Deep-Diving Destro: Doxa Debuts The New Left-Hand-Drive Sub 300T Professional Aristera

Doxa is always one of the brands we keep a close eye on when Geneva Watch Days rolls around. This year, the brand has not disappointed with two major pieces of news. The first is a new left-hand-drive Sub 300T Professional Aristera. The second is the collection-wide rollout of the “Sea Emerald” green colorway. The dashing green shade, which debuted in the Sub 200T introduced earlier this year, is now available across the Sub family, including the Sub 200, Sub 300, Sub 300T, Sub 600T, and Sub 300 Carbon.

Returning to the main matter at hand, let’s talk about “destro” watches. The term comes from the Italian meaning “right” and refers to the wrist on which these left-crowned watches are meant to be worn. These have been around as long as wristwatches have. Left-handed people comprise approximately 10% of the world’s population, meaning that the same percentage of watch buyers favor their left hand. It shouldn’t be surprising that most brands have catered to the one-in-ten buyer at some point or another. However, it may shock you how relatively sparse the options are. Few brands make destro models, and even fewer offer it as a configurable option when buying the watch (only Serica comes to mind). Today, Doxa fills the gap in its catalog with a limited run of the Sub 300T Professional Aristera, its very first left-hand-drive (LHD) model.

Destro watches: not just for lefties

Most watches can be worn on either wrist. Typically, we place our watches on our non-dominant side to avoid impacts when using the hand and for comfort when writing (remember writing on paper with a pen? Those were the days!). However, just as writing is significantly easier with our dominant hand, so is setting and winding a watch. Don’t believe me? Take your watch off your wrist and flip it upside down so the crown is on the left. Now, holding the watch in your right hand, go through the motions of pulling out the crown and setting the time with your left hand. That’s not so easy for you righties, is it? Well, now you know how southpaws feel when dealing with a “standard” watch. Is it manageable? Sure, but it’s far from ideal.

That’s not all, though. There are some added benefits of left-hand-drive watches for us righties. The main advantage is that the crown won’t dig into the back of your hand or protrude forward into harm’s way. This is not too much of an issue in daily life. But for those of us who take our dive watches diving and use them as the tools that they are, it can add some peace of mind and comfort. This is why some Seiko and Citizen watches have their crowns at 4 o’clock or 8 o’clock, respectively. In the case of the Doxa Sub 300T, which is a fairly symmetrical watch with the crown deeply recessed into the case, the impact in this sense is minimal. However, it’ll still be a godsend to all left-handed fans of Doxa divers out there.

The Doxa Sub 300T Professional Aristera

At first glance, you may think the Doxa Sub 300T Professional Aristera is just a simple case of crown relocation. And for the most part, you’d be right. The Aristera (Greek for “left”) uses the same 42.5mm × 44.5mm × 14mm stainless steel case and flat sapphire crystal. But take a closer look, and it becomes apparent that there’s more to it than that. The first thing to jump out at me was the bezel. This model features a special aluminum insert, referencing a Sub 600T model from the obscure Aubry era of Doxa in the ’80s. This insert features a lume arrow for the 60-minute marker instead of the usual orange and black circles. It’s a striking look, especially for those used to the usual brushed and polished stainless steel bezel insert, and it gives this destro Doxa a distinctively retro feel.

You might also notice that, though the crown has relocated, the date window has not. So while the movement has undergone a 180° rotation, according to the brand, this incurred a series of additional technical adjustments and revisions. Other than that, it’s the same winning Sub 300T formula we all know and love. The watch has a helium escape valve (at 3 o’clock, of course) and is rated water resistant to 1,200 meters. The dial, hands, and bezel all have a generous amount of Super-LumiNova for optimal low-light legibility.

This new lefty model comes on the signature steel beads-of-rice bracelet, which features a ratcheting dive extension in the clasp. As this is a limited edition (of 300 pieces), Doxa throws in an extra two-piece nylon strap. The Sub 300T Aristera will be available starting in October at official points of sale, and pre-orders are open now on the Doxa website. The price for this limited edition will be €2,490.

Go green — Sea Emerald green, that is!

As I mentioned, Doxa’s second piece of news is the extension of the Sea Emerald green colorway. It’s a pretty self-explanatory announcement, but there is some nuance. The Sea Emerald colorway is the eighth color available in the Doxa Sub collection and was first seen in this year’s 39mm Doxa Sub 200T. That original model featured golden accents in its hands and indices. This will be echoed in the Sub 300 and Sub 300T references.

However, the Sub 200, Sub 600T, and Sub 300 Carbon will not get the golden touch. Instead, the sunburst green of the dial will be paired with silver hands for the Sub 200 and black ones for the other two models. The Sub 200 will have a black bezel insert, and the Sub 600T will be available both with a black ceramic bezel and a steel alternative. Doxa will also offer these watches on a matching two-piece nylon strap for a reduced price.

The Sea Emerald Sub range is available for pre-order today on the Doxa website and will hit retailers by November.

Final thoughts

So, what’s the score? One limited-edition destro diver and six new references in the brand’s eighth colorway. I’d call that a decent performance from Doxa at Geneva Watch Days 2024. The new Doxa Sub 300T Professional Aristera (limited to 300 numbered pieces worldwide) is a real winner. And though I favor my right hand, the watch’s charm is certainly not lost on me. The fact that this is the very first destro Doxa also makes it a significant milestone for the brand and a collector-worthy piece (which comes at a €500 premium). If the response is positive, I wouldn’t be too surprised if we saw a more permanent left-hand-drive addition to Doxa’s catalog in the next year or two.

For now, I will leave you with some questions: what do you think of these latest novelties from Doxa? Are you a fan of the destro diver? And how do you feel about the Sea Emerald green colorway? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.