DOXA pays tribute to the celebrated American novelist, maritime explorer and founder of NUMA, who would have celebrated his 95th birthday today.
Since his passing in February 2020, his family has remained closely connected to the brand.
This COSC-certified timepiece marks the return of Grade 5 titanium at DOXA, featuring an all-new two-level dial architecture that creates a striking sense of depth and dimensionality.
A numbered limited edition of 300 pieces (XXX/300) — available on doxawatches.com and, for the first time, through authorized DOXA retailers. From July 15, 2026.
– Legendary novelist and adventurer Clive Cussler, who shared his passion for DOXA SUB watches through his hero Dirk Pitt, would have celebrated his 95th birthday today, July 15. DOXA marks the occasion by returning to its origins — the SUB 300, the foundational watch introduced in 1967 — reimagined for this special edition in Grade 5 titanium.
The choice of model is deliberate. The SUB 300 is where it all began. Introduced in 1967, it was the first dive watch designed for the general public while meeting the demands of professional diving.
The choice of material is equally meaningful. Grade 5 titanium — lighter, stronger and highly corrosion-resistant — naturally reflects the spirit associated with Clive Cussler and the world of his novels.
This edition is limited to 300 numbered pieces, in direct reference to the model itself. Originally conceived as a series of 95 watches in tribute to what would have been Clive Cussler’s 95th birthday this year, production was exceptionally increased to 300 pieces in response to strong demand. The SUB 300 Ti5 Clive Cussler will be available on doxawatches.com and – this is a first – at authorized DOXA retailers. This opens a broader access to this tribute edition, while preserving the exclusive character associated with DOXA special editions. Part of the proceeds will go to support the work of NUMA, founded by Clive Cussler
A first: the dual-plane dial architecture, creating depth and dimension
The SUB 300 Ti5 Clive Cussler introduces an entirely new dial architecture. It is, in fact, composed of two superimposed dials, both crafted from Grade 5 titanium, which together create a layered effect combining technical precision with visual impact.
The lower dial carries the Super-LumiNova® hour markers and the minute track. On the upper dial, positioned a short distance above the first, openings matching the exact proportions of the hour markers — with a central aperture aligned with the index beneath and two lateral cut-outs reproducing its full geometry — have been laser-cut, revealing the luminous elements below. The date aperture and minute markers are produced using the same technique.
The effect is twofold: the infinitesimal space between the two levels creates a subtle impression of depth, while the interplay of light and shadow — perceptible both in daylight and in low-visibility conditions — enhances the dial’s presence without ever compromising legibility. With its sandblasted finish, it retains its full functional character, while inviting the eye to return — much like one watches the surface of the ocean, knowing that what matters most lies beneath.
Legibility, versatility, reliability — the fundamentals remain intact
Like the inaugural model introduced in 1967, the SUB 300 Ti5 Clive Cussler is water-resistant to 300 meters and equipped with DOXA’s patented unidirectional rotating bezel. Its dual scale correlates depth and dive time, helping divers remain within the no-decompression limits established by the US Navy.
Beneath the scratch-resistant anti-reflective “glass box” sapphire crystal, all dive-related displays are coated with Super-LumiNova®, ensuring excellent legibility in low-visibility conditions. The oversized minute hand — a historic SUB signature — is rendered in DOXA orange (a nod to the original) to immediately draw the eye to the most critical information.
The depth indications on the bezel’s outer ring also feature this distinctive orange tone, contrasting with the black markings of the inner ring dedicated to dive time. The date window at 3 o’clock incorporates a detail unique to this edition: the numerals 15, 7 and 31 appear in DOXA orange, referencing Clive Cussler’s birth date.
Powered by a Swiss automatic movement with exclusive DOXA decorations beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4.0 Hz), the watch delivers a comfortable power reserve of approximately 38 hours. The screw-down caseback and crown — both also crafted from Grade 5 titanium — complete a package water-resistant to 300 meters (~984 feet), providing ample margin for underwater exploration.
The return of titanium at DOXA
The SUB 300 Ti5 Clive Cussler marks the return of Grade 5 titanium to the DOXA collection — a material renowned for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and comfort on the wrist. The case (42.50 mm × 45.00 mm, thickness 13.40 mm), dual-plane dial, screw-down caseback and crown are all crafted from Grade 5 titanium (Ti5), making this one of the lightest — alongside DOXA’s carbon models — and most resilient watches the brand has ever produced.
The caseback: a component in its own right
Also crafted from Grade 5 titanium, the screw-down caseback bears the emblem of NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency), the COSC certification and the individual numbering of each watch (XXX/300).
The bracelet: vintage in spirit, timeless in execution
The SUB 300 Ti5 Clive Cussler is fitted with a black Dive Flex rubber strap featuring a tropical-inspired aesthetic, whose signature perforated pattern evokes the spirit of the 1960s, when the original SUB 300 opened the world of professional diving to the wider public..
An enduring partnership with NUMA
In keeping with Clive Cussler’s commitment to preserving maritime heritage, DOXA will donate part of the proceeds from this special edition to NUMA — the National Underwater and Marine Agency, the organization he founded in 1979 to search for and preserve historic shipwrecks.
“The connection between DOXA and my father was never simply a commercial partnership — it was a shared adventure, built around the values he believed in and carried forward today through the NUMA organization he created. Bold, creative and driven by limitless curiosity, he always forged his own path, whether searching for historic wrecks or writing new stories. This titanium SUB 300 captures something of who he truly was, and I’m deeply grateful to DOXA for honoring his memory with such authenticity.”
— Dirk Cussler, son of Clive Cussler and author
“Through his novels, Clive Cussler introduced DOXA to readers around the world, with the SUB constantly present on Dirk Pitt’s wrist. As we mark what would have been his 95th birthday, we are returning to the watch that began the SUB story — the SUB 300 — reinterpreted here in Grade 5 titanium. Lightweight, exceptionally durable, demanding to work with and built to last, this material felt like the natural choice for an edition dedicated to Clive Cussler. We are deeply grateful to the Cussler family for the extraordinary friendship and trust they continue to share with DOXA.”
— Jan Edöcs, CEO of DOXA
