In the rush to create faster, thinner, more precise watches, it’s easy to forget the watches of the 1950s and 60s that are still around today. Doxa’s 1960s Doxa Sub 300T looks every bit a vintage watch, but it is a modern day gentleman’s watch in every respect.
Vintage watches are increasingly becoming popular in the market. They have been designed in accordance to the modern trends resulting in a successful combination of diversified tastes.
The Doxa Army, the watch that was originally released in 1970 was created to commemorate the British SAS’s military forces. It was a unique release in the market which saw a unique style, unique design, and unique features. But throughout the years, the watch faded into obscurity.
Now, the latest version of the Doxa Army has surfaced. This newest version has been upgraded with modern technology and design but still maintains many of the classic elements that it was launched with.
In 2009, a Doxa appeared on eBay. It was a Doxa Army, but it wasn’t the one from the ’70s. It was from the ’90s. How could this be? When Edöcs saw the listing, he immediately emailed Hilty. The two were friends and talked about Doxa and the Doxa Army often.
Hilty went to the Swiss government and got the records released. He got that Doxa Army, and it was the first time that someone not directly involved with Doxa had ever seen one up close. Sure, there are pictures of it, but that’s not the same as holding it in your hands.
The first thing that hit me about the Doxa is the price. It’s a little on the high side for a quartz watch but it’s nothing compared to what some of its peers on the vintage market go for. This Doxa is a bargain, a watch that would go for $2,500 to $3,000 new but is yours for $1,950.
The Doxa has a unique place in watch history. It was one of the first watches to be water-resistant to 200 meters, but there was a catch. Unlike other dive watches, it was a plexiglass crystal, a plastic dome over the dial. The idea was that if the watch was dropped, the dome would keep it from shattering. And if the watch was submerged, the water wouldn’t be able to get in between the crystal and the dial.
The plexiglass domes were a problematic design, however. There were many reports of them popping off while diving, and they were quickly replaced with sapphire crystals. Rest assured, the domes on these examples are long gone, replaced by sapphire.
The Doxa is a paradox. It’s the best-selling dive watch of all time, and yet it’s often forgotten. This year, however, the brand’s three-decade absence has been filled with a new watch. It’s called the Vintage Collection, and it’s made up of three new models that use reworked parts from old Doxa dive watches of the 1960s and 1970s.
The most affordable of the three watches is the Vintage Army, which is a faithful recreation of the 6000 that the brand released in the 1960s. It’s available in two colors: black and olive green, just like the vintage model.
The watch itself has a 42-millimeter case, which means it’s a lot smaller than a typical Doxa. The brand’s dive watches are known for their heft, but the Army is surprisingly slender. It’s also shorter than the vintage model by a few centimeters.
The Doxa SUB 300T is an homage to the original Doxa SUB 300T, an iconic watch designed for the French Navy in the late ’60s. Doxa is one of the few brands that has stuck to offering mechanical watches, and if you’re looking for a piece that’s both beautiful and accurate, Doxa is the way to go. The Doxa SUB 300T is a timepiece that’s worth every penny and with a waterproof rating of up to 100 meters you can wear it anywhere. Head to the boutique to get yours and discover how vintage watches are still going strong.
With a case this small, the vintage-inspired dial is going to be way too small to read. So, the dial design is actually different; it’s a “reimagined” version that’s similar to the original, but with the markers and hands made larger.
The biggest change here is the addition of luminous markers, which were never on the original. The Doxa Diving Club features a domed sapphire crystal, which is not an original thing.
The Doxa 300T (the current watch in the collection) also has a domed sapphire crystal, and it’s an excellent feature. A clear crystal is not a good idea on a watch like this, and the domed crystal, with its anti-reflective coating, is another very nice touch.
The Doxa is a big watch, with a 42.5mm diameter and a 55mm lug-to-lug length. It’s the biggest Doxa yet. It’s big, but it wears smaller than that.
The Army features a soft, matte dial with white Super-Luminova hands and markers, a white date window with black numerals, and a white 24-hour bezel with black numerals and a white triangle at 12 o’clock. It’s not a bright, eye-catching dial, but it’s not meant to be. It’s meant to be a utilitarian tool, with a simple face and legible hands.
The watch is water-resistant to 300 meters, with a *****-down crown and a sapphire crystal. The ceramic case is absolutely stunning, with a white PVD finish that tightly matches the ceramic bezel. So what’s the verdict? There’s a lot to like about the Doxa Army, but it’s not for everyone.
If you’re into dive watches, the Army is a great choice. But if you’re not, you should steer clear. It’s not for everyone, but it’s a great watch for the right person.
It’s no surprise that watches are one of the most popular and valuable collectible items out there. Whether you’re looking for vintage Omega watches or a new Rolex watch, people are constantly collecting watches and that means the market is always thriving. People wanted to have a piece of history in the form of a watch and they were willing to pay for it.