Hands-on Review: DOXA SUB 300 Carbon

Review DOXA SUB 300 Carbon. We are delighted to share our hands-on impressions on an amazing diver's watch, the DOXA SUB 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US DIVERS. The price of Swiss Francs 4,790 is in line with the exclusivity of this special edition. The DOXA SUB 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US DIVERS (ref. 822.70.101AQL.20) transforms an iconic design into something new and unprecedented with a bold look that sets it apart from the competition.

Few weeks ago we presented a brand new timepiece from DOXA, the SUB 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US DIVERS.

We are now delighted to share our hands-on impressions on this great-looking diver’s watch together with more live pictures.

With this new model, produced in a limited edition of 300 pieces, DOXA reinterprets one of its classic designs from the 1960s successfully combining tradition and innovation.

The lines of the SUB 300 launched in 1967 have become a signature of the Swiss brand, established in 1889 in Le Locle and currently based in Biel/Bienne. Its cushion-shaped case, the patented bezel with two separate scales and the bright orange dial, made this diver's watch absolutely unmistakable and the favourite tool of many professional divers.

The new DOXA SUB 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US DIVERS maintains many of the key elements of the original SUB 300 but with an unexpected twist: instead of being crafted from a single block of stainless steel, the case is made of forged carbon.

This high-tech composite material is extremely light yet extremely durable. It is obtained by alternating randomly arranged layers of carbon fibres and then heating and compacting the whole structure which, by chemical reaction, is transformed into a super rigid form.

The random orientation of the carbon fibres makes each case essentially unique also from an aesthetic point of view. The surface plays with light and reveals an attractive visual effect with jet black spots alternating to shades of charcoal in a sort of camouflage look.

The dial is made from forged carbon too. Protected by an anti-reflective box-shaped sapphire crystal reminiscent of the domed plexiglass of early SUB generations, the carbon background provides a sharp contrast to the white and yellow indications.

Moving very precisely thanks to its perceptible 120 clicks, the patented unidirectional rotating bezel - also made of carbon - allows the diver to calculate and monitor no-decompression dive times based on the official US Navy dive tables, hence the US DIVERS in the name of the watch.

The outer ring shows in yellow the given dive depths in feet (FT). The inner ring shows in white the time in minutes at the depths indicated on the outer ring. The Descent Marker (the two yellow and white dots) is used to set the dive duration starting at the current time. Once set by aligning the two dots with the minute hand, the large yellow-coloured minute hand will indicate how many minutes you can remain at the desired depth and return to the surface without a decompression stop.

The white indices and the hands are treated with Super-LumiNova luminescent coating for improved legibility during dives under low visibility conditions.

Interestingly, this is the first time that DOXA equips one of its watches with a bright yellow minute hand. The colour was chosen in order to exactly match the yellow of the exclusive Aqua Lung logo placed at 7 o'clock to remark the official renewal of the partnership with Swedish dive equipment company Aqua Lung, a relationship that goes back more than 50 years.

Next to it, the text "SUB 300 Sharkhunter Carbon". DOXA typically uses the Sharkhunter designation to identify black-dialed models. The date window at 3 o'clock completes the indications.

Measuring 42.50 mm x 45.00 mm, the DOXA SUB 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US DIVERS has a total thickness - glass included - of 13.40 mm and is waterproof up to a pressure of 30 ATM (approximately 300 metres / 984 feet). The performance is achieved thanks to a pressure-resistant titanium chamber and a screw-down crown, also crafted from carbon and decorated with the "DOXA fish" symbol in yellow.

In position 0 the crown is tightly screwed down against the case. By unscrewing it, you can wind the watch in position 1, set the date in position 2, and set the time of the day in position 3.

Titanium is also used for the screw-in case back engraved with a sailing boat and the individual number of the watch (xxx/300). The total weight of the watch, rubber strap included, is just 87 grams / 3.06 ounces.

The movement of choice is based on a mechanical self-winding ETA 2824-2 beating at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) with an autonomy of around 42 hours.

Each of the 300 units of the SUB 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US Divers edition is certified by COSC (“Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres”), which guarantees the chronometric performance and compliance with requirements in terms of precision, reliability, shock resistance, automatic winding and ease of maintenance.

The black soft rubber strap is equipped with a black PVD-treated folding clasp embellished with the recurring "DOXA fish" symbol and featuring a practical extension system to increase the total length by up to 15 mm, thus making it possible to easily wear the watch over a diving suit or simply tighten or loosen the strap as needed.

Thanks to this feature, its lightness and the ideal diameter of the case, the SUB 300 Carbon is extremely comfortable on the wrist.

The price of Euro 4,790 is in line with the exclusivity of this COSC-certified special edition and the costs involved in the production of such a limited number of cases and dials in forged carbon.

The DOXA SUB 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US DIVERS (ref. 822.70.101AQL.20) is an amazing diver’s watch that transforms an iconic design into something new and unprecedented with a bold look that sets it apart from the competition. doxawatches.com