Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Compression Z09255

Each Zodiac timepiece is hand-assembled in Biel-Bienne, Switzerland. This time-consuming, intricate work means each style is made in small-batch, limited quantities. Once a style sells out, it's gone until our artisans start on a new batch. So if you see a style or colorway you love, get it while you can. It could be a while before it comes back.

Inspired by Zodiac Sea Wolf of 1950s and 60s

Retro inspired mechanical timepiece 

Limited Edition Watches

Product Details

Sku: ZO9255

Case Size: 40MM

Strap Width: 20MM

Movement: Automatic, Power Reserve: 44 hours

Quick change: date 📅 

hacking and hand-winding feature

Case Color: Silver

SuperLuminova hands and indexes for unparalleled Clarity

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Strap Color: Silver

Dial Color: Silver, Unidirectional Bezel:

Crystal: Sapphire

¹Strap Material: Stainless Steel 

²Strap Color: Black, Silver Tang

Platform: SUPER SEAWOLF 53 COMPRESSION

Case Water Resistance: 20 ATM

Strap Inner Circumference: 200+/- 5MM

Battery Type: No Battery

PREMIUM ZULUDIVER MILITARY HERRINGBONE" NATO WATCH STRAP, handmade POLISHED HARDWARE MADE IN THE 🇬🇧 UK

SWISS TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTION.

"IN-HOUSE: Calibre STP 1-11"

In production since 2008, this 28800vph in-house movement is the entry-level STP movement. It has a 44-hour power reserve and has been used on all Zodiac models from Astrographic to Super Sea Wolf, including COSC-certified editions.

Spring loaded: monogram clasp

Watches Limited Edition Watches Zodiac Legacy

82 pieces

Inspired by Zodiac Sea Wolf of 1950s and 60s

 Zodiac Founded

Since 1882.

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Zodiac Partners with Italian Retailer for Super Sea Wolf 53 Compression Limited Edition Grimoldi Milano

Caleb Anderson

January 14, 2021

Swiss-based Zodiac, founded in 1882, is a brand which has based its modern image upon many watches first developed in the mid-20th century. Chief among these is the ever-popular Super Sea Wolf 53 Compression, which takes inspiration from a skin diver’s watch launched in 1953, then only known as the Sea Wolf. More recently, the manufacturer has partnered with Italian retailer Grimoldi Milano to unveil a special edition of this now fan-favorite model, the new Super Sea Wolf 53 Compression Limited Edition Grimo

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A WEEK ON THE WRIST THE ZODIAC SEAWOLF

They say history is written by the victors, and Blancpain and Rolex have capitalized on their long lineages while the Sea Wolf is all but forgotten, despite being one of the earliest dive watches.

JASON HEATON

JANUARY 06, 2015

1953 was the year the dive watch was born. Sure, the quirky Art Deco OMEGA Marine went underwater in 1932 and (Rolex-cased) Panerais were on the wrists of Italian commandos in Word War II, but it was at the 1953 Basel watch fair that the first purpose-built dive watches appeared. While the Rolex Submariner wouldn’t make its official debut until the 1954 fair, two other brands proudly introduced their divers in ’53: Blancpain with its Fifty Fathoms and Zodiac with the Sea Wolf. They say history is written by the victors and indeed, Blancpain and Rolex have capitalized on their long lineages while the Sea Wolf was all but forgotten, other than its dubious distinction as the wrist-wear of a serial killer in the 1970s who took his watch fetish a little too far by calling himself “Zodiac.” With Zodiac’s forthcoming re-release of the Sea Wolf, it’s a good excuse to look back at the pioneering watch’s history and evaluate the new watch.

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. Largely unchanged through the '50s and '60s, it only added a date function (the “Datographic”) and swapped the engraved metal bezel with a Bakelite ring. From its earliest incarnation, it kept its modest 35 mm case, thin lugs and snap-on case back, which, with the ornate script dial text, triangle hands, and colorful bezel options, gave it a quaint, almost delicate look, unlike the burly divers from OMEGA, Rolex, and others. Despite a snap-on case back and push-pull crown, the old Sea Wolf was rated to 20 ATM (~200 meters) from the start, the deepest in 1953, and proudly proclaimed “Especially Water-Tested” on the back.

While the Rolex Sub and the Fifty Fathoms may have been worn by elite military divers, the Sea Wolf was favored by regular enlisted soldiers serving in Southeast Asia thanks to its rugged build and affordable price. When the 750-meter-rated Super Sea Wolf was introduced in the early '70s, even the U.S. Navy SEALs adopted it, as Zodiac famously announced in magazine ads of the day. Then Zodiac fell on hard times, as did so many brands during the Quartz Crisis years. Notoriety from the brand’s connection with the San Francisco serial killer didn’t help. Zodiac faded away, changing hands and releasing some forgettable models more associated with mall fashion watches than with the brand’s former glory. When Fossil bought the Zodiac name in 2001, it used its vast resources to reinvent the brand, but gone for the first time was the Sea Wolf name.

NOTE: the zodiac Super Sea Wolf introduced in the 1970s the u.s. Navy Seals adopted it as zodiac go to dive watch famously announced in magazine ads of the day ZODIAC SUPER SEAWOLF

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