Author Topic: My first Zodiac Sea Wolf (Read 13567 times)

abzack · « **on:** October 29, 2012, 05:38:33 pm »

I just purchased my first Zodiac, a vintage Sea Wolf, and I've posted some pictures below. I came across the brand and this web site researching vintage Swiss watches. Thank you for the information and interesting reading. It definitely influenced my decision to buy. My Sea Wolf is in working condition, but it will not keep time and is in need of service. Also, the stem is slightly bent and needs to be replaced. I would like to have my watch fixed, serviced and refurbished, and have read about BWG's excellent service. I already have my eye on another vintage Zodiac, and look forward to being part of this forum.

My vintage collection so far:

jon p · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2012, 08:25:40 am »

nice original dial SW! get it to BWG asap, you will not believe the difference! he has restored quite a few ZODIACS for me plus other brands also. your dial looks fantastic and hands are also nice. the bezel has been polished to death--he can replate it to look like original dull matte finish. get him to also tighten the bezel, they are brass and tend to get very loose if turned much. you dont want to loose it-hard to find and expensive! let us know when you get it back.

abzack · « **Reply #2 on:** October 30, 2012, 09:55:36 am »

Thanks Jon P.

I have read here about the loose bezel issue, and mine does seem a bit loose. I'll be keeping it in the watch box until I can get it to BWG for service. I agree about getting the bezel redone and tightened. The dial and hands should be good to go. If I can just get it running right and the stem replaced, I'll be a happy camper. I just ordered a NOS Tropic strap for it.

jon p · « **Reply #3 on:** October 30, 2012, 02:28:13 pm »

your dial is very nice but you WILL see a difference after BWG cleans it and the hands!! it WILL run like a new watch after it is serviced.

abzack · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2012, 07:16:01 pm »

I look forward to getting it serviced so I can wear it. I guess the dial and hands could be cleaned. I just don't want to mess with the natural aging. Butch has been kind enough to refer me for service, so I'll be sending it out this weekend.

jon p · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2012, 08:04:31 am »

dont worry about BWG cleaning the dial and hands, he knows what to do. i have a black dial like yours i bought new in the army in 1968. BWG just restored it for me, the dial was all original and i thought it liiked good until he cleaned it. 50 years of "patina", lookes like NEW again. this guy IS the best, he knows a lot of things on a zodiac that most watchmakers do not. i found that out the hard way letting someone else clean/adjust my black dial GMT. "fixed it" and it still wouldnt run, had to send it to BWG to get it right!!!

abzack · « **Reply #6 on:** November 23, 2012, 02:26:50 pm »

Well, my Sea Wolf went out for service as soon as I received it and I've already added my second Zodiac to my collection. I received my Aerospace GMT today. It will be going out for service as soon as my Sea Wolf returns.

pknopp · « **Reply #7 on:** November 23, 2012, 09:41:09 pm »

I found a Hamilton like yours at the local flea market last weekend.

abzack · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2012, 01:58:00 am »

Very nice find pknopp! Mine came with a generic brown leather strap, so I purchased 2 NOS Hamilton straps from classwatchstrap on the bay.

jon p · « **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2012, 07:35:38 am »

i have the same GMT, it is an early 1960s model, you can tell by the skinny hands and the red arrow tip gmt hand. the later ones have the blunt shaped hands. you dont see this older one as often as the newer models. i have the newer model also with the 10K solid gold bezel and original SS/gold plate jb champion bracelet. a lucky hit on ebay a year ago.

smithrjd · « **Reply #10 on:** November 24, 2012, 09:31:21 am »

My favorite model in the GMT as well, but mine has the silver dial. A lucky ebay find for me as well. These things can get addictive..

abzack · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2012, 12:37:12 am »

Mine was a lucky ebay find as well. I kept waiting for someone to outbid me, but it never happened. Ive been wearing it since I received it and it seems to be working fine. It will still be off for service when my Sea Wolf returns.
I did have a concern that these were not the original hands, since I had only seen the models with the squared hands. I asked Butch and he confirmed that they were original for the GMT.
Will Butch add your photos to the GMT gallery? I didn't see any of this model with these hands there. I really like the silver dial. I think the GMT with the squared hands will be next on my list.... Cheers!

destrow · « **Reply #12 on:** November 25, 2012, 09:38:36 am »

some cool timepieces in this thread. congrats to the new owners.

and yes, watches are very addictive. i wish i could stop.

abzack · « **Reply #13 on:** November 25, 2012, 08:18:45 pm »

Thanks destrow. I have been looking for a local chapter of Watches Anonymous, but no luck so I guess I'll keep collecting. LOL

amcal · « **Reply #14 on:** November 26, 2012, 09:38:21 pm »

What size is the band on the Seawolf? Is it 18mm?

smithrjd · « **Reply #15 on:** November 26, 2012, 10:16:55 pm »

It might depend on who you ask. I believe that 17.5mm is the actual size but most are labeled as 18mm.

Butch · « **Reply #16 on:** November 26, 2012, 10:43:37 pm »

You are correct smith, the metal band is 17.5, but you can squeeze an 18 MM leather band onto it.

abzack · « **Reply #17 on:** November 27, 2012, 12:55:12 pm »

I have a 18mm Tropic on my GMT, and another 18mm Tropic waiting for my Sea Wolf to return. Good to know 17.5mm on the metal bands, I wouldn't mind finding one of those.

jon p · « **Reply #18 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:26:19 pm »

i love the silver dial, for me much easier to see. a LOT more scarce than the black but a lot of people want black only.

abzack · « **Reply #19 on:** December 24, 2012, 04:35:20 pm »

Well, I couldn't help myself and just picked up my third Zodiac. It is similar to the design of my Hamilton, which I love, and the bracelet is fantastic.

Cobber · « **Reply #20 on:** December 25, 2012, 07:52:42 pm »

Nice grab abzack, I was watching that one for the bracelet mainly. Unfortunately, I'm visiting the inlaws in brazil and forgot about it. Still haven't tried setting up a snipe program. I was thinking that watch might slip under the radar and go for a low price.
I really really dig the bracelet.

abzack · « **Reply #21 on:** December 25, 2012, 09:04:19 pm »

Thanks Cobber. I had hoped it wouldn't go quite so high. I haven't tried a snipe program. I just set my highest bid and wait for notification. Sometimes I get lucky. I'm going to send it off to see if it can be repaired and refurbished. If not, at least I have the bracelet. I'm going to try the bracelet on my Aerospace GMT, but not sure how its going to look. I'll post some pics when I do.

Cobber · « **Reply #22 on:** December 25, 2012, 09:53:19 pm »

I suspect it'll look killer on the gmt. I have the less desireable stretch version which came on my Jet 24hr. I was really digging it and loved the way it looked until I took a heavy swipe at an aggressive bee while eating lunch outside one day. The watch flew off my wrist like a test pilot ejecting from a crashing plane. Must have flown something like thirty to forty feet landing in a bush between a slate walkway and a gravel driveway. I've been less tempted to use it since then but sure would have liked to have gotten my hands on the deployment version you got.

Offshore · « **Reply #23 on:** December 26, 2012, 07:36:52 am »

Quote from: abzack on December 25, 2012, 09:04:19 pm

I haven't tried a snipe program. I just set my highest bid and wait for notification. Sometimes I get lucky.

I find a snipe program removes all the emotion, and forces me to forward set a price I can live with.
I used Auction Sentry for years, however they became very money hungry trying to upgrade frequently, and lately I am using Auction Defender, which works well.
Most of the snipe programmes offer a 30 day trial, its worth using, and once you do I'm sure the value is seen.
BTW, I love the bracelet on that watch, very nice.
Offshore

Cobber · « **Reply #24 on:** December 26, 2012, 08:54:51 am »

http://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/index.php/topic,1584.0.html

Above is a link to a thread showing the same bracelet (stretchy) on my Jet.

abzack · « **Reply #25 on:** December 26, 2012, 11:46:07 am »

Thanks Offshore, the bracelet is really what sold me on this one because the watch itself is not currently working (as advertised). I'm hoping it is only a minor issue and can be repaired.

Cobber, WOW! That is a beautiful Jet! Love the dial. One like that is definitely on my wish list.

Cobber · « **Reply #26 on:** December 26, 2012, 03:24:26 pm »

LOL, thanks. It's a favorite of mine. If you have an interest in the relevance of Zodiacs during the Vietnam war era have a look at this link I posted here in "Watch Stories":

http://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/index.php/topic,1462.0.html

I'm actually currently wearing it here in Brazil on a Tissot cuff type thingamabob. As it only touches my skin in a couple spots it works pretty well when the temperature and humidity are both knocking on 100. If I can figure out how to attach a photo from my iPhone I'll edit this post later.

abzack · « **Reply #27 on:** December 26, 2012, 07:13:36 pm »

I retired from the military a couple years ago, and spent a considerable amount of time overseas. Stories like this are always of interest to me. Thanks for sharing. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who cringed reading about what happened at the laundry mat....

Cobber · « **Reply #28 on:** December 26, 2012, 09:19:35 pm »

Sorry, forgot to thank offshore for the snipe tip. I've socked that away and plan on looking into it once I get back.
Thanks!

abzack · « **Reply #29 on:** February 09, 2013, 07:59:05 pm »

Just wanted to post a quick update on the Sea Wolf. It came home today and I'm very happy. Pictures taken on my phone just do not do it justice. Thank you Butch for your recommendation.

Cobber · « **Reply #30 on:** February 10, 2013, 12:37:54 am »

Sweet, congratulations. Any chance you'll throw that JB Champion on there and snap some pics?

abzack · « **Reply #31 on:** February 10, 2013, 11:01:29 am »

Thanks Cobber. It's currently secured on a NOS Swiss Tropic, but I will put the JB on and snap some pics later this evening.

abzack · « **Reply #32 on:** February 11, 2013, 08:18:56 pm »

I was O.B.E yesterday, but as promised here are some more pics for your consideration.

Not sure which I like better, this or the Tropic...

Offshore · « **Reply #33 on:** February 12, 2013, 05:30:08 am »

Ohhh, thats much nicer! More true to the original IMO.
Offshore

Cobber · « **Reply #34 on:** February 12, 2013, 09:26:08 am »

Oh man, without a doubt. The bracelet is much more bad ass. Pretty sure I've never seen this combo but it works brilliantly.
I'm totally jonesing for a metal bezel wolf or gmt of some sort.

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Author Topic: My first Zodiac Sea Wolf (Read 13567 times)