A Pack of Wolves Pt. I
Review of the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf ZO9209
Tradition and the ability to adapt are crucial to heritage and legacy.
For those who have served in the military, balancing the need for improving technology while maintaining service heritage can be difficult at best. An organization's legacy is often built on the lessons learned throughout its history.
Balancing adaption while maintaining heritage has to be done seamlessly to ensure readiness.
In my 20+ years in the Navy, it became apparent early on that the best leaders embrace change and meld it with existing tradition. They also call out when a change might not be required or has not been fully fleshed out.
I could give many examples of this, but you're here for a watch review, not leadership lessons, so I'll summarize for the sake of brevity:
Leaders provide those in their charge the tools they need to succeed.
Leaders adapt but don't forget the lessons learned that make their heritage
It's an artwork to get the balance right.
As I take my journey in the watch collecting community, I have noticed watch brands and the watch community struggle with adaption and heritage.
Many watch brands like to tout their heritage, and we, as watch collectors, tend to eat that up. I have had conversations with many collectors and enthusiasts about this topic. Most have agreed that some brands are synonymous with specific fields of interest: Tag Heuer with automotive exploits, Breitling with aeronautics, and Rolex with spelunking, to name a few.
I hope you got the Rolex spelunking reference.
Often, if a storied watch brand adjusts course, discontinues a line, or updates a movement, the reactions are usually swift and highly opinionated.
Examples include the Moon Swatch, any brand that went with a Tiffany Blue dial, the new Super Ocean, and the Tudor Ranger.
Fun times.
Since I started collecting watches, I have looked to connect with a brand that played a part in the history of the branch of service that I love: the U.S. Navy. While the easy choice was Casio due to G-Shocks, the fact that tons of Sailors wear them doesn't necessarily mean that they have a history with the Navy.
We wear them because they are durable and dependable. G-Shocks are a more modern tool and draw their history, if there is one, from my generation in the Navy. We wore them because they served a purpose, but I'd offer that they are better known for their place in the "drop" culture, clothing, sneakers, and bio-ceramic timepieces.
While G-Shocks are fantastic, I was looking for something rooted a little deeper in the Navy's lore.
In Zodiac, I might have found just that.
Zodiac Heritage
As a brand, Zodiac is having a bit of a renaissance. With the Super Sea Wolf Collections and limited editions, Zodiac is focusing on their tradition by modernizing their timepieces to keep them as capable as they are storied.
They're also having some fun with color and metal options, but those are reviews for another day.
While it might be redundant for the experienced collector, I'll briefly cover Zodiac's history with dive watches and how they played a part in setting the table for all future dive watches.
The brand itself dates back to 1882, started with a pocket watch, and trademarked the name "Zodiac" in 1908. Fast forward to the 1950s, and Zodiac creates the Model 699, also known as the Sea Wolf, one of the first commercial divers. Zodiac competes directly with Rolex and Blancpain in the burgeoning dive watch market. In the decade that followed, Zodiac released the Super Sea Wolf, which incorporated improvements in the case and crown design, resulting in increased water resistance.
For further context, here are two wonderful articles by Christopher McNeill and Zach Weiss from 2014 and 2015 that break down the history of the Sea Wolf in much more detail.
In short, Zodiac etched its name in the pantheon of dive watch history.
Zodiac ZO9209
The ZO9209 is based on models sold in Military Post Exchanges (PX) in the United States and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. American service members came to trust the build quality and reliability of Zodiac timepieces, and in areas as diverse as the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta, that's saying something.
In my research, the oldest and closest model design I could locate that matches the ZO9209's aesthetic is the Zodiac 699.
“If you’re interested in learning more about vintage Zodiac watches, I recommend checking out Yuriy Vakulenko’s book that masterfully catalogs vintage Zodiac timepieces. I used this book as a starting point in my research for this article, and it has been invaluable.”
The ZO9209 is sold primarily in Post Exchanges and at the Hodinkee store. I purchased mine at the Navy Exchange and gifted my wife one.
While there are mentions of the Super Sea Wolf being associated with the Navy SEALS and other military units, finding historical data to support this has been difficult. I've seen some references to the UDT/SEAL Association, but that organization is not an official unit of the Navy. That said, I plan on talking to some folks I know about anyone who might have worn a Super Sea Wolf in Vietnam, etc., who might like to share their story with the community.
More to follow.
Zodiac ZO9209 Specifications
The Zodiac ZO9209 is a standard three-hand dive watch with a rotating bezel. The case and bracelet are the industry standard 316L stainless steel and comes with a screw-down case back with 'Super Sea Wolf" engraved in an elegant script that matches the dial. Speaking of the dial, it is a beautiful black sunburst dial with hints of gold. It's captivating.
The timepiece is 40mm in diameter and 11mm thick-it wears like a dream on my 7 ½" (19.05cm) wrist. With a 20mm lug width and 200m of water resistance, the ZO9209 can sport a bracelet or leather strap (yes, I typed that) and flow seamlessly from a surfboard to the boardroom.
The design is elegant but refined.
I've seen some feedback that the C3 SuperLuminova doesn't shine very long. Still, I found that slightly irrelevant due to the sharp contrast between the black dial, luminous dauphine hands, and full lume triangles with black numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9.
With the contrast the dial provides, it doesn't need to shine like a beacon in low-light situations. I could see it just fine if I was onboard a ship's bridge at night under red light conditions.
The ZO9209 can hold its own against the Sinn 105 UTC and P. Dube’ Tac/SAR
The movement is a Swiss Technology Production (STP) 3-13 automatic movement with a 44-hour power reserve. I haven't had any issues with it. It appears to keep good time and is accurate to the power reserve specification. I'm not super into accuracy like some of my fellow watch collectors, but this timepiece keeps time with the digital clocks at my workplace.
The sweep of the second hand is fluid, and I don't "feel anything" when the watch is running.
For the newer collector, the STP movement is a Fossil Group movement, and as Fossil owns Zodiac, I'll call it an in-house movement.
All in all, I like the movement!
Final Thoughts
The Zodiac ZO9209 is an excellent timepiece. It's beautifully subtle, capable, and refined.
The ZO9209 will never leave my collection, and in many ways, this Super Sea Wolf leads my pack of timepieces. It has traveled with me on every trip since I purchased it. It is a chameleon of sorts. Its dimensions and finishing allow it to go from sportier activities to more professional ones.
It is a subtly elegant tool.
If I had one suggestion for improvement going forward, it would be to include a secondary strap with the bracelet, especially at the MSRP price point. The lug width and case design make this a strap monster, and it is always nice to see a tool for the water come with options to meet that challenging environment.
Zodiac's willingness to stay loyal to many of the original 699 design elements while providing modern movement and materials speaks to a legitimate attempt to honor their legacy.
While this is a "reissue" in a sense, it is not a cash grab.
Has Zodiac added to their military legacy with the ZO9209? That's a good question; I can say they haven't taken away from it. It would be nice to see Zodiac work with their public relations department to capture some stories surrounding using the original versions of the Super Sea Wolves.
I, for one, would love to see that.
The ZO9209 is a nod to tradition, Zodiac's place in history, and an example of Zodiac continuing to strengthen their legacy.
