Seiko

Seiko Men's SKX781K3 "Orange Monster" Automatic Dive Watch

• Quality Japanese Automatic movement; Functions without a battery; Powers automatically with the movement of your arm
• Hardlex crystal
• Case diameter: 45 mm

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

With rugged good looks to match its superior performance, this professional dive watch from Seiko is an excellent choice for all of your adventures--in or out of the water. The generously-sized 45 mm steel case showcases a bright orange dial with bold luminous hands and markers, a luminous seconds hand, and a large day/date window at the three o'clock hour. A highly scratch-resistant curved Hardlex crystal magnifies the dial, optimizing its readability. The dial is framed by a unidirectional rotating steel bezel with engraved dive time markers for safe timing of dives and other limited events. The 21-jewel Japan automatic movement means this watch winds itself with the natural motion of your wrist and never requires a battery. The watch presents on a durable contoured rubber strap with a buckle closure. Designed for scuba diving, it features a screw-down crown and caseback and is rated water resistant to 200 meters.

About Seiko
In 1877, at the age of 18, Kintaro Hattori set up business repairing the Western-style clocks that were becoming increasingly popular in Japan. By 1892, Hattori was manufacturing his own clocks in a factory he called Seikosha, from the words "seiko" meaning "exquisite," "success," or "miniature," and "sha" meaning "house." The company grew and prospered, producing its first wristwatch in 1913 and launching the Seiko brand in 1924. Technological innovation has always been a driving force in the company's history. Key milestones include Seiko's introduction of the world's first quartz watch in 1969, and its successful launch, in 1988, of the Kinetic, the world's first battery-free watch with quartz accuracy. Recognized for its technological excellence, Seiko has provided timekeeping services for the Olympic Games and the World Cup Soccer Championships. Today, the Seiko brand continues to stand for state-of-the-art technology, as well as superior quality and refined design.

Product Description

Stainless Steel Case,

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5 x 3.8 x 2.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000EI859G
• Item model number: SKX781K3
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,515 in Watches (See Top 100 in Watches)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best beater watch ever!!!, July 18, 2008

By 

Paul Francis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Seiko Men's SKX781K3 "Orange Monster" Automatic Dive Watch (Watch)

I purchased Seiko Orange Monster so that I wouldn't mess up my Rolex during weekend excursions. Now I find myself wearing it during the week. Its looks and functionality demand more and more wrist time and I am happy to oblige. The Orange Monster (OM) steers away from the "classic" diver's watch design that we have become so accustomed to. I think it has a contemporary classic appeal. This watch is an attention getter. I always receive compliments when in public.

Case/Crown

The case is constructed from 316L solid stainless steel and is very large (42 mm) and heavy. You will know when this timepiece is on your wrist. When viewed from the wrist, the watch has a deep profile. It is a little less thick than my Sea Dweller so I am going to guess that is somewhere in the 13 mm vicinity. The case back is decorated with Seiko's SCUBA emblem design which is quite attractive. The 20 mm lugs are a bit angular but I like the masculine look of them. Lug holes are drilled through making bracelet changes an easy task. It also should be noted that the case is constructed in such a fashion that is rises to protect the bezel and crown. This design does not affect the operation of the bezel and is a very well engineered touch. The screw-in crown is large and solid feeling. Lastly since this is such a large watch, the crown has been moved to the 4 o'clock position so that it sits as far out of the way as possible from the hand (when the hand is bent backwards).

Movement

It is fairly accurate for an automatic (+15 secs per 24 hrs) beating with a 23 jewel 7S26 movement designed and fabricated in-house by Seiko. Power reserve for me is around 40 hours. The second hand sweep is a little less smooth (21,500 bph) than my Rolex Sea Dweller (28,800 bph) but for the price paid it is totally acceptable. I wish it had a manual wind feature but all it needs is a couple shakes if left alone for over 40 hours. It lacks hack mechanism (where you pull the crown out and the second hand stops) but I am not on a Navy S.E.A.L. team and I have no need to synchronize my watch to the exact second to anything.

Dial/Hands/Date

The watch has a great looking dial that is uncluttered and very easy to read. The orange color used on the dial was first introduced by Doxa as their research proved that orange is the easiest color to read as light conditions deteriorate underwater. Hour markers are over sized which is a "signature" for this model. Lume is the best I have ever seen on a diver (with exception of my Luminox which uses radioactive Tritium gas filled tubes for markers). Minute and Hour hands are beefy and well lumed. Seiko also has designed the hands so that if the minute hand directly overlaps the hour hand, both are viewable. This is a thoughtful feature as anyone who has ever looked at their watch and thought "where did my hour hand go?" will surely appreciate the foresight with which they designed it. The OM includes a Day/Date window that is very legible. The date can bet set to either Spanish or English and the usual black text for weekdays is blue for Saturday and red for Sunday. Date changes do not occur instantly at midnight like on some of the higher end ETA movements. It takes roughly 4 hours (10 pm - 2am) for the date change to occur. It also should be noted the chapter ring (the edge of the dial) curves upwards along she side wall of the case. This gives the watch a deep three dimensional feel and is just one more extra step that Seiko took while designing this incredible watch.

Bezel

Bezel action is smooth and expensive feeling. The one-way ring has 120 indents, making it extra precise as it divides each minute by a factor of two. There are large indents along the outside of the bezel, making operation (even with gloves) a cinch. It was a very good design on Seiko's part for them to have the markings on the bezel engraved into the bezel rather than printed. This will add to the longevity of the watch. I like the fact the bezel is a tad higher than the crystal as it provides a bit of protection for the glass

Crystal

Seiko uses a proprietary compound developed in-house called Hardlex which is less scratch resistant than sapphire crystal but also less brittle. I have smacked the watch on its crystal a couple of times and there is not a single blemish on it...yet! Crystal is also slightly domed and it refracts reflections in a way that make it easy to read in sunlight (sort of a workaround to anti-reflective coatings).

Strap

The watch came with Seiko's rubber dive strap. It has stainless steel hardware and robust pins. I would be willing to wager that this is not a natural rubber compound as it does not attract dust. It seems a little stiff but I only wore it for a few days so it might take a little longer than that to break in. I put a NATO strap on mine and now it is perfect for wake boarding, mountain biking, and general weekend mayhem.

This is hands-down the best price to performance timepiece produced for under $500.00. I would definitely recommend this watch to anyone with an active lifestyle!!!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Substantial dive watch at a bargain price, July 16, 2007

By 

Jeffrey W. Thomas (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I bought this watch for daily wear and for diving in locations that I would be nervous wearing my Omega Seamaster. I prefer a watch with some heft to it, so if you don't want a heavy weight on your arm, you would be better served with a titanium watch or a Luminox. Compared to my Omega, the "Orange Monster" has a similar heft and size. From a diving standpoint, the luminous hands are actually more readable than my Omega and the unidirectional bezel is easier to turn when wearing gloves. (Some might think the bezel is a little too easy to turn, but I appreciate the fact that the serrations allow you to turn it while wearing neoprene gloves.) My only minor complaint is that the dial is actually in two pieces: There is a small plastic outer trim ring inside the watch resting on the main dial which looks just a little cheap. Things I love are the heft, the style, the tactile feel of the bezel, the engraving on the back of the case (very classy!) and the quality of the rubber strap. A big plus is the fact that the bezel is slightly higher than the crystal, offering additional protection against accidental scratches. Considering the price, this is my new favorite watch and the one I wear the most. Highly recommended!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT WATCH, September 3, 2007

By 

Joseph C. Champ - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seiko Men's SKX781K3 "Orange Monster" Automatic Dive Watch (Watch)

Well, just to comment on the first reviewers remarks, this watch does not require a battery. It is a mechanical automatic winding watch so I think he submitted the review on the wrong watch or his jeweler lied to him.
Otherwise, this is one of the best automatics that I own. Keeps good time and is comfortable to wear. Everyone must remember a mechanical watch will gain or lose a few minute a month and has to be reset.