Zodiac Olympos Field Watch (ZO9713)

Description

Inspired by the Olympos Military watches made for the British Royal Navy in the late 1960s, this modern interpretation was designed with simplicity, utility and durability in mind.

Built for the modern adventurer, the Olympos Field is a more rugged take on one of our favorite legacy pieces and does exactly what it needs to – it tells time with precision and dependability.

The ZODIAC Olympos was a highly distinctive watch, nicknamed the “manta” due to its unique manta ray shaped case. Today’s Field re-issue stays true to the watch’s heritage roots while updating the materials to suit modern trends and utility.

One of the most notable features distinguishing early field watches was the ability to stop the second hand when setting the time. Known as “hacking”, this feature enabled soldiers to sync their watches precisely with obvious utility in coordinating battlefield operations.

Originally created in 1961, the ZODIAC Olympos is a line of highly creative watches featuring a signature “manta ray” case. Unique to ZODIAC, this case design is asymmetrical across the horizontal axis of the watch, which creates the illusion of different length lugs above and below, and moves the crown off-center to two o’clock. The swooping lines of the case are at once elegant and energetic, giving the Olympos a distinct and exciting personality.

The Olympos is a beefed-up version of the design, based on a prototype created for the British Navy. Coming in at 40mm (38mm at the bezel), it retains the distinct “manta ray” shape, but with a generally more rugged build, a brushed finish, and an increased water resistance of 200 metres. The dial is pure classic military, with a railroad minute track around bold, luminous numerals. The hands too are a true-mil style adding to the overall legibility of the watch.

ZODIAC Olympos Field Watch, Green: Product Details

・ STP calibre 1-11 automatic movement
・ 26 jewels
・ 44 hour power reserve
・ green degrade dial
・ stainless steel screw-down caseback
・ screw down crown
・ brushed stainless steel case
・ sapphire crystal
・ C3 Super-LumiNova on hands and markers
・ brown leather strap with pin buckle
・ water resistant to 200 metres

・ case diameter: 40mm
・ case thickness: 13mm
・ lug width: 20mm

THE BACKSTORY

ZODIAC was built on value and volume during its golden era from the ’50s to the ’70s. The watches provided an affordable tool that could stand up to the circumstances the adventurous wearers often found themselves in, be it diving, racing, or crawling through the jungle. Modern ZODIAC doesn’t stray from that formula, and the watches put forth a very strong value proposition. Swiss Technology Production (STP), Fossil Group’s in-house movement manufacturer, supplies movements for many ZODIAC watches. In addition, the modern designs are tasteful and thoughtful interpretations of the watches that built the ZODIAC name and forged its reputation as a reliable tool watchmaker.