Well...I don't want to buy the Tactical Frog, but I will be darned if your pics of the 300T didn't create a burning desire to add a Caribbean to my collection!

Well done on the review BTW

 

So, is the extra sub 300 dial for sale?

Just kidding! [emoji1787]

Fantastic review and thanks for sharing!

 

Fair minded, nicely done review Doc!

 

That 'tackymeter' though... Still maybe slightly more useful than the decompression stuff.

Wait for the Mk2 I'd say.

 

Good review as always, but I just can't get over the weird taste in my mouth to see 'homages' start popping up. I understand that there can only be so many ways to make a dial, but at the same time, just aping off a brand doesn't do much for me. And it's not just this, but whenever I see an 'homage' watch, it's just weird to me.

For me personally, I would rather buy an original. And if I couldn't afford it, then I would just do without. No way would I pay even that low amount for something that won't properly fill the role of what I was looking for.

 

I bought a homage Steeldive 'Tuna' cos the Seiko was in the running along with the 300T and the Sinn U1 when I was trying to decide. So I got it for around £100 as a 'tester' and while it was a lot of watch for the money, it wasn't the real deal and it didn't resonate with me. I did however, keep the strap as it fit on my other Seikos. Sold it sans strap a week later for £75 iirc.

I still might get a Tuna...or a U1...who knows.

 

Thanks for the review!

I've bought one too and I can't say I'm that impressed. The bracelet is awful, though maybe they should have an acknowledgment for managing to create an end link problem a'la the modern Doxa 300T.

The spring bar holes are placed so that it is impossible to use standard spring bars and get a strap through - you have to use curved spring bars. If they make a V2 I'd hope they rethink the placement of the holes.

 

The spring bar holes are placed so that it is impossible to use standard spring bars and get a strap through - you have to use curved spring bars.

I've always wondered about, and never found a satisfying answer to, the purpose / advantage of putting the hole so close to the case.
Is it to prevent all strap options? If so, that's pretty odious.
But I know that some designers have this f'd up BS thing, as do certain chefs: their way or no way.

 

Thanks for the review. Answers the question on the dial markers. I like the bezel, as far it's polished, vs brushed vs the Maranez. Looks less tall too. That bezel on the Maranez might be a sweet spot (not that it would fit).

 

I really liked the Maranez with the exception of the bezel. It was too plain and blended in to the case too much and looked like a big blur of brushed steel. In the end, though, it motivated me to get my first (and second) Doxa.

 

Maybe title the thread Maranez-Tactical Frog...

FWIW if these were around a few years ago i might have tried one before getting a 300T just to try it out.

 

The Frog has arrived and hopped on board my collection .... the initial pics I saw showed no paint in the Tach writing and scale for the black dialed version but its actually black in this one to match the dial. One of my reasons for the black was that with no paint I'd thought it would be less visible!! But I actually like it. Have to say it wears well and doesn't to my eye scream Doxa on the wrist at all despite the obvious similarities ...in fact my first thoughts when I looked at it on wrist outside were it was screaming Sinn for some reason! Not sure why - probably only apparent with the black dial version - perhaps the blue too....or maybe its just me - it doesn't quite come across in the pics. Was going to change the hands for ploprof ones to make it less Doxa but I'm not so sure I need to now...that orange minute hand is biiiig though! Only downside is the bracelet just doesn't quite sit right on my skinny wrist , on a larger wrist it'd be fine - hopefully the V2 will rectify that - as previously stated the lug holes are pretty close to the case and I was only just able to squeeze on my favoured Hirsch Accent so other straps/bracelets are an issue - again maybe they will improve this but if the V2 bracelet is better then shouldn't be a problem. Not so fond of the blue tinge to the crystal.

All in all glad I got it - I'd say Maranez should be a little worried...

 

Great looking watch! If this had a 12-hour bezel I would be all over it, but I am still enjoying the Maranez too much!

 

Interesting picture and review. Looking at those, it seems that the Maranez is more Doxa lookalike thant the 'tactical Frog' is....

 

Why are these threads posted in the Doxa subforum? I've never seen the endless Rolex Sub copies posted in their subforum.

Also, how does one time anything with a uni-directional tachy bezel?

 

Couple of reasons for me. They may be reviews of Doxa homages but they also contain a bunch of Doxa images and information. You can't look at any of these and not think Doxa or talk about Doxa. That is a good thing, in my mind, for Doxa as they are doing a pretty sh1t job of coming here and discussing or teasing etc etc.

I hope that people learn something about Doxa in my reviews

Go look at my Synchron Military review. There is probably more historical information on the Doxa Army in it than anywhere else

SYNCHRON MILITARY (doxa300t.com)

So yea, I can understand why some people may see these as being a bit out of place but as Oscar Wilde said

the only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about

Why are these threads posted in the Doxa subforum? I've never seen the endless Rolex Sub copies posted in their subforum.

Also, how does one time anything with a uni-directional tachy bezel?

 

Doc --- Looks like the mods moved your posts from the Doxa forum to the Dive Watch forum. I think they will get more exposure now.

I know you have both the Maranez Samuri and the Tac Frog. It would be interesting to see some side by side comparison photos of the two.

 

I don't have any Maranez now. Prefer my Doxas ..... Seriously though, I'd been asking Doxa to make Ferrari red, Fire engine red dial since the Pope was an alter boy, to no avail, but Maranez said OK. So as soon as I knew it was being made I sold the rest. Ordered it last week and just waiting on it.

I'm keeping the Froggy because it is such a fun watch. Half turning tacky Tachy bezel, man you can't beat that for WTF appeal. Soon as the red Maranez comes, I'll take comparison pics with a couple of SUBs.

 

Dang good review, on many levels !
You sure do know how to persuade an addict.

I was on the fence, then got off bcz I saw someone say the bezel is not aligned well.
But your photos seem to say otherwise, so now, I am thinking of going over to the other side of the fence and actually buy one.

 

Dang good review, on many levels !
You sure do know how to persuade an addict.

I was on the fence, then got off bcz I saw someone say the bezel is not aligned well.
But your photos seem to say otherwise, so now, I am thinking of going over to the other side of the fence and actually buy one.

If its a Frog you are thinking of then my dots line up well enough. I'm not sure if its the slight dome and bevel on the crystal that causes it or not but from some angles the minute track is a little off the indices and from others its spot on - and I must say the fit of the half bezel to the non-turning minute track is amazing.
If its a Maranez please ignore the foregoing!

 

Lovin' the Froggy

 

When I saw the OP all I could think of was "Crunchy Frog"....

Praline: Next we have number four, 'crunchy frog'.
Milton: Ah, yes.
Praline: Am I right in thinking there's a real frog in here?
Milton: Yes. A little one.
Praline: What sort of frog?
Milton: A dead frog.
Praline: Is it cooked?
Milton: No.
Praline: What, a raw frog?
(Superintendent Parrot looks increasingly queasy.)
Milton: We use only the finest baby frogs, dew picked and flown from Iraq, cleansed in finest quality spring water, lightly killed, and then sealed in a succulent Swiss quintuple smooth treble cream milk chocolate envelope and lovingly frosted with glucose.
Praline: That's as maybe, it's still a frog

 

One of my favorite MP skits

Scratched in the mud with sticks and allowed to dry

 

120 click. Yes it is kinda interesting, when you make a movement / click there is a slight backwards "slop" but then it locks in place and it absolutely rock sold no movement. Honestly for me it is more stable than the ICE eta SUB 300T Doxa

 

So, can I take it that yours has no misalignment? Your photos looked dead on.

 

Any word on the 2nd iteration of these Frogs 🐸 might release?

 

Saw an online review today where the reviewer thought they'd wait til they sold out their stock of Tach Frogs so might be a while but who knows if thats just his thoughts or if he has a contact at WR. Given the press and internet comment etc I'd have thought they should get them on the market as soon as they can - I think theres a market for them bearing in mind what they offer at that price point, and we've hardly scratched the surface of all the available frog/toad puns.

Anyone buy a dark blue version? Looks in the pics like it has an almost fume dial but I'm thinking that is perhaps just shading.

 

Thanks. I can't tell if it's hearsay or wishful thinking on a revamped version without the tacky tachy, as FD calls it.

I caved on the silver Samui w/ delivery Monday. Why I'm looking at these ? is beyond me ?

 

Thanks for sharing the Doxa information. I am not a Doxa fan, but enjoy reading about the history of different Divers Watches. I wish Doxa would change the iconic hour hands, to hard to read in the dark. A new set of hands would bring a better choice and look to Doxa in my opinion. The price point is high, and leaves room for many better Divers. Vance.

 

The prominence of the minute hand can be attributed to the fact that Doxa watches were designed as diving tools. Most watches today that we call dive watches are really designed to be sport watches, with the primary focus not centered around performance under water.

 

Is this a doxa? The thread title is misleading

 

Well , you could go to page one & click the link that confirms a "comparison" of sorts to a Doxa and a China copy watch company -- There is also a comparison review of a Maranez watch, the "Samui" that is also a Doxa knock off. Funny how 2 companies within 6 months have come out doin' the Doxa.

 

Well I'm not sure anyone has been saying how great the watch is, I'd say everyone has been pretty honest about the pros, and the obvious cons of the watch - the pros discussed all qualify it against its low price ie 'for a cheap watch this or that is good' (tis after all less than half the price of the Maranez) while the cons - clone/homage/inspired by etc, the tach on a dive watch, the male end bracelet, the lug holes and the alignment, though of course this is a common enough issue on lots of different brands. I haven't seen anything pretending the watch is anything other than what it is - a flawed cheap bit of fun mixing Doxa styling cues. Okay V2 may fix the main flaws but its never going to amount to much more than that bit of fun - its most likely going to be a good try-before-you-buy cheap way for someone who thinks they fancy a Doxa before they spend the big money. For someone who doesn't care too much though, who likes a cushion case and wants something to tell 'em the time then an improved V2 will do the job and look "nae bad" for little outlay.

 

Nice review. For me I'm never going to buy a $2,000 watch; so I'll never own a Doxa, Sinn, Tudor, Omega, etc. Homages will be the only way I get to experience something similar to the inspiration. I have a bronze steeldive tuna because a genuine Marine Master is out of my price range and they don't make them in bronze.

Could I save up and get one? Sure but I just don't place that much value on one watch. I'd put that towards something else.

 

I'm thinking that, with Doxa moving away from the regular limited editions to a more settled ongoing product line, theres so little happening on that front its reasonable for Doxa fans to discuss the pros and cons of the Maranez and Frog homages, in the absence of anything else new to talk about.,

Not paid much attention to the Maranez before but I note that the side/edge of the Frog bezel is polished like the Doxa whereas the Maranez is brushed or satin which doesn't look so good IMO.

Just musing ....if Doxa had issued a similar slimmer profiled model to the frog with lower profile bezel, applied indices etc but of course better quality, better movement etc ...as the Sub 200 entry level .... would it sell more than the existing Sub 200, would it bring more new buyers to Doxa or just take buyers from the higher priced (and higher profit margin...) 300/300Ts? Not that I'm against the existing 200 - it makes perfect sense to have an alternative option for those who prefer a more traditional case shape than the cushion one and it is a model from their back catalogue (albeit, while discussing modern homages, that one was a 'homage' of the Eberhard at the time!)

Have to say although I enjoyed wearing the Black Frog this week, big detail difference putting the Sharkhunter back on.

 

I’m surprised it doesn’t come in bronze that manufacturer seems to make everything in bronze.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

My Frog arrived yesterday. I sized the bracelet and it is on the wrist. A pretty cool watch overall, I really like it..... even with it's quirky bezel.