In yesterday’s post, I started giving you my thoughts on the classic Seiko Orange Monster. Today, we’ll wrap things up. We left off yesterday with what struck me first – its size and heft. Now, on to the other observations that surprised me.
The next aspect that struck me was also size related, and concerns the strap. Normally, if you told me that there was a 20mm strap on a 42mm watch, I’d tell you that was a bad size mismatch. However, here on the Orange Monster, it works well.
I think in large part this is due to how it flares out right at the lugs before narrowing back down. This gives the visual impact of a wider strap. Also of note? The strap is rather comfortable.
Last, and certainly not least, is the lume on this badboy. You read any review on the Monster, and invariably you’ll hear about the lume on the watch. And here, it’s absolutely superb.
Now, that shot I have over there to the left is a “cheater” of sorts (I used a blacklight flashlight to get the shot), but rest assured, even with regular lighting, you’ll be able to read this in a dark room very easily. Heck, go to sleep, wake up, and it’ll still be the brightest (non-tritium) watch on your nightstand.
And now for the remaining features I haven’t covered:
- 200m water resistance
- 120 click uni-directional bezel
- Screw-down bezel
- Day-date display (with choice of language on the day)
All told, this is a solid watch that would be a solid recommendation for anyone you’re looking to buy a watch for – especially if the person hasn’t had a mechanical watch before. Just be sure to let the intended recipient know that the watch has to be worn to keep it running (no hand-wind here). Outside of that, it has the right combination of style, durability, tech, and price (easily under $200 if you search around), and is a solid addition to anyone’s collection.