Tool watches are popular, but they are often simple and boring from a design perspective. The Frog300 from Oceanix (OX for short) is very refreshing to look at and wear. It features an unconventional case shape, bold hands and indexes in a modern style, and refreshing colors. In addition, it is equipped with innovative safety features, so let’s take a closer look.
OX Frog 300
The Oceanix/OX story began in 2021 in a beach bar in Andalusia, Spain. It was at that exact moment that Joseph Bollaert decided to create the “near perfect” diver’s watch. His vision was to earn respect in international watchmaking by making amazing timepieces that challenged conventional norms. After founding the company in the United States, OX made its global debut on July 4, 2023, unveiling its first piece: the Frog.300. This 300m water resistant automatic diver’s watch combines traditional mechanical watchmaking with valuable innovative technology to create a highly anticipated timepiece that will set the benchmark for the next generation of timepieces for divers and land explorers.
Actual impressions of the Frog300
About a year later, Joseph contacted us and offered to let us test two of his working prototypes. Who would turn down the opportunity to review a watch that holds such high expectations? We didn’t, and two Frog300 models were soon delivered to our offices. The watches were nicely packaged and (unusually) provided with detailed accompanying documentation, so first impressions are far from disappointing.
Upon unboxing the Frog300, the weight is lighter than expected, but its sturdiness is immediately apparent. Oceanix fitted both prototypes with the optional titanium bracelet and added different rubber strap parts separately for display. There are eight versions in the 2024 Frog300 collection, including six regular and two limited editions. We received the Shark Skin and Depth Rainbow editions. Joseph was kind enough to size the bracelet on the Shark Skin model to fit my 18cm wrist, so that is the watch I am wearing for this review.
OX Frog300 design
Dive watches often follow well-known, proven and popular designs, but the OX Frog300 is not. There is a reason for this. It makes sense to make a dive watch a robust size, as it improves maneuverability and visibility underwater. But the large case diameter and protruding crown, especially, make it less comfortable to wear, as it hits the wrist joint. Over the years, Joseph Bollaert had many dive watches on his wrist, but for one reason or another, none of them lasted long.
It’s important to note that the inspiration for the Frog300 didn’t come from one single watch; rather, it was born from a combination of the best watches Joseph has worn in the past. Finally, he took the name Frog300 from a military tradition dating back to World War II, where scuba divers were often referred to as “frogmen.” In line with this, the Frog300 is MIL-STD-810H compliant, a military standard that tests and inspects equipment for resistance to environmental conditions it may encounter over its lifetime.
Material and size
OX manufactures the Frog 300 from a proprietary titanium called Grade 3i. During the casting process the titanium crystals are compressed, increasing the hardness by about 15%. It’s similar to making a katana. With a katana, the hardening is the result of forging. The Frog300’s case is first cast into a block. After that, the machining process begins. It is then surface finished (sandblasted in this case) to remove the shine. A total of 19 different machining processes are required to complete this case.
The result is a sturdy case with a diameter of 45mm (without crown and crown guard) and a thickness of 14.8mm. If you attach an ID+SYS NFC tag (more on this tag later) to the back of the case, the thickness of the watch becomes 16.5mm. As mentioned before, the dimensions of this watch are quite large. Nevertheless, the OX Frog300 fits comfortably on my 18cm wrist. I think there are two reasons for this: first, the weight is within acceptable limits at 160 grams (including the titanium bracelet) and second, the distance between the strap mounting screws is 44mm.
Functionality
While the Frog300 may be referred to as a “tool watch,” it is unmistakably a diver’s watch. However, this is a tough watch built to withstand whatever life throws at it. So, for those involved in any adventure or exploration, this is truly the ideal timepiece. However, the Frog300’s roots are undeniable, highlighted by its compliance with the technical requirements of ISO 6425, as well as enhanced features for saturation divers. To match, the watch incorporates a helium escape valve.
Being a diver’s watch, the Frog300 is equipped with an internal unidirectional rotating bezel to display the time spent underwater. This bezel is conveniently operated by the blue crown at the top left of the case and can be used underwater. At first, reading the bezel takes a little getting used to. The numbers are not designed to align with the hands or index dots. Rather, the numbers indicate the end of the 5-minute period in which they are placed. In addition to the dive time, the OX Frog300 displays the local time and date, as well as another 24-hour time zone. This is thanks to the reliable Miyota 9075 caliber, making this watch a flyer GMT. Since diving often takes place in tropical paradises far from home, this feature is very useful for a diver’s watch.
What about NFC tags?
The first purpose of a dive watch is to ensure the safety of the wearer. But Oceanix also adds passive safety to the Frog300 with its proprietary ID+SYS system, a blue disk with NFC (near field communication) capabilities attached to the back of the watch. The ID+SYS system complies with data regulations around the world. All information except for the owner’s photo, which is mandatory to verify that the person wearing the watch is the real person, is stored on a secure online server and it is the owner who decides what information to enter. The ID+SYS disk allows for facial recognition of the affected individual and can hold important (optionally provided) details about medical history, contacts and health insurance.
OX provides constant information to rescue teams, sea rescue operations and emergency medical services. This awareness campaign will start in the diving sector and will gradually be expanded to other disciplines such as mountaineering. Negotiations are underway with DAN USA (Diver Alert Network) to communicate this to more than 90 million members. Oceanix has a globally acclaimed team of divers dedicated to this task. With ID+SYS, the information is embedded in a blue plastic disk and no internet connection is required to access the information. However, to access the information, the watch must be removed from the wrist and the smartphone must be close to the ID+SYS disk.
Variations of Frog300
Now, we can expect eight variations of the OX Frog300 in 2024. I had the Shark Skin on my wrist for almost two weeks and it was a good companion. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test the watch during a dive, but there was nothing about it that made me think it wasn’t suitable for diving. For a watch as great as the Frog300 is, the Shark Skin version looked good on me and didn’t draw unnecessary attention to itself or to me. Meanwhile, the flashy colors of the Depth Rainbow are not only eye-catching, but also provide a nifty function of showing the approximate depth underwater.
As a rule, most versions of the Frog300 come with a matching rubber strap, but some, like the Shark Skin model I wore, come with a titanium bracelet. These have a secure clasp with a built-in dive extension, and you can also fine-tune the strap to fit your wrist.
I wasn’t able to try the watch on a rubber strap, but a sample part was included in the package, and it feels and looks good, and I think the watch will be comfortable on this strap.
Conclusion and price
There’s a lot more to say about the OX Frog300, but I’ll leave it at that for now. If this hands-on article has piqued your interest, I encourage you to check out the Oceanix website for more detailed information and specifications. At $1,430 USD on a rubber strap or $1,730 USD on a titanium bracelet, the OX Frog300 is a very attractive watch and well priced. It’s hard to think of another dive watch in this price range that combines such functionality with a unique design.
What about you? Are you ready to move up to the next level in dive watches? Or do you prefer a more classic approach in this competitive field? As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
