Does using your tool watch for it’s designed purpose enhance your relationship with it?
I have wanted to go SCUBA diving for many years. I finally got certified earlier this summer and went on several dives in the Caribbean. I had also been wanting to add a dive watch to my collection for over a year, but I wasn’t sure what to choose.
In researching my decision, I was hyper focused on which watch was best designed for its actual purpose - the best bezel, the best legibility, comfort, best dive extension bracelet etc. Suddenly, something like the Tudor Black Bay Ceramic — which I’ve always thought was pretty cool — seemed a non-contender because it does not prioritize legibility in its design. Ultimately, I decided between either the Seiko SPB143 or a Doxa Sub 300T.
I was a bit of a Doxa-holic in theory and had been researching about the history of the brand for over a year, especially after hearing these great episodes about Doxa on The Grey NATO and the Scottish Watches podcast. I love the fact that Jacque Cousteau was involved in the design of the Sub 300T and used one and I also love how under the radar the brand is. The average person has never seen one, so it seemed that wearing one was like carrying a secret on one’s wrist. But I wasn’t sure if it would fit me; I was concerned it would be too bulky.
I decided to give the Doxa Sub 300T Caribbean a try. What I soon discovered is that this watch is more than the sum of its parts. Maybe it shouldn’t work as well as it does aesthetically because it prioritizes use and function over everything else but every time I put it on it makes me smile.
The watch really came alive for me when I took it diving. Suddenly what were previously abstract concepts - the legibility, the bezel, the absolutely brilliant design choice to make the minute hand larger and brighter than the hour hand - all came together when I put the watch through its paces. As goofy as it might look out of the water it becomes the Platonic ideal of a dive watch once submerged.
Using it for its intended purpose while swimming with sharks, an 800 lbs turtle, sting rays, and myriads of colorful fish has enhanced my appreciation for it and my connection with it. When I first put it on my wrist, I thought it was quirky and fun. Now that I have dived with it and will continue to do so, the watch has taken on another dimension for me. And, dare I say, if I was forced to choose (heaven forbid) I would give up my Speedmaster over my Doxa.
As my Doxa ticks quietly on my wrist, it not only keeps time but it has become a time capsule holding the memories of my diving experiences.
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Gabriel
I love watches and especially the history of watches. I’m particularly interested in microbrands like Nodus, Raven and Halios, purpose-built watches like Doxa, Tudor Subs and FXD, and military era fie...
Washington, DC
Member since
Last active: 4 hrs ago
I’ve never gotten a dive watch wet, but I do use the timing bezel a lot. 😅 🤷♂️
I’ve never gotten a dive watch wet, but I do use the timing bezel a lot. 😅 🤷♂️
Well, the timing bezel is also good for making coffee and pasta. 😂😂
I have never done this, but I get the concept. There are gobs of everyday items we all have that are overbuilt for the banal use we actually put them to: athletic shoes, motor vehicles, digital devices, outerwear.. just all kinds of things that we underutilize on the daily.
In a way, it's kind of insulting to never let these things shine to their intended performance, to use all they have to offer. They are underappreciated because, at best, we appreciate some abstract notion about them or just blindly believe (or perhaps skeptically doubt) the claims. As they say, experience trumps opinion or belief. Knowing what it will do and how well it does it from experience is something more. It is indeed a better understanding, dare I say intimacy.
I have never done this, but I get the concept. There are gobs of everyday items we all have that are overbuilt for the banal use we actually put them to: athletic shoes, motor vehicles, digital devices, outerwear.. just all kinds of things that we underutilize on the daily.
In a way, it's kind of insulting to never let these things shine to their intended performance, to use all they have to offer. They are underappreciated because, at best, we appreciate some abstract notion about them or just blindly believe (or perhaps skeptically doubt) the claims. As they say, experience trumps opinion or belief. Knowing what it will do and how well it does it from experience is something more. It is indeed a better understanding, dare I say intimacy.
I absolutely agree. I think you hit it on the head with this:
As you say, they are underutilized and sit around full of latent potential but collecting dust.
I absolutely agree with this too:
It seems in our hypertechnical world and our slow slide into the metaverse, lived experience and tactile connectivity with the outside world becomes a greater and greater abstraction. Moral of the story: strap on a watch, any watch, grab a loved one and get out and do something!
I'm having a watch with a Flieger B-Muster, and I'm fueling up my Fw 190 as we speak. (She loses a bit of oil these days, but should make it to England one more time.) 😂
But seriously, watches these days are more or less mementos or props to me. There was a time where a wristwatch was essential to me, especially when using public transportation. (If you didn't get the 4:45 pm train, your were out of luck.)
If have a few desk dive watches, and one actual diver. I might take the latter swimming one day, but that is about it.
I use GMT and World Time watches and their functions certainly give them way more wrist time.
In the other hand, my G Shock Rangeman ABCs functions are under used. But it gets wrist time due to its WT function :)
The use of its functions enhance my connection to the watch.
I use GMT and World Time watches and their functions certainly give them way more wrist time.
In the other hand, my G Shock Rangeman ABCs functions are under used. But it gets wrist time due to its WT function :)
The use of its functions enhance my connection to the watch.
Thank you for sharing! I agree.
I'm having a watch with a Flieger B-Muster, and I'm fueling up my Fw 190 as we speak. (She loses a bit of oil these days, but should make it to England one more time.) 😂
But seriously, watches these days are more or less mementos or props to me. There was a time where a wristwatch was essential to me, especially when using public transportation. (If you didn't get the 4:45 pm train, your were out of luck.)
If have a few desk dive watches, and one actual diver. I might take the latter swimming one day, but that is about it.
lol! As I first started reading I believed you! I figured you must be on the runway somewhere fueling up! lol. I hear you on watches being mementos and props. But I think as you imply that still is valuable and important. A connection to another time or facet of your personality. I hope you enjoy that swim with you diver some day!
lol! As I first started reading I believed you! I figured you must be on the runway somewhere fueling up! lol. I hear you on watches being mementos and props. But I think as you imply that still is valuable and important. A connection to another time or facet of your personality. I hope you enjoy that swim with you diver some day!
Even though it was one mean Focke, an Fw 190 is somewhat outdated these days, so I'm sorry to disappoint. 😂
Yeah, swimming maybe, probably just out of morbid curiosity. Just to see what it does to the bezel springs.
I truly believe the answer to your question is yes. As a former military diver, I have several watches that I used back in the day that are among my favorite watches. All of them are Seiko from the 70's and 80's and one (Also Seiko) from the 1990's. I've also lost a couple over the years and it was like losing a piece of me. Seiko was the official, unofficial, dive watch for military divers back in the day. They were sold in the Px for $90.00-$400.00 depending on the model you needed. Those that I still have are in working order, I only wear them occasionally and with care, I have a modern ORIS ProDiver that I wear in the water these days.
I truly believe the answer to your question is yes. As a former military diver, I have several watches that I used back in the day that are among my favorite watches. All of them are Seiko from the 70's and 80's and one (Also Seiko) from the 1990's. I've also lost a couple over the years and it was like losing a piece of me. Seiko was the official, unofficial, dive watch for military divers back in the day. They were sold in the Px for $90.00-$400.00 depending on the model you needed. Those that I still have are in working order, I only wear them occasionally and with care, I have a modern ORIS ProDiver that I wear in the water these days.
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m still new here so you may have already posted photos, but I’d love to see pictures of the Seiko watches you used during your time in the military. Are they on your profile? also I’d love an Oris. As a diver, which would you recommend? thanks again!
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m still new here so you may have already posted photos, but I’d love to see pictures of the Seiko watches you used during your time in the military. Are they on your profile? also I’d love an Oris. As a diver, which would you recommend? thanks again!
I'll post those watches in a group over the weekend. The ORIS ProDiver series is my pic for actual diver, however, it is a very large watch. The bezel lock system on the ProDiver, combined with the adjustable dive clasp, and high visibility dial makes me wish we had these back in the day. The ProDiver is a very large watch, this is not a problem for me but it could be an issue for some people.
I'll post those watches in a group over the weekend. The ORIS ProDiver series is my pic for actual diver, however, it is a very large watch. The bezel lock system on the ProDiver, combined with the adjustable dive clasp, and high visibility dial makes me wish we had these back in the day. The ProDiver is a very large watch, this is not a problem for me but it could be an issue for some people.
Wow. I’ve not seen that Oris before. It really looks cool. I can see how it would be very legible on a dive. What a great photo. What are the dimensions? Thanks for sharing, I really like it, and I look forward to seeing the others.
Wow. I’ve not seen that Oris before. It really looks cool. I can see how it would be very legible on a dive. What a great photo. What are the dimensions? Thanks for sharing, I really like it, and I look forward to seeing the others.
This guys does a good job reviewing the watch.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqCUDYlh4ak&t=529s
I use GMT and World Time watches and their functions certainly give them way more wrist time.
In the other hand, my G Shock Rangeman ABCs functions are under used. But it gets wrist time due to its WT function :)
The use of its functions enhance my connection to the watch.
The Rangeman is a great watch!
@Speedy77
Left to right- 6105, 6309, 6159, 7549, & SLD001. The SLD was purchased on the last major trip I took (Yonaguni) 1999.
Photo taken this morning during my weekly "Seiko Shuffle" lol.
Wow. Stunning collection. Is that an original Captain Willard? 😱Really wonderful and top notch Seiko collection. Love it. Plus it has so much history. Thank you very much for sharing. I’d love to add a Willard to my collection one day.
Wow. Stunning collection. Is that an original Captain Willard? 😱Really wonderful and top notch Seiko collection. Love it. Plus it has so much history. Thank you very much for sharing. I’d love to add a Willard to my collection one day.
Yes, people call the 6105 the Captain Willard today. Back in the day it certainly was not called that. A lot of these were made; it is the first Seiko diver that was an original Seiko design. The previous Seiko diver (62MAS) was largely a copy of other dive watches popular at the time. This original asymmetric Seiko design has aged well, during the last 10-15 years it has been widely copied by others and re-issued by Seiko.
Yes, people call the 6105 the Captain Willard today. Back in the day it certainly was not called that. A lot of these were made; it is the first Seiko diver that was an original Seiko design. The previous Seiko diver (62MAS) was largely a copy of other dive watches popular at the time. This original asymmetric Seiko design has aged well, during the last 10-15 years it has been widely copied by others and re-issued by Seiko.
Thanks for the insight. I guess it wouldn’t have been called the Willard until after Apocalypse Now was released. I also didn’t know it was the first original Seiko designed diver. That’s really interesting. Makes me want to get one ever more. Did you and the people you dived with ever call it a Captain Willard or is that more of a Hollywood or enthusiast invention?
Thanks for the insight. I guess it wouldn’t have been called the Willard until after Apocalypse Now was released. I also didn’t know it was the first original Seiko designed diver. That’s really interesting. Makes me want to get one ever more. Did you and the people you dived with ever call it a Captain Willard or is that more of a Hollywood or enthusiast invention?
Never, and it is definitely a collector thing. It is interesting to note this watch has always been associated with Vietnam. As I said earlier these were readily available to military members in the PX. People bought them like hotcakes because they could take significant abuse while continuing to provide good service to the owner.
Never, and it is definitely a collector thing. It is interesting to note this watch has always been associated with Vietnam. As I said earlier these were readily available to military members in the PX. People bought them like hotcakes because they could take significant abuse while continuing to provide good service to the owner.
That is just fascinating. Thanks for sharing. So what did you guys call them? Just a 6105 or Seiko diver or something else? And what did they cost back then. I saw a vintage add that looks like it was for about $95. Finally, am curious what you think about the SPB153 “Willard“ reissue. Do you like it or is it weak tea?
They were simply called the Seiko 150m Diver, they were about $90.00 in the PX. Because I have an original, the re-issued model does not interest me at all.
That being said I do own two other watches that are homage type pieces with the asymmetrical case that are clearly copying the 6105.
Someone really needs to do a Seiko diver book.
They were simply called the Seiko 150m Diver, they were about $90.00 in the PX. Because I have an original, the re-issued model does not interest me at all.
That being said I do own two other watches that are homage type pieces with the asymmetrical case that are clearly copying the 6105.
Someone really needs to do a Seiko diver book.
Maybe you could do the book? You seem to have a lot of knowledge and personal use experience that would make such a project very compelling to read.
Lol, no I'm done with all that.