The Doxa Sub 300 “Great White” Topper Edition — An LE Done Right
Topper Fine Jewelers in Burlingame, California has created some truly memorable collaborative limited-edition watches. Brands like Zodiac, Seiko, and Fears have been featured on one or more of the 14 pieces thus far. The latest release is the Doxa Sub 300 “Great White” Topper Edition. It’s a cool piece with enough differences from the serial-production models to matter.
Indeed, Topper has released some attractive limited editions. Today’s Doxa Sub 300 “Great White,” however, might be my favorite. It’s a great-looking watch, but it’s more than a dial variant. As we’ll see, there is a notable mechanical change that should prove popular with collectors.
The Doxa Sub 300 “Great White” Topper Edition
The new “Great White” Topper Edition is based on the familiar thin-cased Sub 300 made for one year in 1967. This translates to a 42.5mm by 45mm dive watch with a 13.4mm thickness including the porthole-like domed sapphire crystal. As the name suggests, the watch has a 300m water resistance rating. A screw-down crown, screw-in case back, and beads-of-rice bracelet with a wetsuit extension are part of the package. Additionally, a white rubber strap with a folding clasp comes with the watch.
The shark that inspired the watch
Topper’s location in Northern California near the Gulf of the Farallones gave rise to the idea behind the watch. The waters surrounding the Farallon Islands in the Gulf are home to a native population of great white sharks. In fact, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these watches will go to the Greater Farallons Association, a charity that aids a nearby marine sanctuary. The waters and the islands are depicted on the case back.
A dial with significant changes
The Sub 300 “Great White” Topper Edition has a luminous white dial with blue markings and hands. The color is also used in lacquer form on the unidirectional “no-deco” dive bezel. Returning to the dial, it reminds me of porcelain-dialed beauties, such as the Credor Eichi. Perhaps the blue and white in combination with the milky sapphire crystal help achieve this appearance. There’s more, though…or less. The normal date window is missing, which is, according to Doxa, the first time for a Sub 300. Bravo on this decision because the watch looks incredibly balanced.
The “Great White” is a COSC-certified chronometer
Aside from removing the date function, the remaining movement specs are identical to the serial models. The automatic Sellita SW200 provides 38 hours of power reserve, optional manual winding, and hacking seconds. We can confirm that the date stop has been removed from the movement.
Always great on the wrist
While I have yet to try the “Great White,” I own a similar watch, and it wears beautifully. Normally a 42.5mm diameter concerns me, but the short lugs and small dial help the fit. Plus, the watch deserves its “strap monster” reputation because it works well with almost any 20mm-wide option. Also, the white dial should prove more usable in an office setting than a comparatively brash orange or yellow version.
Doxa Sub 300 “Great White” Topper Edition: pricing and availability
Understandably, the new “Great White” is only available via Topper. The good news is that the jeweler runs an active and modern website that handles orders from afar. Just 100 pieces of the newest Sub 300 will be available for US$2,995. Considering the colorway and the elimination of the date function, I expect this watch to be popular. Like many of you, I like to see limited-edition collaborations that bring something different to the market. This piece scores well in that department, so congrats to Topper on a great release!
