Horological Meandering

Still one and half years ago I had a dream: to collect modern diving watches with manufactured movements. So I ordered this from Japan.

I had a look at the watch when it came and my conclusion was "ugly, too this, too heavy". So I never put it to my wrist. Today I found the box and started to study it. It is still heavy and in my opinion ugly. But it looks like a well made watch from outside and the lume is quite good.

I took also some pictures of the documents which I found from the box.

I do not know too much about this watch but I have understood that the movement is of relatively high quality and nicely made. Anyhow, I will not take this watch to my diving expeditions because I have several diving watches which I really love.

So my question is: should I put this watch untouched back to the place from where I found it and find it again in a couple of years? Or should I find a poor relative or fellow diver and just make him happy?

The Russian say: THERE ARE NO UGLY WOMEN - JUST TOO LITTLE VODKA! If I would start drinking vodka, perhaps this Seiko Marine Master would start to look really good.

Does one of you have any experience about this watch and any opinions?

Best, Kari

....I'll put my hand up!

That MM300 is a fine watch. Yes, rather top heavy on the wrist, but it also a solid one-piece case...It's fitted with the 8L35 movement, which is fundamentally an unadorned, untuned Grand Seiko movement.  Very high quality watch and will go almost unnoticed. Which is, to me, a good thing.

I see that watch as the top shelf of Seiko non-shrouded divers. I own several of its ancestors.

 

You've never wore it? Perhaps you should try for just a day or so. Or plan to take it with you on your next trip?

Take it for a test dive!  I'm guessing it will hold up well and make for a fun beater.  I personally think it's a great watch.

Cheers,
Daos

It's been on my shortlist for a while, but since I also own a couple vintage Seikos, as well a more than a few divers, I've never realized owning one.
Yes, these are beefy, but the fit and finish are excellent. I think it boils down to how much you like these larger (and heavier) watches.

I have watches from 49mm to 18mm (and relatively small wrists)

Haven't you been visiting here lately? This IS the Seiko forum!!!


Cheers,
pplater.

And now just the name of the forum must be changed.

Best, Kari

Maybe it won't become one of your favorite dive watches, but a shared adventure together could turn this "ugly duckling" into a swan, yes? 

Thanks for sharing the pictures.  It's a very robust watch, for sure!

Cheers,
Daos

Sell it and give someone else a chance. I don't care how nice a watch is on paper, if you're not gonna wear it, then ditch it and use the money to get a watch you will wear. Now personally, I would've been wearing the snot out of that piece, but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Regards,
Adam

PS - Oh, and if you do decide to sell, I can practically guarantee that it won't be languishing on the forum... ;-)

The Marinemaster is a beautifully finished watch with a worthy movement and purpose-designed case.  Wear your watch and perhaps you
will find it more accommodating.  In my personal experience, I also found the MM too thick and top-heavy...until I put it on the right strap, this
nylon Bund from Seiko themselves:

No message body

i appreciate you probably bought it online without having the chance to wear it. thats fine, i buy 99% of my watches online without first trying them on, but i know from the pictures and description whether i will like it or not. it has only happened on rare occasions that i dont like the way it wears once i've bought it.

if you saw the pics and saw the specs then surely you would have known that it was big heavy and ugly (in your opinion) before you bought it. so why buy it ?? had you given it a chance and worn it you might have found that it was an excellent watch and totally fit for purpose thereby falling in love with it.

perhaps this is a lesson for you personally, perhaps you need to try watches on and examining them before committing to them, perhaps buying online is not the best method for you. it works for me, but not for many others.

BTW, our General manager explained to me a long time ago about how brand forums are started and it is a complex matter involving the brand itself as an active participant which is why at this stage there is no seiko forum.

slightly confused

Graham

In my part of the world this kind of Seikos are not available. At the same time I do not travel to Japan too often and when I do, the schedule is normally very tight.

Yes, I bought the watch online without an opportunity to wear it. Normally I always go and see the watch, feel it and put it to my shopping list. When the watch is in the list, I keep it there for at least three months before buying the same. The reason for this is that if the watch is in the list and I don't drop it out, I can be sure that I really want the same.

Basically the only watches I have bought blind are the Seiko in question plus Blancpain fifty Fathoms in SS and RG. The same issues bother me with the Fifty Fathoms. To my taste they are too big, too thick, too heavy and especially too topheavy. However, I love the design of FF as well as the history and the very nice movement.

I guess I have learned my lesson and know that it is better to play with the watch quite a bit before buing it. But don't you agree: learning to buy the right watches is a learning process - the more we acquire those, the less mistakes we make.

Best, Kari

Either the Poor Watch is growing (in my mind) or she finds a new home where the Owner can appreciate her.

Best, Kari

A lot of dive watch followers really like that watch.  It looks great to me, but I have never tried one on either, so can't really comment on how it wears.  I used to have an IWC aquatimer which I could just never get comfortable with on the wrist, so in the end it had to go. 

Most dive watches come with their fair share of 'lumps and bumps' attesting to their invincibility, but this can make them look a bit brutal from time to time.  I suggest you try to wear it some more and see if it feels better with 'age' .  If not, you would be best replacing it with something you can wear well.  I can't see the point of keeping a watch locked away unused to be honest, but that's just my view,

 All the best however you decide

 

Regards

 

Tim

This message has been edited by 41northpole on 2010-11-25 10:21:56

if I do not wear the watch, I sell it....

I believe that the watches should be worn, even just a couple times a year... If not,
then off to a more loving home....

So, I would sell it.....

As far as the FF, true, quite bulky but very wearable even by thin wrists....
Excellent design, history and probably the best movement compared to any other diving watch...



Cheers

it's a Great looking Diver. but we all have Different Taste..

  you may wanna move it and get something that Sings to YOU ( since it hasn't in the last Year & Half . and most likely it won't GROW on you)..

  i personally like Rubber or Leather Straps over the Metal Bracelets .(i see a LOT OF Metal on this Watch).. so before you sell it ? try to Mount the Rubber and see if that changes your Mind??!!

 Cheers

 Tony

True, we all have our own tastes and we can't argue about the same.

My taste has developed to such a direction that I really appreciate slim watches. I.e. Rolex Submariner is a slim watch taking into account that it is waterproof to 300 meters.

One explanation might be that I am not the very smallest of men (188 cm / 98 kg) and I do not feel that I "need" a big watch.

Best, Kari 

in the End ? you should wear what  YOUR Heart Desires :0)))))))

  Salute

a bit different, may be an earlier model than the regular MM.

I love mine with the gold index and handset. I do wear it with rubber band.

 

 

 

 

The selection of gear is very large and a novice will often need expert advice in order to choose the correct gear.



 Dive computers

make me happy

Kari,

And I'm considering your MM a true beauty.

This is, by my book, a real tool watch with all letters.

I agree with Steve. Put a nice nylon two part strap and be happy with it.

Cheers,

Nilo

Very Irritating to me - this Seiko (and many watch brands) lovers habit of coming up with cute names that make outsiders feel outside: the BlancpaiN FF, Rolex DSDR (or whatever), Seiko Samurai, Omega Sapphire Sandwich, etc.

I do see the value of it, as you don't have to say "the red gold chrono with the Venus movement from 1985-97" but still ...

Hi Cazalea, sorry for writing on this thread but I'm new to this site. I saw your SBGW001 and like the black gator? strap. Where did you buy the strap? I have a SGBW035 I would like to equip with a black gator strap. Thanks! Christian

If you give me a day or two I’ll pull the watch from the safe and check it out. That might be the original strap

Cheers,

Cazalea

Obviously I can't keep track of my GS collection. I believe it was the original, and I have sold that one. Sorry I can't help you with a specific source. I accumulated dozens of straps over the last decade and now don't buy anything new anymore.