I just received a newly ordered Seiko orange monster last Monday. What a cool watch! I specificly wanted something I could take to the beach and just not worry about. If you couple the quality, design, and cost of the monster, that's a good watch for that purpose.

I gave it a few days before I took it in the pool though. So, last night was D-day. Late last night in the dark, I went swimming with it. I was really impressed with the luminescence of the watch in the dark. That should come as no real surprise though because that is one of the things that watch is known for. What did surprise me though is that its not like it had been in the sun. In fact, while still in dim light, I didn't think it was glowing. It was very dark where I was swimming, but once my eyes adjusted, I could easily see the dial markers and hands. HOWEVER, there was one thing that I think would have been an improvement for the watch. On the monster, there is a single luminescent dot at the 0 position. It just didn't glow as well as the rest. I can't help but wonder, is it because it is outside the dial, that it must have less of whatever it is that makes it glow? Would it be a safety hazard were it to glow better or be bigger? I suspect that if it were inside the case, if this is the reason it doesn't glow as much as the rest of the dial or hands. then it could glow as well as the rest of the watch.

So, I am guessing that a watch with an internal bezel could have a bezel that glows better than a watch with an external bezel.

And, one last observation from using my monster in the dark, if you can get more luminescence on the bezel, some at the 15,30, and 45 minute marks would be nice too. Perhaps an upside down glow in the dark triangle at 0, and glow in the dark stick markers at 15, 30, and 45?

Joe, my best guess would be that the dial and hands are coated with a good quality lume, while the bezel dot is a cheap piece of GID plastic.


El Tiempo

The three most important things to me about a great diver’s watch are:

1. Sturdy, solid feel that makes the owner not have to worry about what they will be doing that day and if it will affect the watch
2. An accurate automatic movement with great luminescence
3. Probably the most important thing is that it can be worn any where for any occasion—one watch fits all needs but still maintaining that masculine look

I have a Seiko Black Monster and the thing is bullet proof. It doesn’t keep time worth a hoot but people ask to see it. The design uses a great combination of polished and brushed stainless steel and has one of the best bracelets you can buy for the money. The bezel however is goofy with cheap looking block print numbers and an odd pattern. The Kingfisher would be very nice with a unidirectional 120-click bezel with a five-minute graduation. If it matches the color of the face great but if it’s stainless then that’s cool too. Also, and I know price point is a concern, if the back of the case had some sort of engraving referencing an image of a Kingfisher that would be a nice touch. This is just my two cents worth and I hope we can see something soon from CW.

My opinions are not well formed for dive watch bezels and I don't dive so please take this for the musings of a dilettante. I think I might be like a lot of people in that I've got used to the Rolex Sub arrangement. I like the idea that you are rethinking it and so I'll keep an open mind. I only used to use the timer for parking meters and cooking in any case.

cheers,

David

DavidM1 wrote:I only used to use the timer for parking meters and cooking in any case.

I use mine to time waiters at restaurants. Sometimes it seems like it takes them so long to come to the table the first time. So, I will often set my bezel, especially if it is at a restaurant that we typically get slow service at. Time can be a funny thing. Sometimes, it seems like it has been a long time, when it really hasn't been that long. Other times, vise-versa. With the timing bezel, now I can know.

There was a time when I thought...who cares about a timing bezel? I have a chronograph...and I almost never use it. It isn't even that complicated either. But somehow, just rotating the bezel is simple and quick enough that I will do that, even though it is less precise than the chronograph. Go figure.

I know what you mean. Bezels can be easy to read for just casually timing stuff that doesn't really need to be timed.

I have always been a fan of the Rolex sub looks. In fact I almost bought a Invicta 9937 in an attempt to get the looks without the price. Since that time however I have changed my taste somewhat. I saw a Ulysses Nardin marine diver that caught my eye. I have now come to the conclusion that a dive watch should have some blue in it, it is supposed to be in the water isn’t it. Not necessarily the bright blue of this watch maybe an indigo or something that doesn’t stand out as much.

I also really like the subtle wave appearance of the bezel and dial in this watch. Again for the dive theme. Subtlety would have to be the key. Lastly I like the anchor. This is their logo so it is a little different, but I like continuing the theme, much like the use of the Russian logo in the Invicta 2931.

The bracelet would have to be rock solid with some unique styling as well.

Just my thoughts.