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Doxa 300 vs Doxa 300t - 2020 model review/comparison

78K views 98 replies 57 participants last post by  crankytime  
#1 · (Edited)
Hey guys,

First, let's get some general info out of the way that helps understand where I'm coming from with this review:

Wrist size: 6.5 - 6.7 inches

Current collection:
Rolex 16710 GMT Master
Rolex 116523 Daytona

Previously owned Watches for comparison:
Doxa 50th Anniversary Silver Lung
Rolex 116600 SeaDweller (40mm)
Rolex 16610 Submariner Date
Rolex 14060 Submariner
Rolex 116710 BLNR
Tudor Black Bay 58

What I was looking for: A quality diver, that wasn't a Rolex, with a good heritage to go in my collection.

What I like: Proportional watches on my wrist. Usually on the sub 40mm size or watches with short Lug-to-lug measurements.

I loved my Silver Lung when I owned it. It was one of my favorite watches to wear. Things happen and I needed to thin the collection and it had to go. So when Doxa released their 2020 models of the 300 in non-limited production, I knew I wanted to get one.

Image


I purchased the 300 professional first and it arrived earlier this week. But as I was looking at the forums I came across this post: DOXA 300T Divingstar - Unboxing and use about the 300t Divingstar. Something about it really caught my eye, so I ended up purchasing both with the intention of moving on from the one which I liked least.

With that said, here's a quick review. I'll try to keep things brief but I know this forum is one of the few sources of information about Doxa on the internet people have before making a purchase decision, so I'll try to give concise details.

Price:
300: $2450 USD
300t: $1850 USD

Packaging:
Retail packaging, plastics and accessories are the same.

Initial impressions:
The 300 arrived first, my initial impressions were just as I expected since I've owned one before; the watch head is solid, well made and lighter weight than it looks.

Next came the 300t. Right out of the box the watch felt heavier and much more "solid". Both the case and bracelet weight more than the 300 and it's very noticeable. The lines and corners also feel "sharper" - Hard to really describe unless you handle but that's the best way to explain.

Bracelet and Clasp:
The 300 bracelet is lightweight and has more of that vintage "rattle" that people who've owned 5 vs 6 digit Rolex Professional models will know what I mean. The clasp of the 300 is your typical stamped metal flip lock clasp like came on the reissued models. It snaps solid shut and has micro adjustments in the clasp. The divers extension is folded metal which flips outward from the inside of the clasp. Again, think 5 digit Submariners.

Image


The 300t bracelet is thicker and tighter than the 300. Those two qualities make it feel more premium in the hand. The clasp forgoes the flip lock for a twin action trigger system. The clasp, like the bracelet, is thicker, machine milled and features an on the go adjustment system/divers extension which does not need to be removed from the wrist to use. There are no micro adjustments in the clasp. While the clasp is thicker, it's not that much thicker (like the Rolex Glidelock is compared to the old flip locks.) that it's uncomfortable or obtrusive (IMHO the Rolex glidelocks are both).

Image


Case/watch head:
The 300 and 300t share the same dimensions on paper in terms of lug-to-lug and diameter. At 44.5 mm lug-to-lug, neither spill off the wrist. One of my main attractions to Doxa in general.

Where things differ is the rest. The 300t has a thinker case due to the HRV and therefore does make the watch heaver. The 300 has a lighter case and it's noticeable in hand, BUT not as much on wrist. The dial of the 300 is smaller than the 300t and the 300 has a domed crystal which gives that vintage distortion at certain viewing angles. The 300t has a larger dial and flat crystal. The crowns have different milling patterns, the 300t is easier to grip and wind (I'll get into specifics later). The 300t offers a little more room between the case and the bezel due to thickness, that makes the bezel much easier to grip and turn. But both bezels have the same super solid action with no play at all.

300 features a meters dive table on the bezel while 300t has feet.

15484233


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Dials:
This one here is hard because I got two different dial colors. So I'll stick with everything other than the colors.

300t has a larger dial, hands and lume plots. The 300 has greenish lume while the 300t has blue lume. The 300t glows much brighter than the 300. Not sure if it's due to the larger plots or different types of lume, but it's noticeable.

15484231


Image


Movement / Winding:
I initially really wanted a 300 because the movement is COSC certified but both feature the exact same ETA movement 2824-2. From what I've gathered in the time with them, they both keep roughly the same time in terms of accuracy.

Let's talk about the winding and setting mechanism because this is where I did notice a difference. The 300t felt much more solid unscrewing, winding, moving the crown positioning and setting. I don't know if this is due to Doxa using a different crown locking system for the 1200 meter water resistance or if it's the different crown? Since the movement is the same, my assumption is that it comes down to one or both of the things I just mentioned. But it feels much more solid. The 300 crown gives an ever so slight "wobble" or "lateral play" when winding, moving positions and setting. My Silver Lung felt the same, so again I think it's the construction and not the movement. The 300 play is barely noticeable and shouldn't deter you at all, but just something I've observed.

Fit on the wrist:
The 300 fits great. It's light weight, barely noticeable and easily slips under the cuff because of the slimmer case and domed crystal. The short lug-to-lug measurements make this really easy to wear for smaller sized wrists and even though the case is 42mm, it wears better than some 40mm watches (ie: chunky 6 digit Rolex subs and GMTs). The smaller dial give it the impression that it is smaller, and the relatively flat caseback keeps it low on the wrist. The bracelet has hinged middle links, which makes the bracelet wrap nicely around the wrist. However, because of this, at times when you look down at your wrist it has this weird flat-top look in my wrist. I'll try to capture this in a photo, but it can look a little weird. (I only bring this up because of different bracelet on the 300t which doesn't give this look.)

While the 300t has the same case lug-to-lug and diameter, it wears different. First, the 300t feels more balanced when looking directly head on. The larger dial and flat crystal for some reason makes it look more balanced or rounded, and the end links of the bracelet (which aren't hinged and are solid and flared out) actually make it look more tapered and again, balanced on the wrist. I know the endlinks were a point of contention with some people and they didn't like the way it looked, but to me, it actually balances the watch out and makes it so you never see that odd flat-top look. The extra thickness and weight are only slightly noticeable first time on wrist. But the heavier bracelet and clasp quickly balance things out the head and it becomes just as unnoticeable and comfortable as the 300 after a little while of wearing.

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Conclusion:
Both the 300 and 300t are fantastic watches and have a lot to offer from Doxa. If one catches your eye over the other, you couldn't go wrong with either choice. I'm 100% in the buy what you love camp.

But let me focus on pricing for a minute because I didn't even give it a thought until I handled both. The 300t has a lot more to offer for the money. It's $600 less and I could convincingly make the case that it's a much better and more capable watch. IMHO, you're paying extra just for a COSC certification but I would argue that you're not paying just $600 more for it, you're paying probably $1000 more for it. Let me explain, COSC certification is the only thing that's technically "better" than the 300t. The bracelet, HRV+depth rating, clasp, lume, are all hands down better features of the T plus it has the same movement. So take COSC away and theoretically shouldn't the 300 cost less than the 300t? Doxa does have some weird pricing, and this here is a perfect example. Bottom line - for the price the 300t is a steal.

For me, the 300t is the clear winner after a few days of wearing both non-stop. The price coupled with the better construction/quality make it an obvious choice for me. I understand if the endlinks are a dealbreaker for some with smaller wrists, and if that's your issue, then spending an extra $600 for a watch you'll love and really want is a small price to pay. For me I'll be keeping the 300t and I'll make a decision about what to do with the 300 at a later date. I think keeping both in a collection is certainly an option because they are different.

Kudos to Doxa. You've made a more wearable and unique alternative for people who want a capable dive watch like the Rolex SeaDweller but for a fraction of the price.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to post questions and if you want any additional photos I may not have provided.

15484254


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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

#4 ·
Thanks, Kirkawall. I agree, one of the main advantages of the 300 is the slimmer case and profile. It's more suitable for a daily wearer. And you can see in one of the side by side photos the difference in the cases. That said, the way they both sit relatively flat on the wrist helps with the extra height/thickness and I think both could be viewed as a daily. You just may have a little more difficulty with certain cuffed shirts on the 300t.
 
#5 ·
Wow that was excellent.......Just wow......
Couldn't agree more about the price thing Doxa has going on.....But hey what are you gonna do......the heart wants what the heart wants
I first got the Samui instead of the 300t and was really happy with it,
Then they released the 300.....😟😢 and I resisted for oooo a good two weeks (ten days of those traveling)
And that was that......
Now I am the very Proud owner of the/my sub300 Searambler.
And to me the differences between the two you showed makes it all the more clear that the 600 premium you have to pay for the 300 is not only for the cosc movement But more for that vintage feel and look....
Again great review, Honestly a side by side of these two 2020 models was much needed me think
Regards
 
#8 ·
Nice comparison. :) I went through the same when I should buy my first and second Doxa. The 300 almost had a chance, but 300T won both times.

Regradless of going for the 300 or the 300T; the bonus with the new releases is that both are without any extra logo on the dial. Makes them cleaner, sharper and less dated. :)
 
#12 ·
Yes, but I'll tell you it's not as well integrated into the clap housing as the Glidelock and could be uncomfortable. See the photos below

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What you can see here is the divers extension extended out 3 positions, then 1 position. Presumably the 1 position out would be where it would be used to loosen on a hot summer day.

The main gripe here is that the corners of where the extension meets the clasp aren't well rounded and are rather sharp. So where that indents on the skin could lead to some discomfort over an extended period of time. So in actuality it's much better suited for a divers extension than a link adjustment.

Mine is comfortable with it closed. So if someone else wears theirs with the extension out a notch or two it would be great to chime in on comfort.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#13 ·
Great comparison and pics.
I am with you on 300t.
My main gripe with 300 is the crystal, it makes the dial look way too small.
I actually prefer that the 300t feels a little heftier, and as you said 300 is just too light, 300t is spot on.
I wish they made the endlinks drop right away but my wrist is wide enough so its not that bad.
I had a 1200t that I sold to buy the 300, huge mistake that I was kicking myself for a while then I bought the 300t searambler and all is good again.

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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
#15 ·
Awesome review! I'm super happy with my 300t Pro, and it's basically the only watch I wear these days. Checked out the earlier 300s in person as well, and as you said they really feel like complete different watches. I prefer the overall look and package of the 300t, and where the bracelet on that one looks better, the 300s bracelet was more comfy on my 6ish wrist. Here's my 300t:
15485830
 
#19 ·
By the way, GmtMasterIII, you've pretty much nailed the concept of perfect 4 watch collection, well done!
Thanks, Mattcantwin. Land-air-sea, dial variety, movement variety, steel, and precious metal. I was trying to get to 3 pieces that could cover all the bases. But I may be ending up at 4 at this point. I'll have to see how much wrist time the 300t gets over the 300.
 
#22 ·
Great review/comparison
Would the two bracelet be interchangeable? I don't mean the end links, but swapping bracelets into them?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I don't believe so. The bracelets are a different thickness and the case is much thicker on the 300t. I don't think it would work.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#31 ·
Well everyone I have an update here to this review. The 300t stopped overnight this past week, nothing unexpected as I hadn’t wore it in about a day. After setting and winding, I went to screw the crown back in and as I was screwing it down, there was a ton of crunching, grinding and resistance when screwing the crown back down. It’s extremely obvious, audible and noticeable. Not just something I think I’m feeling.

Like I said, this is the first time this happened with this watch although I think I’ve only wound and set the watch maybe 2 times before.

Any other 300t owners experience this? My guess is I’m going to have to send it in to Doxa for service? I have a local guy here who could probably take a look at it since it’s an ETA and may just need a little adjusting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#32 ·
Well everyone I have an update here to this review. The 300t stopped overnight this past week, nothing unexpected as I hadn't wore it in about a day. After setting and winding, I went to screw the crown back in and as I was screwing it down, there was a ton of crunching, grinding and resistance when screwing the crown back down. It's extremely obvious, audible and noticeable. Not just something I think I'm feeling.

Like I said, this is the first time this happened with this watch although I think I've only wound and set the watch maybe 2 times before.

Any other 300t owners experience this? My guess is I'm going to have to send it in to Doxa for service? I have a local guy here who could probably take a look at it since it's an ETA and may just need a little adjusting.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sorry to hear, man. Haven't experienced any crunching, but do find the crown difficult to screw back in (i.e. it takes some time to find the right "notch" that makes it screw in easily, if that makes sense). It kind of reminds me of the piggy bank "safe" I had as a kid, when I could listen for the lock to engage when forgetting the code.
 
#34 ·
No crunching, but I will say that my crown was fairly difficult to screw back in. That has smoothed out over time. I believe the cuts in the threads were a little rough from the factory and have since smoothed out.

In the initial stage of that, I did notice there were a few times when I thought my crown should have aligned with the threads and the watch would continue to wind on the first few turns as the crown lined up. I'm not sure if that's what you're experiencing, but I could see how that could be mistaken as grinding threads as that was my initial thought as well.

An easy way to tell would be to let go of the crown the moment you feel the grinding and see if it's actually on the threads or if it pops back out to the winding position. Also, what was said above helps a lot. Turn it counter clockwise as you push in to align the threads and once you feel the "jump" turn it back clockwise and it should feel smooth as you screw down.
 
#35 ·
Hey guys,

First, let's get some general info out of the way that helps understand where I'm coming from with this review:

Wrist size: 6.75 - 6.85 inches

Current collection:
Rolex 16710 GMT Master
Rolex 116523 Daytona

Previously owned Watches for comparison:
Doxa 50th Anniversary Silver Lung
Rolex 116600 SeaDweller (40mm)
Rolex 16610 Submariner Date
Rolex 14060 Submariner
Rolex 116710 BLNR
Tudor Black Bay 58

What I was looking for: A quality diver, that wasn't a Rolex, with a good heritage to go in my collection.

What I like: Proportional watches on my wrist. Usually on the sub 40mm size or watches with short Lug-to-lug measurements.

I loved my Silver Lung when I owned it. It was one of my favorite watches to wear. Things happen and I needed to thin the collection and it had to go. So when Doxa released their 2020 models of the 300 in non-limited production, I knew I wanted to get one.

Image


I purchased the 300 professional first and it arrived earlier this week. But as I was looking at the forums I came across this post: DOXA 300T Divingstar - Unboxing and use about the 300t Divingstar. Something about it really caught my eye, so I ended up purchasing both with the intention of moving on from the one which I liked least.

With that said, here's a quick review. I'll try to keep things brief but I know this forum is one of the few sources of information about Doxa on the internet people have before making a purchase decision, so I'll try to give concise details.

Price:
300: $2450 USD
300t: $1850 USD

Packaging:
Retail packaging, plastics and accessories are the same.

Initial impressions:
The 300 arrived first, my initial impressions were just as I expected since I've owned one before; the watch head is solid, well made and lighter weight than it looks.

Next came the 300t. Right out of the box the watch felt heavier and much more "solid". Both the case and bracelet weight more than the 300 and it's very noticeable. The lines and corners also feel "sharper" - Hard to really describe unless you handle but that's the best way to explain.

Bracelet and Clasp:
The 300 bracelet is lightweight and has more of that vintage "rattle" that people who've owned 5 vs 6 digit Rolex Professional models will know what I mean. The clasp of the 300 is your typical stamped metal flip lock clasp like came on the reissued models. It snaps solid shut and has micro adjustments in the clasp. The divers extension is folded metal which flips outward from the inside of the clasp. Again, think 5 digit Submariners.

Image


The 300t bracelet is thicker and tighter than the 300. Those two qualities make it feel more premium in the hand. The clasp forgoes the flip lock for a twin action trigger system. The clasp, like the bracelet, is thicker, machine milled and features an on the go adjustment system/divers extension which does not need to be removed from the wrist to use. There are no micro adjustments in the clasp. While the clasp is thicker, it's not that much thicker (like the Rolex Glidelock is compared to the old flip locks.) that it's uncomfortable or obtrusive (IMHO the Rolex glidelocks are both).

Image


Case/watch head:
The 300 and 300t share the same dimensions on paper in terms of lug-to-lug and diameter. At 44.5 mm lug-to-lug, neither spill off the wrist. One of my main attractions to Doxa in general.

Where things differ is the rest. The 300t has a thinker case due to the HRV and therefore does make the watch heaver. The 300 has a lighter case and it's noticeable in hand, BUT not as much on wrist. The dial of the 300 is smaller than the 300t and the 300 has a domed crystal which gives that vintage distortion at certain viewing angles. The 300t has a larger dial and flat crystal. The crowns have different milling patterns, the 300t is easier to grip and wind (I'll get into specifics later). The 300t offers a little more room between the case and the bezel due to thickness, that makes the bezel much easier to grip and turn. But both bezels have the same super solid action with no play at all.

300 features a meters dive table on the bezel while 300t has feet.

View attachment 15484233

View attachment 15484235

View attachment 15484238

View attachment 15484243

View attachment 15484244

Dials:
This one here is hard because I got two different dial colors. So I'll stick with everything other than the colors.

300t has a larger dial, hands and lume plots. The 300 has greenish lume while the 300t has blue lume. The 300t glows much brighter than the 300. Not sure if it's due to the larger plots or different types of lume, but it's noticeable.

View attachment 15484231

Image


Movement / Winding:
I initially really wanted a 300 because the movement is COSC certified but both feature the exact same ETA movement 2824-2. From what I've gathered in the time with them, they both keep roughly the same time in terms of accuracy.

Let's talk about the winding and setting mechanism because this is where I did notice a difference. The 300t felt much more solid unscrewing, winding, moving the crown positioning and setting. I don't know if this is due to Doxa using a different crown locking system for the 1200 meter water resistance or if it's the different crown? Since the movement is the same, my assumption is that it comes down to one or both of the things I just mentioned. But it feels much more solid. The 300 crown gives an ever so slight "wobble" or "lateral play" when winding, moving positions and setting. My Silver Lung felt the same, so again I think it's the construction and not the movement. The 300 play is barely noticeable and shouldn't deter you at all, but just something I've observed.

Fit on the wrist:
The 300 fits great. It's light weight, barely noticeable and easily slips under the cuff because of the slimmer case and domed crystal. The short lug-to-lug measurements make this really easy to wear for smaller sized wrists and even though the case is 42mm, it wears better than some 40mm watches (ie: chunky 6 digit Rolex subs and GMTs). The smaller dial give it the impression that it is smaller, and the relatively flat caseback keeps it low on the wrist. The bracelet has hinged middle links, which makes the bracelet wrap nicely around the wrist. However, because of this, at times when you look down at your wrist it has this weird flat-top look in my wrist. I'll try to capture this in a photo, but it can look a little weird. (I only bring this up because of different bracelet on the 300t which doesn't give this look.)

While the 300t has the same case lug-to-lug and diameter, it wears different. First, the 300t feels more balanced when looking directly head on. The larger dial and flat crystal for some reason makes it look more balanced or rounded, and the end links of the bracelet (which aren't hinged and are solid and flared out) actually make it look more tapered and again, balanced on the wrist. I know the endlinks were a point of contention with some people and they didn't like the way it looked, but to me, it actually balances the watch out and makes it so you never see that odd flat-top look. The extra thickness and weight are only slightly noticeable first time on wrist. But the heavier bracelet and clasp quickly balance things out the head and it becomes just as unnoticeable and comfortable as the 300 after a little while of wearing.

Image


View attachment 15484246

View attachment 15484248

View attachment 15484249

View attachment 15484250

View attachment 15484251

View attachment 15484253

Conclusion:
Both the 300 and 300t are fantastic watches and have a lot to offer from Doxa. If one catches your eye over the other, you couldn't go wrong with either choice. I'm 100% in the buy what you love camp.

But let me focus on pricing for a minute because I didn't even give it a thought until I handled both. The 300t has a lot more to offer for the money. It's $600 less and I could convincingly make the case that it's a much better and more capable watch. IMHO, you're paying extra just for a COSC certification but I would argue that you're not paying just $600 more for it, you're paying probably $1000 more for it. Let me explain, COSC certification is the only thing that's technically "better" than the 300t. The bracelet, HRV+depth rating, clasp, lume, are all hands down better features of the T plus it has the same movement. So take COSC away and theoretically shouldn't the 300 cost less than the 300t? Doxa does have some weird pricing, and this here is a perfect example. Bottom line - for the price the 300t is a steal.

For me, the 300t is the clear winner after a few days of wearing both non-stop. The price coupled with the better construction/quality make it an obvious choice for me. I understand if the endlinks are a dealbreaker for some with smaller wrists, and if that's your issue, then spending an extra $600 for a watch you'll love and really want is a small price to pay. For me I'll be keeping the 300t and I'll make a decision about what to do with the 300 at a later date. I think keeping both in a collection is certainly an option because they are different.

Kudos to Doxa. You've made a more wearable and unique alternative for people who want a capable dive watch like the Rolex SeaDweller but for a fraction of the price.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to post questions and if you want any additional photos I may not have provided.

View attachment 15484254

View attachment 15484255

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk