Marinelife zodiacs, an unloved model?

[Melmoth]

Aside from some nos quartz models that pop up on ebay from time to time, I seldom see nice auto versions come up for auction. I really like the fit and finish on these watches, they really were a nicely designed watch. At about 40mm w/o crown they are mid sized by modern standards but actually wear very well with a suit. The watch below is running a eta 2824 , I'm not sure of the year but its somewhere in the 90's considering it has the "T" bookending the swiss made writing.

Anyone else got a marinelife out there?

[Butch]

I had one in the early 00's (shoot, used to sell them!), but to be honest, they did not sit comfortably on MY wrist. I had a couple of them (always autos) and always wound up selling them. But you are right, the fit and finish was superb and they were beautiful.

FWIW, I have never been able to hang onto a 70's Super Sea Wolf for similar reasons.

[jon p]

   i just got a NOS quartz version and i love it. all SS with white dial. bracelet is very comfortable and quality overall is outstanding.

[Melmoth]

Hey Butch, yeah i agree, these dont fit quite right on smaller wrists due to the  nature of lack of movement on the first couple of links, which results in a gap between the upper wrist and fist few links.

Hi Jon P , the white dial is beautiful, glad to hear you got one :) . One of the very few quartz watches I have is a marinelife chrono, its running an eta G10 , I think. exactly the same movement as was in my tag link chrono. I've included a shot below.

what i really liked about the movement on this on is the 4th hand hidden at the 12 o clock position, it is in red and counts the minutes, so is great for a quick glance to see time elapsed. White not really a quartz person, I quite like how this one works, the 4 o clock date is a nice feature too. However, it now requires a battery 

Alas

[jon p]

NICE chrono ! mine is the non chrono version. i like the clean design overall, i feel lucky to have  found one NOS even though it is quartz.

[davec]

I remember contemplating one in 1999 or so, dirt cheap on bernardwatch, ($100 or so).  Quartz version.  The recent lady's ones that pop up on ebay are really nice, beautifully built.

[Melmoth]

The best current female zodiac bargain is the seawolf II's  ( Genender edition quartz , so relax there mods!) , I bought the wife a couple of them along with a few 24mm ladies marinelifes from the same seller who's pumping them out now, watches were grand, seller however has less than stellar communication skills.

The marinelifes were ok, but in the small ladies size something got lost in the mix, but the seawolf II's....they are a real bargain.

Actually, you've raised a good point, if anyones misses needs a new watch, these  seawolf II'sreally are superbly made, thick sapphire, excellent on deployment on bracelet, good lume, nice markers and lettering and solid screw down crown. You could probably not spend a better 80 bucks or so on a ladies watch..thats it, everyone should now go any buy one

Apart from Butch of course, quartz an all 

[Butch]

For the woman, kortz in QUEEN. The reason there is no market for woman's watches is that they do not want to wind their watch. Not even to get an automatic going. My wife probably has 10 to 15 watches, and every sing one a kortz.

[Yankees76]

Aside from some nos quartz models that pop up on ebay from time to time, I seldom see nice auto versions come up for auction. I really like the fit and finish on these watches, they really were a nicely designed watch. At about 40mm w/o crown they are mid sized by modern standards but actually wear very well with a suit. The watch below is running a eta 2824 , I'm not sure of the year but its somewhere in the 90's considering it has the "T" bookending the swiss made writing.

Anyone else got a marinelife out there?

That's a very nice watch - would love to get my hands on one of those.

[Ken Genender]

I have one in Quartz and also in AUTOMATIC.  these watches were produced in the 90's when Monnier still owned ZODIAC.

[Melmoth]

Hi Ken,
           Great to have you aboard, I am only a recent addition here myself and must say its great to gain insights on older models. To clarify on the ladies seawolf II model, this model was produced during the Monnier period? or would that be the Marinelife. I know the Marinelife models ran up to 1999 or so. My Auto version is certainly older than the quartz chrono.
           Regardless, I am really chuffed to see you posting here on vintage zodiacs. I am now off to have a look over my Astrographic 2000. Which I do quite often as I like opening the box, a great job there. :)

Best wishes,
John

[jon p]

  KEN--welcome to the forum!!

[JDS (Ohio)]

Melmoth,
I have the same model.  I have to confess mine does not get worn like it should, maybe that is a common scenario?

Your photo is a lot better than anything I've taken, but here is one of mine on the wrist




Another Zodiac I like from the last of their production is the Sea Wolf II, though it is quartz.  Here is mine:



John

[Butch]

Nice SW II Jon! That is the only kortz model I want to buy and I kick myself in the @$$ for not keeping one earlier in the century.

[jon p]

i wish it WAS mine-----JON     the other john is the lucky one!

[Butch]

All you johns type alike.

[Melmoth]

Nice seawolf II , like Butch, I am now flogging myself for not having bought one over the years, full size chronos fetch a decent price.

I must confess that i am also a John

[JDS (Ohio)]

Nice seawolf II , like Butch, I am now flogging myself for not having bought one over the years, full size chronos fetch a decent price.

I must confess that i am also a John

Well, us Johns gotta hang together!  Likewise, I flogged myself for not snagging the only non-chronograph black dial SWII that I saw for sale.  There is just something about the bezel, with the counterbore/spot face look to it.  The production like though was too short with maybe a year between launch and the Fossil take over.

Even if Fossil had only kept just the SWII and SSW lines going  maybe with the Astrographic to round out he the selection, after the takeover, it would have been better than the situation today.