Seiko Monster

The Seiko Monster is what fans of the brand call a series of diving watches first created by Seiko in the year 2000 as part of their Seiko 5 Sports collection. The nickname refers to the watch's unique design: Monster models have substantial dimensions, measuring just over 42 mm in diameter and approximately 13 mm in height. They also feature large indices resembling teeth and a powerful rotating bezel, which also seems to be inspired by the ivories of a predator.

Other characteristic Monster design elements include a crown at 4 o'clock, a broad arrow-shaped hour hand, automatic in-house caliber, water resistance up to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft), and short lugs. The latter merge seamlessly into the timepiece's shield-like case, which protects both dial and crown from impacts. A similar construction can be found on another popular Seiko diver, the Tuna.

So far, Seiko has released four generations of Monster watches, including a number of extremely limited models and editions originally intended only for the Asian market, now highly coveted by collectors.

Seiko's Monster watches have been part of the Prospex collection since their second incarnation. There are also a number of models in other collections that borrow design elements from the Monster, like the Trek Monster, Land Monster, and Baby Monster.

Prices for the Seiko Monster start at around 350 USD and can climb to over 2,000 USD for especially rare limited editions. At the lower end of the spectrum, you'll find current fourth-gen Monsters like the references SRPD27K1 and SBDY033. For another 100 to 200 USD, you can call a current special edition like the Monster PADI (SRPE27K1) or "Save the Ocean" (SRPG57K1) your own. First-generation models such as the so-called Orange or Black Monster change hands for between 400 and 550 USD.

If you're interested in rarer editions with such illustrious names as the Halloween, Dracula, or Snow Monster, plan to spend quite a bit more: prices of between 700 and 1,600 USD are not uncommon. You'll see similar sums for third-gen Monsters, which come equipped with the high-quality caliber 6R15.

Collector's editions such as the Moon Monster SRP457K1, limited to only 1,313 pieces, demand an investment of up to 2,300 USD.

In 2000, Seiko introduced the first Monster, reference SKX779, which fans dubbed the Black Monster due to its black dial. Shortly thereafter came the Orange Monster SKX781, which, as the name implies, has an orange dial. You'll recognize a first-gen Monster by the small Arabic numerals printed above the bar indices marking the minutes; later models do not feature these numerals.

The watch is powered by the simple but robust caliber 7S26, known to be a real workhorse among movements. However, you'll have to do without stop seconds or a manual winding mechanism. The watch has a day/date display at 3 o'clock (a typical feature of the Seiko 5 line) and boasts a power reserve of 40 hours.

You can vanquish one of these primal Monsters for between 370 and 500 USD on Chrono24.

The Snow Monster and Its Colorful Siblings

In addition to the two standard variants intended for the international market, Seiko also released a number of limited edition Monsters intended exclusively for the Asian market. These timepieces differentiated themselves from the international models in two ways: First, the limited editions are powered by the caliber 7S36, which features 23 jewel bearings, i.e. two more jewel bearings than caliber 7S26. Second, the limited Asian market editions offer a significantly wider array of dial colors, including yellow, blue, red, and green, as well as a white dial with a blue railroad minute track.

The latter is known by its nickname, the Snow Monster (ref. SKZ331), and is highly coveted among collectors. Models in good condition are rare and often fetch over 1,500 USD. The same goes for the other color models, which are often even harder to find; the Yellow Monster, for example, was limited to just 300 pieces.

Dark As Night: The Night Monster

Seiko expanded the collection in 2007 with the Night Monster. The nickname derives from the fact that the case, bezel, and bracelet are coated in black; in all other aspects, the watch is identical to the stainless steel version. The dial comes in orange, black, white, or purple.

First-gen Night Monster models like the Purple Monster SZEN007 changes hands on Chrono24 for around 370 USD.

The second generation of Monsters, released by Seiko in 2012, feature a re-designed dial. Here, the bar indices of the first generation have been replaced by tapered hour markers. The shape is strongly reminiscent of fangs, lending this generation of Monsters an even more aggressive look.

The release of the second generation also marked the introduction to the Monster line of the caliber 4R36. In contrast to the first-gen calibers 7S26 and 7S36, the 4R36 can be wound by hand. The movement also boasts stop seconds. Together, these two functions represent a qualitative upgrade to the Monster that is reflected in the price: A second-generation Black Monster with the reference number SPR307 demands an investment of approximately 650 USD, while a second-gen Orange Monster ref. SRP309 will set you back about 590 USD.

Second-Gen Special Editions

The second generation also offers Monster enthusiasts a rich variety of watches. A relatively affordable variant known as the Orange/Black Monster, ref. SRP315, combines a stainless steel case with a black bezel and an orange dial with an underlying black minute track. You can buy this model on Chrono24 for around 400 USD.

The so-called Monster Dracula and Monster Halloween are also popular with fans of the brand. The former, ref. SRP313K1, combines a stainless steel case and bezel with a black dial featuring white hands and indices trimmed in red, making them look like bloody fangs – hence the nickname. The Monster Halloween (ref. SRP311K1) is reminiscent of a jack-o-lantern and belongs to Seiko's family of Night Monsters. The case, bezel, and bracelet are coated in black, while the dial is orange, running to black, with white indices. Depending on the model and condition of the watch, plan to spend between 710 and 780 USD.

References SRP457 and SRP459 are coveted collector's items. Also known as the Moon and Sun Monsters, these timepieces are limited to a few thousand copies, and were released exclusively for the Asian market. Both are technically Night Monsters with special dial designs. The dial of the Moon Monster is yellow, running into black, and features a crescent moon at its center. The diving scale on the rotating bezel is also yellow. The Sun Monster, by contrast, has a red dial running to black, with a red, orange, and yellow sun at its center, and matching red markings on the bezel. Both watches are extremely rare and change hands for upwards of 2,000 USD.

2013 marked the birth of a third generation of Monsters. Seiko re-worked the dial design for this collection, adding wedge-shaped indices. Another notable difference is that third-gen Monster editions only have a date display. The reason for this is the line's new movement, caliber 6R15. Like the caliber 4R36, the 6R15 comes with stop seconds and hand-winding functions, but also boasts a 50-hour power reserve – almost 10 hours more than the 4R36. The X above 6 o'clock on the dial is a visual reminder that the watch belongs to the Prospex line, the home to all Monsters since the second generation.

Third-gen Monster watches are only available in stainless steel, with a stainless steel bezel. Along with the traditional Monster dial colors orange and black, this generation also offers blue, white, and numerous sunburst dials. Prices for these timepieces range from around 840 to 1,150 USD.

Seiko presented the fourth generation of Monsters in 2019. As with each previous generation, the manufacturer made some design changes. Just one example from this generation is the return to bar indices – but with more slender bars this time around, which gives the dial a less aggressive look. Furthermore, the fourth generation also marked the return of the caliber 4R36 and the day/date display. Another new design element can be found in the bezel, which on standard models is now black with white markers.

The dial is comes in black (ref. SRPD27K1) and blue (ref. SRPD25K1). The black dial has a matte finish, and the blue dial has a discreet sunburst pattern. Depending on the variant you choose, plan to spend between 350 and 425 USD.

The fourth generation also includes some especially popular special editions, like the Monster PADI and the Monster "Save the Ocean" Antarctica. The PADI model with the reference number SRPE27K1 is dedicated to Seiko's long-standing cooperation with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Like all past PADI models, the Monster PADI also utilizes the diving association's blue and red color scheme. In this instance, the bezel is blue, while the minute and second hands are red, as is the zero marker on the bezel. The dial itself is black, with "PADI" inscribed at 6 o'clock. The Monster PADI changes hands for approximately 475 USD.

The Monster "Save the Ocean" Antarctica (SRPG57K1) sets itself apart from other fourth-gen models primarily by having a stainless steel bezel. Furthermore, the dial on this timepiece comes with a fine pattern reminiscent of frost. The dial's light blue gradient accentuates the effect. The watch originated from a cooperation between Seiko and the Save the Ocean Organization, which is dedicated to saving the world's oceans. You can buy the Monster STO Antarctica on Chrono24 for around 475 USD.

The success of the Monster line prompted Seiko to create timepieces with similarly striking design elements as part of its more affordable sports watch collection 5 Sports – but with some modifications: The crown, for example, is located at 3 o'clock on this watch, and the lugs, with their protective shield for bezel and crown, so typical of the Monster, have given way to conventional lugs. This watch is also powered by the simple caliber 7S36, and the water-resistance has ebbed to just 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft). Because this Monster isn't as high-quality as Monsters in the standard line, fans refer to this watch as the Baby Monster.

A version of the Baby Monster known as the Mini Monster differs from the former in two ways: Mini Monsters have dials that are much closer to the design of traditional diving watches, and are fitted with the caliber 4R36.

Mini Monsters in mint condition are normally more affordable than Baby Monsters. A Mini Monster costs between 265 and 425 USD; prices for a Baby Monster start at about 635 USD and climb to around 1,165 USD.