This is a series which looks at one of the most popular of all watch genres, the diver. There’s something about a diver’s watch that imbues a man with an immediate acquired sense of adventure and ruggedness. It doesn’t matter if you do nothing more than a few laps in the pool before retreating to the sun bed, wearing a diver’s watch looks macho.
This week’s selection is one that every would-be dive watch owner should at least consider before settling on a purchase.
Seiko Orange Monster SKX 781
Say hello to the watch they call the Orange Monster. Seiko SKX 781, a juggernaut of a dive watch, and at around £124 on Amazon, quite simply one of the best value for money dive watches you can buy. At the time of writing there were still a couple left in stock.
This watch will serve you well whether you are in the briny depths, or simply in the cinema watching the bullets fly in the latest Die Hard outing. Charge it up under the light bulb and the most powerful lume of any watch I have encountered shines out at you even when you cup your hands in broad daylight. Underwater it’s instantly legible, in the cinema one glance will tell you when it’s time to send your girlfriend out for more popcorn.
You can opt for the Orange Monster on a rubber strap, but that would be to miss out on one of the best quality heavy duty stainless steel bracelets you can find for the price. Like the watch itself, 42mm without the bezel, it’s heavy. It really feels like you have a watch on your wrist when you wear the Monster. If you don’t like a bit of heft on your arm, this is probably not the watch for you.
It’s water resistant to 200m. Sure, there are diving watches that look sleeker and go deeper, but it’s more than most people will ever need. As a tropical snorkeller it’s perfect. Tiny colourful fish will queue up to read the time. Even when you wave them away they come back for a second look, captivated by the big orange dial.
The watch has a large no messing day date at three o’clock, and the crown at 4 o’clock to prevent from digging into your wrist. It runs on a Seiko 7S26 automatic movement, which has an impressive power reserve of 40 hours and vibrates at 21,600 beats per hour.
Seiko Green Monster
If the slightly eccentric bright orange dial is not for you, there is the strangely alluring Green Monster, but it’s a limited edition and much more difficult to get your hands on.
OK, it’s not a Linde Werdelin Oktopus II, but it’s a design classic from Seiko and it can quickly become a trusted friend.
