joerattz
3T WIS
| Joined: | Fri Sep 19th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 62 |
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Interesting thread. I have the CD, and I have two monsters, orange and black, both on the bracelet.
Comparing the bracelet, the CD wins hands down. The only thing better about the monster bracelet is the diver's extension. While that is nice to have (and perhaps a necessity for really diving), I don't dive so for me, it is just a cool feature I will never use. But the coolness of the CD bracelet I get to enjoy every time I wear it. The clasps on the monster and CD are fairly equivalent. The integration of the CD bracelet into the case and lugs is a work of art and one of my favorite parts of the watch. Whereas the monster bracelet integration into its case is fairly nonexistent. What's intersting to me is that the monster bracelet is excellent. Three months ago I would not have fathomed I would be saying another watch's bracelet wins hands down against a monster bracelet.
On the case, this one to me is a tough one to call, but I would lean it toward the monster. The CD has the better lugs. It (CD) is taller (which I like, but maybe you wouldn't), and slightly larger diameter. The monster case is more interesting to me because it has the crown at the 4:00 position instead of the 3:00 and the crown is guarded. There is also a shroud for the bezel protecting parts of it from coming in contact and accidentally being turned. The CD case has a handsome brushed finish and looks very industrial (which is meant as a compliment). I guess comparing them, I would say the CD case is better looking, but the monster case is more interesting and perhaps more functional in that it provides better protection for the crown and bezel.
For the crown, I like the CD crown better, but they are close. The CD crown has a larger diameter. The monster crown is taller. I like the crown at the 4:00 better on the monster than the CD. The CD doesn't have a crown protector so it is easier to get hold of, but isn't protected as well.
For the crystal, the CD wins easily. The CD has sapphire and the monster uses Seiko's hardlex. I think "hardlex" is Japanese for "scratches within 1 year". I would consider the crystal the single biggest flaw of the monster. When I am considering a watch, the crystal is very important to me. I ALWAYS want sapphire. Granted, I have compromised and took less for without doing so would mean no Seiko monster.
For the bezel, I prefer the monster. I think the bezel is easier to grip and turn on the monster. It is interesting looking. Also, it is the only watch I can set the bezel on with my eyes closed as long as I know where the marker starts. It has the unusual characteristic that the indentations (bullet chambers) are every 5 minutes. I can put my fingers in the indentation on the bezel, and turn it until the indentation of the bezel aligns with the next indentation in the case, exactly 5 minutes with my eyes closed. See this image:
Those indentations (I call them bullet chambers because they remind me of the bullet chambers on a pistol) align and you can turn the bezel exactly 5 minutes by feeling if the bezel chamber aligns with the case chamber, which is a neat capability. There is nothing wrong with the bezel of the CD though, I just think the monster bezel is more interesting.
For the dial, I lean towards the monster purely because it comes in orange and I like the more colorful dials. If only the CD had a yellow dial instead of just yellow text! Or even orange, this would have been a draw.
For the lume...hmm, this is where the monster wins hands down. Let me just say that while the monster has the reputation for the best lume, if you haven't seen a Seiko sawtooth, it has even better lume than a monster, and I have both monsters and sawtooths, so I have very high expectations for lume. To me, the monster lume wins easily. I see three ways that lume could be measured, so let me elaborate. One way that lume could probably be measured is by how easily it is activated. Elemental mentions in his post that if the monster even peaks at light, it is charged. This is why I like the monsters and sawtooths so much, and it is probably the most practical and important characteristic of lume to me. I am not in the dark for long periods of time, but when I am, I would like to be able to read my watch. For me, the beauty of a monster/sawtooth is that fairly ordinary lighting is enough to charge them. I can walk from inside my office building at work to outside in the dark at night, and my monster/sawtooth glow bright enough to easily read. This is the practical and real reason I need lume. Or, I just left the grocery store at night and am walking in a dark parking lot wondering what time it is. The store's normal lighting is enough to charge the monster's lume. I am not sure that is the case with any of my superluminova lumed watches. The next measurement you could probably make on lume is its brightness. Again, the monsters (and sawtooths are even better) rule. I can hit my monster or sawtooth with my car's headlights for 5 seconds (which I do before going swimming at night) and they glow like a flashlight (relatively speaking). The monster beats the CD with this as well. The last measurement you could probably make on lume is how long it glows. For me, this is the least important characteristic of lume (as long as it is reasonable). I don't need for the lume to glow for eight hours. Typically a couple hours is the most I need. I have no way to compare the monster and CD on this since it isn't important to me and would be difficult to measure. I will say though that I like how pure the white lume is on the CD. It contrasts very well with the black dial and in light, looks great. I also like that it glows blue. I LOVE blue lume. But I feel like I always pay a price for blue lume in that it just doesn't glow well enough to suit me.
For the hands, its a toss up. Neither particularly rev me up nor turn me off.
For the movement, I am not qualified to judge which is better, but I like that the movement in the CD (the Miyota 8215) is handwindable whereas the movement in the monster is not.
Now, I wouldn't necessarily consider this a fair comparison because I paid $140 for my monser new and $355 for my CD. Also, there are a few places where the monster wins (most notably the lume), but taking into account that the monster is such an iconic watch, and such a bargain, it is tough for any watch to compete with. That the CD does so well against it is a testament to what a great watch it is. Honestly, I wouldn't want to not have either. However, I will say that I haven't worn my monster since getting my CD, and that says more than the rest of my review here.
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I would never have thought to compare the CD and Monster but I see how you arrived there. I'm sure we can all agree both are excellent watches!yourock.gif
