Vol.25 Why were these watches called “Monster” created and how did they evolve?

HomeStoriesVol.25 Why were these watches called “Monster” created and how did they evolve?

In the article “Watches with nicknames” published in October 2017, we introduced watches that, unbeknownst to Seiko, had been given nicknames by Seiko fans. This time, we focus on one of them, the “Monster,” and discuss the philosophy behind the watch with Hitoshi Ando, who designed the watch called the first generation Monster, and Gaku Komatsu, who designed the watch called the fourth generation Monster. (May 20, 2021)

The impetus for this bold design was practicality.

Ando: The birth of the watch known as the Monster began with an attempt to reconstruct our understanding of what a diver’s watch should be. The goal was not to create an unusual watch from the beginning, but to create a watch that would be easy for divers to use, which inevitably led to a bold design.

Komatsu: Starting with the first generation (SKX781) model released in 2000, this series was actually designed with a lot of user-friendliness in mind. When I saw the first and second generation (SRP307) for the first time, I remember thinking that although they looked quirky, they were actually very functional.

Photo of Ando and Komatsu — **Hitoshi ANDO (right)**
Ando joined Seiko in 1992. After working on watch designs for Japanese and international markets, he has also overseen design of devices and products in other fields and related businesses. He is currently the director of design development.
**Gaku KOMATSU (left)**
Komatsu joined Seiko in 2016. He has been involved in a wide range of watch designs including Seiko brands, ALBA, and licensed brands, and is now mainly in charge of PROSPEX.

Komatsu: Take, for example, the distinctive rotating bezel. It’s very easy to turn because of the bold gouges on the sides.

Ando: The numerals are also oversized, concealing some of the graduation marks on the bezel, of which there should normally be 60. It’s a drastic change in direction from our normal approach. The hands and indexes are also made as large as possible for easy reading.

Komatsu: I took the liberty of calling these impressive hands the “Monster hands.”

Ando: Rather than the standard image of a watch, we were aiming for designing something with the feel of a tool that divers would appreciate. However, I don’t think that alone would have made it so popular.

Illustration of a werewolf's wrist wearing the first generation Monster SKX779 — The first model, with its bold design, has a presence as strong as the wild arms of a werewolf.

Photo of the first generation Monster SKX779 — This model (SKX779) is the origin of the series. The starting point for the unconventional size of the numerals and hands was practicality.

Photo of Ando holding the first generation model — “Our goal was to create a watch that is easy for divers to use,” said Ando, who designed the first model.

Why is the Monster watch so beloved?

Komatsu: This model is not only attractive as a tool, but its affinity and familiarity as a watch can also be felt. For example, the deep gouges from the bezel to the case are an element that not only gives it appeal as a tool, but also evokes a sense of charm.

Ando: Actually, the case and bezel are made separately, and they are brought together afterwards. So it was difficult to get the gouges in each part just right. As a result, we created quite a lot of hard work for the engineers. It’s no easy task to make such a watch charming.

Komatsu: The word “monster” means not only a monstrous creature, but also something deformed or abnormal. At first glance, the watch looks somewhat monstrous, but then each element that it comprises has a certain deformity that is nevertheless charming in its abnormality, which may be what sparked its popularity.

Illustration of a monster's wrist wearing the first generation model SKX781 — The reason why the Monster watches are so beloved despite their deformity is because they have a subtle sense of human warmth.

Photo of the first generation model SKX781 — The first generation model (SKX781) with its impressively deep gouges on the sides. Surprisingly, the bezel and case gouges were made separately and aligned during assembly.

Ando: In this sense, the chunkiness of the case is probably one of the most beloved elements. The general idea of designing a watch is to pursue a thin and light form that is easy to wear, but the starting point of this series was the design of a watch that is easy to use for divers. As a result of considering the thickness necessary for a properly functioning tool and putting it all together in a straightforward manner, we ended up with a stout design.

The design has evolved with the times.

Ando: Komatsu-san, this time you designed a watch that is called the fourth generation Monster. What sort of points did you have in mind when doing so?

Komatsu: Well, when designing the fourth generation (SRPD25), I started by asking myself, “What is the main feature of this series?” As we have discussed, the first model originated from the pursuit of ease of use, so we aimed to create a more functional and sophisticated watch by cutting down certain elements. At the same time, this also made the remaining parts stand out more and emphasized the character of the watch.

Illustration of a monster's wrist wearing the fourth generation Monster SRPD25 — The pursuit of functionality as a diver’s watch has resulted in a distinctive design.

Photo of the fourth generation model SRPD25 — The watch called the fourth generation Monster (SRPD25). By cutting down certain elements, it creates a more sophisticated impression.

Photo of Komatsu holding the fourth generation model SRPD25 — Komatsu who designed the fourth generation (SRPD25). He says that in addition to the pursuit of functionality, which was the starting point of the series, he also tried to tune it to the modern age.

Ando: It still has the feel of a tool to it, doesn’t it? It’s very well made.

Komatsu: Thank you very much. For example, we made the gouges on the sides, one of the most distinctive elements, shallower to give it a more modern look. As a result, it became a fang-like shape, creating a somewhat monstrous aura.

Ando: If you look closely, the typeface of the numerals is also slightly different.

Komatsu: Yes. The large numerals on the bezel are designed with a sense of balance between sharp and rounded parts, giving the watch a modern look while retaining its strength.

Ando: Since the technology at the time was not yet capable of etching numerals as deeply as we do now, this is a design that was not possible for the first model.

Komatsu: With this in mind, we can say that this series of watches has evolved with the times.

Ando: The fourth generation also has a distinctive case shape. While the cross-sectional shape of the body of a typical watch is trapezoidal, the first generation model was designed to have a vertical cylindrical shape as much as possible in order to create a feeling of chunkiness. The fourth generation, however, has a Japanese mortar-like shape.

Komatsu: That’s right. That feeling of chunkiness is also an important point that we felt should be inherited from the first generation, so we decided to keep it and make it look more modern, aiming for a sophisticated design by making it mortar-shaped.

Photos of the cases of the first and fourth generation models — The stout-chunky look has been replaced by a smart-chunky look. The thickness of the numerals, the shape of the case, and various other aspects of the design have changed to evoke a sense of modernity.

Side views of the cases of the first and fourth generation models — As a result of making the gouges shallower than those of the first generation, the gouges on the fourth generation have the appearance of sharp fangs.

Front view of the case of the first and fourth generation models — Looking at them side by side, we can see that the fourth generation has definitely inherited the DNA of the first generation. This may be the reason why it has retained its popularity from one generation to the next.

Ando: The 2000s was a time when functional watches were especially in demand, so we were conscious of the tool-like feel of our products, but nowadays, people may tend to choose products based on their affinity for the concept of the product. Since this series pushes every aspect to the limit, it clearly conveys its concept to users, and that may be something that is especially loved by customers who feel affinity for it.

Komatsu: Nothing would make us happier than if people would use the current model as an entry point to get to know the past models and come to love them all.

Ando: In the first place, “Monster” is a nickname used among fans of these watches, so even we don’t have a clear definition. I hope they enjoy defining and naming them, finding the differences in design from the past to the present.

Past Models

Series Genealogy

divers watch