The Swiss Super Sea Wolf 53 watches, in their various forms, are Zodiac's most successful products currently, and in 2021, Zodiac aimed to introduce even more affordable options without compromising on style. Today, we present four such new variants, collectively named the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 53 Compression Automatic and Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 53 Skin Automatic. Both models derive their names from terms applied to classic recreational diving watches. This is because Zodiac holds significant authority in this area, having helped create the market for recreational diver watches since 1953.
Both the Super Sea Wolf 53 Skin and Compression models are available with corresponding steel metal bracelets as well as strap styles. Although the dials differ, I advise you to pay close attention to each model, as Zodiac experiments with new processing methods and even materials in these interesting watches. More on that later - let's first look at the two introductory Super Sea Wolf 53 Automatic models, priced at just under $1,100 USD.
The Zodiac reference ZO9212 Super Sea Wolf 53 Skin Automatic features a natural steel case, a black rubber strap, and a black DLC-coated rotating bezel. The Skin model has dauphine-style (dagger-like) hands combined with triangular applied hour markers, and a textured black dial. The watch case is 39mm wide with water resistance up to 200 meters, making it smaller than the standard 40mm case size of most other Super Sea Wolf 53 watches. I particularly like this dial, which has also been used on iconic diver watches like the Eterna Kontiki versions. The level of functions and quality matches its relatively affordable price, making the ZO9212 feel like a great value.
Moreover, there is the Super Sea Wolf 53 Compression Automatic ZO9289, which costs the same but has a different dial (entirely new for Zodiac), as well as a fully black DLC-coated steel case, 40mm wide, with water resistance up to 200 meters. Like all Super Sea Wolf watches, these are equipped with sapphire crystals over the dials, and inside all these watches is the Swiss-made STP 1-11 automatic movement. STP belongs to the same group as Zodiac, prompting many collectors to call the 4 Hz automatic movements with a two-day power reserve “in-house” Zodiac movements.
Zodiac takes particular pride in the Italian-made rubber straps that come with these models. A quaint delight for collectors - high-end rubber straps (usually from Italy) with a vanilla scent. Such straps are rare today because the vanilla scent was historically added to mask the strong chemical smell that once emanated from straps. Since these strong chemical smells are now rarely an issue, finding watch straps with a vanilla scent is quite difficult - unless you come across one of these Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 53 Compression or Skin watch straps.
The bracelet version of the new Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 53 Compression watches - reference ZO9288, is the first Super Sea Wolf 53 watch with a black ceramic bezel insert. The polished black ceramic bezel in a 40mm case offers a new and very trendy look for the Super Sea Wolf 53 collection, which often opts for a more vintage or simply quirky style. The use of black with orange accents on the dial and bezel is appealing in this model, and I really like that Zodiac placed a date window in the dials of the two Super Sea Wolf 53 Compression models. The Skin models feature a no-date dial, allowing for a more symmetrical aesthetic choice.
The last new model is an all-steel version of the Super Sea Wolf Skin on a matching steel bracelet, which I think will particularly appeal to fans of this aesthetic. The Zodiac reference ZO9213 features a 39mm matte steel case with a matching steel bezel insert and a three-link steel bracelet. Note that quick-release spring bars for the straps and bracelets of the Super Sea Wolf 53 watches are now standard for Zodiac. For reference, the straps are 20mm wide, which is convenient if you want to use these straps for something else or fit a different strap to any of these models.
By mixing new materials for the collection, such as DLC-coated steel and solid ceramics, with new dial styles and even case sizes, Zodiac is subtly expanding the diversity available in the Super Sea Wolf 53 collection while ensuring that the new models feel like existing family members. A testament to American competitiveness is that Zodiac seems to have improved some features of the Super Sea Wolf 53 while slightly reducing the price.
The retail price of the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 53 ZO9219 and ZO9289 on straps is $1,095 USD, while references ZO9288 and ZO9213 on steel bracelets are $1,295 USD. Find out more or place an order on the Zodiac watches website.