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  1. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 6, 2012

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    While on a quick trip to Orlando to check on the folks (mine and hers), I picked up a couple of watches, a Seamaster and this Zodiac.

    I don't know much about Zodiacs, but I have always liked this model with the shields vs the triangles. So when I saw this one I had to pick it up. I have never seen a pristine example of these, but this one was not too bad and cheap. So what the hey, now I've got one.

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  2. ulackfocus Aug 6, 2012

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    Kinda Kon Tiki-esque. I like it. :thumbsup: And cheap makes it better.
     
  3. smithrjd Aug 20, 2012

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    A nice Sea Wolf, from the early to mid 70's. Shovel hands, date and the later plastic bezel. On a non orignal strap. These sell for about $200 and up for a good one, which yours is. BTW that dial is one of the rarer ones, most were black. Sea Wolf's have a bit of a cult following. When serviced good to 20ATM. Actually a decent divers watch.
     
  4. hoipolloi Vintage Omega Connoisseur Aug 22, 2012

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    It's a nice Sea Wolf, Steve.

    US Navy Seals used them in VietNam War that's why I also have a small collection of the Sea Wolves

    [​IMG]

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  5. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 22, 2012

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    Beautiful collection Hoi, they look in super shape. :thumbsup:
     
  6. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 22, 2012

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    Those omega BOR bracelets look perfect on your SeaWolves Hoi
     
  7. smithrjd Aug 22, 2012

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    Zodiac's are a nice watch. Most movements were made by AS. The Sea Wolfs, GMT's, and World timers used the 70 or 70-72 movements. They do have one issue, the cannon pinion can slip and time will be off. No more new parts. Zodiac is now owned by the Fossil group and is not what it used to be. I bought my Sea Wolf in SE Asia in '72. They had Rolex's, Seiko's, Citizen's, and Orient. The Sea Wolf was the prefered watch. Cheaper and kept running. I know mine was not treated very well... The bands should be SS most were marked with the Zodiac symbol on the clasp. J. B.Champion made most of them. There were some just stamped Zodiac USA. Beads of rice while not normal was an option as well as an Oyster style. Most were double or triple row.19mm in size so not easy to find. Often a good original band will cost what a decent watch will, if you can find one. I know a very good Zodiac specialist if you need yours serviced. It's more having the parts, the movements are pretty much normal. Hoi's watchs are very nice, the right and left ones are early, the center one like yours.
     
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  8. smithrjd Aug 22, 2012

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    Looking at yours again, it looks like it should have the quick set date as well. Push in the crown and the date should change if working right. Does not look like the crown is the correct one with the zodiac symbol. They were flat and not dome shaped. The correct crown is not that hard to come by.
     
  9. hoipolloi Vintage Omega Connoisseur Aug 22, 2012

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    I collect strictly on the Sea Wolves in VietNam War era, which don't have quickset date like later models.

    No date with after market bracelet.
    [​IMG]

    Date with JB Champion bracelet

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    Date with original expandable Zodiac bracelet

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    You are right, it's extremely hard to find an original Sea Wolf bracelet than a watch itself (sometime more expensive)
    The common problems with these Sea Wolves are the clutch wheels as you mentioned, it's acting as a cannon pinion in other movements and very easy to wear out.

    [​IMG]

    That's why I had to buy 6 of them to gather all the original parts I need, the bracelets, the crowns etc....and certainly, I learn how to tighten that clutch wheel, too.:D

    [​IMG]

    They are nice little watches to have on your wrist and a bit small comparing to the big guy

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    Here are some observations from what I see

    The snapcaseback is very, very tight. Everytime you have to pry it out or snap it back in is an effort, but that's how they kept these Sea Wolves famous in diving business.

    Most of old Sea Wolves have a worn clutch wheel which lead to losing time or not be able to jump the date at midnight. You must be ready for that problem or check the eBay listing to see if there is something like "....we have not checked the time keeping blah...blah..."

    The cannon pinion is "faked" , it just looks like a cannon pinion but it acts differently, never tighten it, lubricate it instead.

    Hacking seconds is a nice thing to have.
     
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  10. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 22, 2012

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    I still like the the 1675 GMT more lol
     
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  11. smithrjd Aug 22, 2012

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    My Sea Wolf bought in '72 did have the quickset date. It is rather hard to date Zodiacs, there is no data base, and no records. Serial numbers have no referance. In general if there is a gap between the crown and the case, plastic bezel then quick set. Thin metal bezel is early, baton triangle hands with center rib or no center rib. Could be date or no date. I traded my Yellow Racing bezel Sea Wolf for a World Timer in great serviced shape with a correct band. Also have an early GMT model. Will pick up another Sea Wolf when I feel the time is right. Sitting in the 5th wheel at Storm Lake Iowa right now, nice to be back in the Midwest again. California... About time to leave. Daughter is off to College, about to have the empty nest.
     
  12. hoipolloi Vintage Omega Connoisseur Aug 22, 2012

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    @Ash

    Yes, I used Omega bracelet on that one but not too long after that, I found another one with original expandable bracelet as you can see in post #9
     
  13. smithrjd Aug 22, 2012

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    There is a correct tool for the snap back case, look at some ebay listings and you will see those where it was not used. Marks on either side of the crown are an other way to see a watchmaker who did not use the right tool. There is also a rubber gasket on the snap back case which will dry out and fall into the movement. Mine sat in a drawer for 30+ years and that wrecked the hour wheel on mine. It still ran and wound, but when I set the time snap, the hands jumped.. Better to get an old one serviced first even if it does run.
     
  14. hoipolloi Vintage Omega Connoisseur Aug 22, 2012

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    I have all the correct tools for the job but still find it's hard to open these casebacks than any other snapbacks

    [​IMG]

    There is a lip on the caseback that an experienced guy cannot miss it, normally, this lip is on the opposite side of the crown. The rubber O ring is installed on the caseback then hold in place by another ridge on the case.
    If your O ring shrank and felt into the movement then wrecked the hour wheel, it must have been installed wrongly by somebody who doesn't know how.
     
  15. smithrjd Aug 23, 2012

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    My Sea Wolf was serviced by a Navy Exchange watchmaker back in '75. Don't know if the oring was put in right or not. When I had it serviced this year the watchmaker told me that there was a bunch of black residue in the watch which I assumed was the old oring. I need to correct a typo from a pervious post, the correct band width for a Sea Wolf is 18mm not 19mm.
     
  16. hoipolloi Vintage Omega Connoisseur Aug 23, 2012

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    The old O ring must have become mussy and melt into that stuff, I believe.
    The lug size of all my Sea Wolves is 17.30mm
     
  17. alam Aug 23, 2012

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    +1 :thumbsup:
     
  18. smithrjd Aug 23, 2012

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    I have seen anything between 17.3 to 18mm as the correct band width. Several other makers over the years, Krysler, Drema, and the main one J.B.Champion. Most are found without end links. Generic ones can be fun to try and fit and do not often match the band. Correct ones do appear now and then, but not often cheap.
     
  19. evghenii Sep 1, 2012

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    Hello for all ! Iam new here. Ilike vintage zodiac watch too. And I have some models) Like this sw
     
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  20. kyle L Grasshopper Staff Member Sep 30, 2012

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    Do these Seawolves take a 17mm strap or an 18mm?