Hour markers are applied with high-polish surrounds that are an ideal complement to the handset. The Super-LumiNova used on the SUB200 hands and markers is adequate, but that’s about it, and the lume on the bezel markings is weak and short-lived. For some, the use of faux-aged lume is going to be an instant turn-off, but, at this point, I view the use of faux-aged lume as simply a different colorway and one that works well on a vintage-inspired piece. Moving on to the dial, the “Sharkhunter” colorway features a black dial and bezel with creamy, off-white “fauxtina” markers and hands. It’s easy to ignore and isn’t noticeable on the wrist, but it remains a head-scratcher. I see where Doxa was coming from since orange is the brand’s signature color, but it doesn’t work on this colorway or, I would argue, any other colorway than the orange “Professional” model. The crown is signed with a painted Doxa orange fish logo - a design choice I don’t love. Keeping with the vintage theme, the SUB 200 foregoes crown guards and instead utilizes a stout, screw-down crown that is slightly inset into the mid-case. It’s a gorgeous case, with finishing that belies its price. The actual case shape is conservative (by Doxa standards), but the brushed mid-case with a wide, high-polish sloping bevel running from lug-end to lug-end gives the watch a refined, finished look that also helps reduce the visual heft of the 42mm case. ![]() The case dimensions are great, and the comfort is excellent, but the lines of the case are what really make the watch pop. It’s the type of watch that’s easy to just grab and wear, knowing it will go with almost anything in my wardrobe, stand up to whatever these summer days may throw at it, and be comfortable on my wrist all day. Since this watch arrived in the mail for review, it’s hardly left my wrist, and though the aesthetics certainly play a big part in wanting to strap it on in the morning, the dimensions, fit, and comfort keep it on my wrist all day. I’d say it wears more like 40mm on my 6.75” wrist. ![]() That 42mm diameter is a bit deceptive, though, since the short lugs, coupled with a bezel width that is slightly smaller than the case, give the Sub 200 a dusting of the Seiko magic that makes the Sub 200 wear smaller and more comfortably than its size would suggest. The Doxa Sub 200 case is water-resistant up to 200m, made from 316-L stainless steel, and measures in at 42mm in diameter with a short 46mm lug-to-lug distance and 19mm lug width (seriously, Doxa?). Though the black and cream colorway may be conservative in the SUB 200 lineup, this vintage diver is in no way lacking in personality or charm. The Doxa Sub 200 is available in a range of colorways, from the classic orange “Professional” to the turquoise “Aquamarine.” I’m reviewing what is, undoubtedly, the most conservative colorway of the bunch, the black-dialed “Sharkhunter.” The model name is something of a misnomer considering that Doxa Watches are advocates for shark conservation (see their co-branded SUB 1200T Project Aware). ![]() The Doxa Sub 200 draws from that archive, producing a vintage-inspired diver that could have been plucked from the halcyon days of scuba diving’s golden era. Sure, Doxa is best known for its professional dive watches, at least in North America, but the brand has a long history and vast, diverse catalog (just take a browse through Doxa’s website for Asian markets). Personally, I think that argument is a bit ridiculous. Of course, there were some grumblings from the Doxa die-hards that the Sub 200 was too much of a departure for the brand. The Sub 200 is a much more accessible watch, both in terms of price and style, than watches like the Sub 300T, coming in at roughly half the price and featuring an on-trend vintage aesthetic that’s executed (almost) flawlessly. No surprise, then, that the release of the Doxa Sub 200 at Baselworld 2019 took many Doxa fans by surprise. That broad cushion case, small dial, diver’s bezel with integrated no-decompression dive time calculator, and beads-of-rice bracelet featured on the Sub 300T, and other professional divers in Doxa’s lineup, have become synonymous with the brand. Though Doxa can trace its history back to 1889, its rise in prominence (at least in Western markets) can undoubtedly be traced to the now-iconic orange-faced Sub 300T strapped to the wrists of Jacque Cousteau and the Calypso divers.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |