Hands-On Review of the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver ZO9304
When somebody asks me to recommend a well-made and unique dive watch for under $2,000, it can be quite the task. Yes, there are a lot of smaller brands popping up these days that make interesting pieces. But, if you’re looking for something Swiss made, with actual heritage, and its own design aesthetic, one brand really sticks out to me: Zodiac. And they are one of the few brands that have successfully executed both vintage-inspired pieces as well as much more modern designs. The Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver Ref. ZO9304 is a modern-looking diver with good specs and funky colors (but actually was inspired by a watch from the 1960s). Who says you can’t have it all. Let’s get into it.
I have been collecting watches for over 25 years. So when I say I’ve seen a lot of dive watches in that time, I’m not exaggerating. Dive watches is probably the most popular category of watches on the market. And so often, it’s your first watch when you begin collecting. And while there are so many brands out there producing divers, something strange has seemed to happen, especially in the under $2,000 price category. A lot of these watches just look the same. And they not only look the same, but they look like a Rolex Submariner.
I’ll admit, the Submariner is a very attractive diver. But it is lazy when a large percentage of what’s on the market, especially among more affordable options, appears to be a Sub homage. But I could never accuse Zodiac of copying any brand with their diver designs, whether its their more vintage-inspired pieces, or their modern watches. The Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver ZO9304 really fits into both categories, and is just an incredibly fun watch to wear.
I tend to think of the Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver ZO9304 as a more modern diver, even though it has a predecessor from the 1960s. Zodiac obviously took inspiration from their catalog, particularly the Sea Wolf 722-946B 1781. I find it interesting, as the watch just seems so modern and fresh. The first thing you notice when wearing the Super Sea Wolf ZO9304 is the funky colorway. Nicknamed the “Gulf”, the watch features an orange outer 60 minute ring, and a light blue bezel (with orange text). The Gulf Oil Company logo has the same colorway. However, the Zodiac’s blue and orange are much more pastel. The bezel is sapphire, which can be prone to fingerprints. But because of the light blue color of the bezel insert, the Super Sea Wolf does not have this problem. The bezel is also unidirectional, 120 clicks and has a really nice and tactile turning experience.
One of my favorite parts of the watch is the silver dial. You might not notice at first, but it has a sunray effect. It is slight, and not noticeable in every light, but it works well with the orange and blue theme. It almost looks like mother of pearl when viewed from some angles.
Like on the vintage Sea Wolf models from the 1960s, the lugs are straight and angular. The lugs are polished on the top, which is a nice contrast from the rest of the brushed case. In vintage fashion, the lugs are long and straight, meaning the lug-to-lug measure is 49mm. So while the watch is only 40mm in diameter and 13mm thick, it wears a little bit bigger that that. But I didn’t feel that it was too large on my 6.75 inch wrist.
The watch comes on a 5 link jubilee bracelet, which like most jubilee bracelets, is incredibly comfortable. The middle three links are polished. There is a nice taper on the bracelet as well, which I always appreciate. And while the bracelet is extremely comfortable to wear, it is easily removable through a quick release system. I think this watch will look just as good on a nice rubber strap, so it’s great that you can easily change out from bracelet to strap. I might suggest a white rubber strap or orange tropic strap to throw on the watch when you’re looking for something different.
The Super Sea Wolf ZO9304 runs on the STP 1-11 automatic movement with 44 hours of power reserve. It is Swiss made, has 26 jewels and beats at 28,800 VPH, or 4Hz. The movement is solid and basically has the same specs as an ETA 2824 movement. It helps that Zodiac’s parent also owns STP, allowing them to put these movement in Zodiac watches.
As I said, I really like Zodiac watches in the under $2,000 price category. I find that you get a lot of value, from both a design and quality standpoint. I particularly like that the brand doesn’t take itself too seriously, and produces some really fun tool watches in quirky colorways you don’t really see anywhere else. To me, that’s what makes Zodiac so interesting as a brand. I mean, just take a look at some of their recent collaborations, including with Worn & Wound.
I only got to wear the Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver ZO9304 for a short time. But in that time, I actually received a lot of compliments on the watch. With the watch market booming in recent years, there seems to be an oversaturation of the same 3 or 4 brands, causing many to become desensitized. It’s really only when I wear something truly eye-catching and unique that someone will make a comment to me these days. And this Zodiac fits the bill.
