Introducing: The Doxa Sub 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler Limited Edition
What We Know
Following last year’s release of the brand’s first Clive Cussler-inspired 300T edition, Doxa has just announced a new Sharkhunter version made in honor of what would have been the famous writer’s 93rd birthday. This new edition swaps in a black dial but otherwise maintains the aged look, and the Cussler-themed flourishes that made the original model a distinctive offering. However, where the original 300T Clive Cussler was a special model but not explicitly limited, this new Sharkhunter is definitely limited – they’re only making 93.
The Sub 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler Limited Edition is in every way a specific extension of the 2023 Clive Cussler 300T (which I covered here upon release). That means a 42.5mm steel case (14mm thick and 44.5mm lug to lug) that has been prepared with a surface treatment that makes the metal look old and worn, like an artifact found on a shipwreck. It’s a PVD-based treatment that is then stone-washed for this specifically weathered effect.
Inside, we find an ETA 2824 (just as was the case with the previous version, and you can find the specs below), and the watch includes a black rubber strap with an aged steel buckle as an alternative to the full steel bracelet. The Sub 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler Limited Edition is limited to 93 individually numbered pieces, and the watch is being sold directly via Doxa’s website for $3,250.
What We Think
Cussler, who passed in 2020 but would have been 93 years old today, remains a household name in the adventure genre space, and not only did he write more than 85 books, but he also spent a lot of time working with NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency) to find and preserve shipwrecks all over the world. For those of you who haven’t read a Cussler novel – or haven’t curled up on the couch on a sleepy Saturday to watch 2005’s Sahara – Doxa has a connection to the novels because the protagonist in the stories, Dirk Pitt, wears an orange-dialed Doxa throughout his many adventures.
Though the dial is now black rather than the tan coloring of last year’s model, this new Sharkhunter variant (which is Doxa’s name for black dial models) still exhibits the compass rose boldly shown in a central position on the dial. Also, like the previous version, we see that the usual model nameplate has been swapped for “Clive Cussler” in red. This new additional also forgoes some of the small Easter eggs present in the first Cussler edition (like the red dates on the date wheel to signify Cussler’s birthdate, for example), but we do see another use of the special caseback that has an engraving with the names of more than 70 shipwrecks that NUMA has helped discover. According to Doxa, a portion of the proceeds of the sale of this new Cussler Sharkhunter will be donated in support of NUMA.
As a second offering into the Clive Cussler collection, I think this very limited edition only doubles down on what was established in the preceding model. As a tribute to the brand’s connection with Cussler’s work and as a special collectible for both Doxa and Cussler acolytes alike, I think that this new model has a specific appeal and, with so few being made, I found it a bit surprising that the price is a relatively small bump over the 2023 Cussler, which sold for ~$3,200 if you optioned the rubber strap and bracelet (though you did also get an included tan NATO).
Being both quite limited and quite specific, the Cussler models are certainly a niche offering. It’s a niche that Doxa knows well, and I think that the black dial suits the vibe of the watch nicely. Regardless, it’s certainly cooler than a birthday cake and balloons, especially for Clive Cussler.
The Basics
Brand: Doxa
Model: 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler
Diameter: 42.5mm
Thickness: 14mm
Lug-to-lug: 44.5mm
Case Material: Steel with an aged-effect coating
Dial Color: Black
Indexes: Painted
Lume: Super-Lumi-Nova
Water Resistance: 300 meters/984 feet
Strap/Bracelet: Aged-effect steel bracelet and a black FKM rubber strap with matching steel clasp
The Movement
Caliber: ETA 2824-2
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power Reserve: 38 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Jewels: 25
Pricing & Availability
Price: $3,250
Availability: Immediately via the brand’s own website
Limited Edition: 93 pieces (numbered)
For more, click here.
Hodinkee
