In 1882, ariste calame founded a workshop for the production of special watches in le locle, switzerland. Jul 20, 2018 zodiac is a brand with a rich dive watch heritage that is sometimes overlooked by enthusiasts and collectors due to the ubiquity of the submariner and the seamaster, but in truth, their sea wolf debuted to much fanfare way back in 1953, making it one of the first timepieces purposebuilt for the then relatively new recreational sport of scuba diving. Once an incredibly innovative and highly regarded brand, they like many others hit hard times as quartz killed the middle market for timepieces. From the stately sea dragon chronographs racinginspired details and the super sea wolf 53s iconic silhouette to the automatic sea dragons colorful dial options and the sea wolf 68s reimagining of a treasured classic, each of our swiss watches for men brings a unique set of offerings to the table. The name zodiac was used early but was not registered until 1908. The rest of us just appreciate the fact that we can wear. It also sold for more than twice the amount of a regular sea wolf. The zodiac sea wolf is one of my favorite relatively undertheradar, affordable vintage divers. Zodiac make sure to look at all of our 300400 vintage watches we have constantly listed on chrono24. The dial is a nicely aged original with applied gold luminous markers and hands, 92%. Jan 10, 2016 i have both the zodiac seawolf and aerospace, both with letters of provenance from their military service. With zodiacs forthcoming rerelease of the sea wolf, its a good excuse to look back at the pioneering watchs history and evaluate the new watch.
I purchased my first zodiac sea wolf in 1967 while serving in the us marine corps. Zodiac watches is a now a brand of swiss watches manufactured by fossil, inc original name of the company was ariste calame and would later become zodiac. This new zodiac is an updated larger 39mm version of the same watch, and is part of the new zodiac heritage collection. The zodiac super sea wolf is the real collectors dive watch. Zodiac is a brand with a rich dive watch heritage that is sometimes overlooked by enthusiasts and collectors due to the ubiquity of the submariner and the seamaster, but in truth, their sea wolf debuted to much fanfare way back in 1953, making it one of the first timepieces purposebuilt for the then relatively new recreational sport of scuba diving. Zodiac super sea wolf 53 compression zo9257, zo9258 watches. In 1990 the address of the zodiaccalame company was care of paul buhre in le locle but the zodiac watch company was still in new york. Zodiac watch repair by ron gordon watch repair of nyc new. The zodiac seawolf has been redesigned several times over the years. Not only was this the first dive watch designed with a rotating bezel, but it was. In 1953 zodiac introduced the sea wolf as the worlds first purposebuilt dive watch manufactured and marketed to the masses. Zodiac s rejuvenation of our most enduring collections revives this commitment and reestablishes the origins and spirit we were founded upon. The dial has some gentle ageing and patina, but still looks great. This is a replacement tutone band with nos yellow zodiac clasp.
Zodiac and the story behind the curious point series. Time to play a naval and submarine video game title. The sea wolf featured the caliber 7072 automatic movement that was a collaboration between eta and a. Vintage zodiac watches are known for their unique designs.
The included unused swiss tropic band and original buckle is valuable on its own. Black original dial with silver indexes and tan eccentric hands with patinad luminous. In 1953 zodiac unveiled the seawolf, one of the first watches with a water resistance rating of 200m and one of the first commercially available dive watches on the market. Zodiac super sea wolf 53 compression zo9257, zo9258. This vintage 1970s zodiac super sea wolf dive watch is all original including the black dial, lume and handset. Big brother is 650 metres long and 180 metres wide. To date, the original sea wolf, and its successor, the early1970s super sea wolf, are widely considered two of the most iconic commercial dive watches in history. Buy vintage zodiac seawolf chronograph super divers watch valjoux 72. This heritage seawolf captures the original 1960s design and is just. For those unfamiliar, zodiac has a long, storied history. Id like to add a nice white dial seawolf to the watch menagerie in future. This model has a gold bezel instead of the silver plated bezel which is normally found on these.
According to my 1971 zodiac catalog the bezel on this is 9k gold and it originally sold with a t. Watches are one of those possessions that you want to have a spellbinding story behind it or a distinguished history that sets it apart from other. It is nice to find them with the original bracelets. Here are photos of seven of them that you can download as desktop wallpaper. Most watch collectors will at least have a passing knowledge of recent zodiac history. Brother islands seawolf diving safari tauchsafaris im. Schild movements and the 17 jewel as1624 was used by zodiac and ernest borel. What this means, of course, is that some changes can and most likely will be made to the different.
The fifty fathoms and submariner today are regarded as upmarket luxury timepieces, but the sea wolf stayed true to its tool watch heritage throughout its history. F or 2016, zodiac has quietly introduced a new bracelet for some versions of the popular and affordable retrothemed mechanical zodiac super sea wolf 53 compression i know, the name is a mouthful diver watch collection. Both islands are of volcanic origin and sit atop a mountain ridge which plunges well over 1,000 metres in depth from the west side to the east side. New york city, he is a persistent student in all things historical, a writer on watches. Discover a large selection of zodiac sea wolf watches on chrono24 the worldwide marketplace for luxury watches. Striking looking example with gray with red detail bakelite bezel and signed zodia crown. The release of the zodiac sea wolf is scheduled for spring 2015, with the united states and asia as the primary markets, and has already had a chance to see some of prototypes at the brands workshop in bienne, switzerland. But, it did happen and the brand got swept away like so many others, only. The zodiac super sea wolf watch is one of the most iconic dive. This is a very nice condition example, featuring a 35mm diameter case, gray bakelite elapsed time bezel, and very nice condition original matte silver dial with raised indexes, prominent 6, 9, and 12 triangular shaped indexes, and tapered luminous hands. Wonderful early zodiac seawolf automatic vintage black dial.
In the decades that followed, zodiac went through a number of deaths and rebirths. Ssn21 seawolf, a really nice simulation game sold in 1994 for dos, is available and ready to be played again. This as1700 movement was also produced as 1580, 1641,1681 and 1709 and other model numbers are seen on sea wolf rotors. The modernday zodiac sea wolf is one of these series.
The history of zodiac watch watch repair fullservice. Since 1882, founder ariste calame and the zodiac watch brand have been. Maybe the should have gone the panerai route and puffed up their history while releasing wildly priced timeonly pieces with strange references to questionable military exploits. Zodiacs rejuvenation of our most enduring collections revives this commitment and reestablishes the origins and spirit we were founded upon. Typically you may lose 1 psi of air over a 30day period with a seawolf or superduxx boat. The first divers watch with a rotating bezel, the zodiac sea wolf was announced at the basel fair together with the fifty fathoms from. The company changed hands a few times and is currently owned by fossil. Tour 1 drifting with the zodiac depending on the current, we start at the wreck and then work our way towards the southern plateau either on the left or right shoulder of the reef. Zodiac watches is a brand of swiss watches manufactured by fossil, inc. Released in 1953, during the initial boom of the dive watch, the sea wolf vintage version above slowly but surely became the goto piece for divers either unwilling or unable to pay the prices commanded by rolex, omega, and other luxury brands. They both wear wonderfully on the wrist, a little small and understated.
Like all vintage pieces however, it has its quirks. Kalbfus and commissioned on 1 december 1939, lieutenant frederick b. In 1953 zodiac introduced the sea wolf as the worlds first purposebuilt dive watch manufactured and. Zodiac watch founded in 1882 in le locle, switzerland. The new steel bracelet is currently available on the reference zo9257 green dial and reference zo9258 blue dial models. Zodiac sea wolf all prices for zodiac sea wolf watches. Zodiac seawolf chronograph super divers with images zodiac. Mar 04, 2015 zodiac has been slow to get attention from collectors, despite having great history and some interesting models. As far as divers watches are concerned, few are as iconic, reliable, and reasonable as the zodiac seawolf. The original name of the company was ariste calame and. Zodiac watches is a brand of swiss watches owned and manufactured by fossil group. Zodiac super sea wolf 53 compression zo9257, zo9258 watches on new bracelet handson oct 12, 2016 by ariel adams f or 2016, zodiac has quietly introduced a new bracelet for some versions of the popular and affordable retrothemed mechanical zodiac super sea wolf 53 compression i know, the name is a mouthful diver watch collection. Collectible zodiac super sea wolf kits at time machine.
I continue to enjoy the heritage collection from zodiac which takes classic designs from the brands history and makes them new again. Stylish guys love their rugged elegance, while watchheads geek out over their technical design and history. Elegant swiss watches for the elevated world explorer. May 27, 2015 for those unfamiliar, zodiac has a long, storied history. After a successful period that started roughly in the 1950s and continued through the 70s, the brand, like so many others, faltered during the quartz crisis. Uss seawolf ss197, a sargoclass submarine, was the second submarine of the united states navy named for the seawolf her keel was laid down on 27 september 1938 by the portsmouth navy yard in kittery, maine. The automatic, rotor winding zodiac movement was recently cleaned and overhauled and is keeping accurate time. When it was a featured at the swiss watch pavilion at the. This most recent restoration very well illustrates many of the internal issues one can face when diving into the the lair of the sea wolf. At the bench the restoration of a stunning zodiac sea wolf. The classic zodiac sea wolf a history the spring bar. They were major innovators for a time, and had the quartz crisis never happened, could have been one of the major brands today.
It is competing vs aquadives, doxa, longines and oris at this pricepoint. Zodiac sea wolf all prices for zodiac sea wolf watches on. Zodiac seawolf sst 36,000 philipp rittermann on july 26, 2018 at 03. Review of the new zodiac heritage seawolf watchuseek. The watch looks just as fashionable today as it did 50years ago.
The last super seawolf model was only made from 19992001. However, nothing has ever been as popular as the original 1960s seawolf. Since 1882, founder ariste calame and the zodiac watch brand have been dedicated to excellence in design, innovation and creativity. Vintage 1960s zodiac seawolf, popular divers model often associated with the vietnam war and the u. A 1955 ad from the zodiac watch agency, new york a division of edward trauner inc. The zodiac sea wolf is a classic vintage dive watch. I have both the zodiac seawolf and aerospace, both with letters of provenance from their military service. Wonderful early zodiac seawolf automatic vintage black. Zodiac watch company 35mm stainless steel especially water tested to twenty atmospheres signed seawolf case, 88%.
Zodiac seawolf diver nos blue bezel the global knomad. I am a small time collector, and farm all of my service and repair needs out to a professional watchmaker. Zodiac has been slow to get attention from collectors, despite having great history and some interesting models. When it was a featured at the swiss watch pavilion at the 1964 worlds fair in new york, it really gained in popularity. Seawolf and superduxx offer a 5year warranty on craftsmanship and have a turn around time of 2 weeks or less. In 1953, the brand released its original and nowiconic sea wolf. I have the exact same watch discussed in this thread.
We float past a myriad of vibrantcoloured coral, spot garden eels on the sandy sea surface and perhaps even some tuna, whitetip reef sharks, masked puffers and. Start with the amazon kindle download of mark hewitts hunted. Zodiacs super sea wolf 68 is a celebration of dive watch. In the 1990s zodiac watches were being produced by zodiac sa in neuchatel. Zodiac is a very well known quality swiss watch company. Since ariste calame first set up his workshop in 1882, zodiac has been building. Other inflatable boats leak 23 psi within 24 hours. The zodiac seawolf is a uniquely striking watch which sort of blazed its own trail with regards to styling.
The stylish design of the 1960s seawolf seems to be timeless. It features a complete kit and is waterproof to 3330 feet. Below you will find some interesting facts about them, and a little history. These include the astrographic, olympus, spacetronic, sea chron and autographic to name a few. But, it did happen and the brand got swept away like so many others, only to be bought and sold and bought again years later. It is also a great example of a rapidly growing parts problem in the vintage watch world. The seawolf and super seawolf were famous in 60s during the vietnam war.