Zodiac SeaWolf
Zodiac SeaWolf
The first diver’s watch with a rotating bezel
The Zodiac Sea Wolf was announced at the Basel Fair together with the Fifty Fathoms from Blancpain in 1953. Both are credited with being the first commercially available diver’s watch. However, the Zodiac was rated at 10 atmospheres (339 feet) and was more highly rated than the Blancpain 50 fathoms (300 feet).
Version 1a - 1950s SeaWolf with CountDown Bezel
Ref:699
Movt:AS1700
The 1953 issues had an external bidirectional steel bezel. This is signed 10 Atm (339 feet) below the Zodiac logo, and name Zodiac, but has a plain screw-down case back. The dial has numerals at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 with fluted indices elsewhere. The numerals have been inked over. The bezel is elapsed time basis, with numerals at 45, 30 and 15. The hands are broad lumed Dauphine shape with no centre line. The serial numbers of metal bezel models generally run from 122xxxx to 192xxxx The case back is engraved “ZODIAC SEAWOLF WATER – TESTED 10 ATM ESPECIALLY” along with the Zodiac emblem. Zodiac used A. Schild movements and the 17 jewel AS1624 was used by Zodiac and Ernest Borel.
Version 1b - 1950s SeaWolf with Numbered Triangles
A later model 699 had the count down bezel but the dial now had triangular indices at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock with applied numerals inserted into the lume.
The early Zodiac movement (AS1624 without hacking) predated the calibre 70-72 movement. The AS calibre 1624 was developed in the early 1950s, and runs at 18,000 bph with a running reserve of 42 hours. Zodiac, in conjunction with Doxa, Eberhard, Favre-Leuba, and Girard-Perregaux, later refined AS base calibres to produce the Zodiac calibre 70-72 used in subsequent model Zodiac Sea Wolf.
All early countdown bezel Sea Wolf watches are rare.
Version 1c 30 only Bezel
The uni-directional bezel from the mid to late 50’s is much more common with the numeral 30 only appearing. The bezel was still plated brass. The watch retained the previous dial, still with broad-lumed dauphine hands. The dial below still reads “SWISS” below 6 o’clock indicating radium usage. The 699 model designation continued but the caseback changed to a press-fit rated initially at 10 atmospheres, later becoming 20 atmospheres. The 10 ATM case back was engraved on the flat, while the 20 ATM casebook was engraved on the slope.
