The Zodiac x Worn & Wound Super Sea Wolf Laser Tag is a raver’s dream
Zach Blass- The Zodiac x Worn & Wound Super Sea Wolf Laser Tag required over two years of development.
- The laser tag inspired duo utilise photoreactive elements on the dial, bezel, strap, and case.
- Two configurations, each limited to 282 pieces.
The dive watch category is probably the hardest horological segment to create something distinct for. Too often, diver designs can feel like a remix of iconic designs – Submariner, Fifty Fathoms et al. Zodiac’s Sea Wolf has previously distinguished itself with bold colour schemes other dive watch brands are too somber to present, and their collaboration with Worn & Wound may just be their boldest Super Sea Wolf yet. Dive watches have to have strong lume for visibility while diving, and the new Zodiac x Worn & Wound Super Sea Wolf Laser Tag Limited Editions broaden the visibility objective from professional into playful, with ample luminescence through its photoreactive elements embedded throughout the entire watch.
The grey PVD stainless steel case is hardly out of the ordinary, with familiar dimensions at 40mm in diameter, 13.6mm thick, and 49mm lug-to-lug. This Super Sea Wolf remains 200 metres water-resistant, helped by a screw-down crown. The rest of this limited edition duo, however, is certainly not ordinary. Across the two configurations, a rainbow assortment of luminescent materials and colours have been used giving it a retrofuturistic ’80s vibe. Laser tag was the muse for its design, as the name suggests, though my first thought was that it looks like a laser show, or an assortment of glow sticks at a rave. I do not know what that says about me…
Let’s break down all the luminous parts of the watch. Through a mixture of photoreactive materials, the limited editions effectively appear in three stages: light, dark, and blacklight. Of course, the ‘light’ stage is how the watch appears in daylight. In a more conventional sense, the essentials charge under UV light – the three central hands, hour indices, and the pip of the timing bezel, all glowing in any dark environment (the ‘dark’ stage). Under blacklight, however, the essentials, along with a wider array of elements that typically do not, begin to glow. Worn & Wound explains: “Bathed in blacklight, new elements emerge. Within the centre of the dials is an array of lines that come to life. The centre of the cross-hair begins to glow, and the chapter ring fully illuminates. The lume fill of the hands, hour markers, and bezel pip all glow in shades of green and bright blue, version depending. The lines on the case light up as well, as does the logo on the crown.” Under blacklight, the cross-hatching lines on the strap will also subtly glow.
This delineation of having only the essentials charged in sunlight, and other elements reactive to strictly blacklight, strategically tames the light display so that the watch does not feel like 24/7 rave on the wrist. I mean, just imagine sitting in a movie theatre with every element of the watch glowing in darkness. You would have everyone throwing popcorn at you.
The logic behind two configurations lies in the fact that laser tag requires two teams competing against each other. The two teams, or colour configurations rather, have been dubbed Ultraviolet and Infrared. Worn & Wound explains: “Ultraviolet has a background of dark purple on the dial and bezel. The dial is framed by a wide ring in a soft mint tone, and various light blue and pale green markings on the bezel reinforce the cool-toned team’s colours. Deep, sharp fuschia acts as a counterpoint, highlighting the markers, cross-hair, and 15-minute intervals on the bezel. The hour and minute hands are in faded blue and purple, while the seconds hand is a pop of green. The Infrared dial and bezel feature a backdrop of deep scarlet. Crisp white circles the inner dial as pinks and reds add accents. Blue contrasts the otherwise sanguine tones, adding visibility to the hour markers, cross-hairs, and 15-minute marks on the bezel. The hour hand is dark purple, minute in orange, and seconds in bright pink, adding some variety.”
This release exemplifies the beauty of watch brands collaborating with watch media. Because journalists are not watchmakers, their imagination is not hindered by the realism of an engineer. The challenge, of course, is the watch brand realising the insane concept of their watch media partner. After two plus years of development, Zodiac fortunately did just that. While safe, a watch media collaboration does not hit its full potential when the design feels like something the brand would have done by themselves – the “but make it salmon” is always an easy crutch. Its playful theme and creative usage of photoreactive materials justifies the novel in novelty. In its playfulness, of course, it risks being too loud for more somber sensibilities. Although, keep in mind, it is not every evening you find yourself bathed in blacklight. If laser tag nostalgia stirs within you when you see this watch, or if its glow stick rave look makes you want to ask someone if they have seen your friend Molly, I suspect you will want to secure one of the 564 pieces or risk missing out on the party. If you do happen to miss out, do not fret – the T+T Shop is home to an extensive Zodiac collection. You’re welcome.
Zodiac x Worn & Wound Super Sea Wolf Laser Tag Limited Editions pricing and availability
The Zodiac x Worn & Wound Super Sea Wolf Laser Tag watches will be available for pre-order on Windup Watch Shop beginning September 28th at 13:00 EDT, limited to 282 per colour. 200 of each will be available through Windup Watch Shop, with the additional 82 launching on Zodiac’s website on October 30th. Watches will begin shipping in early November 2023. Price: US$1,595
| Brand | Zodiac |
| Model | Super Sea Wolf Laser Tag Worn & Wound LE |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 13.6mm (T) x 49mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Grey PVD stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres (screw-down crown) |
| Crystal(s) | AR-coated sapphire |
| Dial | Dark purple or deep scarlet |
| Strap | Printed leather strap, steel hardware |
| Movement | STP 1-21, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 40 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Pre-orders starting on 28/09, limited to 282 pieces per colour |
| Price | US$1,595 |