DOXA Sub 300 "Black Lung" Limited Edition

Why We Love It

Here at Analog/Shift, we’re known for our love of DOXA. In any flavor, any color, from the common yet wonderful orange-dialed Sub 300 Professional to the black-dialed Sharkhunter, the Army, any anything in between, we’ve counted them in our personal collection and offered them on our site. But our love of the brand doesn’t end with the vintage versions. DOXA is still around, and still manages to surprise us. Such is the case with this watch, a Sub 300T Aqua Lung Edition.

Jacques Cousteau, the father of SCUBA diving, wore DOXAs in his expeditions, and loved them so much that he offered them for sale through his company, U.S. Divers. The Sub 300s that were retailed by U.S. Divers featured the distinctive black Aqua Lung logo, which gave rise to the nickname “Black Lung.” Very few of these were produced, and nowadays get snatched up by collectors so quickly that they’re not often seen on the vintage market.

But in 2017, DOXA released a limited edition of the Sub 300 in honor of the model’s 50th anniversary—one of which we offer here, complete with outer box and warranty card. The pieces are faithful to the originals, with 42.5mm cases and bezels adorned with the U.S. Navy No Decompression chart. And the dial, of course, has that famous Aqua Lung logo, resulting in a vintage-inspired dive watch that we'd love to take to the seas. 

The Story

DOXA began Research and Development for the Sub 300 in 1964, under a team helmed by Urs Eschle, the brand's head of operations, who consulted professional divers including none other than the father of SCUBA himself, Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

Since wearability was crucial, Eschle designed a large case with wide rounded lugs. For the dial, the team tested many colors (orange, yellow, turquoise, and red) in the waters of Neuchatel Lake. An unprecedented amount of tritium was also used on the hands and hour indices. 

The team implemented a unidirectional bezel with an innovative insert: the U.S. Navy No Decompression chart, with the outer depth scale in orange and the minute scale in black, to allow divers to gauge how much air was in left in their tanks. Rounding out the Sub 300's innovative design was a beads-of-rice bracelet that was the first to implement an ratcheting expandable clasp capable of fitting over a diver's wetsuit without having to remove links.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.