Doxa Sub 300T Searambler

With the advent of SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) in the late 1950s, skin-diving as a sport became much more accessible to amateurs. Before electronic diving computers, watches were a crucial tool for divers, who required them to calculate dive and decompression times, and they needed specialized, easy-to-read watches. Rolex and Blancpain's iconic dive watches were released during this decade, the Submariner and Fifty Fathoms, and both have become the stuff of legend.

By the 1960s, DOXA was already established as a major manufacturer of timepieces, with over 100 people employed in its shop. The success of the Submariner and Fifty Fathoms drove DOXA to develop a dive watch of its own. It had to be comfortable, rugged, and above all reliable, with a dial that could easily be read in the murky depths of the ocean.

Research and Development for the Sub 300 began 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 before hitting on what would be the distinctive orange dial most associated with this watch, and used an unprecedented amount of tritium 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.

With the introduction of the Sub 300T, DOXA initiated subtle changes in the watch's design, including different dial colors, a thicker case and a flatter crystal. DOXA further blazed trails in dive watch design by incorporating a Helium Release Valve or HRV in the DOXA Sub 300T Conquistador. DOXA worked in conjunction with Rolex to develop this technology. Rolex incorporated this feature into its Sea-Dweller. But since the Sea-Dweller didn't debut until 1971, the Sub 300T Conquistador was the first watch with a HRV available to recreational--rather than professional or military--divers.   

While the Sub 300T Professional with its bright orange dial is more recognizable, there was another version of the watch with a black dial. The Sub 300T Searambler was released around the time as the Professional, and certainly has the same rugged appearance as its more recognizable cousin, but is notable for its visually-appealing silver dial. The Searambler that we offer here bears the "Aqua-Lung" logo of Jacques Cousteau's own company, U.S. Diver's Co., signifying its connection to the father of underwater exploration--a noteworthy heritage, indeed!

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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.