New-kind of.

[foghorn]

Some call it a Super Monster,some say Gen. 3 Monster, but whatever it is, it's a lot different from the first monsters.

The Seiko Monster has been around the better part of 2 decades and I owned both a black and orange version back in the early days. ( Most WIS probably had at least one ) This was back when a watch in the 42 mm area was , indeed , a monster. I enjoyed mine for awhile but then got real tired of that ever present (at the time) damn 7s26/36 shake and bake, no hacking, inaccurate yet in every freaking Seiko diver in the world. If you wanted an affordable Seiko automatic diver you were pretty much given the option of one movement, and that was the 7S (for shit) movement. Yeah I know that they are "bullet proof" (probably not really) and iconic in an Ed Wood sort of way but I ended up dumping every watch I had with that shake and bake, non hacking,inaccurate everpresent in every freaking Seiko diver in the world movement. Buh-bye Orange Knight, 173, White Samurai. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
The next generation offered a bit of a movement upgrade and gave the watch hacking/handwinding but the dial looked like some toothy sea creature ready to bite you in the taint or maybe worse.

This one here still has a reasonable size of 42.3 mm. Thanks to Seiko for not making it 44 mm like every other watch they manufacture these days. The dial is back closer to the Gen. 1 monsters and they finally put a (IMO) decent movement- the 6r15 in it. The crown is now gnurled (best word ever) and a cyclops has been added, which I don't mind but others don't see eye to eye with me on that subject. The dial on this one is a dark blue that looks black half the time. Bracelet still has the agida producing pins and collars that I take to the Moroccan guy at the mall rather than risk an early death. I like it. It's almost got a vintage feel these have been around for so long.
It costs a lot more than previous iterations but history has shown that Seiko fanbois have no qualms about paying top dollar for discoed items, which this will surely be within a year. But this is probably a keeper. I've been waiting 16 years for it.




The blackish look






The blue hue








Still has the monster lume

[labman]

Nice - but you didn't wait for the PADI version.

[foghorn]

Nice - but you didn't wait for the PADI version.

[MAX]

I like it!!!

Had both the original orange and original black but never warmed up to them probably because of the movement as you described . 2nd gen dials sucked. This one is nicer.

I did like the original bracelet though. Is this one the same? Pins and collars never bothered me but I developed a methodology for them.

[Racer-X]

I never cared for the way the lume looked green when not charged on the original. I see they’ve cured that here along with bringing back the squared-off markers vs the shark teeth on the V2.

Along with the movement, I agree this is the best version of the monster. Hard to believe what the V1 sell for these days when this is available.

[conjurer]

That's fucking nice, foggy! Once you go Monster, you know to flog your lobster!!

[Rusty]

Yup, very nice pickup. I think Seiko finally got the Monster right. Congrats and enjoy.

[artman]

That's the most badass and classy monster ever. I like that a lot.

[foghorn]

New shoos for this watch hear todays.

[smellody]

I had an orange one back when I was younger (circa 2004). I wore it to Tijuana.

That's a nice one. Is it a Say-ko?

[TemerityB]

42.3. Really!

That's one that's food for thought, while admiring your new watch from afar, noble rooster.

[biglove]

Thumbs up.

[Kahuna74]

I like Mr. foggy. Well done sir. I still have my Fire Monster, it gets very little wrist time as my likes go off in other directions.

[codguy]

Nicest Monster yet.

I don't like the X on the dial (but then again I didn't like "SEIKO" on the dial of the Grand SEIKOS either)....... but what do I know.

If it wasn't for owning a Gen-1, I would be purchasing one of these too.