Doxa SUB-300 Watch Review

Doxa SUB-300 Watch

Doxa SUB-300 Watch Review

Doxa SUB-300 Watch

SOME HISTORY - THE DOXA SUB-300

The idea of the dive watch, by that people mean a wrist watch particularly designed to fulfil the requirements of professional divers (that was the situation within the 1950s before the 1970s, before diving computers emerged), started to emerge after The Second World War once the mission to comprehend the silent underwater world correctly began. Obviously, several previous attempts existed, by transforming existing watches into tools in a position to withstand water pressure (think Panerai). However, it is just in 1953 that watches entirely developed with underwater exploration in your mind came available on the market - using the 1953 Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and also the 1953 Rolex Submariner. All of the industry heavyweights would soon enter about this niche but growing market, by presenting their very own vision of diving tools: Omega using the 1957 Seamaster 300, Seiko using the 62Mas, and many more. Doxa came available on the market later though, although once they made it happen was having a watch that will make quite an impact.

Doxa SUB-300 Watch

Among the heads of Doxa Watches, a particular Urs Eschle made the decision that that brand needed to develop its very own vision of the dive watch, a bit which will soon be referred to as SUB-300. He made the decision to begin on your own instead of copying other manufactures, so he generate a research team with several professional divers and experienced watchmakers. The goals for that research team were obvious: developing the very first affordable sports diver watch out for leisure and professional divers a dependable, comfortable, purpose-built and highly legible device.  The Doxa Sub was brought to the general public at Baselworld, in spring 1966 - see our article Historic Perspective - The Doxa Sub 300, The Dive Watch Personified.

The 1966 Doxa SUB-300 introduced a brand new situation design, an enormous stainless tonneau situation (situation dimensions undoubtedly exceeding the typical size of the normal watch cases in those days). This kind of situation provided enhanced protection, deflecting any impacts underwater as well as protected the crown from the watch. The 2nd primary novelty, which may be a signature design feature of Doxa, was the orange dial. Whilst in the 1960s, most watches for diving were black, Urs Eschle made the decision to redefine the dial, utilizing a vibrant colour dial with oversized luminous markers and clearly differentiated hands (the moment hands being the most crucial here). To check the legibility from the dial underwater, Neuchatel Lake was probably the most appropriate place for this function. The study team tested several vibrant dial colours. Orange has shown to be the brightest and also the best legible colour lower to some depth of 30 meters underwater.

Finally, there is the bezel… the only real component of a dive watch that's manipulated through the diver underwater and most importantly, it's the safeguard of his security (to be able to calculate the size of diving sessions and decompression stages). Doxa created a saw-tooth edge for max grip with mitts or wet hands, along with a unidirectional rotating bezel that was similar to the united states Navy No-decompression dive table. Therefore, the diver often see instantly not just time markings but the related depths where he could stay before getting to decompress. The Doxa SUB-300 was created and grew to become a symbol among the diving community.

THE 1967 DOXA SUB-300 “BLACK LUNG” Designed For AQUA LUNG

“Aqua-Lung” describes an industrial name produced in 1943, when two Frenchmen, engineer émile Gagnan and Naval Lieutenant Jacques Cousteau, developed the very first system to create underwater exploration possible. This product, a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (or “SCUBA”) has become generally known as diving regulator or demand valve. Today, the company remains the key global designer and manufacturer of dive and aquatic sports gear.

After Doxa launched their first dive watch at Baselworld 1966, as SUB-300, they partnered with Aqua Lung to produce a special prototype, the Doxa SUB-300 “Black Lung”. This watch, bearing all of the features of the SUB-300, differed in the normal edition by its black and yellow Aqua Lung emblem printed within the lower left quadrant from the orange dial. Due to this specific emblem, the timepiece earned the nickname “Black Lung” by collectors, and it is a wrist watch that's now very rare and highly searched for-after, as merely a handful were ever created. Following this prototype, the united states Divers company began to distribute DOXA watches. Several editions from the SUB-300 or any other Doxa watches will later carry the united states Divers/Aqua Lung emblem around the dial. Eventually, US Divers and Aqua Lung would consolidate into one company underneath the Aqua Lung name.

Today, this rare and collectable prototype Doxa SUB-300 “Black Lung” (that also is actually the very first watch using the Aqualung emblem, like a evidence of reliability) is celebrating its 50th anniversary, making the right occasion for that brand to produce a passionate special edition, following a effective 2016 offered-out 50th Anniversary SUB 300 Professional.

THE 2017 DOXA SUB-300 “BLACK LUNG”

No amaze with this particular vintage-reissue Doxa SUB-300 “Black Lung”. It's fully, entirely, and perfectly Doxa throughout. Things are here: the form from the situation, the durability from the construction, the signature orange dial, the bezel with specific scale, the truth from the movement… but for the occasion of the special edition, the famous, significant and desirable “Aqua Lung” emblem around the dial. And overall, you will find couple of or no concessions to modernity. And this is why this watch was the right base for any limited run.

The brand new Doxa 300-SUB Black Lung transpires vintage appeal, and reissues all of the legendary features present in early SUB-300 models and, obviously, within the rare prototypes demonstrated above. The situation first. Much like early models, the 2017 form of the Black Lung is made around just one block of stainless, with one goal in your mind: protection. Don’t look for elegance, it’s about utilitarian - which is also why Doxa watches are extremely awesome.

Calculating 42.5 mm across, and 13.4 mm thick, it remains highly wearable due to its shape, which sits well around the wrist and, on the other hand of the items the specs allow you to imagine, it's smaller sized within the metal. As pointed out, it’s about protection here: the crown is placed in to the caseband, the bezel is way less large compared to protective bands from the situation and also the monoblock construction avoids any protruding parts…  The finishing from the situation, however, is precise and well-crafted, with circular brushing on the top (following a form of the situation) and sides which are polished. All angles are smooth and neat.

The development, set up and finishing from the situation of the Doxa 300-SUB Black Lung, even when it is packaged in a utilitarian way, is beyond question. It feels and it is solid like a rock, well put together (nothing feels shaky or flimsy) and you may believe that this watch is built to be considered a reliable tool that will need to withstand hard existence of a bit of diving equipment. A nod to past, the bezel is within every point equal to vintage types of the SUB-300, using its double scale (“no-deco” ft graduation around the periphery and 60-minute scale around the inside). The rugged saw-tooth edge continues to be in position and enables for any perfect grip. The bezel includes a double finishing, with polished and brushed surfaces, much like vintage models, and also the scales are engraved, so no recourse to determine them disappear.

Of course using the brand, the Doxa 300-SUB Black Lung includes a strange, unique personality which comes in the weird proportion between how big the situation and also the diameter from the dial. If the visually helps make the watch bigger than it truly is, and even visually massive, this situation/dial ratio belongs to the design from the watch. The dial of the “Black Lung” is again very faithful towards the original model, as it arrives with signature vibrant “professional” orange colour, which black markers and inscriptions happen to be printed. The contrast offered is impressive and enables to have an instant legibility. The primary specificity of the edition being, obviously, the “Aqua Lung” emblem seen between 7 and eight - again, similar to the vintage edition from the SUB-300 Black Lung.

Both your hands happen to be slightly updated when compared to vintage models, having a bigger size but nonetheless exactly the same overall design, with one minute hands that’s at center stage. Indexes and hands are generously full of white-colored super-luminova, and never having a faux-patina coloured luminous paint - a great choice for 2 reasons: this could look weird using the orange dial and the like paints are less efficient with regards to shining at nighttime. Again, this 2017 Doxa 300-SUB Black Lung is made from professional use within mind and couple of concessions to fashion. The date window continues to be in position at 3 and also the “SUB 300 professional” inscription is visible at 4. The dial is positioned below a very domed “bubble” azure very, most likely the only real modern facet of this watch, whether or not the shape recalls vintage plexiglass crystals.

The Doxa 300-SUB Black Lung is connected to the signature “beads of rice” bracelet which tapers for an integrated wetsuit extension. When the overall construction is modern and precise, with overall a thickness far superior in the original 1960s versions, we have the enjoyable sense of suppleness natural to this kind of bracelet. As well as in all objectivity, the feel of this bracelet is simply insanely awesome.

Behind the solid steel back, Doxa chosen a dependable, yet precisely adjusted movement: a chronometer-grade ETA 2824-2. Similar to the vintage models, the Doxa 300-SUB Black Lung doesn’t search for fancy features, by getting an intricate movement, but rather a utilitarian and reliable engine that's been perfectly controlled - service is going to be simple and easy , timing is going to be precise because of COSC certification… Actually, all that's necessary in this tool watch.