Friday, April 26, 2019

Seiko Prospex Jade Monster Third Generation 200M Automatic SZSC005 (similar to SBDC023, SBDC025, SBDC067, SBDC073, SBDC075 & SZSC003) - The Ultimate Testimony of an Icon, A Review (plus Video)

The third generation Seiko Monster (GEN3 Monster) sparked my revival of interest on the Monster line. The SZSC005 is my choice over the others in the series. Reviews on my GEN1 (Click here for the review) and GEN2 (Click here for the review) Monsters are already on the blog.

Seiko seems to have a very interesting marketing strategy for the Monster series. For the GEN1, Seiko launched 11 models, seven of which were available internationally while the other four were JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) only. For the GEN2, Seiko launched 12 models, six of which are standard production while the other six were limited editions. Honestly, after getting my GEN1 years ago, the number of available models was overwhelming and it actually put me off from getting another Monster. However, I must say Seiko read the market sentiments well and the Monster series became a collectors item despite the various examples available. In fact, the Monster has become a watch icon in a similar vein like a Rolex Submariner is to a serious (and rather well-to-do) watch collector. This accolade is seldom given to any watch as it is not dictated by a standardised award or regulatory body (such a GPHG or Fondation du Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève) but purely by the legions of fans.

Monday, April 22, 2019

Head-To-Head: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Deepsea M116660-0001 versus Omega Seamaster PloProf 1200M Omega Co-Axial 224.32.55.21.01.001

Two major Swiss brands, famous for their undersea timepieces now come head-to-head to grab the price of the King of the Swiss Deep.  In this posting, two famous dive watches from Switzerland, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Sea-Dweller reference M116660-0001 (L of picture) and the Omega Seamaster PloProf reference 224.32.55.21.01.001 (R of picture) stands up to be judged.



Monday, April 15, 2019

Head-To-Head: Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive Professional Diver 1000M Titanium BN7020-09E Solarzilla versus Citizen Promaster Autozilla 1000m Titanium Divers Watch NH6930-09F (NH6931-06E)

Citizen Watch Company, under the Promaster line has come out with some heavyweights in dive watches in the last few years. The brand's extreme dive watches, capable of withstanding 1,000 meters of water pressure under the Godzilla series have become iconic with collectors. The two famous models, the Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive Professional Diver 1000M Titanium BN7020-09E Solarzilla (left of the photo below) and the Citizen Promaster Autozilla 1000m Titanium Divers Watch NH6930-09F (NH6931-06E) (right of the photo below) are Kings of the Hill for Citizen.


Monday, April 8, 2019

Buy/Sell Recommendation: Omega Speedmaster Automatic Chronograph Reference 3510.50 - PASS

I did a review on the Omega Speedmaster Automatic Chronograph Reference 3510.50 back in October 2013. To read the full review, please click here: http://westernwatch.blogspot.com/2013/10/omega-speedmaster-automatic-chronograph.html.

Below is a video of the watch on my wrist. After considering the positives and negatives of the watch, I recommend that this watch is a PASS.



Monday, April 1, 2019

Seiko Premier Sunburst SRP311K1 Black PVD Monster, Second Generation (similar to SRP307, SRP309, SRP313, SRP315, SRP319, SRP455, SRP457, SRP459, SRP581, SRP583 & SRP657) - Evergreen Icon, A Review (plus Video)

When the first generation Seiko Monsters (GEN1 Monster) first came out back in 2000, I wan't into the watch collecting craze yet. When I went headlong into the hobby from 2010 onwards, I decided to get myself a GEN1 Monster in the form of the SKX779K1. Really enjoyed the over-engineered design and its toughness relative to its asking price - real value for money!

When the second generation Seiko Monsters (GEN2 Monster) came out in 2012, I was rather lukewarm over the new series. In all, 11 different models were offered with some limited edition models set at a very high price. Many felt that Seiko was milking the Monster genre too much and the slew of offerings literally overwhelmed the fans. I didn't get one for the collection as I felt the line was crashing with too many new examples suffocating the Monster sub-line.

In late 2018, Seiko launched the third generation Seiko Monsters (GEN3 Monster) and this got me re-evaluating my earlier assumptions about this sub-line. The love for the Monster series was too overwhelming to be snuffed out by the over-exuberance of the GEN2 Monster releases. Therefore, after seven years since the release date of the GEN2 Monster, I start to source for one.

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