Few brands have played with color in the past several years as effectively as Zodiac. The brand’s Super Sea Wolf series of divers has become a favorite among enthusiasts for its bold and varied colorways as much as its competitive pricing and playful vintage design, and for summer 2020 Zodiac expands this rainbow of color options even further. The latest addition is part of the Super Sea Wolf GMT line, mechanically identical to the Aerospace GMT launched in 2019 but with a stronger tie to the marque’s proud dive watch legacy. With a bright, balanced new orange and white colorway chosen by voters on the brand’s social media, the new limited edition Zodiac Super Sea Wolf GMT ZO9403 “Sherbet” walks a handsome line between summery fun and daily versatility.
The 40mm stainless steel case of the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf GMT “Sherbet” is carried over from the previous Aerospace GMT limited edition models, which adds a beveled character line to the straight lugs of the standard Super Sea Wolf. The overall look is simple, strongly vintage inspired, and angular, with a sharply applied mix of brushed and polished surfaces. The old school unguarded screwdown crown with its mirror polish becomes a showcase for the solid finishing work here, especially around the engraved Zodiac emblem. With 200 meters of water resistance, the Super Sea Wolf GMT “Sherbet” maintains some suitable aquatic credibility despite the shift towards GMT watch design. Speaking of which, without a doubt the centerpiece of the “Sherbet” is the namesake bidirectional GMT bezel. Zodiac has found a fair amount of success with orange bezels in the past, and the warm tone here avoids feeling oversaturated. Paired with a crisp white half and navy blue numerals, the color comes off as a tastefully bright accent rather than an overwhelming burst of color.
Zodiac continues this crisp, summery colorway on the dial, beginning with a matte cream surface that offers a hint of patina without the forced quality of khaki lume. The orange here is even more restrained, limited to the stick GMT hand and to plots just outside the applied faceted indices. Simple baton hands and a lumed second hand complete the ‘60s-inspired look. One minor point of contention here, however, is the dial text. Apart from the Zodiac logo itself at 12 o’clock, the remaining three lines of text are all in Zodiac’s ornate cursive typeface. Not only is this text occasionally difficult to read, the volume of this swooping text threatens to unbalance the otherwise cleanly angular look of the dial.
Inside the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf GMT “Sherbet” beats the STP 3-13, a rebadged version of the tried and true ETA 2893-2 automatic GMT movement. While not considered a “true GMT” movement by some purists due to its quickset GMT hand, the 2893-2 is a reliable and cost-effective choice. In terms of performance, the movement is a touch below average at 38 hours of power reserve with a 28,800 bph beat rate.
The Zodiac Super Sea Wolf GMT “Sherbet” is finished off with Zodiac’s take on the three link bracelet. Like the case, it’s a deceptively simple piece at first glance, with an impressive array of finishing on further inspection. The mirror polished center links add some visual dynamism on the wrist, and the slightly stepped edges of the outer links give the illusion of a vintage rivet bracelet to add to the ‘60s ethos. Like most Super Sea Wolf models, however, this design should take to a variety of straps well. It’s easy to imagine an orange big hole tropic strap working well here, adding an extra layer of casual energy while emphasizing the vibrant colorway.
With the Super Sea Wolf “Sherbet,” Zodiac has once again injected a dose of colorful fun into its diver line, albeit in a less than revolutionary way. The Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Z09403 “Sherbet” is available now through authorized dealers and online as a limited edition release (the size of this edition was not specified as of press time), with an MSRP of $1,695. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.