Why We Love It We aren't shy about our love of DOXA here at Analog:Shift! While perhaps not as well-known as the Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms or the Rolex Submariner, the DOXA Sub series played an integral role in the development of the modern diver's watch. The first generation of the model, introduced in 1967, brought innovations we now take for granted - a uni-direcitonal bezel with the US Navy's no-decompression dive timing marks engraved, an expanding bracelet, brightly colored hi-legibility dial and an oversized luminous minute hand to name but a few. The line expanded from there to include a number of dial configurations, all of which are delightful and currently available from DOXA today in the form of reissue models and further line extensions - but there are a few versions of DOXAs iconic Sub series divers that haven't been reintroduced - yet! The model featured here is simply known as the 'Army', and features one of the most stunning exotic dials of the era! Originally issued to Swiss Military rescue divers, a number of these unusual pieces were also sold to the general public, although exact quantities are unknown. Differing in execution from the standard Sub 300/300T line, the Army features a 42mm stainless steel case coated in black PVD, a mesmerizing multi-color dial with vibrant orange oversized minute hand, dwarf hours hand, and arrow-tipped sweeping seconds. Perhaps most unusually, the Army also features an acrylic 60-minute timing bezel, of the same type and manufacture as used in 1960s Omega Seamaster 300s! Among the most coveted variants of the iconic DOXA Sub series, this particular example is in spectacular condition - nothing short of collector-grade. Extremely scarce on the vintage market, vintage DOXA Army models are rarely found in decent condition, the black PVD finish commonly worn away. We treated this special example to a full case restoration and refinishing nearly 4 years ago, and we are pleased to now offer it to the public for the first time. Further questions? Feel free to hit us up - we could talk about this beauty all day long! 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.
