Zodiac Sea Wolf date set question.

[Omegalithic]

I have what I am told is a recently serviced, 1960 ish, sea wolf.  I think the date set position just failed.  I can only feel one position when I pull the crown to set time or date.  I had to advance the date 28 days by rotating the crown that many days.  I don't think these were issues the other few times I wore the watch.  Here are the questions and other info.
Should the crown turn freely backwards when it is pushed in?
Does this year have a quick set for the date by turning backwards?
Can I manually wind this watch?
The hack works fine.
I have only worn it a few times, but seems to keep good time except for one instance that it lost 20 minutes in less than 4 hours.
What is the appx power reserve?
Are these movements/ watches robust?
Thanks in advance for your help and advice.

[jon p]

there is NO quick set date on the sea wolfs made in the 1960s. you must pull out the crown and rotate the hands between about 9:00 and 12:00 over and over. a real PITA and the reason i dont even set mine. i only wear them once in a while and it is too much wear on the movement---in my opinion--- to mess with it. in the early 1970s the sea wolf had the PUSH to set quick date set, i have one of these. they are easy to spot because the crown looks like it is pulled out ALL the time, it stands out from the case a tiny bit. only later did the date set change to the "first position" actual QDS. i hope this answered your concern, sounds like your watch is just fine.

[Butch]

http://www.vintagezodiacs.com/watchrepair.php

Please see section 4, next to the last paragraph. This explains the Zodiac Datomatic feature. There is a plethora of information available here but feel free to ask any questions.

Why don't you post a picture of it too?

[Nateb123]

there is NO quick set date on the sea wolfs made in the 1960s. you must pull out the crown and rotate the hands between about 9:00 and 12:00 over and over. a real PITA and the reason i dont even set mine. i only wear them once in a while and it is too much wear on the movement---in my opinion--- to mess with it. in the early 1970s the sea wolf had the PUSH to set quick date set, i have one of these. they are easy to spot because the crown looks like it is pulled out ALL the time, it stands out from the case a tiny bit. only later did the date set change to the "first position" actual QDS. i hope this answered your concern, sounds like your watch is just fine.

I know it's come up before but some of these Seawolfs hack and some don't.  This could be due to the randomness of the 72 movements cased up at the time or it could well be a 72B.

As for recently serviced, not by a watchmaker if it loses 20 minutes in 4 hours.

[Omegalithic]

Thanks for the answers.
I think the loss of time on my watch was due to the fact it was not wound completely and I was not real active at that time.
It is keeping great time since then.
The question that concerns me most still has not been answered.
Should the winding crown be able to rotate backwards and have little or no resistance?
Also, do these movements stay wound on a typical watch winder,  what amount of turns per day are required.
Thanks a lot guys!!

[Woodlands1]

there is NO quick set date on the sea wolfs made in the 1960s. you must pull out the crown and rotate the hands between about 9:00 and 12:00 over and over. a real PITA and the reason i dont even set mine. i only wear them once in a while and it is too much wear on the movement---in my opinion--- to mess with it. in the early 1970s the sea wolf had the PUSH to set quick date set, i have one of these. they are easy to spot because the crown looks like it is pulled out ALL the time, it stands out from the case a tiny bit. only later did the date set change to the "first position" actual QDS. i hope this answered your concern, sounds like your watch is just fine.

Question...does your Sea Wolf with the push to set quick date have a screwdown crown?

Thanks.

[jon p]

 it is easy to spot this feature when looking at the watch, it looks like the crown is pulled out all the time. no,  it is not a screw down crown on the push to set date.crown is spring loaded,each time you push it in it clicks and the date advances. my only complaint is it is eacy to snag the crown on items when wearing it.

[Woodlands1]

So, with no screw down crown, would that mean the watch is not as "waterproof" as a model with the screw down crown? Thanks.

[jon p]

zodiac sea wolfs are water resistant to 200 meters or 666'. some of the vintage bulovas actually say 666' on the dial. to clear things up, do NOT put ANY vintage watch in water!! even with a restoration and new seals they are NOT "water proof" any more!!!! dont do it or you probably will be VERY sorry. get you a new seiko divers watch, ETC if you want to get it WET. back to your question, the way zodiac designed their stem and case seals gave good protection without a screw down crown. they used a special tapered stem and rubber "O" ring. if you will notice, the back is a "SNAP ON" ,not screw on, but the special way it was designed it did the job. i used to dive with my one owner 1968 sea wolf when it was NEW, but NO MORE!! i had it restored 2 years ago and now it leads a DRY ONLY life. i hope this info helps.   JON P

[Woodlands1]

Your info. does help. Thank you.

I do not intend to get any vintage watch in water, but I was curious about the two versions of the Sea Wolf crown when new.

Thanks again.

[galavanter]

My Sea Wolf date changes as described using the Datomatic feature. Turn the hands back before 9 and then past midnight again. It also changes at midnight properly.

But the crown can be pushed in slightly, and springs back. Can I have the "push crown to change date feature" and still have the Datomatic feature? Are they mutually exclusive, or is my "push crown to change date" inoperable?

[YuriyV]

Looks like you have push button quick set model which is broken.

[galavanter]

Thank you.