Doxa brings back the SUB 750T as a new Clive Cussler limited edition
Zach BlassAlright, alright, alright… Doxa has a new Clive Cussler limited edition, the third in the series. What’s the Matthew McConaughey connection, you ask? Well, the new Doxa SUB 750T is the latest Clive Cussler limited edition, and in 2005, McConaughey starred as Dirk Pitt in the film Sahara, based on the eponymous novel by Clive Cussler. Faithful to the books, McConaughey even wore an orange-dialled Doxa SUB in the movie.
The next question you might have is, why today, and why another Clive Cussler limited edition? The new 750T celebrates the 20th anniversary of the film and is limited to 94 pieces in tribute to Clive Cussler, who was born on July 15th in 1931 and would be celebrating his 94th birthday today.
The case
The Doxa SUB 750T Clive Cussler, as its name suggests, is a 750-metre water-resistant dive watch and is presented in a 45mm steel case. Before that gets you worried, remember the distinct saucer shape of the case is very compact in length, just 47mm lug-to-lug. A fun fact: the modern 750T is almost 2mm thinner than it was 20 years ago, measuring just 11.95mm. That is quite slender for a watch with a 750-metre depth rating.
Purely talking from experience, and though it may sound silly, I have to commend Doxa for their screw-down crowns. From personal experience, Doxa crowns are so smooth and well-made. A virtually mandatory feature for any dive watch due to the added layer of security against water ingress, I can’t say that all of my watches with screw-down crowns are that good – some feel like an absolute chore.
The dial
Expectedly, a knurled unidirectional bezel frames the dial, which rests beneath a flat sapphire crystal and is rendered in Doxa’s iconic orange. With legibility paramount for Doxa, the hour indices are comprised of thick, rectangular plots of lume flanked by black hashes, the only exception being the 3 o’clock position that hosts a date complication. The classic Doxa handset sits in the centre, comprised of a narrower hours hand, broader minutes hand, and the running seconds hand with its squared lume plot. To be clear, all dive-related indicators – indices, hands, and bezel pip – are coated with Super-LumiNova to ensure optimal legibility in the dark.
Everything up until now has been Doxa business as usual, but there are some somewhat subtle elements novel to this limited edition. Next to the 4 o’clock position, you will find the SUB 750T text with Clive Cussler’s name printed beneath as well. To the left, at 7:30, you’ll find the NUMA emblem, tributing the National Underwater and Marine Agency founded by Clive Cussler in 1979, a non-profit that uncovers and safeguards historic shipwrecks (and was actually originally the fictional US government organisation Dirk Pitt worked for in Cussler’s books before he made it a real-life organisation!) A portion of the proceeds from this limited edition will be donated to NUMA in support of this.
The straps
In terms of straps, you have two bundled options. The first, which we have here, is a mixed-finished beads-of-rice bracelet with a very handy diver’s extension clasp you can ratchet to your desired length. Trust me, whether you’re a professional diver or a mere desk diver, it really helps you ensure you have a perfect fit year-round. The other included strap (which we did not get to shoot) is a dial-complementing orange NATO strap with a black central stripe. Which strap would you choose as your go-to? Personally, I would probably wear it just like McConaughey – on the bracelet – but the good news is you ultimately get both and do not have to pick just one.
The movement
Flipping the watch over, the compass motif seen on the previous two Clive Cussler limited editions can be found engraved on the caseback. It is said that each cardinal reflects a different facet of his life’s work. North, for constancy and the search for truth; South for the unknown and the lure of the exotic; East for beginnings and discovery; and West for the fulfilment of quests and the unveiling of mysteries. Ticking beneath the caseback is the automatic Sellita SW300, a sturdy and reliable Swiss calibre with a respectable 56 hours of power reserve.
The verdict
I suspect some of you may not find an orange-dialled Doxa very novel. The previous two limited editions were certainly far more distinct in aesthetic, but that said, this feels like the purest tribute to Clive Cussler and his Dirk Pitt character of the trilogy so far. The watch being a 750T is novel in that there are no 750Ts offered in regular production on the Doxa website, with twice the water-resistance as the previous two, though slightly larger in size. It will be interesting to see if the 750T makes it back into regular production.
Doxa SUB 750T Clive Cussler Limited Edition pricing and availability
The Doxa SUB 750T Clive Cussler is available now as a limited edition of 94 pieces. Price: US$2,990
| Brand | Doxa |
| Model | SUB 750T Clive Cussler |
| Case Dimensions | 45mm (D) x 11.95mm (T) x 47mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 750 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Flat sapphire |
| Dial | Orange, matte-finish |
| Lug Width | 21mm |
| Strap | Stainless steel beads-of-rice bracelet, folding clasp, diving suit extension Orange NATO strap, central black stripe |
| Movement | Sellita SW300, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 56 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Availability | Limited to 94 pieces |
| Price | US$2,990 |