We’ve minimized paperwork and maximized protection for your watch, so you can stop worrying about your watch and focus on enjoying them.
Each of your watches is insured up to 150% of the insured value (up to the total policy value).
We’ve minimized paperwork and maximized protection for your watch, so you can stop worrying about your watch and focus on enjoying them.
Each of your watches is insured up to 150% of the insured value (up to the total policy value).
We’ve minimized paperwork and maximized protection for your watch, so you can stop worrying about your watch and focus on enjoying them.
Each of your watches is insured up to 150% of the insured value (up to the total policy value).
The break between actual fishing is a good time to think about the big questions in life.On the water, it’s easy to separate yourself from all the mundane routines in your life to see the big picture.The really important existential conundrums seem easier to answer.For example, “Which of the two new 42mm Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver models is better: the stainless steel model or the titanium model?” I’ve been wearing both intermittently for the past two weeks and I can’t make up my mind .
On a warm afternoon, I found answers in the brackish backwaters of the Mississippi coast.Between gnashing of teeth, I intend to think carefully and come to a conclusion.I have two watches with me and plan to spend half the time wearing the stainless steel model and the other half wearing the titanium model.
You probably know Super Sea Wolf.It has been a stalwart in the value category for several years now.What differentiates these models from the recently launched duo is the addition of “Pro-Diver” to the nomenclature.what does that mean?
This means that the zodiac has finally been upgraded.This watch has 300M water resistance (above 200) and ISO 6425 certification.That’s what they need to officially call it a dive watch.That means rigorous testing to make sure there’s enough brightness on the dial and a few other things, like passing a thermal shock test.Jack has listed all the details in a past post.
Both titanium and stainless steel versions are stronger than any previous model.Zodiac produced one of the first and one of the most popular dive watches, the Sea Wolf, a watch that really felt like it could reach that level of historic significance.Zodiac “dive” watches from Fossil (I say know they’re not certified) are hugely popular, in part because of their excellent use of color, but they’re never quite in a space where one would consider “serious”.That’s not a bad thing — it’s important to understand that the name Pro-Diver actually makes sense here.I lent one to my dive buddy to wear when we jumped out of a geothermal hot spring in Utah the week before.He loves it and especially appreciates the full lumen bezel.It was the titanium version, and he said he barely noticed he was wearing the watch.The AR-coated sapphire crystal certainly helps when diving too.
Looking back at all the watches I’ve worn, I can’t think of any other watch on my wrist that’s made of two metals, but otherwise pretty much the same.This constellation is a first for me.This is the first time of the zodiac.The Titanium version costs a whopping $2,495 — a new price point for the brand.The stainless steel version costs $1,695, which is where Zodiac usually hangs out.My takeaway?As long as brands stay true to their core values, I love seeing them push the envelope.Zodiac executives aren’t pushing the entire collection upmarket, they’re just making a more expensive watch — and with it, better specs.The $1,695 stainless steel model is real to the brand, and they won’t be abandoning the segment anytime soon for watches that are only in the $2,500 range.
On the wrist, the watch is worn quite differently.Wearing them back to back emphasizes the notion that materials make a huge difference.The stainless steel reference feels present.Just shake your wrist lightly and you’ll know it’s there.The black dial and bezel are safe and relatively restrained for a diver’s watch, and the polished finish feels like it’s just a little gimmicky.It’s a tool watch, but it has some luxurious sheen to it.
On the other hand, the titanium reference feels like a watch made strictly for summer and the sea.It pays so much attention to Zodiac’s colorful approach to watchmaking that it becomes a watch that is nothing but Zodiac.Some people like it, others find it a little too loud.For sea outings, I love it.Very light weight on the wrist; like wearing a MoonSwatch.It’s easy to forget it’s there unless you articulate your wrist at a certain angle and feel the lugs deep.The lumen bezel is very bright, and the highlighter orange chapter ring draws a lot of attention.What I love most about this watch, however, is that it is completely brushed, with no single polished finish.For me, this finish is the best look for titanium.It’s a tactical, functional, technologically advanced material and should be treated as such (unless you’re Grand Seiko, a brand that’s very good at making titanium shine).
I spent the entire first half of the trip fiddling with my watch and taking pictures on the deck of the boat because the fish just don’t bite.Usually when you catch a fish, the fish will get very hot and then there will be a lot of fish, but you have to figure out how to catch the first fish.We tried going deeper, baiting in different ways, shallower, working with the wind and drifting, and then after getting tired of thinking about how to catch these fish, we settled in one place.
Then they start biting.All these fuss-free solutions are not thinking about how to do it, but doing it.We pulled up a few sheep’s heads, some yellow croaker, a white trout, and even lost a couple of big fish – probably a red one.
At that moment, something else became clear: it’s hardly worth overthinking these watches.I’ve always known that I prefer the titanium version.To me, it’s just a more interesting watch.This is a watch that is not necessarily as safe as the stainless steel version.The whole process of trying to think about the pros and cons of case material turned out to be a contentious issue.About a minute of wearing each is enough to know which is best for you.I bet you know which version you like before even reading this story.
In the end, I’ve come to the conclusion that in life and watches, it’s better to just make intuition and basic decisions based on instinct, rather than get caught up in mental gymnastics.Save energy for fish.
HODINKEE is an authorized retailer of Zodiac watches.You can view our entire collection here.You can also learn more about the models in the story here and here.
Introducing Find!IWC’s new Mark XX – the one we’ve been waiting for (now with an internal movement)