For a while now, fans of Zodiac watches have been asking for the revival of the 1960’s Zodiac Sea-Chron watch. The watch was originally introduced as an evolution of the iconic Sea Wolf design, offering an entirely new level of utility by combining its high-water resistant case and rotating bezel with chronograph complication and a tachymeter scale. Now reviving all of these elements with some add-ons for the modern world is the new 2023 Zodiac Sea-Chron Limited Edition…
At first glance, the new Zodiac Sea-Chron watch appears to be a pretty close match to the original 1960’s model. You have the same font for the Sea-Chron lettering on the dial, the same style for the 20-minute elapsed timing bezel, the familiar tachymeter scale, large rounded luminous dot at 12 o’clock and the three counters for the small seconds and chronograph. However, there are some subtle – and not so subtle – changes that make the new duo of limited editions better suited to a modern wrist. For starters, the case is sized up from 39mm to 42mm wide and is visibly thicker to accommodate the movement inside. It measures to 16.5mm tall with a 50.5mm lug-to-lug distance. It’s not a small watch by any means.
The case of the Zodiac Sea-Chron watch is still engineered from stainless steel but topped by a slightly thicker bezel, now crafted from polished black ceramic rather than fade-prone anodized aluminium. The bezel has luminous markings on the familiar 60 minute scale, with only the first 20 minutes graduated, and is bidirectional. There’s also the upgrade of sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating, a screw down crown, plunger-style chronograph pushers and a 200 metre water resistant rating – as noted on the dial at 6 o’clock. The Zodiac Sea-Chron watch wears on a five-link stainless steel bracelet with a dual-deployment clasp and spring-loaded extension.
There are currently two Zodiac Sea-Chron Limited Edition watches to choose from; there’s reference ZO3604 with a “reverse panda” black and white dial and reference ZO3605 with a blue display adorned with black counters. The flat matte dial of the original 1960’s model is discarded and replaced with a handsome, multi-level display with several high-end finishing at its centre. For starters, there’s now sandwich-style apertures for the hour marker’s lume as well as recessed and snailed subsidiary dials for the small seconds, 30 minutes and 12 hours. The central hour and minute hands are still similar in shape but are joined by large inserts of glow in the dark Superluminova.
Powering the 2023 Zodiac Sea-Chron watch is the Sellita SW510 b automatic winding movement which allows for the same chronograph layout as the original’s Valjoux 72. The small seconds sits at 9 o’clock while the 30 minute register sits opposite at 3 o’clock and the 12 hour register is placed at 6 o’clock. The hours, minutes and chronograph seconds are positioned at the centre and like the original, there’s no date window in sight. Performance wise, the SW510 movement operates at 4Hz and has a 62 hour power reserve.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Zodiac Sea-Chron watch and shop the collection for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
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)
