Jewellery & Watch News
There are some watches in history that collectors are desperate to see make a comeback and one from Swiss watchmaker Zodiac is their 1960’s Sea-Chron Chronograph. It’s sporty 39mm steel case, ratcheted silver bezel and black “reverse panda” chronograph and tachymeter dial offered a whole new level of utility for a chronograph and became a defining model for the brand during this era. Now for 2023, a modern reissue of the Zodiac Sea-Chron has arrived in two different colourways. As expected, there’s some upgrades to the case, dial, bezel, crystal and movement but the overall DNA of the original is still there.
To start us off, let’s take a look at the case of the Zodiac Sea-Chron watch. As mentioned, the original 1960’s model measured to 39mm in diameter but for the modern-day wrist and to accommodate the movement inside, the Swiss watchmaker has sized the reissue at 42mm. The 42mm width is joined by a 16.5mm height and a lug-to-lug distance of 50.5mm. The case is still engineered from stainless steel and topped by a rotating bezel, one now slightly thicker and polished from black ceramic rather than fade-prone anodized aluminium. The bezel has luminous markings on the 60 minute scale including a large round pip a 12 o’clock and graduation for the first 20 minutes.
The case of the Zodiac Sea-Chron watch for 2023 also offers some necessary updates to its crystal, which was previously acrylic. Now it’s sapphire crystal glass for increased scratch resistance with added anti-relfective coating for easy legibility of the two dial choices below. There’s also a screw down crown at 3 o’clock, plunger-style chronograph pushers and a 200 metre water resistant rating which is noted on the dial at 6 o’clock – just like it was on the original. The Zodiac Sea-Chron watch’s case is completed by a five-link stainless steel bracelet with a double-folding deployment clasp with spring-loaded extension.
You can choose from the Zodiac Sea-Chron watch with one of two dials. The first is the most respectful of the original, reference ZO3604, which opts for the same black backdrop and contrasting white subsidiary counters for an iconic “reverse panda” look. The second is reference ZO3605 which instead elects a dark blue display with three black counters. The dial of the 1960’s model was flat with matte finish whereas the new re-editions are detailed with much more complex, multi-level finishes. The luminous hour markers are revealed through a unique multi-layered sandwich design while the subsidiary dials for the small seconds, 30 minutes and 12 hours are sunken and snailed. The hour and minute hands are still syringe-shaped and join the hour markers by glowing in the dark thanks to their Superluminova inserts.
Finally, you can expect to find further improvement housed within the Zodiac Sea-Chron watch. The original 1960’s chronograph was powered by the Valjoux 72 manual winding movement, now replaced by the contemporary Sellita SW510 b automatic winding movement. It operates at a frequency of 28,800vph, offers a 62 hour power reserve when off the wrist and provides hours, minutes and chronograph seconds at the centre and three subsidiary dials for the small seconds at 9 o’clock, 30 minutes at 3 o’clock and the 12 hours and 6 o’clock.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Zodiac Sea-Chron watch and shop the collection for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Bi-directional, black ceramic
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Screw down
- Water Resistance: 200 metres
- Movement: Sellita SW510 b automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, central chronograph seconds, 12 hours, 30 minutes
- Power Reserve: 62 hours
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Black with white counters or blue with black counters, Superluminova hands and markers
- Strap: Five-link stainless steel bracelet with dual-deployment clasp and spring-loaded extension
- RRP: £2,499
- Limited: Yes (run TBC)
- Reference: ZO3604 (Black), ZO3605 (Blue)
