Well, after two long months of searching for my first automatic watch, I am very happy that this one has landed. I purchased the watch from Marc @ Long Island Watch (forum sponsor). The shipping and customer service he provided was excellent. The cost of the watch with shipping (from NY to CHI) was $337.00. In true WIS form, I drove around my town before I left for work and tracked down the mail woman so I could wear the watch to work. She gave me a really strange look because I tracked her down one mile from my house. :-s:-s :-d:-d
Size/Weight/Comfort
The watch wears larger than the 44mm size. My wrist size is 7 and 5/8 inches. Before I bought the watch, I was concerned that the watch would not be large enough, but it is plenty big. It is not obnoxious big, but is has a good amount of presence. The watch has a good weight to it, it feels hefty in your hand, but you barely notice it is on your wrist. The watch sits nicely on the wrist and is very comfortable to wear.
Dial/Crystal
The dial on this watch is great. It is very clean with not a lot of unnecessary text on the dial. The main reasons that I really like this watch are the large hands and easy readability. The white hands against the black dial are awesome and make it easy to tell the time. The sword hands are really thick and look great. The hands come to a very sharp point and hit exactly on the hours and minutes. The seconds hand has a cool design to it and is a thing of beauty as it beats around the dial. The seconds hand is hacking (although I am not sure if it is meant to be, or if it is good for the watch). If you put the slightest amount of pressure counterclockwise on the crown while the crown is all the way out, the seconds hand will go in reverse and you can synch the time. The watch is running +3 seconds over the last 24 hours . The hardlex crystal is very nice and does not give of much glare in indoor lighting conditions. The crystal looks and feels as good as sapphire (if not better). The date is somewhat hidden in the dial in part because the wheel is black and the date is white. The font on the white date could be a bit larger, but that may just be my deteriorating eyes . I like the fact that the date does not jump out at you, it flows really well with the dial design.
Bezel
The bezel is somewhat "clicky" - like a ratchet when you turn it (nothing super here). The minute numbers on the bezel are an okay size and look nice. The side of the bezel is shiny and has a nice contrast with the rest of the watch. The design of the bezel works well with the dial. When you look at the dial your eyes do not notice the bezel that much (it is present, but not a distraction at all). I am not a diver so I cannot comment if this bezel would be good for diving.
Bracelet
I believe the lugs are 20mm on this watch, but what is cool is that the first link lines up with the outsides of the lugs (on the body of the watch). The bracelet look like it is more like 24mm and then tapers in from there. ** Warning to all with larger wrists - I had one link taken out (links are 3/8 inches), and the micro adjustments is all the way in, so there is an additional 1/2 inch also there . I think the largest wrist size that this watch could take is 8.5 inches. The bracelet is a nice satin color. The bracelet has a diver's extension; however, it only adds ½ an inch when extended . The bracelet does have micro adjustment slot which is very nice. The bracelet has a very good locking mechanism. The fold over lock has a Seiko logo on i
Crown
The unsigned crown is not that smooth when unscrewing and screwing . It has a lot of resistance and feels like it is rubbing against something. The crown does have steel crown protectors. The crown protectors have a great finish to them (very smooth).
Lume
SICK!!!!
That is the only thing to say about the lume. The watch doubles as a flashlight when I walk my dog at night. It is really cool. Even the "oyster" on the bezel lights up in the dark.
Nicknames
I think the name "Spork" is the one that has stuck to this watch (whether liked or not). Other names are "tuxedo", "Seiko Sinn", and my personal favorite "MonSumo" :-! (because it's in between the monster and sumo).
I would highly recommend this watch to all fellow WUS members. There is not too much that I do not like about this watch. The size is great. I think I am going to leave it on the bracelet for a while. I am going to begin searching for a black strap with white stitching (I think that would look killer). This watch is a keeper. I think the price paid for what you get is excellent.
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*** More images to follow in a seperate thread (for some reason I am unable to add more pictures)
![Image]()
Size/Weight/Comfort
The watch wears larger than the 44mm size. My wrist size is 7 and 5/8 inches. Before I bought the watch, I was concerned that the watch would not be large enough, but it is plenty big. It is not obnoxious big, but is has a good amount of presence. The watch has a good weight to it, it feels hefty in your hand, but you barely notice it is on your wrist. The watch sits nicely on the wrist and is very comfortable to wear.
Dial/Crystal
The dial on this watch is great. It is very clean with not a lot of unnecessary text on the dial. The main reasons that I really like this watch are the large hands and easy readability. The white hands against the black dial are awesome and make it easy to tell the time. The sword hands are really thick and look great. The hands come to a very sharp point and hit exactly on the hours and minutes. The seconds hand has a cool design to it and is a thing of beauty as it beats around the dial. The seconds hand is hacking (although I am not sure if it is meant to be, or if it is good for the watch). If you put the slightest amount of pressure counterclockwise on the crown while the crown is all the way out, the seconds hand will go in reverse and you can synch the time. The watch is running +3 seconds over the last 24 hours . The hardlex crystal is very nice and does not give of much glare in indoor lighting conditions. The crystal looks and feels as good as sapphire (if not better). The date is somewhat hidden in the dial in part because the wheel is black and the date is white. The font on the white date could be a bit larger, but that may just be my deteriorating eyes . I like the fact that the date does not jump out at you, it flows really well with the dial design.
Bezel
The bezel is somewhat "clicky" - like a ratchet when you turn it (nothing super here). The minute numbers on the bezel are an okay size and look nice. The side of the bezel is shiny and has a nice contrast with the rest of the watch. The design of the bezel works well with the dial. When you look at the dial your eyes do not notice the bezel that much (it is present, but not a distraction at all). I am not a diver so I cannot comment if this bezel would be good for diving.
Bracelet
I believe the lugs are 20mm on this watch, but what is cool is that the first link lines up with the outsides of the lugs (on the body of the watch). The bracelet look like it is more like 24mm and then tapers in from there. ** Warning to all with larger wrists - I had one link taken out (links are 3/8 inches), and the micro adjustments is all the way in, so there is an additional 1/2 inch also there . I think the largest wrist size that this watch could take is 8.5 inches. The bracelet is a nice satin color. The bracelet has a diver's extension; however, it only adds ½ an inch when extended . The bracelet does have micro adjustment slot which is very nice. The bracelet has a very good locking mechanism. The fold over lock has a Seiko logo on i
Crown
The unsigned crown is not that smooth when unscrewing and screwing . It has a lot of resistance and feels like it is rubbing against something. The crown does have steel crown protectors. The crown protectors have a great finish to them (very smooth).
Lume
SICK!!!!
That is the only thing to say about the lume. The watch doubles as a flashlight when I walk my dog at night. It is really cool. Even the "oyster" on the bezel lights up in the dark. Nicknames
I think the name "Spork" is the one that has stuck to this watch (whether liked or not). Other names are "tuxedo", "Seiko Sinn", and my personal favorite "MonSumo" :-! (because it's in between the monster and sumo).
I would highly recommend this watch to all fellow WUS members. There is not too much that I do not like about this watch. The size is great. I think I am going to leave it on the bracelet for a while. I am going to begin searching for a black strap with white stitching (I think that would look killer). This watch is a keeper. I think the price paid for what you get is excellent.
*** More images to follow in a seperate thread (for some reason I am unable to add more pictures)
