The 1950s were without question one of the most important periods in horological history thanks in large part to the advent of the professional dive watch. These were watches with practical water resistance ratings and fresh, modern designs that felt daring and new. The Rolex Submariner, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and Zodiac Sea Wolf all hit the market during the decade – although the exact years in which they were released are contested by watch historians. While in the intervening years the Submariner and Fifty Fathoms have become synonymous with being prestige divers, the Zodiac Sea Wolf and Super Sea Wolf have remained the ultimate professional diver for the masses.
Zodiac Sea Wolf Advert (1950s)
Regarding the contested origins of the Sea Wolf, Zodiac cite 1953 as the year of its origin, which would make it coincide with the debut of the Submariner. However, over the years any physical evidence of such an early launch has been lost and now the earliest known examples date from around 1957 and 1958.
Regardless of when the Sea Wolf first emerged on the market, one thing is certain, it has had a lasting impact on the world of dive watch design. Its signature design is markedly different from either the Fifty Fathoms or Submariner, especially when it comes to the second-generation Sea Wolf’s dial. The hour markers at 12, three, six and nine o’clock feature hugely oversize triangles coated with lume, making it extremely easy to read the watch in low light conditions and when underwater.
Zodiac Aerospace GMT Edition 1970s, image credit: Analog Shift
By the late 1950s and early ‘60s the collection was made even more robust and suited for underwater life with the launch of the Super Sea Wolf. It boosted the water resistance rating to 750m, which remains impressive by today’s standards let alone in the ‘60s. Around the same time Zodiac also experimented with adapting the diver into an aviation watch with the creation of the Aerospace GMT edition.
However, come the 1970s and Zodiac was faced with a very familiar problem. After decades producing their own, in-house movements, the quartz crisis came along and almost entirely collapsed the mechanical watch market. They made a concerted effort to adapt to the new climate but ultimately the company was sold. In 2001 it was acquired by the Fossil Group, which still own it today.
Zodiac x Rowing Blazers Super Sea Wolf World Time GMT
As for the Super Sea Wolf, it disappeared from the catalogue for a few years before being revived as a full collection in 2015. Today the Super Sea Wolf exists in a variety of forms. There’s the traditional and classic Super Sea Wolf Skin, inspired by the earliest models with a skin-diver aesthetic and those traditional triangular hour markers. In keeping with the historic Aerospace GMT models the Super Sea Wolf GMT is also a popular collection.
Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Ceramic
The Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver is a much more modern timepiece with a huge variety of colours available such as the vibrant ref. ZO9269 and ceramic cased ZO9590. For 2024 they introduced the 18k gold plated ZO9308 edition that turns up the luxury by several degrees. Or, if you prefer tapping into the zeitgeist for semi-precious dials, you can also get the Sea Wolf with a handsome stone dial. Versatility is key.
Zodiac 18k Gold Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver
What the Zodiac Sea Wolf proves is that while heritage and legacy are always relevant, when it comes to producing modern watches, what people are really after is a modern watch for modern times. With their accessible STP movements, solid specs and versatile styles, the Super Sea Wolf really is a modern diver.
More details at Zodiac.
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