On the Ven diagram of knife enthusiasts and watch collectors, Zodiac and GiantMouse sit in rarified territory. Both brands build excellent, respected products at an accessible price. And both run slightly under the radar. They don’t have the name recognition of Omega or Benchmade, but they build products that will go toe-to-toe with the better-known brands.
The latest collaboration may change that, if just a little.
Today, Zodiac and GiantMouse announce a pair of dive tools that will intrigue tool aficionados and serious divers alike.
Meet the GiantMouse X Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Pro Diver, a COSC-certified dive watch with 300 meters of water resistance that pairs with an Italian-made GiantMouse dive knife that meets the needs of divers while maintaining the gorgeous fit and finish that elevates it beyond a simple tool.
The watch-and-knife combination will be available on February 27.
GiantMouse X Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Pro Diver First Look
The Super Sea Wolf is a legendary dive watch. While the brand has gone through ups and downs, the Super Sea Wolf dates back to the 1950s, putting its initial development within a few years of the iconic Rolex Submariner. (The exact date of production is a bit contentious, with Zodiac citing production in 1953, while others argue it was later, around 1957. Regardless, it was one of the earliest true dive watches and has a long history.)
Fast forward to today, and the Super Sea Wolf is a handsome, functional tool watch at a much more accessible price than many competitors.
The GiantMouse collaboration puts a unique twist on this iconic tool watch. The brand sent over a demo, and from the moment I set eyes on it, I was impressed.
The GiantMouse X Zodiac Super Sea Wolf is gorgeous. Priced at $2,295 including the GiantMouse dive knife (more on this later), this Super Sea Wolf ticks a lot of boxes dive watch lovers will enjoy.
It has a black face with brightly luminous hour indicators. The minute and hour hands shine with a gold-tinted metallic finish that catches light for both legibility and bling. A unidirectional rotating bezel offers timekeeping for divers, although it only has minutes noted at the 30 position.
While functional for diving, the lack of numerals, both on the face and the bezel, is a nod toward the fact that the watch is more oriented toward everyday use. Most divers today use computers, not watches, to track dives. So while this watch does function for dive timekeeping, it’s less likely to spend time deep under the sea and more logical as an everyday piece.
The color combinations are subtly striking. Orange indicators pop off a muted blue background. A gold metal ring shines around the outer edge of the bezel, offsetting a brushed stainless steel case with a closed caseback.
A black silicone band attaches all this timekeeping beauty to your wrist. While the band is nice, I did notice a little pressure on the bottom of my wrist when wearing the watch for several hours. Also to consider, the band fits my 6.75″ wrist well and has lots of room for larger wrists. But adding a wetsuit may push it to its limits for those with larger wrists.
Timekeeping
The watch kept great time during my 1-week test period, no surprise given its COSC certification.
The watch has its parent company, Fossil’s STP 1-21 movement, which has a mixed reputation. It keeps great time. In my experience with Zodiac watches, they’ve been very reliable. But critics worry about long-term durability and parts availability. In my experience, they’ve been great, and I’ve never had an issue over the past 2 years testing a couple of Zodiacs.
The screw-down crown takes a little force to begin unscrewing, but has a smooth action. Adjusting time is pleasant.
The GiantMouse X Zodiac Super Sea Wolf is very legible thanks to the high contrast between the black dial and off-white indicators.
The indicators, all three hands, and the 12 o’clock position on the bezel all have bright lume that lasts several hours. I was able to read it at 3 a.m. after turning off the lights at 9 p.m.
GiantMouse Dive Knife
I’ve devoted a lot of space to the watch, but the GiantMouse Dive Knife is also a gorgeous tool, and one that divers are much more likely to use underwater. This tool is made for business.
The Dive Knife has a 3.8″ N360 steel blade with a blunt tip for safety. In true dive knife fashion, it has a heavily serrated blade on one side, with a sharpened hook for cutting line and fabric. In front of the serrated tools is a dull edge, which makes it safer for cutting near a diver who may be tangled in lines underwater. The opposite side has a sharpened, fine edge.
Everything about the dive knife screams function. While certainly an attractive knife, I would not hesitate for a second to take it diving. The tip is meant for prying, and the cutting surfaces are purpose-built for divers’ needs. It comes with a very rugged, refined sheath and leg strap to wear over a dive suit or a BCD.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much diving in Colorado in winter, so I haven’t used it underwater. But an initial handling and inspection gives me a positive impression.
Zodiac Brand Questions
I would be remiss not to mention unanswered questions about the Zodiac brand at the time of publication. Recently, Fossil Group, the parent company of Zodiac, has gone through restructuring. During the process, many of its watches have been discounted heavily. Some have even shown up at discount retailers like Ross. So consumers should be aware.
That said, the watches are as nice as they’ve ever been.
I reached out to a Fossil representative to learn more. They promised to provide a new roadmap for the brand soon, but I haven’t received it yet. GearJunkie will cover the news as we learn more, and I will link to the story here when it goes live.
Giant Mouse X Zodiac Collaboration: Who Should Buy?
At $2,295, the knife-and-watch combination is a luxury but accessible collection. For that price, you get an extremely capable pair of EDC/dive tools with fine fit and finish and excellent ingredients.
This is a limited edition collection; just 300 units are available. So it hits a collectors market squarely. That said, these are tools meant to be used.
Fans of GiantMouse, watch enthusiasts with a penchant for historical dive watches, and those who want to wear a little of that salt life on their daily watch should take a look at this unique package that is unlikely to come along again any time soon.
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