Pulled the Trigger on a Seiko Black Monster, Second Generation

With crown-winding option of a new auto movement, bigger knurled crown for easier winding, all shark teeth indices, lume markers of white, not green color, the second generation Seiko Black Monster SRP307 has been tempting me for some time. Then I noticed Blue Dial watches was selling it for $247, a good $50 below its usual price point and I had some coupons saved up and so I did it. I pulled the trigger.

I've read that the white lume isn't as intense as the greenish lume of the first generation but that it is still pretty good. We shall see. 

Unlike the one photographed, I believe, and I should double-check, that the one I bought has the bracelet. Double-checking the site does indeed indicate bracelet. 

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Comments

[jonnybardo]

Sweet - love it, and what a great deal. And nice "stealth purchase."

But just to be clear - the one you linked to (SRP307) is not the one in the picture above (SRP313). Not only does the one you link to have a bracelet, it doesn't have the red outline on the lume markers. It looks like this:

http://i.imgur.com/3t513.jpg

Tempting!

[herculodge]

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't notice that red. Oh well. I'm colorblind.

[jonnybardo]

Well, the one that is $247 is the SRP307 - the non-red one. The SRP313, the red one, is $225 and is the one picture in your post. So if you paid $247 then I think you got the non-red with bracelet...I assume that's the one you wanted?

[herculodge]

Yes, I got the SRP307, the one I want.

[Angelo]

Nice. I know both of you opt for bracelets. I have quite a few watches with bracelets too----but I do note that depending on anything from the weather or if I'm up or down 5 pounds----bracelets can be too loose or tight. I like the leather or silicone bands because they can be adjusted on the fly. I remember when cheaper watches with metal bracelets could be adjusted by a slide. I wonder if a high end manufacturer has a nice version of that? If not, I wonder if they could come up with one worthy of a watch that is $250.00, not $25.00?

[jonnybardo]

I hear that, Angelo. Some days my bracelets feel loose, some tight - I think it has to do with a combination of water retention and temperature.

When I first got into watches I preferred leather, then I liked rubber, and then only bracelets. Now I like them in reverse order. But you're right - leather and rubber are easier to work with because of being able to adjust them on the fly.

I feel that tastes are at least partially chosen, so I'm trying to choose to be open to non-metal straps, even leather. For instance, the Seiko SNAE97 will be on my next monthly wishlist.