Introducing: The Zodiac × Rowing Blazers Super Sea Wolf GMT World Time — A Watch Inspired By A 1980s Movie
A guy walks into a pawnshop trying to sell his watch. But it’s not just any watch. No, this particular one is “the thinnest water-resistant watch in the world — singularly unique, sculptured in design, handcrafted in Switzerland, and water resistant to three atmospheres.” Incredible, especially for a watch from the 1980s! But hey, it was the sports watch of that era. It also cost $6,955 retail. Unfortunately, the pawnbroker is not impressed. First, he says he burned his fingers on it because “man, that watch is so hot, it’s smokin’.” And yes, that watch may tell time simultaneously in Monte Carlo, Beverly Hills, London, Paris, Rome, and Gstaad, but “in Philadelphia, it’s worth 50 bucks.” The Zodiac × Rowing Blazers Super Sea Wolf GMT World Time was inspired by the 1980s movie that the previous scene is from. So, how much is it?
Let’s start with the movie first. You guessed the title, right? It’s the 1983 motion picture Trading Places, a classic in which “a snobbish investor and a wily street con artist find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires.” The Zodiac × Rowing Blazers Super Sea Wolf GMT World Time is not directly inspired by the Rouchefoucauld from the movie but, rather, by the vibe of the John Landis motion picture. Dan Aykroyd’s character Louis Winthorpe III would indeed look completely natural if he wore Rowing Blazers attire. The preppy clothing brand known for its traditional craftsmanship with a light-hearted twist does have a wide variety of classic blazers, rugby shirts, tees, and accessories that would match Louis’s style. But how about Zodiac? Let’s find out.
The preppy Zodiac × Rowing Blazers Super Sea Wolf GMT World Time
Wouldn’t it be great if the Zodiac × Rowing Blazers Super Sea Wolf GMT World Time had the same price as the Rouchefoucauld? No, not the same retail price, of course, but the same Philadelphia-exclusive price of 50 bucks. I mean, hey, if the dialogue with Bo Diddley as the pawnbroker is the source of inspiration, you have to stay in character when putting the watch on sale, right? How about if you logged on to the Zodiac webshop from Philadelphia and the price immediately dropped from US$2,195 to $50? That would be a nice (albeit extremely unprofitable) touch.
But no matter how lighthearted Rowing Blazers is and how much fun Zodiac had creating this new watch, it won’t go for 50 bucks. The Zodiac × Rowing Blazers Super Sea Wolf GMT World Time is a stainless steel watch on a five-row bracelet, but it also comes with a spare fabric strap. That one is very 2023 because it’s a #tide strap made from 100% recycled ocean plastic. The zigzag pattern on it is also a Rowing Blazers signature design.
Inside the 40 × 13.6mm case beats the new Swiss mechanical STP7-20 caliber. The American Fossil Group owns both Zodiac and movement maker STP (Swiss Technology Production). That makes this one an in-group (rather than in-house) production. As you might expect, this automatic movement is a so-called “caller” GMT with an independently adjustable 24-hour hand and a quick-set date. It has a 40-hour power reserve and beats at a 4Hz (28,800vph) frequency. Oh yes, and this sports watch also has a bidirectional world-time bezel in Rowing Blazers’ signature blue color. This bezel is special as it denotes not the standard 24 cities but 27 of them — Monte Carlo, Rome, and Gstaad are also on there.
Act fast
Like any modern Super Sea Wolf, this latest version of Zodiac’s dive/multi-time watch is water resistant to 20 atmospheres — much better than the measly three of the Rouchefoucauld, yes? But the stick hands and square indices look very retro and sober. That is until the lights go low and the Super-LumiNova on the hands and markers light up. Also, it wasn’t just the movie that served as a source of inspiration for the watch but also the 1970s Zodiac World Time watch.
Just 282 pieces of the 2023 model will go on sale today, December 8th, at 11:00 EST (17:00 CET). And given the popularity of both Zodiac and Rowing Blazers, you might have to act fast if you want one. I wouldn’t bet on finding one of those 282 watches in a pawnshop any time soon. Hopefully, you can find one for sale on the Zodiac or Rowing Blazers websites, though.
