Doxa honours the legendary Clive Cussler with a new titanium-dialled SUB 300

Tom Austin

• The iconic SUB 300 from Doxa has been recreated in lightweight grade 5 titanium to honour the novelist and explorer Clive Cussler.
• The watch showcases a newly developed dual-plane titanium dial, creating a layered effect that introduces depth and shadows, while preserving the SUB 300’s instantly recognisable design. 
• Limited to 300 numbered pieces, the COSC-certified dive watch supports the work of NUMA, the marine conservation organisation founded by Cussler in 1979.

There are few fictional characters as closely associated with a watch as Dirk Pitt and the Doxa SUB. Across decades of Clive Cussler’s adventure novels, the bright orange dive watch became as much a part of Pitt’s identity as the vintage cars and underwater expeditions that filled the stories. That long-standing connection has grown into a genuine relationship between Doxa and the Cussler family, and now, on what would have been Clive Cussler’s 95th birthday, the brand is celebrating that legacy with a limited edition that also marks the return of grade 5 titanium to the SUB 300 collection. Alongside the lightweight case, Doxa has introduced an entirely new dial construction that gives one of its most recognisable designs an added sense of depth without losing the straightforward functionality that made the original famous.

The 42.5mm by 45mm SUB 300 case remains faithful to the silhouette introduced in 1967, retaining its distinctive tonneau profile, patented, unidirectional dual-scale bezel and domed “glass box” sapphire crystal. This edition is machined entirely from grade 5 titanium, including the screw-down crown and caseback, helping reduce weight while improving scratch resistance and corrosion performance. Water resistance remains a reassuring 300 metres, while the titanium caseback carries the NUMA emblem alongside a COSC certification inscription and the individual number for each of the 300 watches produced. Doxa has also continued its familiar orange detailing around the bezel’s outer depth scale, maintaining one of the collection’s defining visual signatures.

For this special SUB 300, Doxa has created a dial with a dual-layer grade 5 titanium construction for the first time. The lower dial carries the Super-LumiNova-filled hour markers and minute track, while a second sandblasted titanium layer sits above it, laser-cut to expose the luminous elements beneath. The result is a sandwich-style dial that creates real physical depth and subtly stands apart from the rest of the Doxa range. Doxa has wisely left the familiar oversized orange minute hand untouched, preserving one of the most practical features of the SUB design, while another thoughtful nod to Clive Cussler appears inside the date window, where the numerals 15, 7 and 31 are highlighted in orange to reference his birth date of July 15.

Powering the watch is the COSC-certified Sellita SW200-2 automatic movement. Operating at 4Hz with 26 jewels and approximately 38 hours of power reserve, it continues to prioritise proven reliability over unnecessary complexity, while featuring exclusive Doxa decoration. Certification by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute adds an extra level of precision that suits the SUB 300’s professional diving heritage, giving the watch strong tool-watch credentials to go with its looks.

Completing the package is a black Dive Flex rubber strap with a vintage-inspired perforated pattern that recalls the rubber dive straps commonly seen during the late 1960s. It feels entirely appropriate for a watch so closely linked to underwater exploration, and it keeps the lightweight titanium case comfortable enough for everyday wear. Beyond the watch itself, part of the proceeds from each sale will also support NUMA, continuing Clive Cussler’s commitment to preserving maritime history through the organisation he founded in 1979.

The SUB 300 Ti5 Clive Cussler successfully brings together several meaningful milestones in one watch. It celebrates one of Doxa’s longest-standing ambassadors, reintroduces grade 5 titanium to the collection and debuts an impressively engineered dial that adds a fresh dimension to one of dive watch history’s most recognisable designs, all executed as a subtle special edition that sits well in the SUB 300 family.

Doxa SUB 300 Ti5 Clive Cussler pricing and availability

The Doxa SUB 300 Ti5 Clive Cussler is limited to 300 pieces, and is now available to purchase from Doxa, the Time+Tide Studio in Melbourne and the Time+Tide Shop. Price: 2,890 CHF/€3,190/US$3,390/A$5,150

Brand	Doxa
Model	SUB 300 Ti5 Clive Cussler
Case Dimensions	42.5mm (D) x 13.4mm (T) x 45mm (LTL)
Case Material	Grade 5 titanium
Water Resistance	300 metres
Crystal(s)	Sapphire front
Dial	Grade 5 titanium, dual-layer construction
Lug Width	20mm
Strap	Black dive flex rubber strap, pin buckle
Movement	Sellita SW200-2, COSC certified
Power Reserve	38 hours
Functions	Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Availability	Limited to 300 pieces
Price	2,890 CHF/€3,190/US$3,390/A$5,150