stainless steel bracelet version but received the rubber diving band version. I decided to keep it and so far it has performed correctly on my watch winder and on the wrist.
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br /It is running about 15 seconds per day fast so far which seems to be typical of Seiko automatic wind mechanical watches. For some reason mechanical watch manufacturers seem to favor running fast to running slow.

Cannot really add more praise than many of us did here, but I bought mine very recently and it seems that the movement has been improved since July 2006. The new movement seems to be more precise. My watch is very precise for an automatic... only +1 in two days. I was very suprised because most of the reviews on the net mention otherwise (like +5/+7 or more) Just to let any potential buyer know; check out the production date if possible, the newer the better!

The Seiko "Black Monster" is a steal for the price. This watch is built like a tank.

Great, durable attractive watch, great dark viewing, but the bracelet's pin and sleeve system is a large pain and may prove to be unreliable since the pins can poke out a little sometimes. I push 'em back in, knowing there could be a failure ahead. Otherwise very attractive and sturdy. Tough to size by yourself, much better to be done at a shop. It deserves the superior Rolex screw-type assembly. Or just have an alternate diving band for safety since the watch will probably last forever!

If the Spartan's from the movie '300' would have worn watches, it would have been this one:)
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br /Pro's:
br /Remarkably accurate (3-6 seconds fast a day).
br /Super tough and yet elegant design.
br /Superior workmanship.
br /Easily readable under any condition.
br /WOW Effect! - This watch is a real looker, people notice it and ask questions about it.
br /Low, Low price.
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br /Con's:
br /Very Heavy, and quite large, this watch is for people who don't mind carrying a huge chunk of metal on their wrist.
br /Low Power reserve, about 16-22 Hours in my case.
br /Will make the owner stare at it for lengthy periods of time:)
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br /Summary:
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br /Great watch, Great price! Get one and then go out and buy another one for your best friend, he will appreciate it:)

I love this watch. It looks even better when you get it than it does in the pictures. I read some complaints about the watch keeping innacurate time, but that hasnt been a problem for me. The watch lost about 5 minutes the first month I had it. This was definately a great purchase - especially since they are still sold at the local mall for around $400. Overall a really great watch that I am very happy to own.

Recieved this watch yesterday night and so far I'm colored very very pleased.
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br /One concern I had was that the watch would be too heavy or thick on my wrist and those concerns vanished as soon as I opened the box and tried it on my wrist. I've handled a Breitling SuperOcean SteelFish and in my mind that is a watch that feels much thicker and heavier.
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br /This watch is definitely a looker with the rugged bezel and domed crystal Also very comfortable with the offset crown and high quality bracelet and clasp.
br /
br /PRO's:
br /- BEZEL! By far the best feeling bezel ever experienced. These clicks aren't your standard ratcheting clicks, but rather feel like turning the dial on an expensive swiss safe. You won't get a bezel like this on a Luminox or Traser
br /- Very large lume markers make for a small green flashlight when you first enter a dark room. (okay, an exaggeration, but the lume is good!)
br /- Bracelet and clasp quality feel very good with no sharp edges and no 'sticky' links in the bracelet.
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br /Cons;
br /- The internal movement isn't exactly the Ferrari of watch movements. In fact it might not even be a Lexus. But its a Toyota... Make that a used Toyota. Yeah, that trusty old used Toyota you used to drive back in high school... the red one with rust on the rear wheel well. Reliable, slow, and cheap. But hey for the price it's still a great deal.
br /- The nature of this type of lume means that after a couple hours the brightness is drastically reduced. However the initial brightness is much greater than that of a tritium watch, it will eventually dim to a brightness lower than the tritium watch over the course of a night. (see article for details: http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=144)
br /- No hack movement, makes setting precise time to the second difficult
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br /I'll update in 6 months after continuous wear...
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Purchased this piece about a month ago and I must say I am quite pleased. The name the Black Monster may be a little extreme because it isn't a massive piece, and I'm a guy with fairly small wrists. I find the size just right. Don't know about the rubber band but unless you hate the metal band version go with it because it is quite comfortable and you can always purchase a rubber later.
br / Don't know about the accuray of it, but I'm fairly certain it's on par with the rest. Overall, it was a decent purchase even though living in Canada the shipping and Import charges added another eighty clams. Even high end watch collectors wouldn't be amiss to have this baby. Peace.

I had an older Seiko watch that I loved but had to replace when the crystal cracked and battery ran down. I inquired how much to replace both and was disappointed to find that it would cost quite a bit and since the watch itself was under 100 bucks, I decided to pass and get a new watch. Christmas came along and I purchased a Relic watch and it was great, but I always felt like it was missing something, so when my relic band started falling apart after a year, I decided to get this watch. I had been looking at it for many months and I love it. Its heavy, but not too heavy, I actually like a heavy watch. The Lumibrite hands are amazing, super brite! I live in Florida and checked numerous stores for anything like this and came up short. I am very thrifty and would not spend over 200 bucks for a watch, so the price was right even though this watch looks like a much more expensive watch. I have owned it for a month now and still get excited everytime I put it on.

This watch is solid as a rock and works great. It currently is my personal favorite and I wear it everyday. I get compliments on it all of the time. I recommend the Black Monster to anyone wanting to wear a serious time piece.

This watch is everything you can ask for a diver's watch. I love it! It's a heavy watch as well.

For the money, this is the coolest watch I have seen. If you want a watch that will impress your friends, look elsewhere, because most non-watch people won't appreciate it. Most people don't realize that Seiko makes excellent quality watches. I love mechanical watches, and this is the best bargain around. My watch is almost perfectly accurate (unheard of for a mechanical watch). I simply adjust the position I leave the watch at night, and it speeds it up or slows it down slightly as needed. Very high quality for little money.
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br /By the way, you will probably never see another person with this watch, because Seiko dealers don't sell this in the United States.

At first, i disliked this watch when i saw it in the internet. Looks ugly and big, dial looks flat, bracelet looks bland, but i did the right thing on ordering this watch. When i received and put it on my wrist for the 1st time, i said WOW this is looks so much better than in the picture. This is definitely a watch which you have to see and try yourself. Nice bracelet for such a low cost watch, the lume can't be better in fact it is by far the most brightest lume i've ever had. The bracelet, bezel and casing makes the watch feel really solid and can take "abuse" without problem. The movement is great, out of the box it gains +15/day, after 1 month it has slowed down to +3-5/day. Very happy with it ^^.

This Seiko Black Monster dive watch is a fantastic value. If you need/want an automatic (non-quartz) dive watch you CANNOT go wrong with this watch. It's very well made with a quality solid stainless steele band with a locking clasp. This watch should be priced at $300+, it's a real bargin.

I took delivery of a Seiko Black Monster January 14th ordered and shipped from Amazon. I was happy to see the package delivered as promised on time by UPS. I was nervous when I heard the rather large box make a rattle from inside when turned from side to side. The packaging could have used a couple more air pillows, and allowed side to side movement of the watch box inside. The watch was brand new, never worn, and started right up when activated as directed. The quality is amazing, the watch is heavy and well finished. It keeps great time for me, (I am not one to worry about seconds lost or gained), and is more than I expected. I would definetly order from Amazon again, having no issues with them with this or any past order I made with them.

We bought one to "try" - as this was our first Amazon watch purchase. Because of the insane savings we were skeptical...Well, what a watch!!! It's a real looker. Luxurious weight...beautiful glimmer...it's a watch with attitude: The Perfect Watch for the three sons! So, a few days later a courier delivered three more to the door. They are all so proud wearing the Monster...it looks FANTASTIC on all of them...and the performance is great. It's not worn to bed at night and in the morning still has kept time...so, so far so good!
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br /Will DEFINITELY order another Amazon.com watch. Oh! And the bonus, as well, is that this particular watch cannot be bought in stores in Canada (where we live), we were told.

I really like the Black Monster. It is super solid and feels like it cost alot more that what it did.
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It's a great watch. My boyfriend loves it. It looks fabulous and tough. But somehow it is hard to adjust. But anyway, it's a one time work, so we make it work. It worthes the money.

I used to own this Seiko Black Monster. It really was a looker of a watch. Good craftsmanship, durable case and bracelet, and very bright luminous markers. It had good waterproofing too. But when it started to gain at least a minute a day, and stopped on me for a couple of hours, like another owner's experience, I just had to avail of Amazon's excellent return policy. (Thank you so much Amazon.com, I will always remain your loyal customer).

I received this watch in the typical Amazon free shipping. Unfortunately, the watch I believe was a lemon. Did not keep time from the start. Keeps stalling and I would have to shake it vigorously. I followed all the directions, but it would stall after about 5-6 hours. I've had Seiko auto before and never had a problem. The good news is that the return policy at Amazon is second to none so I will continue to shop here.

I just love this watch. It's tough but light and comfortable. Easy to read and highly functional. I recommend it without reservations!

Looks cool. Stopped working after 3 months.
br /Amazon said we'll ship you a new one,
br /then said you gotta ship it to us, then said it's off
br /our warranty.
br /Buyer beware.
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Well I had an Omega Seamaster and I definitely will not say this is the same quality or movement, what I will say is that those looking for something nice to wear thats tuff and has automatic movement (albeit Japanese, so it is nowhere near as smooth as a nice swiss movement) but that said it isnice to wear, feels good on your arm and lets face it is a steal at this price! it is not too big at all, it is about 41 mm across and the thickness is what makes it feel a bit bigger- smooth bezel movement and luminescent markers are nice touches- I would definitely buy this is you want something between 0 and 600 dollars- above that look into BALL and Omega as well as TAG but thats again after 600 and this is under 200!

The"Black Monster" is every days operational and we know it because the nice loading in our arm -right arm .

Save your money on this one, friends. This is the third Seiko that I own right now (the second diver), and it is just like the other two--nice looking in the daytime, but if you want to read it during the night hours, you are going to need a flashlight. I was sincerely hoping this one would be different with all of the hype about the greatly improved luminescence, but it is not. The pictures of this watch's bright luminescence that are on the internet had to be taken right after the watch was exposed to a light source. It is not that bright otherwise. If you just want to wear it in the daytime, it is a great looking watch. If you want one you can read at night, buy a Luminox. I have two of those diver watches, and they remain bright all night long.

Very disappointed in the watch and Amazon. The day/date did not work on delivery but I was unaware of it until the end of February when I tried to manually change the date. I found that it was broken at that time, about a week after I received the watch. The day/date did change automatically each night. Amazon refused t orepalce it because I had the band adjusted. Seiko refused t oreplace it but said they would repair it and have it back to me in 3-4 weeks! Had I purchased it from a REPUTABLE local store I could have exchanged it for a new watch.

LOOKED GOOD ON ME THIS WATCH BUT I FOUND OUT JUST IN TIME THAT THIS DID NOT CARRY SEIKO'S REGULAR TWO OR THREE YEAR WARRANTY SINCE IT IS A GREY MARKET WATCH. HAVING READ THE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SEIKO MONSTER I DECIDED I NEEDED A WARRANTY. SO FOR THIS SIMPLE REASON I HAD TO RETURN IT TO AMAZON RIGHT AWAY AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF EXCHNAGING IT WITH ANOTHER BRAND THAT DOES HAVE WARRANTY.

i did not expect this watch to be so b-i-g! shiny, giant sized, and heavy. if that's what you want-then it's for you. i consider myself of medium height/weight and this timepiece appears to be built for a very big person.

As a watch lover, I love the look and the feel of this watch. It is solid well polished. However, the one that I own does not wind correctly. I have to swing it for a long time to wind it as it does not allow manual winding. It runs for several hours and stops. Although my daily routine is not considered as very physically demanding, it is more than enough to keep my IWC GST, TISSOT PR50, and TISSOT PRC100 fully winded. Although I like the way this watch looks, I would not recommand it.

I'm sure I'm like a lot of you, this isn't my only watch. The trouble I have with this watch is the very short memory of the self-winding system. If I take the watch off and set it on the dresser while I sleep, the self-winder runs out and I have to re-set the watch in the morning.
If I decide to wear another watch for a day, needless to say I have to re-set this watch when I want to wear it next.
Call me lazy, but it gets to be a hassle for living day to day with this watch.

if price is too good to be true, it most often is - even from an amazon listed vendor's deal offering this watch at $23.97. if an item is priced listed here order isn't fulfilled by an affiliate vendor, amazon should require them to make good on the price. regardless, if a vendor cancels an order, amazon should allow account members to make vendor comments. vendor comments are not an option to choose if the order doesn't fulfill! order wasn't canceled by the mister company(trying not to name them here) until 5 days after placed i suspected the price as a leader/come on. i ordered it anyhow am disappointed not to receive this watch nor an offer from the company to make it right.

When I first got this watch I was thrilled. It has a nice movement and has very powerful illumination. The problem started when I went to the store to get the bracelet sized for my puny wrists. The guy asked me if this was some kind of overstock or gray market, because the pins in the bracelet popped out like nothing. At the time I thought he was just po'd because I didnt buy the watch at the store. As soon as I was home though the bracelet fell apart. What a piece of junk! I regret buying this watch and I advise against it.

My Seiko Black Monster purchased through Amazon has been the single most disappointing Seiko product that I have ever owned. It will not keep time accurately and will run down within one hour if not worn constantly. Sent to Seiko for repair. They sent it back "fixed." It still doesn't work as advertised. Save your money, or go Kinetic, or Eco-Drive.