Doxa SharkHunter, a Review

By Marc Levesque

In the spring of 2002 I got the opportunity to review the pre-production version of the Doxa Sub 300T re-edition. This was a tremendous opportunity for me, which led to a wonderful interview with my favorite author, Dr. Clive Cussler. Shortly after the review came out in print, I acquired one of the production versions and held onto it for a little while. I am what you could call a perpetual collector; I do not accumulate watches, instead I continually trade them in order to quench my horological urges. I have found this practice to be the most affordable way to keep me satisfied and it also keeps me from having to choose which watch to wear in the morning. Unfortunately, I work in a semi-business environment and wearing an orange dialed watch was not serious enough for my taste.

Then Doxa came out with a SharkHunter re-edition. There you have it, the same terrific watch, but with a black dial! This one could easily be worn to the office and yet remain sporty and fun. So it was inevitable, I needed to get myself one. Below you will find the review of this watch.

Instead of telling my own version of the Doxa Sub story, please follow this link for full details on their history:


(click on picture)

ONE SOLID CHUNK OF STEEL!



Just like the Sub 300T I reviewed in InSync, this immense case measures 43mm in diameter and an impressive 60mm from lug to lug. It is 14mm thick and weighs well around 200g. While being a very large watch, it is still remarkable comfortable, this is due in no small part to the lug design. They contour the wrist perfectly and disperse the weight evenly. I may have changed the funky orange bezel for something more conservative, but the case shape is still reminiscent of those bygone cases or yesteryear. It is an exact replica of the original Sub 300T you will find in the history link above. Though it is apparent that the lugs have been modified to fit the custom integrated bracelet.

This is still one of the only dive-watch I know that tapers upwards! This allows the bezel to be accessed effortlessly, especially with gloves on. The bezel's thickness also helps in this respect. Same as the orange Professional, decompression tables are engraved on its surface. I have read recently that these tables are quite aggressive and that most novice recreational divers should be careful and use their dive computer for their deco stops. There is also a dot of Tritium at 12, making the bezel setting visible in low visibility. For more information on this bezel, please follow this link:


(click on picture)
Also similar to the Professional is the engraved with a fish logo, which is found on the screw-down caseback. The words "Limited Edition," as well as the issue and serial number, are etched alongside the engraving. The bracelet can be removed via twin screws on either side of the lugs-a nice touch that allows easy strap replacement with the accompanying diving strap. My SharkHunter edition was VERY difficult to adjust, but I have found an easy way around this. I will explain in further detail when I discuss the bracelet below.


The screw-in crown is recessed into the side of the case, which eliminates the need for crown guards. Doxa's fish logo is also visible in relief on the crown. The watch is water resistant to 300 meters-hence the name Sub 300T.


BLACK = CONSERVATIVE?


The black dial measures 28mm in diameter and is as clean as can be expected from a dive watch. The most important information on a diving watch is the minutes, and for this reason, the Sub 300T features an oversize minutes hand. While the prototype I reviewed for InSync had a drastically different hour hand, the same can still be said for this SharkHunter.

The hands and markers are filled with tritium and glow all night. The date window is found at 3 and features black-on-white writing, which is usually a pet peeve of mine, but on this watch, it serves as a counterbalance to the large marker at 9. On the dial, the words "Doxa Automatic Sub 300T Sharkhunter" can be found along with the usual "T-Swiss Made-T." The T designates the Tritium used on the dial. The dial is a replica of the original, an homage to the timeless classic.


SMOOTH SWIMMMER!


The caliber used in the SharkHunter is also the same. It is the ETA 2824, a modern version of the original Sub 300T's ETA movement. The caliber is rugged and reliable, and it has a proven track record as a workhorse - necessary qualities for a professional-grade diver's watch.

The generic automatic ETA 2824 has a 38-hour power reserve. Functions include hours, minutes, central seconds and date with quick change capability. The rotor is mounted on ball bearings, the balance is either nickel plating or Glucydur, and the balance spring is flat in Nivarox 1 or 2. The watch has 25 jewels, a frequency of 28,800 bph and an Incabloc anti-shock system. The movement's exact measurements are 25.6mm in diameter and 4.6mm in thickness. The movement can also include optional stop seconds and fine adjustment.

My SharkHunter had no problem performing within chronometer standards, as well it should.


BRACED FOR CHANGE!


While the new Sub 300T line-up might be reissues, Doxa has made an original creation in its bracelet. With large spaces between the links and alternating brushed and polished finishes, this bracelet is a far cry from the original and, in my opinion, a huge improvement. The original Doxa bracelet was folded steel, which made the watch top heavy and sometimes uncomfortable and tended to make it weak at the lug attachments. The new bracelet, on the other hand, is so sturdy it could replace a tank treads!

The bracelet measures 22mm wide all the way around. The links are solid stainless steel 3mm thick. The links are adjustable via screws and the supplied tool. This is sometimes easier said than done. Unlike my Professional, my SharkHunter was VERY difficult to size. The screws were solidly in place and the supplied screwdrivers dive not give me enough torque to do the job. I have found that most watch companies use some sort of “lock-tight” substance on the ends of the screws to keep them secure. This is a good idea, but makes it difficult for us “do it yourselfers” to size our watches.

Here’s what I do when this problem occurs. I use a regular lighter and burn the end of the screw where the treads screwed into the link. Hold the flame there for a few long seconds and then carefully unscrew the pin. 99.9% of the time this works like a charm and will prevent you from using excessive force. Il will also keep you from damaging the screw heads and even the occasional slip that could scratch the links. Also, do not worry about the black marks that may be left behind (soot), a simple wet rag and some rubbing will take them off.

The familiar fish logo and Doxa name are engraved into the folding clasp. It fells very secure. There is also a diver's extension, which allows the watch to be worn over a wetsuit.


THE FINAL DIP


Even though I had acquired the black dial version, this watch was still getting noticed! I received the same comments ranging from "What a weird looking watch?" to "Wow! That thing looks like a beast. I LIKE IT!" Though this one is more conservative, it is still an acquired taste. The egg shaped case is not for everyone, but I can safely getting to wear one is enough to convince anyone that this is a COOL watch!

I started writing this review several months ago, but since I did not have the time to photograph the watch, I never completed it. Now that I see so many happy Doxa owners all over the place, I figured it was about time I do so. I also hope Rick and the others at Doxa do not mind that I use their colors, pictures, links and layout for this review. I just thought it would look neat if I did.

Thanks for reading,

Marc