If you are a fan of Seiko watches, you probably already know some of the famous nicknames that are used to describe the models that are popular. A lot of popular models out there with names that came from the Seiko community, and not from the company that makes these amazing watches.
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The Seiko Monster has been around in one form or another for going on 20 years and features dozens of special editions and colorways. Its βmonsterβ name is said to relate to the dial itself, appearing to be lined with sharp teeth.
The watch became extremely popular with those looking for a low-cost tool watch. With its distinctive appearance - a toothy bezel, huge indices with intense lume, and a bezel guard β as well as bold styling and sturdy build quality, this watch was quickly dubbed the "Monster" by Seiko fans.
The Seiko Monster is one of the biggest and boldest products in Seikoβs lineup, with its huge hands and indexes (as well as the MONSTER lume). It also features chunky steel construction and an aggressive appearance which has made it extremely desirable.
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The original Seiko Samurai was released in 2004 and produced until 2008. According to many people, it obtained its nickname by enthusiasts because of the Samurai sword-shaped hands on the original.
Even Seiko's designers are somehow puzzled as to why this specific model is known as the "Samurai." Perhaps this particular series evokes a sense of Japanese design in the eyes of the international community.
With the passage of time, its popularity grew, and the Seiko Samurai became one of Seiko's most wanted dive watches.
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There are a few theories about where the nickname of this watch came from. The first is the case's large size in comparison to the 20mm band. Another reason is that the marking at 12 o'clock is like the 'Mawashi,' the Japanese sumo wrestlers' underpants during a competition.
Sumo is a heavy-duty dive watch, 170 grams and measuring 44mm in diameter, making it unsuitable for those with narrow wrists. This watchΒ has 70-hour power reserve and is anti-magnetic and use of Seiko's unique alloy mainspring.
The Seiko Sumo has a different bezel than most Seiko divers, with bigger numbers all the way around. Its hands are also far simpler than many of the other Divers watches from Seiko.
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In 1968, a professional diver wrote to Seiko stating that most diving timepieces couldn't stand up to the rigors of saturation diving. It took Seiko engineers seven years to release a new model, and in 1975 the Seiko Marine Master Professional, widely regarded as the most extreme diving watch.
This Tuna is the predecessor to the entire Tuna design motif, and is also known as the βGrandfather Tunaβ. It featured a monocoque titanium case with a unique L-shaped gasket that made the watch immune to helium gas, a rubber band, and a protective outer shell that gave it that distinctive tuna-can look.
The Tuna nickname was given by watch collectors, and it stuck. Tuna comes from the phrase "tuna can," which refers to the large cylindrical shrouded-case form which gives the weighty item the appearance of a can of tuna strapped to your wrist. The Seiko Tuna is by far the largest of the Seiko divers, measuring 48mm in diameter.
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The Turtle gets its name from the cushion shape of its case, which evokes the shell of the sea creature after which it is named. When you turn it over, it resembles a turtle sleeping on its back even more. This vintage Seiko diving watch was first released in 1977, and in 2016, Seiko reintroduced the Turtle.
The Seiko Turtle diver, in both its modern (SRP77X) and historic (6309) forms, is by far the most popular of the Seiko nicknamed watches. It is regarded as one of the best automatic divers by many in both the watch collecting, and diving communities.
The Turtle is a nice upgrade from the SKX, housing a high-quality 4R36 Seiko movement and available in a variety of colors and limited editions.