I finally bought a Doxa Sub (It's a 600T Pro)

[Thomas Miko]

Hi Folks,

I want to have a conversation with the owners of various Doxa Subs of the various numbered series (300T, 600T, 750T, 1000T, 1200T, 5000T). I want feedback. I need you guys to help me figure this all out. I am going to say some things here, tonight, that I believe to be accurate, but am open to correction i.e. other points of view.

First off, those of you who know me or remember the debacle last fall where I chose not to buy a Doxa, and bought an Omega, instead, are probably scratching your heads at the fact that I bought one (a Doxa). Do I need to explain that one? Let me put it this way: seeing that Divingstar 1000 on that Texas fireman who sat in front of me at The Eagles concert in Vegas was the worst thing that could have happened to me. In plain English, spending my hard-earned money (I am on a tight budget) on the Omega didn't cure me of Doxa fever.

Okay, so the perfect storm occured in the last 2 weeks: I unexpectedly got a big, fat juicy tax refund (it was obscene) and "RAL Austin" in Texas put one of his 600T Professionals up for sale right when I had too much cash (for the record, I bought my wife a new dining room set, and my kids got new bunkbeds). So I figured, let me buy a used Doxa, and see if I like it.

Here's the deal: the watch, # 797 of the Clive Cussler series arrived today via Fedex looking exactly as it did in Rob's photos in his April 10th posting with photos (viewable at FS Doxa 600t Professional ). The watch is in immaculate shape. Ironically, all surfaces of the watch look like it's factory-new, except for the missing black paint on the rotating bezel, and I can send it to get fixed (recommendations, please!).

This watch--assuming that it is representative of the quality of all Doxas--is very, very well-made. Holy cowpoop, this is one nice, well-made Swiss watch. Period. I rank it up there with the famous brands (Omega, Rolex) in terms of quality, finish, movement etc. Everything.

Here's my problem: All these years I have assumed that the various models were just newer and newer ones with higher depth ratings, but all the same size, give or take a wee few millimeters that aren't important. When I opened the black sponge inside the aluminum Doxa tube, and first saw the watch, I gasped at how tiny it was.
Miniscule.
Microscopic.
Oh my god, this watch is small!

I had googled a lot of images of the Doxa 600T in the 24 hours before and after I paypalled the money to RAL Austin, and all of the images were of (a) a 600T (Pro, Divingstar, Sharkie) alone, or (b) with other 600Ts, or (3) with the old or new 300Ts, or (d) the old 600Ts from the 1970s with the new 2003 600T. Also, all of these on-line photos were taken with good-quality macro lenses, and magnified much larger than life-size.

So, nobody set out to deceive me, but I never found any photos on-line of the 600T next to some other Doxa like a 750 or a 1000, and man alive, I hope those watches are a lot bigger.

The problem, of course is that (1) I have been wearing big watches for the last several years [Ollech & Wajs 3095, Seiko Orange Monster, and Omega Planet Ocean 45.5 mm], and with this big watch trend--along with my own personal history of big watches, the 600T, which I am sure was a normal watch 30 years ago now looks laughably small to me. Well, that and the fact that my 45 year old eyeballs are giving me the middle finger.

I would like to see photos of the 600T Pro (orange dial) next to other, larger Doxas. I don't want to start collecting Doxas. I don't want a 600T, a 750T, a 1200T, etc. (BTW How does the 1200T compare in size to the 600T?).

I took my cheapie plastic Luminox out of the drawer, and its case and dial are the same size as the 600T, so clearly this size has been a standard mens' size for along time, and still is.

Part of me is thinking of not wearing any of my other watches, and actually hiding all of them in a box for a week or two, to see if I get used to how "small" the 600T is, by not having over-sized monster watches next to it. Maybe my brain will re-calibrate itself.

The weird thing is that when I took a ruler and measured the dial and case of both the Doxa 600T and my Seiko Orange Monster, this afernoon: the numbers were only 2 millimeters apart, but why does this 600T look so small???

Is there someone in L.A. or Orange County who owns a bigger Doxa e.g. a 750 or a 1200?

Tom

[subkrawler]

Your brain will recalibrate, just give it time. The 600T, 1000T, and the 1200T are all the same diameter(42mm), they just differ in thickness. If you want larger, the 750T, 800Ti, 5000T, and 1500T are around 44mm. The 4000T models are larger than that. Also check out Doc Pete's site 300T.com for comparative photos of the different models.

[G Francis]

I agree your brain will recalibrate! I have a 1200t and a1000t and these are fairly big watches to my mind. That is they are over 40mm, which is the size of a Rolex Submariner. As it happens I'm fortunate enough to be sat here with my Doxa's, my Submariner, my Orange Monster, my Speedmaster and a few others.
The Doxa is bigger than all of them apart from the Monster and it's the same size. What is happening to you is your eye is registering the size of the dial in comparison to your other watches. Check it out, the dial is the smallest of them all because of two things. First it is in a tonneau or cushion case so it will always look smaller. Second there are two bezels ( an inner and an outer) on the watch again this makes the dial smaller.
Dont beat yourself up over it, you can get a bigger diameter watch and it will still look "underdialled" for a while. That was my first thought when I got my 1200, I was a little underwhelmed by it because of the dial. I now really like it. It's part of the watch's look, very retro and I can't really see me buying any other size Doxa now.
Hope this helps!
Best
GF

[airwolfmanila]

I lusted for Doxa once, but when I saw them in the metal years back, I was disappointed with how small they looked after having been accustomed to all my 44mm+ pieces. The Doxa looked anorexic. I suppose if you abstain from your bigger watches, your eyes may recalibrate. I still love the Doxa look, and who knows, maybe somewhere down the road, I may end up getting one when I wean myself away from the bigger watch diameters.

[jslocki]

I am constantly amazed at how different a watch can look on different wrists. Your 600t might look small to you but be perfect for someone else. I wear a 750t pro and found the 600t and 1200t to be too small for me though i think they are both amazing watches. Doxa offers a lot of larger models but if you want a traditional looking Doxa like your 600t I would look for a used 750t. The largest Doxa out there is the 4000t if size is the most important factor to you.

[Rusty_Shakleford]

I'm a bigger watch guy myself. I really like the way that my 750T Pro fits on my wrist but I was prepared to pick up a 42mm model if I was not able to land a 750T. I tried on a 300T Re-Issue and was pleasantly surprised by how well it fit.

I agree with the other guys, give it some time and I think that you will adjust to it. Keep us posted.

RS

[Thomas Miko]

I agree your brain will recalibrate! I have a 1200t and a1000t and these are fairly big watches to my mind. That is they are over 40mm, which is the size of a Rolex Submariner...What is happening to you is your eye is registering the size of the dial in comparison to your other watches. Check it out, the dial is the smallest of them all because of two things. First it is in a tonneau or cushion case so it will always look smaller. Second there are two bezels ( an inner and an outer) on the watch again this makes the dial smaller.
Best
GF

Hi Guys,
I should have said that: yes, it is the dial, specifically, that looks so small. Last night I was looking up Rolexes (Rolexi?) on the internet, reminding myself that the Submariner and then the GMT Master that I owned in the 80s were 2 mm smaller than this watch, but I couldn't find what the size of the dial is on either the Submariner or the GMT. Can somebody please measure the dial of their Submariner and/or GMT?
Among the Doxas, then I would still like to see a side-by-side shot of a 750T next to my 600T. But then again, I could always look on Doxa's web site. They post more details about their watches than Rolex does on its site.
Part of me is thinking that I should just hurry up and flip the 600T, and keep my eyes open for a 750T Professional, but another part of me is thinking that this watch is has a historical legacy, and I should stick with it because it is the original size, design etc (42 mm, BOR bracelet, etc).
If the 1000T is the same size as the 600T then another optical illusion I may have fallen for is that the 1000T looked bigger on that Texas fireman's wrist, as he sat in front of me. What I should do is ask somebody at work to wear my watch, while I sit and stare at it on his arm.
I've got a lot to think about...
Tom

[Thomas Miko]

I'm a bigger watch guy myself. I really like the way that my 750T Pro fits on my wrist but I was prepared to pick up a 42mm model if I was not able to land a 750T. I tried on a 300T Re-Issue and was pleasantly surprised by how well it fit.

I agree with the other guys, give it some time and I think that you will adjust to it. Keep us posted.

RS

If I keep my eyes open for a 750T (orange dial) how realistic is it to hope that somebody will put theirs up for sale?

[drster]

There will be a 750T for sale. Actually is one right now I believe. Also a 1200T from the same seller.

[Snulle]

I'm sorry to hear that you feel that the 600T is small. I have one and I think it's perfectly sized for me
but I know that we all have different preferences. I do feel great sympathy with you since I also want
things to be what I expected/wanted and I've been in your situation when it comes to other things.
The 750T is also true to the original design with the BOR bracelet and same dial layout, only larger and
you should get what feels right for you when you wear and look at it since that's what's important.
Perhaps you can find a kind fellow Doxaholic with a 750T that lives close by that you can meet and try
a 750T on? I'm pretty sure that a 750T Professional will turn up for sale eventually, it's just a question
of when.

I don't know of you've seen/read Doc Millars review of the 750T? It has some nice comparison pics with
the 600T and 750T side by side, both off and on the wrist. There are also several more reviews with
great pics and comparisons on his site.

DOXA SUB750T