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Thread: Friends with my monsters

  1. #1

    Friends with my monsters

    I'm friends with the monsters that's under my bed
    Get along with the voices inside of my head
    You're tryin' to save me, stop holdin' your breath
    And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy


    For being a WIS



    I sold my gen1 black dial version back in 2004 or so. John (jas1125) mentioned he still a couple and generously offered to part with one. John then offered me his second one and here they are.

    Carl had commented that they may be the worst dive watch ever made. Could be but my diving days are done. The pulmonary embolisms (3 large blood clots in my lungs while in the hospital in 2014) caused some permanent damage.

    After wearing both of them for a few weeks I decided to sell them off. Decided that I prefer to stay with dress watches.





    Last edited by koimaster; 1st June 2022 at 07:06.

  2. #2
    The MK 2 were the ones to get, once upon a time when you could get them from creation for £115. They were just about worth that at a push.

  3. #3
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by xellos99 View Post
    The MK 2 were the ones to get, once upon a time when you could get them from creation for £115. They were just about worth that at a push.
    I think that’s harsh. Reckon they were untouchable for the money nothing else came close. Owned a couple and son has one he’s had for years and worn to death and hasn’t missed a beat.

  4. #4
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    I have never gotten the Monster thing
    Without doubt they offered fantastic spec for the money but the face is something only a mother could love. (It’s the hands that really put me off - awful IMO), still if we all liked the same thing it would be boring.
    Monster ownership seemed to be a right of passage a few years ago, if you like watches you must try a Monster, the prices the are going for now seem down right daft.

  5. #5
    I owned quite a few, and like many I suspect, bought the originals again after “moving on” and regretting it.

    None left now, but still I hold them (and in particular, the designer) in high regard for their boldness, reasonable price and originality in a market flooded with the exact opposite.

  6. #6
    Craftsman Doug86's Avatar
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    I was lucky enough to pick a black one up from the forum recently after a WTB. A black dialled monster was my first automatic watch so I wanted to get one back in the watch box. I'm picking up an orange one later this week hopefully!

    They're certainly a marmite watch.

  7. #7
    I quite enjoy the Monsters but Gen 3 was the pinnacle for me. The Gen 4 are just getting a bit too pricey now even if the quality has improved a lot.

    Some of the Gen 1 & 2 limited editions are now going for 4 figures


  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by paw3001 View Post
    I quite enjoy the Monsters but Gen 3 was the pinnacle for me. The Gen 4 are just getting a bit too pricey now even if the quality has improved a lot.

    Some of the Gen 1 & 2 limited editions are now going for 4 figures

    Wow what a collection.

    Preferred the 1st gen only on a visual point for the crown, but the Thailand Ltd Ed (ice blue) is amazing apart from the day/date magnifier

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by koimaster View Post
    I'm friends with the monsters that's under my bed
    Get along with the voices inside of my head
    You're tryin' to save me, stop holdin' your breath
    And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy


    For being a WIS



    I sold my gen1 black dial version back in 2004 or so. John (jas1125) mentioned he still a couple and generously offered to part with one. John then offered me his second one and here they are.

    Carl had commented that they may be the worst dive watch ever made. Could be but my diving days are done. The pulmonary embolisms (3 large blood clots in my lungs while in the hospital in 2014) caused some permanent damage.

    After wearing both of them for a few weeks I decided to sell them off. Decided that I prefer to stay with dress watches.





    Had both as my first mechanical watches, fond memories of the orange one in Cuba. Passed both on to my dad, he gifted the orange one away, but often wears the black still.



    Sometimes I think I'll buy another 1st gen orange one, and treat it as my summer watch on a nato. Prices have increased & sometimes I think best not to rebuy.

  10. #10
    Master BSB's Avatar
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    Had an orange Mk1 and an orange Mk2. The pinnacle for me would have been a Mk1 with the Mk2's 4R36 with hacking and manual winding options (and the knurled crown from the Mk2). Always regretted selling the Mk1 to a friend, especially since he subsequently sold it for a very sizeable profit.

  11. #11
    Craftsman
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    My path of WISdoom began with this one.

    It remains in the collection whilst 6 or 7 other Monsters have been and gone.

  12. #12
    Master
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    I've never had a monster but the orange one is the quintessential monster for me. Would fancy one now as a beach beater. What do they go for? Sounds like it's a lot more than you'd expect for a moderately common Seiko with what, Seiko 5 type specs? Or slightly more maybe but my perception, right or wrong, is that these aren't prospex quality.

    Ugly faces and hands? Typical Seiko aren't they!?

  13. #13
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by LondonNeil View Post
    . Would fancy one now as a beach beater. What do they go for?
    You should be able to grab a gen1 OM at around 200 250

  14. #14
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
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    I had the black version not long after they came as they were so cheap for what you got. Eddie used to sell them.

    I never really got on with it though, it seemed so lumpen and crude TBH so it went.
    Cheers,
    Neil.

    My Speedmaster website:

    http://www.freewebs.com/neil271052

  15. #15
    Master Papa Hotel's Avatar
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    There can be only one. I've had "keepers" that turned out to be no such thing, we all have, but this is never going anywhere. If I ever find myself in a position of having to flog everything, this will be the one I stubbornly cling to.

    Ugly, low tech, unashamedly its own thing, I love it.

  16. #16
    Master
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    Like many I sold a Mk1 BM a number of years back. Always thought they were great value for money.


    Recently had a hankering for another, and did think about trying to find another Mk1 in decent condition but on the spur of the moment ended up buying one of the new models. Cant believe these are now £500. To be fair though the quality does look to have improved.. even the bracelet and how it fits to the case is much improved… and when you consider what else £500 gets you these days in the watch world then I guess it’s probably still ok value for money.


  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Neil.C View Post
    I had the black version not long after they came as they were so cheap for what you got. Eddie used to sell them.

    I never really got on with it though, it seemed so lumpen and crude TBH so it went.
    I’ve got one of mine left, unworn, bought from Eddie a long time ago. You’ll struggle to find one in better condition. Not for sale though.


  18. #18
    Master helidoc's Avatar
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    I’ve had my Gen 1 Monsters for 10 years. They were very much gateway watches for me as a proto-WIS. I don’t wear them much now, as my collection is much larger, but I still love the original design. I will never sell them.




    Dave


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  19. #19
    Master
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    Jee whiz! The prices make the Heimdallr Sharkey homage appealing!

  20. #20
    Master ed335d's Avatar
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    Always preferred the Gen 1 dial, but the Gen 2 movement….


  21. #21
    Master
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    My second proper watch after an SKX009, bought in 2008:



    Still have it today.

    Couple of others have passed through my hands, and I really wish I'd kept the gen 2 orange I had years ago.

  22. #22
    Master BSB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ed335d View Post
    Always preferred the Gen 1 dial, but the Gen 2 movement….

    My ideal Monster, if it was orange.

  23. #23
    Master ed335d's Avatar
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    Having looked at the previous photo, I realised how grubby it was. Apologies.


  24. #24
    Master Scrubnut's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RustyBin5 View Post
    I think that’s harsh. Reckon they were untouchable for the money nothing else came close. Owned a couple and son has one he’s had for years and worn to death and hasn’t missed a beat.
    Agreed. I have various colours and for the money they were tough as old boots
    Last edited by Scrubnut; 1st June 2022 at 15:20.

  25. #25
    Master Scrubnut's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by paw3001 View Post
    I quite enjoy the Monsters but Gen 3 was the pinnacle for me. The Gen 4 are just getting a bit too pricey now even if the quality has improved a lot.

    Some of the Gen 1 & 2 limited editions are now going for 4 figures

    I see you have one of the Antarctic versions with the footprints. I fancy one of them!

  26. #26
    Master
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    If you want a fresh out the box one then you’d best not hang around as that was the 2021 dial. They’ve changed it for 2022 (to the one I posted up with penguins swimming).

  27. #27
    Grand Master markrlondon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by paw3001 View Post
    I am very, very envious!

  28. #28
    Master mycroft's Avatar
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    Friends with my monsters

    Like one of the earlier posters on this thread, a 1st generation Black Monster was a gateway watch for me. I ended up with a mini collection of three - BM, OM and a Bill Yao modified Yellow Monster.
    Loved them all but eventually moved them all on as I moved gradually up the WIS food chain.

    Here’s a photo of all three

    https://i.imgur.com/yCnyJU7.jpg

    And this is my favourite photo of the Yao

    https://i.imgur.com/pdMnOXR.jpg

    Simon

  29. #29
    Grand Master
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    i've owned mk 1's in orange and black, should have hung on to the orange, and also a mk 2 with the black and orange.

    current one is the bumble bee, never understood why it came on a green strap though. i wear mine on a yellow cousins iso style or a black jubilee bracelet. might have to get a black super engineer for it sometime.




    ktmog6uk
    marchingontogether!



  30. #30
    Master Jon Kenney's Avatar
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    They look great in some of the posted pictures, but always seem to get overlooked in favour of something else.
    I bought one (and a Mini Monster) from SC but have hardly ever worn them, and certainly never in the last five years.

    No idea what generation this is -



    And the Mini -


  31. #31
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Kenney View Post

    No idea what generation this is -


    That is a Gen 2

  32. #32
    Master
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    Pointy 'teeth' dial equals Gen 2?

  33. #33
    Craftsman
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    Love mine, can’t see me letting it go.
    Dave

  34. #34
    Master Dr Wolff's Avatar
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    I have black and orange Gen 1s. The black one from a charity auction here. The orange one was a bit of an eBay bargain - advertised as not working "seems to start with a bit of a shake but then stops. Probably needs a new battery"!!
    I've never understood why you all put them on bracelets though - they look so much better on rubber.

  35. #35
    Master helidoc's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dr Wolff View Post
    I've never understood why you all put them on bracelets though - they look so much better on rubber.
    Sacrilege!

    The Monster is all about the excellent bracelet, and the stock Z20 is horrendous!

    Dave


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  36. #36
    Master Jon Kenney's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by magpie215 View Post
    That is a Gen 2
    Quote Originally Posted by LondonNeil View Post
    Pointy 'teeth' dial equals Gen 2?
    Got it, thanks

  37. #37

    Friends with my monsters

    Quote Originally Posted by magpie215 View Post
    That is a Gen 2
    I believe this is a modded Gen 2.

    The original black Gen did not have a coloured bezel just the normal black in filled one



    The mod looks nice but it’s value has been reduced as no longer OEM

    The ‘Dracula’ named because of the red outlined teeth, had red hands but only a black infilled bezel but would have looked great with that bezel



    Quick and dirty guide!

    Gen 1 has minutes printed on dial

    Gen 2 has pointy teeth

    Gen 3 only has a date, no day

    Gen 4 different shaped bezel
    Last edited by paw3001; 3rd June 2022 at 09:42.

  38. #38
    Master Scrubnut's Avatar
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    ^^^^^^^^^^

    I've always liked the dracula/vampire model

  39. #39
    Craftsman AmosMoses's Avatar
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    Had various over the years, think the later models with the 4R36 are the sweet spot. They are pretty bomb proof watches and great for holiday/travel.


    Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

  40. #40
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by AmosMoses View Post
    Had various over the years, think the later models with the 4R36 are the sweet spot. They are pretty bomb proof watches and great for holiday/travel.


    Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
    Yes, absolutely - I bought mine in 2013 as a fun holiday / work trip beater and it's my most travelled watch by far. It's got so many memories associated with it (honeymoon, birth of son, etc) that I'll never part with it, and tend to use my Baby Dreadnaught for overseas duties these days


    Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk

  41. #41
    Master Jon Kenney's Avatar
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    Double post shenanigans
    Last edited by Jon Kenney; 4th June 2022 at 10:39.

  42. #42
    Master Jon Kenney's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by paw3001 View Post
    I believe this is a modded Gen 2.

    The original black Gen did not have a coloured bezel just the normal black in filled one

    The mod looks nice but it’s value has been reduced as no longer OEM
    Interesting. Thanks.

    I don't recall the seller (here) mentioned anything about it being modded.

  43. #43
    Craftsman Wyvern971's Avatar
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    Only monster I own, it's lovely, but I don't wear it all that often.

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using TZ-UK mobile app

  44. #44
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wyvern971 View Post

    Only monster I own, it's lovely, but I don't wear it all that often.

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using TZ-UK mobile app
    Nice I think that's one of the Thailand LE night monsters

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