Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler Watch Review
The Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler is a limited-edition model that pays tribute to the eponymous American novelist and underwater explorer. Endowed with a distressed dial, case and bracelet, this latest divers’ watch from Doxa is equipped with a helium valve and Swiss automatic movement. Angus Davies recalls meeting the brand for the first time at Baselworld in 2019, since then he has witnessed the release of several outstanding watches.
Image – Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler (2024)
Doxa watch
July is a funny month. It spells the advent of the ‘summer break’ when many watch factories shut down and legions of artisans and watchmakers migrate to warmer climes. Accustomed to spending an inordinate amount of time toiling at their workbenches, these industry specialists need a bit of summer sun to replenish their vitamin D levels.
However, while many loupe-wearing professionals are paddling in the sea and walking barefoot in the sand, there will be a small band of marketing and PR professionals back at base, industriously at work. They have brochures and press releases to prepare and exhibition space to organise for the forthcoming Geneva Watch Days (29 August – 2 September). It’s a big job and, for the companies involved, a sizeable investment.
Nevertheless, the work and investment pales in comparison to the now-defunct Baselworld. Back in the day, the annual watch fair represented a huge amount of effort and, for smaller brands, a notable degree of bravery. Indeed, for an independent brand even a modest exhibition stand was a bit like putting all your chips on black, hoping it would pay-off.
Image – Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler (2024)
Doxa – the start of a new era (2019)
Back in 2019, a young Swiss lady contacted me on behalf of Doxa requesting I visit the brand’s booth at Baselworld. Affable and polite, I found it difficult to decline her request, especially knowing what the brand’s presence meant in terms of time and investment.
I confess that I knew little about Doxa at the time, other than it made divers’ watches. Nothing quite prepared me for the watch that was presented to me at Baselworld 2019; a limited edition divers’ model formed of 18-carat gold. The watch, limited to just 13 pieces, featured a historic 7734 Valjoux movement and felt fabulous on the wrist but, alas it was beyond my financial grasp. Nevertheless, I loved its design and appreciated its eminently legible dial.
Image – Doxa 130th Anniversary series in 18K gold presented at Baselworld 2019 (limited to 13 pieces)
At the same time, the brand also unveiled a steel model, the SUB 200 T. Graph, a more accessible offering that I subsequently featured on ESCAPEMENT. This latter watch was fitted with the same period movement but came presented on a steel ‘beads of rice’ bracelet.
While Doxa has a proud history dating back to the 19th century (1884), the brand’s presence at Baselworld 2019, as well as its adoption of a completely different strategy later that same year, set the company on an upward trajectory that has never shown any signs of waning.
Image – Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler (2024)
Doxa – professional use
Since my first meeting back in 2019, the brand has released numerous models, many of which have paid tribute to its rich subaquatic past, including past associations with the Swiss Army and US Divers. The helium valve found on some of its models and the unidirectional bezel for monitoring ‘no-decompression dive times’ stand testament to the firm’s prowess at making professional divers’ watches for hardcore subaquatic use.
Doxa – ‘desk divers’
However, back in 2019, Doxa also recognised the importance of the so-called ‘desk-diver’. Many would-be wearers will seldom venture far from shore and are unlikely to challenge the extraordinary water-resistance of the brand’s models. But, robustness and legibility are equally valid on dry land. These Doxa attributes, coupled with the brand’s unique design language, have made the firm’s watches highly desirable to legions of horophiles, even those who are not necessarily very adventurous!
Image – Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler (2024)
Doxa SUB 300 T Clive Cussler (2023)
In 2023, Doxa released the SUB 300 T Clive Cussler, a model that pays tribute to the eponymous author, maritime explorer and founder of the National Underwater Marine Agency (NUMA). Featuring the iconic tonneau-shaped case, helium valve, unidirectional bezel, with said ‘no-decompression dive times’, and water-resistant to 300 m, the SUB 300 T Clive Cussler ticks all the customary Doxa boxes. However, this model also incorporates some new characteristics hitherto unseen on previous Doxa models. For instance, the dial is handmade and executed in sand-toned hues. It features a compass rose and exhibits a distressed appearance. This aged look also extends to the case and, where applicable, ‘beads of rice’ bracelet (a black FKM rubber strap is also available).
Image – Doxa SUB 300 T Clive Cussler (released in 2023)
Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler (2024)
Now, the company has unveiled a new limited edition Clive Cussler model. Launched on the 15th July 2024, exactly 93 years after Cussler was born, the SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler, a limited edition of 93 pieces, shares many of the same characteristics of the 2023 release but with a few notable differences. For instance, the dial eschews the sandy hues of the 2023 release in favour of a brooding shade of black, albeit the compass rose and distressed look make a return appearance. In addition, the hands and indexes are executed in a new mustard tint, conferring notable contrast against the black backdrop.
Image – Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler (2024)
The limited edition SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler bears its unique serial number to the rear of the case (XX/93), just on the inside of the lugs. Furthermore, the watch comes supplied with a ‘beads of rice’ bracelet and an additional black FKM rubber strap as part of the package.
Image – Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler (2024)
Doxa – closing thoughts
Since 2019, Doxa has continuously enlarged its product portfolio and now offers a myriad of case materials, finishes and shapes to choose from as well as plethora of dial colours. All watches feature Swiss movements are robust and prove simple to read; with Doxa there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a professional diver or a land lover.
Image – Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler (2024)
Image – Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler (2024)
I’m glad I agreed to visit Doxa at Baselworld in 2019, an initial encounter that introduced me to the brand and its uniquely styled and highly practical watches. With Geneva Watch Days around the corner, I would urge all journalists to pause for a moment, think of those hardworking marketing and PR professionals stuck in their offices burning the midnight oil and suggest that, if humanly possible, they should agree to as many requests for meetings as possible. Based on my experience, they will undoubtedly discover something rather special.
Image – Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler (2024)
Further reading
Technical specification
- Model: Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler
- Reference: 840.80.101.15
- Case: stainless steel, dimensions 42.50 mm x 44.50 mm, height 14 mm, water resistance 30 ATM (300 metres), sapphire crystal to front and solid case back
- Functions: hours; minutes; central sweep seconds; date
- Movement: Swiss mechanical self-winding movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), 26 jewels; power reserve 38 hours
- Strap: aged ‘beads of rice’ bracelet, folding clasp with ‘ratcheting wetsuit extension’. Also comes with additional strap in black FKM rubber strap.
- Price: £3,050 (RRP as of 18.7.2024)