The Doxa Sub 600T Diving Watch: A Great Watch Ruined By A Terrible Bracelet

If any manufacturers want to know if their Black Friday ads work, I can answer that with a yes! I succumbed to several news feed ads from Doxa and picked up a SUB 600T. Now, I have been looking at a few Doxa watches for several months, but I was on the fence until I was sitting around after Thanksgiving dinner, and their ad magically appeared.

I’m excited to share my thoughts and experiences with this beautiful timepiece. The Doxa Sub600T is not just a watch; it’s a piece of history reimagined for the modern era. I ended up getting the Caribean SUB 600T. I love that Doxa has a different name for each of their colorways. Very cool.

A Tribute to a Classic

In 2021, Doxa revisited and paid tribute to the iconic SUB 600T, a watch that has been a benchmark in the diving community for over 40 years. The new SUB 600T is more than a nod to its predecessor; it’s a continuation of a legendary story. This model, available in a non-limited edition, has been released following the massive success of the limited titanium edition SUB 600T Pacific Blue.

Design and Aesthetics

The reborn SUB 600T is crafted in stainless steel and offers a choice between a steel or black ceramic bezel insert. It comes in seven vibrant colors, providing a range of aesthetic options to suit different tastes. The watch is available with either a stainless-steel bracelet or an FKM rubber strap, which can be matched with the dial color. Each of the different colors have bracelet or rubber strap options.

My Personal Experience

As a watch nut, I can appreciate the SUB 600T’s design and functionality. The watch looks stunning and feels robust, a perfect companion for both diving adventures and everyday wear. What can I say, it’s a cool watch.

However, there are aspects that I would like to change:

Size: The watch is a bit tall, measuring over 14mm thick. While this adds to its rugged charm, it might feel slightly bulky for some users, especially during extended wear. I like a bigger watch and love my Sumo and Seiko Samurai, so I am not unaccustomed to a big old watch. This is just personal preference; I wish it were just a tad smaller. Remember, the water resistance is 600 Meters, so the chunkiness is understandable.

Clasp Quality: The clasp is a bit of a letdown for a watch priced at around $1,450. It actually sucks! I have worn the watch for a while now, and it is frustrating to use. The foldover is a pain to lift up. It’s so tight, and the pressure-fit buckle part never wants to come loose. It definitely almost ruins the whole watch for me.

Although it looks good, the opening and closing action is not as smooth as I expected. At this price point, one would anticipate a clasp that matches the overall quality and finesse of the watch. Besides the good looks and history, this is just a dive watch with a modified SW200 movement, so I would like to see a nicer clasp. I would have happily paid $100+ for an on-the-fly micro adjust clasp!

After several weeks of owning the 600T, I have started to love wearing it…on a rubber strap! I finally had to ditch the stupid bracelet for a nice silicone quick-release strap, which was a game-changer. It’s funny how little things can change our opinion. I was going to buy the Doxa rubber strap, but I found a review of the Doxa by James Stacey on HODINKEE, and he had a lot to say.

I think if I read that review before I bought my Sub600T, I never would have purchased the watch. He ran into the same issues as me, and he did have the rubber strap from Doxa. He complained of the rubber strap not fitting well, and for $350, I was not even going to bother.

This watch is very cool and looks awesome, but it’s just not for every wrist. I mentioned above and in other reviews, I wear a little bigger watch after all, I love my Sumo and Turtles, but the case back on the 600T protrudes too much to push the watch’s height out of balance. If this watch was 12mm tall, it would make a world of difference.

I’m Going To Keep It

The Doxa Sub600T is a watch that carries the legacy of its predecessors while embracing modern design elements. It’s a testament to Doxa’s ability to blend heritage with contemporary style. Despite some serious drawbacks, such as the clasp mechanism and the watch’s height, it remains a cool piece that I love and am excited to include in my collection. If for no other reason than the heritage. The SUB 600T is not just a timepiece; it’s a statement of style, history, and functionality.