How it got hereMy second watch from my grandfather, sometime in college or right when I got out. I remember being so excited because it was a real dive watch, which was his particular obsession that I also inherited.
What I likeIn a sea of watches that look like derivatives of the same few parents, this one was truly built for its use case and has never deviated.
Chunky, bold, heavy, unapologetic, and all the stories about its real life purpose, against the desk divers everywhere else. I struggle to find things it looks good with, which isn't the point of the watch — I wear it how it was meant to be worn, unabashedly vibrant. 38 to 40mm usually feels about right for me and this somehow feels smaller despite it's 45mm width. The width comes from the cushion rather than the dial and bezel, so despite its gargantuan perceived size it wears lighter. The weight feels like quality, especially on the rice bead bracelet, which beats the oyster.
Movement
CaliberETA 2824-2, modified and decorated by Doxa
TypeAutomatic, hacking seconds
Power reserve42 hours
Frequency28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Jewels25
Case
Diameter45 mm (44.7 mm excluding crown)
Thickness14 mm
Lug to lug47 mm
Lug width21 mm
MaterialSatin-brushed stainless steel, tonneau
CrystalFlat sapphire, 3 mm, anti-reflective
BezelUnidirectional 120-click steel, US Navy no-decompression limits in feet
Water resistance750 m
Dial
ColourProfessional orange
MarkersEnlarged luminous batons, printed SUB750T closed up
LumeSuper-LumiNova, double coated
ComplicationsDate at 3
Edition
Limited to5,000 pieces
Released2005
NumberingIndividually numbered on the caseback
CasebackSolid screw-in steel, engraved Dirk Pitt Edition and Sahara 2005 on early examples, Limited Edition only on later ones
Tie-inClive Cussler's Dirk Pitt and the 2005 film Sahara
Supplied withDoxa aluminium dive tube
Bracelet
MaterialStainless steel beads of rice, screwed links, solid end links
Width21 mm
ClaspFolding with wetsuit extension