Hiking in Glen Coe With The Zodiac Super Sea Wolf LHD Pro-Diver GMT

Negotiating treacherous ground and uneven terrain, my coat is zipped up before a wool hat is quickly bundled on as a result of the cutting injection of ice-cold air; our first summit was in sight. We peer down the brutally steep slopes on either side of the ever-thinning sparse path, impossibly carved out by mother nature, as it swiftly transitions to a precisely sharpened ridge almost deliberately positioned to test our balance. To our left, a constantly undulating sea of thick clag descending from neighbouring peaks and ridges, one moment blanket covering near and far before its thick form dissipates sporadically, revealing an outstretched view of the deep glen some 600 metres below. As the haze passes through our plotted path and onwards to our right, what was once ominous and intimidating becomes wispy and delicate as these ever-thinning pockets of cloud gracefully dance in the air with seemingly no planned trajectory. Periodically catching glimpses of muted morning sunshine, they effortlessly wander this mesmerising landscape, composing and executing their choreography like a gifted dancer synchronising with a piece of music. Perfectly formed millions of years ago, no human could ever design a landscape as exceptional as this, its existence remaining at the mercy of this unforgiving climate. 

As we summit the first Munro at 956 metres and ceremonially touch the cairn, only moments later, we're joined by a large bird overhead. "Fancy doing some wildlife photography?" I call to Allan as his Sony pivots from the rugged Zodiac LHD GMT on my wrist to a silhouetted golden eagle soaring above. As it cuts through the sky with methodical purpose and sophistication, it's not long before this Scottish airborne predator is joined by a friend. This trip was the best part of six months in the making and involved numerous rearrangements. But moments like this in the middle of November made all the planning worth it. But for now, it was time to get our heads down, as we still had the best part of five hours in the formidable yet wonderful Glen Coe ahead of us, and the memory cards in our cameras were far from full. 

From England to Scotland

04:34. My flight leaves at 07:00. At least, I guessed that was that time, as this trip marked one of the rare circumstances where I had walked out my front door without a watch on my wrist. Occasionally I'll forget to strap a watch on when running late or when I'm taking a break from the quirky world of horology, but nine times out of ten, I don't forget. And this time, I didn't either. It was a conscious decision as a new watch was waiting for me at the other end of this short flight to Glasgow, Scotland. As we left the unpleasantly damp runway in the south of England before the sun had even considered rising, and the pilot pointed the aircraft due north, the unfamiliar feeling sans watch began to settle in. Watches thrive when being put to use, and when setting out on an adventure, their dependability and convenience are only heightened. Its moments like this, when away from a computer screen, their pragmatic attributes come into their own. Thankfully I didn't have to suffer long, as a hair over an hour later, the pilot had swapped a soaking runway in England for arguably an even wetter one in Scotland. After heading into a drenched Glasgow, dragging my gradually more sodden suitcase behind me, I realise that if it wasn't raining on my first visit to Scotland, I'd have been somewhat disappointed.

Dipping into Argyle Arcade after clocking numerous watch boutiques, I was oddly not met by a walking Leica as I first imagined, but rather a sharply dressed man who I recognised as Allan. This is the man who takes the exceptional images you see on this very site and its loyally followed Instagram account, and he was going to be my self-appointed tour guide for this trip. After a brief hello to both familiar and new faces, we left their dedicated watch boutique and headed off to another store dedicated exclusively to jewellery. And then a third store. It was starting to become apparent that between the 'exhibition only' displays of the neighbouring watch boutiques, James Porter & Son's notably full windows and presence in Glasgow seemed just as permanent as the imposing mountains we'd be tackling the following day. 

Scotland's watch scene has a reputation that precedes itself. It's a thriving community not only in retail, with stores to rival the best of what Mayfair has to offer but also with its loyal collectors and connoisseurs. Someone else who clearly understood this was Mike, International Director of Brand Development for Zodiac, alongside his team, who also happened to be in town. But this was no coincidence, as Mike was also visiting Glasgow to meet with the James Porter & Son team and, crucially, to attend the RedBar event being held in the evening. After ten minutes of conversation, Mike and Allan ushered me over to the table of watches and right around midday, the watch that would be accompanying me on my first summit of a Munro was on my wrist: the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf LHD Pro-Diver GMT. 

The Zodiac Super Sea Wolf LHD Pro-Diver GMT

With a heritage starting as early as 1882 and their diving watches dating right from the category's inception in 1953, Zodiac is by no means the newest kid on the block. Distinctively styled and personality-rich pieces have remained a hallmark of their language for decades, with new models created today often influenced by the past. Nonetheless, despite its name dating back to the 19th century, the Super Sea Wolf LHD Pro-Diver GMT is a contemporary reference with no direct ancestor. Instead, the watch has been respectfully realised by the present-day Zodiac team to evoke watches from their heritage for 21st century wrist time. As a result, we're left with models that intelligently sit within their current lineup seamlessly yet could easily have slotted into the same lineup 60 years ago. This isn't just a case of relying on history, it's a matter of shaping it for the future.

Available exclusively in the UK through James Porter & Son, this impressive new addition measures 42mm wide, with a lug-to-lug of 50mm, and a thickness of 13.5mm. First impressions of the piece highlight that it's by no means a small watch, but its form is ideal for the more adventurous times in life. The Zodiac signed FKM rubber strap is soft to the touch with a sturdy construction, and thanks to its flatter, more stylish take on traditional diving rubber straps, it allows the piece to appear even more tactile. Configured with a left-handed crown position at nine, a helium escape valve at two, and a 300m water resistance rating, it was clear as soon as the watch was on my wrist that this was one with function on its mind. Its steel case is entirely black DLC coated, and its modest black sunburst dial, which pops under the bright boutique lights, contrasts the copious amount of SuperLuminova found in its substantial hour markers and hands. The mechanical heart of the watch is the Swiss-made Soprod C125 automatic movement. A caller GMT with 42 hours of autonomy, hacking seconds, and a solid, emerging reputation – it's a standout choice for a Swiss movement not from the likes of ETA or Sellita. Striking is certainly the word for this piece after only a few moments in hand. Many will be familiar with Zodiac in recent years for their colourful renderings of references, but this GMT is muted, serious, and leans heavily on its impressive statistics. In terms of a watch to keep me company in the brutal elements of the Scottish highlands, this was the ideal partner.

A brief visit to one of the first RedBar events after the pandemic delivered community and scholarship of all levels (don't worry, although I didn't wear a watch up here, I was sure to bring one with me in my bag). Surprisingly, despite being at the top of the UK, it also uncovered familiar faces, including, of course, Mike, who made sure to pass the GMT LHD to me as I headed back to my hotel for some last-minute preparations and an early nights sleep.

Tackling Glen Coe

At 05:57 on a dark Wednesday morning, we headed out of Glasgow. A full day of adventure awaited, and it was clear Allan was nearly as ready for action as the LHD GMT. With camera batteries charged, bags and boots flung in the back of the car, and the finest bacon rolls the golden arches offer, we eagerly make tracks. The destination? Buachaille Etive Car Park - 1 hour 57 minutes from the centre of Glasgow, allowing for plenty of conversation over our much-needed morning coffees. Once the cityscape gradually transitioned to some of the most dramatic landscapes the UK offers, I couldn't help but feel envious of Allan. Having a back garden like this within two hours of his front door, it doesn't surprise me that any opportunity he can grasp, you'll find him exploring these awesome natural relics.

We pass places such as the Loch Lomond Golf Club, one of Scotland's most prestigious clubs. This ex-Scottish Open course is idyllic and well worth looking at online – an obsession with golf isn't required to appreciate its beauty – with memberships costing as much as watches reserved for grail lists. Some of Allan's favourite locations for early morning photography and his most Instagrammed spots whizzed past us as the caffeine kicked in and the mystical blue haze of the morning began to lift. Closer to our final destination was Glen Etive, also known as the destination of the iconic shot of Bond stood next to his DB5, taking in this epic landscape in Skyfall. Right in the heart of Glen Coe, this was the idyllic spot for some watch-based photography.

Allan was kind to me on this trip, as although we'd be ticking off two Munros: Stob Dubh and Stob Coire Raineach (known as Buachaille Etive Beag), they were both reasonably close to each other and didn't rank amongst the highest of the 282 Munros Scotland has to offer. Munros are Scottish talk for mountains that clock in over 3000ft or 914 metres in height, meaning even if you go for a low one, it's certainly no walk in the park.

Quality, dependable gear and a somewhat good level of fitness will ensure a safe and enjoyable time conquering these beasts. In fact, reliable kit is more than desirable, it's essential. You need to consider every possible outcome that could occur up here.

Its relentless nature makes it a place where the quality of the gear you bring is paramount, and the LHD GMT felt perfectly at home amongst the similarly well-built equipment we had between us. Its all-black appearance, only accented by functional elements such as lume or the highly contrasted splash of orange for its GMT hand, emphasised its no-nonsense personality. This watch is built to be used and has no problem telling the world that. Cocooned between wise old Munros, sweeping glens, and formidable rock faces, the sparsity of where we are begins to set. This was worlds away from the chaos of a city. No tickets are required to park, no little cafe, and certainly no 'I <3 Scotland' t-shirts for sale.

It was a bare, naked, raw place. The reality is that if these mountains could talk, they would share great tales of tragedy. Stories of atrocities such as the Glen Coe Massacre of 1692 and the countless accidents taking the lives of everyday hikers and even the most experienced climbers. Allan and his family can personally attest to some of these stories, as I would later learn at the tail end of my trip at a nearby Inn.

At precisely 08:16, we took our first steps faced with an incline made more manageable thanks to individually placed rocks replicating a jagged staircase. "Be bold, start cold" was the advice Allan offered when preparing our gear for the day ahead, and after all of 10 minutes, he was proven correct. Stopping for shots along the way, we made our way towards the bealach (also known as a narrow mountain pass to fellow non-Scots) and began the second stage of this adventure, my first Munro. 

This phase of the day is where the comfort of the Zodiac with its aforementioned rubber strap begins to surface. Sure, the watch has a larger footprint than other Zodiac models, but its svelte, breathable rubber strap and left-hand configuration made wearing this watch when scrambling up rocks a breeze. The true comfort of this piece was only uncovered thanks to a trip like this. Getting out in the wild, experiencing watches in extreme environments puts their characteristics thoroughly to the test, and this trip was epitomised by unpredictable conditions. One minute the clear winter's sun is warming you up, the next, you're in a passing cloud, where your body temperature can drop just as quickly as the visibility. The wearability of the Zodiac ensured regardless of my ever-changing body temperature, I didn't have to give a second thought to the piece. If it wasn't for solely being out there for the watch, the day could have quickly passed me by without me even realising it was on my wrist. A real testament to the fit, regardless of its mass. 

Stob Dubh and Stob Coire Raineach

The cairn of Stob Dubh was poetically silhouetted by the clag still stubbly hanging around for this accomplishment. Marking the halfway point of our trip, we took a moment to take in the magnificence of our surroundings, an unworldly playground for giants where the worries of every day feel overwhelmingly trivial. A good 30 minutes was spent capturing this special moment before we wandered along the ridge ahead, revealing a 180-degree view framing Loch Etive below. In total, we must have spent a couple of hours exploring and taking images overlooking the loch, with Bidean nam Bian and Buachaille Etive Mòr as our illustrious neighbours.

Eventually, though, we turned around and headed back along the ridge towards the bealach to begin our second ascent of the day of Stob Coire Raineach. Pulling the cuff of my coat completely over the watch with ease and swinging my camera around me, we set our sights on scaling two of two. Only 20 minutes of scrambling later, and at 925 metres, Stob Coire Raineach was in the bag.

Being 31 metres lower than Stob Dubh, one might assume it was an easier hurdle to conquer, yet its aggressive and rugged format made it a short, sharp challenge. Most of our day was a gradual pace as we took in our surroundings and discussed the watch, photography, and scenery. Here though, the bleak harshness of this part of the world truly hit home. The views over to Rannoch Moor and the prominent Aonach Eagach Ridge were beautiful, and the sun's rays pierced the structured clouds over the glen now positioned behind us.

Still, this severe summit housed larger, more precarious rocks where the temperature would change within seconds. The grandeur of this awesome wilderness is shaped by solitude, and this second Munro accentuated the unspoilt nature of this rugged land, with our chatter the only counterpoint to the relentless whistle of the bitterly cold mountain air.

The early signs that the light was starting to fade signalled our cue to begin our descent, as although prepared, the last thing we wanted to deal with was a loss of natural light. The gradual dropping of sunlight shifted its angle horizontally by the minute, emphasising another highlight of the LHD GMT. The range of its legibility is undeniable. Now, this clarity isn't solely down to the fact its hour markers are scaled up, and its hands are easily distinguishable even at the slightest of glances, a lot of the readability is possible due to its overall scale. Larger case dimensions lend themselves to a large dial which creates the opportunity for a balanced ratio between features and dial space. But only some watches make the most of this opportunity, and this Zodiac is one of them. 

Refuel and Reflect

Slowly but surely, we wind our way back towards infant signs of civilisation, and as we hop over a stream and re-enter the car park, Allan's Father, Tom, is there to greet us. Conversations throughout the day propped up by Instagram posts over the years have resulted in me hearing many things about Tom and his life outdoors. It only takes a few short moments for it to become clear why Allan has an infectious relationship with these mountains. Tom is an old-school veteran climber of not only the mountains on his doorstep but also those as far as the Swiss Alps, Yosemite, and the Rockies, to name a few. His lifelong affinity for conquering great expeditions with ropes, ice axes, and crampons has no doubt been passed down to Allan, and looking at a recent article Tom had put together that adds clarity to the first direct helicopter rescue off Britain's highest mountain Ben Nevis, so had his eye for photography.

As the heated seats are cranked up to full and our boots swapped out for trainers, we made a beeline for an old stomping ground of Tom's and perhaps the most welcomed site after a long day hiking: a beer at Clachaig Inn, Glencoe. However, before that refreshing first sip, there were yet more remarkable sights to behold, one of note being the Lost Valley. This whimsical, almost magical place is a hidden valley that was used to conceal cattle during the 1692 massacre, as well as being a location Allan has marked down as one seriously amazing spot to pitch a tent. The scale of this place, even after nearly ten hours here, continues to enthral me. With a mountaineering heritage, numerous bars, rooms, and views of the Aonach Dubh summit framed like a postcard, the Clachaig Inn was an idyllic spot to rehydrate and warm up over a soup of the day. It also made an ideal place to chat about Tom's numerous mountaineering experiences over the years, including some of the most perilous, like his near-fatal fall on 'The Big Top' on the very Aonach Dubh we were admiring from the car park just moments ago.

The Zodiac LHD GMT - Some Final Thoughts

It's here, chatting with Allan and Tom, looking over images from the day in a place I'm confident the two of them have spent many a late night over the decades, that I take a moment to reflect on my time with the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf LHD Pro-Diver GMT. This was one watch full of surprises. If I were to categorise the watches that I'm typically drawn to, it would be a lot of classic examples of uncluttered watch designs that are light on bold statement-making and heavy on unassuming character. Yet, this 42mm, DLC black diving GMT with its assertive use of colourful accents, appeals tremendously. Both blacked-out cases and GMTs have recently been the two styles on my mind as of late, and this Zodiac excels in both fields. Its size may have restricted the attraction previously, but this trip has emphasised the importance of not over-refining your taste to allow for and accept some space and freedom in what appeals. Getting caught up in the technicalities and specifications of watches is very easy to default to. If a model doesn't fit within personal preferences and parameters already agreed upon, they're quickly dismissed. For some, that can be defined by proportions, for others, it can be more style concentrated or if there is a gap in a collection.

This LHD GMT is a modern creation by the present-day Zodiac team, but it's clearly crafted while considering its heritage. The dial furniture isn't just assertive and practical, but the form of its hour markers, its highly legible shovel handset, cursive typography and straightforward case design are all elements that speak to the brand's legacy and lineage of diving watches from the past. It's an astute slice of balanced design, punching above its weight class and delivering reassurance on the wrist. For a watch destined to travel the globe, and the seas, keeping up without missing a beat is super important. The Soprod C-125 calibre is solid and steadfast, its LHD layout is one hell of a way to debut this format in the Zodiac range, and its DLC black realisation goes a long way to embody the durable spirit of this piece. All elements of the LHD GMT show what the future holds for Zodiac, and if this marks only the beginning of what's to come, then Zodiac fans, listen up, you're in for a treat. In somewhere as timeless and eternal as Glen Coe, the youthful spirit of the watch is romantically contrasted by the permanence of this place.

As we say our goodbyes and thank yous to Tom and head off back to the civilisation of Glasgow, Glen Coe has one more surprise for us in the form of two large (that is underplaying it, they were enormous) stags by the road, completing the trip and sightseeing perfectly. Over the past 48 hours, I experienced relentless rain, some of the most dramatic and spectacular landscapes the UK has to offer, wonderful people who welcomed me with open arms, Scottish wildlife, and even movie-famous locations. All while sporting a purpose-built watch illustrating what the future holds for a watch brand doing many things right. I’ve had a think, and as Scottish experiences go, I don’t think it gets much better than that. 

Photography by Allan McLellan, Tim Vaux & Zodiac.

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The Specifications

Reference: Zodiac Super Sea Wolf LHD Pro-Diver GMT ZO3557

Case: 316L Stainless Steel in black DLC with black ceramic bezel insert.

Glass: Sapphire.

Diameter: 42mm.

Thickness: 14.5mm.

Lug-to-lug: 50mm.

Water Resistance: 300 meters / 1000 feet.

Dial: Black sunray.

Hands: Polished.

Strap: FKM rubber strap.

The Movement

Calibre: Soprod C-125 Automatic.

Power Reserve: 42 hours.

Attributes: Hours, minutes, seconds, independant central GMT hand, date.

Pricing & Availability

Price: £2,299

Availability: Available exclusively in the UK from James Porter & Son. Pre-Order now.

Learn more about Zodiac here.