A friend shared with me a rumor that the Seiko Monster will see new life with a redesigned dial and a new caliber (4R36).
Several new models in different colors will be featured. The new model numbers will be SRP307, SRP309, SRP011, SRP013, SRP015.
The index markers will be triangular and it looks like there will be some edging to them as well. Nice to see that Seiko will keep the Monster DNA with these new models. Of course the 4R36 will feature both hacking and handwinding.
Expect to see these models by the 4th quarter 2012.
8 comments:
I wonder if the SRP307 and 309 is for international release, while the 311, 313 and 315 is slated only for Japanese consumption. I hope not, because the 315 is gorgeous.
Could the new monsters be priced double of what they are currently? The 4R36 caliber Seiko watches are all priced from US$350 and upwards, and the new monsters could follow the same pricing structure.
Last Thursday, as I contemplated my Orange Monster SKX781 purchase, my watch dealer commented that the current Monster line up might be discontinued soon. I was under the impression he was attempting to instill in me a sense of urgency to purchase the watch, and make a sale. Now I know he knew then what we know now.
I expect these to all be international models. The pictures shared was from a non-Japanese Asian market. Also, to my recollection I don't think the Monster was ever a JDM model. Of course that could change, but probably is dependent on the caliber more than the model. I haven't kept up on the 4R36, but I think that has been an international caliber.
As far as price, these new models will surely be more expensive than the current models, especially at launch. The current Monster was one of those interesting models where the price was driven by the gray market popularity more than any control applied by Seiko. It is an old model and the only opportunities for price adjustment were the MSRP increases every 3 years or so.
IMHO, if you want a Monster, pick up the current model now and enjoy it even if you have to pay a little more. It will still be nearly a year before the new ones arrive and even then it may take another year before the supply is sufficient to bring the price down to a more reasonable level. By then you may have moved on to something else.
True, the 4R36 is an international caliber. But the current Night Monster collection which utilize the 7S36 caliber (which also is an international caliber) is available only in Japan, even though the watches are assembled in China. The Japanese being Japanese, reserved the most aesthetically pleasing of the Monsters for domestic consumption.
Indeed, the current prices of Black and Orange Monsters are driven primarily by parallel imports. In addition to the regular Monsters, my watch dealer has stock of the plastic shrouded SRP227, 229 and 231 divers (equipped with the 4R36) priced from US$350 and upwards. No doubt that this is due to pricing control exerted by Seiko. It would come as no surprise should the new upgraded Monster collection be priced similarly, since the plastic shrouded SRP divers are essentially Monsters wrapped in colorful polyethylene.
Old is gold. Though the undecorated 7S26 is not equipped with hacking and hand winding capabilities, the ebauche is used in the 4R and 6R movements. The 7S caliber hails from an era when watches were tools to tell time with, and not merely a bejeweled assessory. For this reason the 7S calibers are priced for salaried men. I will mourn the passing of the 7S caliber when it is pushed to extinction. But I understand and agree with Seiko's rationale. One reason is progress, the other and more important reason is survival. With the advent and onslaught of electronic gadgets that tell time with atomic accuracy, Seiko must move up the value chain and compete on perceived luxury.
Last Thursday, I purchased my Orange Monster. Later today I have half a mind to pop back down to my watch dealer to purchase the Black. Why? Because, more than being a watch, it romances the past. In 2003 the Monster cost US$143. Today, it is being sold for US$183 at grey market prices. Across the span of 10 years, the Monster has successfully resisted the forces of inflation. 10 years on, and it is even more of a value preposition today than it was when first released. The current Monster collection is the personification of value.
In the case of the Monster SKX779 and 781, old is indeed gold. I will miss them dearly.
The thought just occurred to me that the replacement of the SKX007 is the next shoe to drop. The likely release of a new model Monster suggests that Seiko will be willing to continue an affordable professional diver with more classical Seiko styling.
If Seiko wrest control of the supply chain and strangle grey channels, we will be left with little option but to pay list prices should we succumb to the siren's call of the upgraded Monsters. The new divers at list prices are still affordable and certainly fair for the quality Seiko delivers it at, but it would not strike the seasoned collector as so much of a value preposition as compared to the previously priced divers.
You mentioned in your post that the new Monsters will be released in Q4 of 2012. Could the release be earlier than that, seeing that the printed catalog is already proudly displaying the new collection. My understanding is that once Seiko mails the catalog to their distributors to place their order, the watches will arrive at our shores in 1 to 2 months.
Thank you Spin Doctor for your blog. I enjoy it immensely.
Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful opinions.
One of the post mention the plastic shrouded SRP divers are priced quite high at US$350 upward. Reason behind the high price is largely because they were limited edition models. They were availed under both k and j variants. As far as accuracy goes the 4r36 is quite accurate the two I own are about +4/-2 a day which isn't bad considering the price compare to Swiss ETA. However they only stay accurate when worn on your wrist. The movement don't respond too well to change in temperature.
Anon June 16: You are right in that the prices of the SRP divers have come down...at least those available in the US. Good to hear your examples of the 4r36 demonstrate good performance. I look forward to Seiko's continued use of this caliber and I am hopeful for the introduction of some new diver models besides the Monster. The menu is a little thin these days.
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