
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Zodiac Sea Wolf SST 36000 (Ref. 862-952), 1970s
- Maker / attribution
- Zodiac (maker)
- Date
- 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- ZSWSST862952
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (ZSWSST862952)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1970s Zodiac Sea Wolf SST 36000 (Ref. 862-952) (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number ZSWSST862952), this is a wristwatch by Zodiac, made in Switzerland, dated 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Craft & Tailored
The Sea Wolf SST 36000 ref. 862-952 is one of the more unique models to hail from the 1970s "golden era" of watches. The SST 36000 features an odd, but beautiful coffin-shaped case, along with twin bullhead style crowns, an inner rotating super compressor-like bezel, and clear resin indices on the dial. The SST 36000 movement was the premier offering of Zodiac at the time, featuring a high-beat 36000 bpm movement and a quickset date function operated by pushing down on the winding crown. This amalgamation of features resulted in one of Zodiac's most avant-garde designs that is both a conversation piece and worthy of wrist time. SPECS Stock # ZSWSST862952 Brand Zodiac Style Sea Wolf SST 36000 Model 862-952 Serial N/A Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black Millimeters 39 Bracelet 2pc Rubber Tropic Strap CASE & BRACELET The exceptionally impressive coffin-style case is in "like new" condition, remaining in factory unpolished condition with crisp brushing and edges that show almost no signs of previous use. The case retains its original Zodiac signed twin bullhead crowns. The case back retains its factory concentric brushing and all of its factory markings in excellent condition. The watch will come supplied on a 2pc rubber tropic strap. DIAL & HANDS The colorful black orange and white dial layout give this watch a handsome retro aesthetic and easy legibility. The center matte black portion of the dial does show some aging in the form of oil stains throughout the outer portion of the dial and some light marks. The clear resin indices are topped with reflective orange paint and backed with tritium lume that would cause the resin to glow when the tritium was still active. Under U.V. light inspection the 11 o'clock marker is missing its lume and the rest of the markers retain the lume with light degradation throughout, however, this is difficult to see with the naked eye. The inner rotating white and orange bezel is in excellent condition and retains its tritium triangle. The original hour and minute hands have been professionally restored with luminova, the red sweep-second hand was replaced prior to our aquisition. ACCESSORIES
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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