Doxa Watches

DOXA: The Original Dive Watch for Guys Who Actually Got Wet

Before dive watches became luxury jewelry, there was DOXA — the brand that made the kind of watches actual divers wore. No crown guards. No polished center links. Just bold bezels, orange dials, and serious underwater credibility.

If you know, you know.
 If you don’t? Let’s fix that.

Because DOXA is one of the true pioneers of tool watch design, and their influence is all over the modern diver scene — from the Submariner to the Sea-Dweller to your buddy’s microbrand homage.

Brand History: Born to Dive

Founded in 1889 in Le Locle, Switzerland, DOXA kicked around for decades as a relatively quiet watchmaker — until 1967, when they dropped a bombshell: the DOXA SUB 300.

It was the first dive watch with a bright orange dial (for underwater visibility), a decompression scale bezel, and a cushion-shaped case tough enough to survive actual dive missions. Not marketing fluff — real diving.

They worked with Jacques Cousteau’s team, and their watches became standard-issue for serious divers throughout the ‘70s. While Rolex was still flirting with desk divers, DOXA was strapping their SUBs to wetsuits.

Then they faded out for a while… only to make a cult-status comeback in the early 2000s — and they’ve been building on that legend ever since.

Collector Highlights: Tool Watch Icons With Saturation Cred

  • SUB 300 – The original and most iconic DOXA. Orange dial, cushion case, no-nonsense bezel. This is the one people think of when they hear the name.

  • SUB 300T – Slightly beefed-up version, thicker case, updated movement, still wears like a charm.

  • SUB 200 – The entry point. Modernized case, vintage styling, very wearable for non-divers (we see you, desk crew).

  • SUB 1500T – Deep saturation diver, helium escape valve, big-wrist approved. Looks like a dive computer from a Bond movie.

  • SUB 200 C-Graph Chronograph – One of the few chronos that still feels like a real tool watch. Chunky and proud.

And don’t forget: DOXA dials come in six iconic colors — including Professional Orange, Searambler Silver, and Aquamarine Blue. Each one tied to a specific use case or visibility range. Yeah, they thought it through.

Why Collectors Should Care

  • Legit diving heritage — DOXA didn’t borrow diving design; they helped invent it.

  • Cushion case comfort — Wears better than it looks. Trust me.

  • Iconic colorways — There’s a reason orange dials became a thing.

  • Modern reliability — Most models use COSC-grade ETA or Sellita movements.

  • Pre-owned sweet spot — Great value, especially for real steel/tool fans.

If you love vintage vibes but actually wear your watches, a DOXA makes way more sense than a safe queen.

What They’re Making Now: Retro Done Right

The current DOXA lineup hits every budget and wrist size, but all stay true to the original design DNA:

  • SUB 300 Carbon – Iconic case, now in forged carbon. Lightweight, modern, still a dive monster.

  • SUB 600T – A revival of their ‘80s angular model, now with ceramic bezels and titanium options.

  • Limited Editions – Army reissues, Black Lung tributes, and collabs that actually make sense.

They’re not chasing luxury buyers. They’re building for divers, enthusiasts, and collectors who want something real — with personality.

Fed’s Take

I love DOXA. I’ve always loved DOXA.

It’s one of the few brands where you can smell the neoprene just by looking at the dial. These watches aren’t pretending to be tool watches — they are tool watches.

The cushion case wears better than you think. The beads-of-rice bracelet is one of the most comfortable out there. And the orange dial? You’ll either love it instantly or respect it forever.

If you want a diver that doesn’t try to be “refined,” doesn’t care about impressing your banker, and still has more history than most brands with twice the price tag — DOXA is the real deal.

Built for the Ocean. Worn by the Obsessed.

DOXA is for the collector who’s over the spec sheet and wants something that looks cool, wears tough, and has actual story behind it. Don’t just look like a diver. Wear what divers wore.

Delray Watch has a rotating selection of pre-owned DOXA watches — pieces you won’t find sitting in mall boutiques or flexing on billboards.

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