I spent a week with the Craft + Tailored x Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 691 watch. Here’s everything you need to know from a slender-wrist perspective.
I’ve been in the art industry for over a decade now. In fact, it was working in auction houses that really amped up my interest in watches. Unsurprisingly, my taste in and approach to watches are similar to those of art. I love all art. I deeply appreciate contemporary art for its cultural innovations and endlessly fascinating market. However, I personally prefer adorning my own walls with old masters and 19th-century paintings.
Comparably, as much as I love new, flashy timepieces, I prefer the look and feel of vintage on my wrist. I was ecstatic when Zodiac teamed up with Craft+Tailored to release a loyal reissue of the elusive Ref. 691.
Cameron Barr, founder of Craft+Tailored, was kind enough to let me test-drive the Super Sea Wolf 691. I’m thrilled to report that it’s a perfect watch for the small-wristed gent — any gent, really. Here’s my experience with this beautiful timepiece.
Table of Contents
About Craft+Tailored and Zodiac
First, let’s talk about the brands that brought the Super Sea Wolf 691 back to life.
Zodiac was founded in Le Locle, Switzerland, in 1882. Today, it’s headquartered in the US, though the watches are still Swiss-made. You might recognize them for their bold and colorful designs. The iconic Sea Wolf debuted in 1953, even before the Rolex Submariner. In the ‘70s, the brand updated this historical timepiece with the release of the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf GMT.
It makes sense that Zodiac would tap Craft+Tailored to reissue an old icon. If you want to do vintage right, you need to have the expertise. Cameron Barr has been in the vintage watch game for a decade. Equal parts historian and horology aficionado, he founded Craft+Tailored to bring resonating stories to your wrist.
His attention to detail on the Super Sea Wolf 691 isn’t just impressive; it’s transcendent.
Overview of the Craft+Tailored x Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 691
This limited-release watch comes in an edition of 400 black dial versions and 100 white dials. The white is sold exclusively at Craft+Tailored. They’re basically identical except for the color, the bracelet, and the black’s glossy face.
The original from 1953 didn’t have the Sea Wolf moniker on the dial, nor does this reissue. Notably, the indices are mixed between applied Arabic numerals and rectangular three-layer batons. Between this and the thick yet elegant dauphine hands (and a syringe arrow second), the highly legible design is sporty yet versatile.
Even the countdown bezel is clean and classic. While the white version doesn’t have the dial shine of the black, it gets its glisten via the stately gold indices. As per Craft+Tailored’s vision, this new 691 is exceedingly accurate to the original 1953 version.
The Specs: Perfect for Slender Wrists
I took home Ref. ZO0002 (the one available at C+T) because I’m a sucker for a gold-cream combo palette. There’s something so Gilded Age about it. Still, these specs apply to both versions:
Dimensions: 37mm diameter, 12mm thickness
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water resistance: 200m
Movement: STP 1-21M manually-wind
Let me just say the size is absolutely perfect. No notes.
It fits beautifully on my 6.5-inch wrist and would wear just as stylishly and comfortably on much smaller wrists. The 12-millimeter thickness adds substance, which is what you want from a dive watch, but it’s not bulky. Personally, I like to feel my sports watches on my wrist. I don’t want them to weigh me down, but I don’t want them to be as delicate as a dress watch, either. The C+T Zodiac collab strikes that balance effectively.
So yes, I fully cosign this watch for our main audience here at TSW. However, I also want to mention that the sizing is universal and unisex. In fact, two of my best friends, who are much taller than me, loved how it looked on their wrists, too. I didn’t measure their wrists, but one is a 6’3” hockey player, and the other is a 6’1” rugby player.
Moreover, the 18-millimeter lugs are a nice Goldilocks size to complement the 37-millimeter case. They taper flawlessly into the bracelet.
The Bracelet: Solid With a Touch of Stretch
I want to focus on the bracelet because its design levels up the fit experience. The white 691 features a classic three-link stainless steel strap integrated with quick-release spring bars. It tapers towards the clasp, which delivers both elegance and comfort.
Brilliantly, the bracelet also has a bit of stretch. This allows the links to sit comfortably on your wrist all day long, no matter what you’re doing.
I often stick to one watch for an extended period of time before I switch to another one. I go through phases and eras; I don’t wear a new watch every day. Sometimes, switching to a much bigger sports watch can feel jarring when I’ve been wearing my 28-millimeter ladies’ Seamaster for a week. That wasn’t the case when I switched from said Seamaster to the 691. I’m 100% sure the bracelet had something to do with that.
The folding clasp is a butterfly design with a convenient extension and push-button release.
And finally, the white and black versions each have slightly different bracelets. Everything I’ve covered up until now applies to both. However, the black version’s bracelet has riveted links, which is common among vintage watches from the original 691’s time.
Style and Function
My opinion? You can wear this watch anywhere. It’s sporty enough for casual days but classy enough to pair with a suit. I genuinely feel that way about Mid-Century vintage styling in general.
Pulling off a neo-vintage watch in more formal settings is a bit tougher. An ‘80s-style calculator watch paired with black-tie attire? Tricky. But analog pieces from the ‘50s have an heirloom quality about them. And that’s how I feel about the 691, and the gold shimmer is downright chic.
Though the watch is visually accurate to its source material, Zodiac built it to modern standards. It boasts a sapphire crystal (domed, of course) and 200 meters of water resistance.
The Super Sea Wolf 691 has a manual winding movement, while the original ‘50s version was an automatic—or so I’ve been told (Zodiac historians, correct me if I’m wrong). I actually love this change. Wearing this watch provides an authentic vintage experience, and the winding component adds to that.
Conclusion: For the Small-Wristed and Beyond
We wear watches for two reasons: style and stories. Until recently, thin-wristed gents often had no choice but to go vintage. By the way, vintage isn’t a bad thing. I personally prefer vintage on every level.
But yes, sometimes we want that sapphire crystal or a bit more water resistance. Modern versions of lore-filled models don’t always suit a sub-6-inch wrist.
Fortunately, the Craft+Tailored x Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 691 is a slender-wrist-friendly icon that anyone can wear.
What do you think about the Craft+Tailored x Zodiac Super Sea Wolf collaboration? Let us know in the comments below!
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