What We Know
If you thought Doxa was done for the summer, well, we’ve got one more for you, and it’s a good one at that. Made in collaboration with San Diego–based jeweler and watch dealer Belmont Watches, Doxa has reinvented the Sub 300 Beta, bringing a decidedly military execution to its most fashion-forward model, directly inspired by San Diego’s longstanding military history.
If you’re slightly surprised to hear that last part (maybe because when you think of San Diego you think of beaches, surfing, golf, the Padres, or the San Diego Zoo), trust me when I tell you that San Diego is a proper military town, with a significant Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard presence. It is also — most importantly for this watch — the home of Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, and with it, SEAL Team 1.
This watch pays homage to that team’s predecessors, the Navy Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), better known as Frogmen, from whom the ranks of the original SEAL Team 1 were populated. So, what does that look like? Well, in this case, it means reinterpreting the existing Doxa Sub 300 Beta with a fatigue-esque kelp-green grained dial, a handset straight off the Doxa Army (as seen recently on our own limited edition with Doxa), and a first-of-its-kind (for Doxa) fully sandblasted stainless steel case and bracelet.
Like other watches in the Sub 300 Beta lineup, the “Frogger” is thinner than you’d expect from a Doxa diver, at 11.95mm, but otherwise retains proportions similar to the 300T, measuring 42.5mm across and 44.5mm lug-to-lug. The new watch also holds onto one of the notable aesthetic features of the standard line Sub 300 Beta: the blacked-out bezel and crown. The split “no-deco” dual-scale bezel also stays, with the inner elapsed time scale marked in orange and the depth scale marked in a dark green similar to the dial.
The grained kelp green dial is the most radical departure from the standard Beta, dropping the wave-dial motif, but keeping the partial crosshair extending into the dial from each of the cardinal points of the watch. A notable change here also comes with the introduction of applied markers, which largely replicate the look of the painted markers more typically found on Doxa watches, but which add a bit of depth and dimensionality that might otherwise be missing. The dial is also largely sterile, with just the Doxa wordmark and a small “Swiss made” mark intruding on the otherwise text-free dial.
The engraved caseback of the Doxa Sub 300 Beta “Frogger” rounds out the homages to San Diego’s military culture by featuring a map of San Diego Bay with Coronado at the center of things. Interestingly, no overt military markings appear anywhere on the watch, solidifying it as military-inspired rather than military-affiliated.
The “Frogger” is quite limited, with just 100 units being produced, all of which will be available exclusively and directly from Belmont Watches starting at 9 a.m. PDT on August 25th for $2,890, a price that represents a modest price bump over the standard Beta and one that brings it in line with the standard offering of the Sub 300. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will go to support the Navy SEAL Foundation.
What We Think
My, oh my, has Doxa been busy this summer. Since dropping the new Sub 200 T.Graph II just over two months ago, the brand has dropped four limited editions (you can see the Topper Edition here, and the latest Clive Cussler release here), and the thing is, it’s hard to complain, because they’ve all kind of hit the mark. And I’d say the same is true in this case. Sure, the dark green depth scale on the bezel is largely illegible, and I’m not personally a huge fan of the black bezel and crown, but paired with the really interesting dark green dial (this thing will look unbelievably good on a “Uniform” Matte Supreme NATO from Crown & Buckle) and orange army handset, I’m more than willing to forgive these foibles.
Still, what has me most excited about this watch is the case finishing. The fully sandblasted case and bracelet are a fantastic choice for Doxa. No matter how you dress up a Doxa dive watch, there’s really no getting around the inherent toolishness of the brand’s offerings, and this feels like a wholesale embrace of that identity, ironically built on a platform that was meant to reject it. I love to see it.
Now, at nearly $3,000 (and probably at that price with tax), do I think this is the Doxa for everyone? No, not really. But with only 100 of these being made, it was never going to be. I do think this is a worthy addition to Doxa’s continuing slate of limited-edition offerings and a great first collab of any kind with Belmont Watches.
The Basics
Brand: Doxa x Belmont Watches
Model: Sub 300 Beta “Frogger”
Diameter: 42.5mm
Thickness: 11.95mm
Case Material: Sandblasted stainless steel
Dial Color: Matte, grained kelp green
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Yes
Water Resistance: 300 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Sandblasted steel beads-of-rice bracelet and kelp-green NATO strap with sandblasted hardware
The Movement
Caliber:
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power Reserve: 38 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 VpH
Jewels: 25
Chronometer Certified: No
Pricing & Availability
Price: $2,890
Availability: Belmont Watches
Limited Edition: Yes, 100 individually numbered pieces.
For more, click here.
