Customer Reviews

Seiko Men's SNM035 Automatic Dive Silver-Tone Watch

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

No mistake about it - this watch is a tool. With a case that runs almost 16mm thick - with a 43mm case diameter - 45mm with the crowns - and the weight of a brick - Seiko has hit another heart string for the serious dive watch collector or working diver.

Case

43mm 316L Stainless Steel 16mm thick. Lumebrite painted numbers, hands and indices which the Seiko divers are famous for well contrasted with a black dial. A smooth as silk dive bezel and Hardlex mineral glass crystal. 200m water resistant with a screw down crown at 2 o'clock to adjust time and day and a 4 0 'clock screw down crown to set an azmith ring compass.

Movement

Biggest disappointment is Seiko using the 7S26 non-hand windable and non-hackable auto movement - when the newer 6R15 movement is available in other models. Historically the 7S25 and 7S26 (day/date complication) are average timekeepers. Don't expect quartz precision from this movement - but some owners do get lucky.

Stainless Steel Bracelet

A Seiko standard - comfortable - foldover double safety clasp with divers extension. On the 40mm divers - this narrow bracelet is adequate - but with the Land Monster - it struggles against the heavy watch head without the mass and width to spread the weight like some other dive watch models do. This watch is a LOAD on the wrist (when not in water) and plan tighter micro-adjustment on the bracelet to keep this heavy watch from rolling on the wrist. It gets better after wearing it a few days in a row - but coming off a lighter watch rotation - you can feel the weight - plenty!

Overall - very attractive watch - with orange color on the bezel numbers 0-20 in contrast to the black dial. Super lume as in all Seiko Divers - an industry standard. With the case at 16mm thick - it sits like a brick on the wrist - and is best used as a working diver or heavy sports watch. You'd need to be a pirate to fit this under the cuff of a long sleeved shirt- yet it has a certain allure as a sporty watch. Some will be annoyed with a narrow bracelet and weight and collectors disappointed by the absence of the newer Seiko 6R15 movement.

Also available in Orange with a rubber strap - a little lighter and a different look with a bright orange face.

The author is an Admin/mod on an internet watch forum and invites questions on this and other popular watches sold on Amazon. I own this watch.

If you are familiar with the now legendary "Monster" series, the new model SNM 035 diver is the next chapter in Seiko's evolution. Having offered for decades many rugged choices to those looking for a quality automatic dive watch, Seiko introduces what is certainly it's grandest model yet.
This is the largest and heaviest of any dive watch that I have personally owned. Counter-intuitively (if you know Seiko), it is the crown at the 2 o'clock position which sets both date and time. The crown at 4 on this model is used to adjust the inner "compass" bezel which then becomes a fixed reference point rather than an actual free rotating magnetic compass. The fit and comfort of the SNM 035 is better than might be expected from such a massive timepiece and it certainly gets noticed by others. Construction quality and finish work of both the case and bracelet are of the highest level as always. Also as usual, expect to pay about 2/3 of the full retail tag if you shop around.

Uses a Seiko 23 jewel movement that is a rather pointless update of the 10 year vintage Monster series of divers which use the 7s26 movement; the added two jewels in the 7s35 movement are purely decorative and add no increased functionality or accuracy. Like other variants of the 7S26, accuracy will probably end up in the +/- 10 to 15 seconds per day range, which is neither terrible nor wonderful for a modern automatic. Power reserve is roughly 40 hours, and you can go at least a decade without service based on other users' experiences.

Like virtually all Seikos, fit and finish is superlative. The problems with this model are several however, and are mostly minor. Nevertheless, this watch has never really caught on with Seiko fans and remains the "poor cousin" in the Monster family despite its supposedly newer movement and added features.

First. the "solar compass" internal rotating bezel makes the face of the watch look far too busy. The compass needs to be oriented by using the sun in the early morning, and it cannot rotate itself automatically like a magnetic compass. For most users, this makes the feature pointless, and the overall appearance of the watch is brought down by the added markings. Adding insult to injury, the second crown (at two o'clock) is hard to screw down without altering the compass setting to frustrate you if you actually try to use the feature.

Second issue, the eeny teeny bracelet. I guess the average Seiko customer is an elf or pixie, as the company always issues these really skinny sub-20 mm bands with many of their watches. In this case, the 19mm band feels especially flimsy with such a large (deep) and heavy watch on it. The watch never really sits properly on the wrist of most non-elven owners, and the non-standard band size makes replacement a chore.

Besides useless compass and teeny bracelet, the other issue is how bright and shiny this model is. This plus the loud and garish orange countdown highlight on the bezel makes this watch a bit too much of a standout for the non-extrovert.

All in all, this is not a bad watch, but the SXK779 "Black Monster" is a more successful design aesthetically, keeps time just as well, lacks the pointless compass, and costs roughly the same price. I would suggest avoiding the "Land Monster" unless you are a very outgoing pixie who needs a backup compass...

This is a great watch. I've owned Seiko watches for 35 years and without exception they all performed to the max. I still have my original chronograph that I bought 35 years ago and it still keeps great time. The new SNM035 is no exception. It's a heavy duty watch, very functional, easy to read dial in daylight or dark. You would have to be really creative to come up with punishment to stop this watch. I've also received a lot of compliments on its clean looks.

This is my third seiko-in 20 yrs& the two others still work ....great watches-always in the salt water-no flaws-top watches.
Luciano Beltran
Kodiak Ak 99615

What a great watch! have not done a dive as yet, however I have received many comments on the watch for numerous friends. I am very pleased with the item and the promptness of the transaction and delivery ot my watch. Cant wait to be 'Under the sea' with my new purchase.

This is the best watch I have in my collection, meaning it's heavy, it's good looking, it has a large dial, it has everything I would like to have in a watch.

Bought the watch december 09 and loving it. It's a bit big but as long as the diameter fits to your wrist's width it will look fine. It is cheap for an automatic watch and good for everyday rough use. Looks ruggedly elegant. The bracelet clasp design is nice too. No more broken fingernails.

solid mens watch. reliable and looks good. weights a ton, but that adds to its character

I love this watch. I feel it has the quality of a Tag or Omega but at 1/10 the price. I only get complements on this watch.