The Time+Tide Shop becomes the exclusive Australian retailer of Zodiac – a pioneering dive watch brand
Borna BošnjakThe Time+Tide Shop keeps on keeping on, and we’re excited to introduce the latest newcomer – Zodiac. We’ll be offering pieces from all of Zodiac’s modern collections, and do so as the exclusive Australian retailer. A brand nearing 150 years of operation, Zodiac was among the first to introduce a dive watch, matching Blancpain’s 1953 release with the Sea Wolf. Re-editions of models like the Aerospace GMT and Astrographic were runaway successes, revitalised with the help of movement supply from Swiss Technology Production after the brand was purchased by the Fossil Group in 2001. We’ll highlight three models here, but make sure you check out the entire collection at the link below.
Zodiac’s full offering in the Time+Tide Shop, with free shipping within Australia.
Super Sea Wolf
The poster boy of the Zodiac collection is undoubtedly the Super Sea Wolf, modelled after the 1953 Sea Wolf model that was a contemporary of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and the Rolex Submariner, actually pre-dating the later by a year. Despite its stellar performance, especially in regards to its 100-metre depth rating, the Sea Wolf never gained the mainstream popularity that launched its contemporaries into grail territory, making them a treat for budget-oriented vintage collectors.
This great provenance and the funky colours that graced even the vintage models gave rise to the Sea Wolf’s revival, courtesy of STP and the Fossil Group. Now all branded as Super Sea Wolves, most of the collection takes a bolder approach, most notably the Super Sea Wolf Skeleton, sporting reflective bezels and dials with wide hands and markers. The model that most closely resembles the 1953 Sea Wolf is the 53 Skin, with its signature tooth-like indices and dauphine hands contrasting nicely against a metal bezel insert.
Another model directly referencing a vintage model is the 68 Saturation, with its honkin’ 44mm cushion case and 1000-metre depth rating. Without any lugs to add to its already large 50mm lug-t0-lug dimension, however, this may be an excellent alternative to something like a PloProf, which is truly unwearable in most scenarios. Added bonus – it looks killer on a mesh bracelet.
Finally, the Super Sea Wolf GMT. Referencing one of the most highly sought-after Zodiac models, both vintage and modern, the GMT pares back the ruggedness of the Super Sea Wolf diver’s models, making it a more appropriate traveller’s watch.
Pro-Diver
If you found it hard to imagine what a truly modern Sea Wolf would look like, worry no more, as Zodiac has just that option up its lugs, too. The Super Sea Wolf LHD Pro-Diver GMT and “regular” Pro-Diver are both ISO 6425 and chronometer certified, featuring lumed bezel inserts and AR-coated sapphire crystals. The LHD is especially utilitarian, packing in a GMT feature into the 42mm case.
Olympos Field
My last pick may be a little unexpected, as the Olympos isn’t the most recognisable piece in the Zodiac catalogue, though I can’t quite understand why. It has historical provenance, great specs and is well-priced, but if that wasn’t enough, look at that case – it’s just awesome. Nicknamed the manta case for its distinctive shape, the crown is located at 2 o’clock and semi-guarded, which made it less susceptible to damage during its military-issue days in the British army of the 1960s.
Zodiac’s full offering in the Time+Tide Shop, with free shipping within Australia.