21

DOXA SUB--new book on an old watch

Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:36 am

THE WATCH...DOXA

THE BOOK....The DOXA SUB, forty years. 1967-2007

THE AUTHOR...Dr. Pete Millar


The Swiss made DOXA watch was introduced by US Divers of Santa Ana, California in their 1968 catalog.

It was offered in one model the "Doxa sub" which was offered in 3 faces, black, Silver and bright Orange. The black faced one was listed as part number #7269 aka "Shark Hunter," silver, part number #7270 aka "Sea Rambler," and the popular orange faced model as part number 7268 "The Professional" and retailed for $150.00 hard earned California dollars.

The original Doxa models were followed by other Doxa models such as the Doxa Chronograph, retail $250.00 the smaller mini Doxa retail $170.00 and the Conquistador listed at retail $175.00 in the US Divers commercial catalog of that era.

But it is the original Orange faced Doxa watch that made an immediate impact on the diving world. Prior to its introduction the majority of the diving watches were smaller in size, often the bezel rotated both left and right, most were black faced making them difficult, if not almost impossible to read in low light conditions, therefore most were difficult to use as an effective diving decompression tool, and guaranteed to eventually leak- (Before the Doxa I never owned a dive watch I couldn't flood)

The Orange faced model has been made even more famous by the diving adventure author Clive Cussler whose main fictional character Dirk Pitt, always wears a Doxa as does Clive in the pictures of him and Dirk's autos on the back of his numerous books.

Clive was introduced to the orange faced Doxa while employed at the Aquatic Center on Harbor Boulevard in Santa Ana, California were, between customers, he collected information to do character studies and wrote the his first two of his many diving based novels, "Ice Berg" and "Raise the Titanic." During this era there were only a few active Underwater Instructors for all of Orange county; All certified by LA County; a few had crossed over LA county to NAUI which had just recently been established but no PADI was only a dream of the future in the minds of Chicagoans Cronin, Erikson and Chow.

LA Co Instructor and US Diver's PR Tommy Thompson made an offer to the active LA County Certified instructors residing in Orange County for the Oranged faced Doxas Doxas that none could refuse.

It was in this setting that Clive Cussler was exposed to the magic glow of the orange faced Doxa sub; it was the sign the symbol of the OC instructors and on occasion, since diver ranking had been established but rejected by LA Co and NAUI, also the sign of what was then refereed to as a "serious diver."

Clive's first book "Ice berg" received an equally cold reception only 5000 were printed in hard cover and immediately went to soft cover trade paper back. A some time later "Raise the Titanic" was printed and became a run away best seller and Clive was on his way to literary immortality.

As a going away present the owners of the Aquatic Center presented Clive with his very own orange faced US Divers Doxa sub. Clive in turn immortalized the owners in Raise the Titanic, Dick Spencer aka "Spence," Al "O" Woods aka "Woodson" and Ron Merker was a complation of two of Clive's antagonist as "Sam Merker." Clive has continued to write to this day with the very same Orange faced Doxa on his and his fictional hero Dirk Pitt's wrist

The book "The DOXA sub, forty years 1967-2007," Was introduced in May 2007 to the diving bibliophile and diving watch collecting world in a hard cover, jacketed edition. Printed on very high grade glossy paper, it measures 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches by 1 inch thick. Between the bright orange covers are 278 information filled pages loaded with photographs and descriptions of the of the various models. The book "DOXA sub" is the first and only book printed to accurately document the origins of a diving watch and has immediately became a diving book classic upon its release. It is the definitive book on this historic watch.

It is predicted that the book "The Doxa sub" will escalate in value many times over in a record time. It will no doubt be as collectable and desirable as Leon Lyons definitive book "Helmets of the deep," It retailed for $300.00 upon release, now 10 years after its printing is selling for in excess of $4000.00 and Torrance Parker's "20,000 Jobs under the sea," which originally sold for $85.00 are currently selling for around $800.00 and is on its way to $1000 a copy. So it will be with the new book on the market "Doxa sub;forty years, 1967-2007."

The author, Dr. Pete Millar, is a well known medical doctor in Chicago, enthusastic diver a world renown expert on Doxa watches. Dr Millar spent many years collecting overhauling and cataloging Doxas watches and untold dollars researching and publishing this monumental book.

With its publication DOXA sub-forty years 1967-2007 Dr. Millar has created a great book and a created a lasting tribute to diving world.

Interested in the book? It may be ordered through the Doxa web site for $79.00 +$20.00 Shipping with in the US. But you better hurry, it is a limited edition book and the supply is very limit.

Yes, I have and am currently wearing the same 1968 US DIvers logo Orange faced Doxa sub

21

Scuba Cowboy
Master Diver
Posts: 109
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 2:25 pm
Location: Yuma, AZ

Tue Oct 23, 2007 12:50 pm

Thanks for the Clive Cussler info, I'm a big fan of his. Its always cool to hear how someone got started. I've always wanted a Doxa watch, but just don't see them for sale very often.
Dale Swift

User avatar
Mudhog
Lung Diver
Posts: 74
Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:17 pm
Location: Central Iowa

Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:56 pm

Well that will ensure Doxa prices stay high for a long while, ad well outa my reach.
Guess I will have to make do with my Seiko "Orange Monster" and orange faced St. Moritz. Looked at a Seiko Sport 5 orange face but it didn't have the depth rating.

21

DOXA watch book

Tue Oct 23, 2007 4:49 pm

The way the specialized diving books are increasing in value you could probably purchase a Doxa warch book, set it aside for a few years and it would increase in value many times over its $100.00 cost. Sell the book and with the proceeds purchase a DOXA watch...Maybe.

21

Return to “Bibliophile Forum”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 23 guests