DOXA Gets Tough in Geneva with the New SUB 200 C-Graph II at Watches & Wonders 2023
The diver-favored watchmaker hit the water running (swimming?) in Geneva with a new 42mm dive chronograph line custom-built to address the needs of extreme divers. So, anyone up for some cave diving?
The otherworldly scenes of underwater caverns and caves are among diving’s most beautiful temptations. But this level of submerged sight-seeing comes with a more robust set of technical skills and real-world, life-threatening risks than more casual diving.
Having a ceiling constantly over your head and things like stalagmites in your way, navigating thin channels, the lack of overhead light, and the risk of injuries all demand a stalwart attitude, honed diving skills, and, often, specialized equipment and lighting. So, when choosing a dive watch, be it your first or most recent, the new SUB 200 C-Graph II from DOXA should be at the top of your list of special equipment, especially if you cave dive.
But, hey, this is DOXA. So, while this new chronograph is, of course, technically legit, it also comes in a rainbow of colors and combinations that make a splash during dives and at any post-dive revelries.
Luckily, we were able to get some alone time with the new line this past week at Watches & Wonders 2023.
Let There Be Light, Legibly
Most critically, to address the issue of the black-hole-like darkness encountered in underwater caves and other forms of extreme diving, the watches in the new SUB 200 C-Graph II collection get a veritable bath in Super-LumiNova. Specifically, getting the biggest doses of glow are all the chrono counter hands, the hour and minute hands, and the bezel markers.
The extent of bezel marking varies by specific model; however, alongside DOXA’s heritage-inspired blocky, technical gauging, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more legible and useful diver-chronograph dial array.
Serious Time Management
The three chronograph sub-dials follow a traditional 3, 6, and 9 o’clock layout, tallying 60-second, 30-minute, and 12-hour intervals to address both the vital “seconds count” nature of extreme diving as well as the activity’s typically longer dive durations.
Fun Fact: Some cave explorers stay underwater on multiple tanks for up to nine hours. So that means if you get in trouble in an underwater cave, you can’t simply make a quick emergency surface. Thus, managing your time to ensure ample retreat time is absolutely critical.
Safe and Sexy on the Surface
Back on deck, the attraction of the SUB 200 C-Graph II turns to its look and feel. Beneath the anti-reflective scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an expertly brushed sunburst pattern adds a bit of stylish sophistication to all the technical skill.
Moreover, as mentioned earlier, these models don’t shy away from using bright dial colors, including silvery white, inky black, deep-water blue, beachside sky blue, brilliant orange, and sunny yellow, with each color taking full advantage of the eye-catching sunburst pattern. There is also additional complementary red detailing around the hour markers on the black Sharkhunter and deep blue Caribbean models.
You can get your SUB 200 C-Graph II on either the DOXA heritage “beads of rice” stainless steel bracelet or the dial-color-matched FKM rubber strap to hold it onto your wrist. Plus, you can choose between a unidirectional dive bezel done in all-steel or with a ceramic insert, depending on the model and colorway you choose.
Finally, all the new SUB 200 C-Graph II models sport a Swiss-made mechanical movement with 56 hours of power reserve and rated to 200 meters (650 feet) of water resistance.
Pricing & Availability
Available for pre-order as you read this, prices for the SUB 200 C-Graph II range from $2,850 for the all-steel bezel models on a rubber strap, $2,950 for the ceramic bezel models on a rubber strap, $2,890 for the all-steel bezel models on a steel bracelet, to $2,990 for the ceramic bezel models on a steel bracelet. You can learn more at DOXA’s website.
(Photography by Liam O'Donnell)