In Depth

Our Adventure begins with DOXA

By Amanda Evans | 5 minute read

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We are delighted to announce that the storied Swiss dive-watch brand, DOXA, is now exclusively available here at the Watches of Switzerland Group, both in the UK and excitingly now available in the US for the first time since the 1970’s. With a savoir-faire tightly interwoven with tradition and expertise, we are excited to share the brand’s most iconic collections with you.

Established over 130 years ago, DOXA watches remain true to its principles of creating high quality watches at affordable prices that satisfy your call to adventure. With the brand’s profound innovations and hallmark orange dial, the DOXA SUB has become highly recognizable and represents some of the most iconic diver’s watches in watchmaking history. Celebrated by generations of divers and adventurers worldwide for its contribution to diving safety thanks to its continuous innovations, the DOXA SUB is the diving watch benchmark. March 2021 marks the debut of the DOXA SUB 300 Carbon collection here with the Watches of Switzerland Group.

A History of DOXA

DOXA was founded in 1889 by Georges Ducommen. Nestled in the small town of Le Locle in the heart of Swiss watchmaking, he began as a manufacturer of dress watches and other timepieces. Such was Georges’ attention to detail and unique craftsmanship that it wasn’t long before DOXA built a reputation beyond that of the Jura region. The brand’s pocket watch was honored at the World’s Fair 1905 in Belgium and then the following year won the gold medal at the World’s Fair in Italy. During the years that followed, Georges continued to innovate and create timepieces and movements that were used in the automotive, marine and aviation industries, due to their durability and precision. Upon Georges’ passing, the brand’s journey continued under the helm of his son-in-law Jacques Nardin. Whilst the focus remained predominantly on travel and sports timepieces, DOXA continued to innovate and produce watches for all types of customer. Today, DOXA continues to revolutionise its watches whilst staying true to its principles, the adventure continues 130 years on.

The brand’s unique history, the quality of our watches and our ability to innovate are the ingredients of a strategy that remains unchanged since 1889, when our founder Georges Ducommun made the commitment to ‘design and manufacture high quality, high-performance, technical, reliable watches at affordable prices.JAN EDÖCS, CEO OF DOXA WATCHES

The Collections

The SUB 200

This 3-hand stainless steel diver’s watch sports a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. The SUB 200 has a unidirectional rotating bezel and is available in 6 dial colours, with the option of a tone-on-tone rubber strap or steel bracelet.

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SUB 300

The Iconic SUB 300

Perhaps the most significant timepiece created by DOXA was the iconic SUB 300. Amongst the most celebrated watch brands, DOXA became the first to create a professional grade diver’s watch in its entirety. The SUB 300 drew the attention of ‘the father of modern scuba diving’, Jacques Cousteau and became a clear favourite of the diving pioneer and his team. Water resistant to 300 metres, it was the first to feature a unidirectional bezel with dual indication of dive time and depth, a key safety feature for divers to safely ascend without decompression stops. The SUB 300 also sported a bright orange dial which made it more readable in the darkness of the ocean depths. The orange colour gained it instant recognition and legendary status in the diving world and ‘Orange-mania’ began. As the first diving watch to feature such a brightly coloured dial, it presented a huge contrast from the traditional black and white dials so frequently seen on diving watches at that time. DOXA continued to refine the SUB 300 and advance in the diving watch industry, brokering a deal with Cousteau’s company, US Divers, and developing further enhancements such as the helium release valve, featured on the 1969 DOXA SUB 300T Conquistador, developed in partnership with Rolex.

The infamous SUB 300 is now back in steel. It is available in 6 dial colours with a unidirectional rotating bezel with depth indication in metres. A tone-on-tone rubber strap is also available to match the dial for a sporty and relaxed style.

The SUB 300T

The reinterpretation of the 1969 SUB 300T Conquistador comes in a choice of 6 colours. Equipped with a helium valve, the patented unidirectional bezel with diving table, and a case rated to a depth of 1200 metres, it is up to any challenge. All dive markings feature Super-Luminova® inserts.

The SUB 1500T

True to DOXA’s pioneering spirit, the SUB 1500T breaks new ground with a cushion-shaped 316L steel case rated to 150 bar, equivalent to 1,500 metres. The SUB 1500T, which comes equipped with the patented unidirectional rotating bezel with diving table and helium release valve, has a diameter of 45mm.

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The Legend Lives on in Carbon

Over 50 years after the initial launch of the SUB 300, DOXA is now proud to present the SUB 300 Carbon COSC. Combining cutting edge technology with design, the new Carbon version is available as a non-limited piece. It celebrates its debut in an array of 6 flying colours, illustrating that ‘Orange-mania’ marked only the beginning of the SUB 300 revolution.

The forged carbon 42.5mm case is incredibly lightweight in comparison to steel. In light and shade, it alternates between charcoal and black portraying an urban camouflage and a more edgy look that complements this high-performance material. The use of carbon respects the heritage of the SUB 300 whilst making a more contemporary and futuristic statement, even the texture and look and feel of the material is unique in itself. Besides the 6 different vibrant dial colours, DOXA also offers a choice of rubber straps, to match the dial should you wish or alternatively in black. The black PVD-coated folding clasp illustrates the exclusive ‘DOXA fish’ symbol and features an adjustable diver’s wetsuit extension.

To meet the purposes of precision and reliability, the SUB 300 Carbon has been meticulously certified by the COSC. This guarantees the highest standards of chronometric performance, precision, reliability, shock resistance, automatic winding, and ease of maintenance. All standards to be expected from only the best divers watches. The movement has a 38-hour power reserve and is protected by a screw-down crown and pressure-resistant titanium chamber. Waterproof to depths of 300 metres, it allows maximum freedom to explore the ocean depths. Thanks to the Super-Luminova® hands and indices and all dive-related displays, the watch can be clearly viewed during dives where visibility is poor. Coupled with the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, it presents maximum safety and reassurance for the wearer during their call to adventure.