Buffy Acacia
No doubt, modern Doxa loves to pamper its customers. Fan favorite shrinks in size and price To Highly themed limited editionDoxa is sure to leave you wanting more even after you own one of their classic watches. For the first time, Doxa decided to please their left-handed fans with the SUB 300T Aristera, which features a crown on the left side. Whether you’re left-handed or simply hate the feeling of a crown on your wrist, this might be the model you’ve been waiting for.
Incident
First, Doxa’s signature cushion cases have always had recessed crowns. The idea is that the crown is protected by the case and can’t pop out and accidentally dig into the back of your hand. Not many people need to use a crown while wearing an automatic watch, so there’s probably a large market for right-handers who prefer left-handed watches for that reason alone. But with a recessed crown, the SUB 300T Aristera actually ensures that: This will be comfortable for those who wear watches on the right wrist.Including me.
Dimensionally, the Aristella (Greek for “left”) is the same as the classic Doxa SUB 300T. Its 42.5mm diameter is big enough to sit comfortably on the wrist, and its 44.5mm lug-to-lug length means it will fit smaller wrists. At 14mm, it’s an average height for an automatic diver’s watch, but it’s still a good size. Water resistant up to 1,200 metersAnother difference between the Aristera and the regular 300T is the aluminum bezel insert instead of stainless steel. Some of the Doxas from the 1980s that were released after being owned by Aubrey FrèresThe dial becomes slightly brighter.
Dial
Now, we’re back in familiar territory. The dial of the Doxa SUB 300T is one of the most famous dive watch dials of all time, thanks to the legendary Jacques Cousteau’s preference for colorful dials. Doxa has produced a variety of colors over the years, but the brand is best known for its pumpkin orange Professional. The printed hour markers, with a thick band of Super-LumiNova between two black stripes, look almost like the applied indexes popular in the ’60s, and the crosshairs further emphasize the dial’s practicality.
The Doxa’s quirkiness is what makes it so endearing, but all of that quirkiness is always there to enhance legibility. For example, the hour and minute hands are an almost laughable difference in size, yet you’d never confuse the two at first glance. The thick, square lume bead on the seconds hand is also very noticeable, helping to show that the watch is still working while underwater.
motion
The Doxa SUB 300T does not require any special attention to the movement. The ETA 2824-2 is a no-brainerWith reliable performance, long life and abundant spare parts, it has been the trusted Swiss movement for decades. This tends to make maintenance costs much more affordable.With the help of a trusted watchmaker, it can be adjusted to run at chronometer-level accuracy, but only if it doesn’t impress you when you use it straight out of the box. With a smooth beat rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour, the power reserve is admittedly short at 38 hours. It’s automatic with a Doxa decorated rotor, but it’s covered by a solid caseback with a Doxa fish motif. Also, modifications were required to keep the date display at 3 o’clock regardless of the crown position.
strap
The stainless steel bead-of-rince bracelet is an absolute staple for Doxa watches, and the SUB 300T Aristera wouldn’t be complete without it. The polished beads certainly add a flashy texture to the bracelet without feeling overly formal or traditional like polished flat links. The sturdy clasp is engraved with the Doxa logo and has a hidden diver extension in case you need to wear it over a wetsuit. In addition to the bracelet, the SUB 300T Aristera also comes with a two-piece nylon strap that, while not a NATO, is definitely NATO-style. The black nylon with an orange stripe down the middle is a perfect match for the dial tone and the overall energy of the watch, and is a great alternative to rubber if you want to wear a lighter strap.
Verdict
Ultimately, the Aristera is very close to a standard SUB 300T with an inverted crown. The execution may not have been so simple, but the results look that way. Most people who ask for a left-handed crown want exactly that, because they don’t want to feel left out of the most popular watch model. Given that Doxa’s limited editions tend to be stylistically unique, it’s a bit surprising that they issued a limited edition of only 300 pieces. Perhaps we’ll eventually see a standard production model with a left-handed crown and stainless steel bezel?
Doxa SUB 300T Aristera Pricing and Availability
The Doxa SUB 300T Aristera is limited to 300 numbered units and is available now. Price: $2,490 USD
Brand Doxa Model SUB 300T Aristera Case Size 42.5mm (D) x 14mm (T) x 44.5mm (LTL) Case Material Stainless Steel Water Resistance 1,200 meters, Screw-down Crown Crystal Sapphire Dial Professional Orange Lug Width 20mm Strap Stainless Steel Beaded Oval Bracelet
Two-piece black nylon strap with orange stripes Movement ETA 2824-2 with adjustable crown and date position Power reserve 38 hours Functions Hours, minutes, seconds, date Availability Limited to 300 pieces Price $2,490 USD
