Originally launched in 1953, the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf was one of the world’s very first purpose-built dive watches. While it doesn’t receive quite the same degree of mainstream attention as models such as the Rolex Submariner or Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, the Super Sea Wolf was right there alongside them as one of the original timepieces that first pioneered the category of dive watches. Within the modern Zodiac lineup, the Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver is the model that most closely adheres to the design of the original from the 1950s, although it is typically the Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver collection that first comes to mind when people think of the brand due to the numerous different versions that have featured bright and vibrant colors. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first Zodiac Super Sea Wolf, and as its latest new release for 2023, Zodiac has created a new version of the Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver that reimagines the design of its original underwater timepiece with modern materials and a rich green dial.
The new Zodiac Green Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver (ref. ZO9218) is essentially a new colorway and configuration of the same vintage-inspired model that has been a mainstay within the brand’s catalog for years, although compared to Zodiac’s Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver series, the Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver receives far fewer new releases on an annual basis. What this means is that you get the same 39mm stainless steel case as the standard Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver, which features a sapphire crystal surrounded by a rotating timing bezel, along with a signed screw-down crown at 3 o’clock and a solid screw-down caseback that work together to create 200 meters of water resistance. With that in mind, unlike the original steel bezel model or the recently-released collaboration with Huckberry that is fitted with a bronze bezel insert, the insert on the new Green Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver is made from black ceramic with a luminous 60-minute elapsed time scale.
The dial of the new Zodiac Green Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver follows the same vintage-inspired style that can be found among its siblings, with a time-only format and large arrow-shaped hour markers that have small Arabic numerals set inside the oversized triangles at the cardinal points. Similarly, the hands are dauphine shaped to compliment the pointed appearance of the indexes, and all of the hour markers and hands receive an application of Super-LumiNova to match the bezel insert and provide the Green Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver with a complementary green-glowing display in the dark. With that in mind, rather than being black or blue like the rest of the dials that are currently available for the Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver series, this latest iteration features a rich emerald green surface that has been given a subtle sunray finish.
Powering the new Zodiac Green Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver is the STP1-11 automatic movement, which is based upon the core design on the ETA 2824 and therefore runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 44 hours. Both Zodiac and STP are owned by Fossil, so while the underlying design of this movement is very much a familiar and proven design that can be found inside countless other watches, this particular version comes from within the same parent company that also owns the brand that makes the watch itself. Additionally rather than being fitted with a vintage-inspired flat three-link bracelet or some type of strap like the other models from the current Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver series, this new green dial version features the more ornate style of five-link bracelet that is typically found on the brand’s Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver models.
Given the numerous collaborations, limited editions, and vibrant colors that exist within the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver series, the Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver range is notably more conservative, and this new green dial variant is one of two models in the current lineup that does not have a black dial. Additionally, despite its differences, the new Zodiac Green Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver costs exactly the same as the other bracelet-equipped version of this model, and it is accompanied by an official retail price of $1,595 USD. While green is hardly the most adventurous color, it’s nice to see more options added to the Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver collection, as it is the model that most closely adheres to the design of Zodiac’s very first dive watch. Additionally, despite it being the 70th anniversary of the Super Sea Wolf, Zodiac makes no mention of this being some type of anniversary piece, and rather than being a limited edition model, the new Zodiac Green Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver will be joining the collection as a standard-production offering. For more information on the Zodiac Green Super Sea Wolf Skin Diver, please visit the brand’s website.
