DOXA

1970s Aqua Lung Quartz Diver (Ref. 7336-000) "U.S Divers Co."

 

Doxa S.A. was founded in 1889 by Georges Ducommun as a maker of dress watches and other timepieces. In the late 1960s, Doxa decided to dedicate resources to produce a timepiece to be used exclusively for diving. Doxa consulted with various Navy dive teams and divers including Jacques Cousteau who was then chairman of "U.S. Divers." Doxa's innovative watches were quickly adopted by both commercial and military divers.

Jacques Cousteau, who at the time was the head of U.S. Divers, was so impressed by the Doxa Sub300T that he became a distributor of the reference in the United States and co-branded the dial of the Sub300T with the U.S. Divers logo.

The Doxa company over the years went through many acquisitions and changed ownership but in 1978 DOXA along with ERNEST BOREL and AUREOLE was acquired by the Aubry Freres Company, and during the early 1980s,​ they produced some radically different designs in addition to the classic tonneau divers. Although the classic orange dial SUB 300T was dropped from production in the mid-1970s, Doxa did not stop making dive watches for at least another 10 years.

During the Aubrey-Era, Doxa also produced unique dive watches under the Aqua Lung brand specifically for the US Divers Co. These odd-ball divers share a lot of design cues with the main Doxa Sub design but differ in some pretty big ways as well. The main differentiators are the ETA 9362 quartz movement, a bulkier 43mm case with an offset crown located at the 4 o'clock position, and the unique "Expandro" bracelet which has multiple micro-adjust features. The Aqua Lung divers not only mark a notable transition in the Doxa brand history but offer an impressive wrist presence as well that makes for a suitable and sporty daily driver.

SPECS

Stock # ALUSDCQ
Brand Aqua Lung (Doxa)
Style Quartz Diver
Model 7336-000
Serial 10XXXX
Size Men's
Material Stainless Steel
Dial Orange
Millimeters 43
Bracelet Expandro "Bead of Rice" Stretch Bracelet

CASE & BRACELET

The excellent tonneau case is believed to remain unpolished with sharp factory finishing and angles with honest signs of use. The original uni-directional bezel is in wonderful condition, with light signs of honest use. The case back retains all of its original factory markings with light signs of use. The original Expandro "beads of rice" stretch bracelet features two expanding micro-adjust functions within the clasp and shows normal stretch for the bracelet style and age.

DIAL & HANDS 

The bright orange dial is in excellent original condition, showing no major damage or age. There is subtle hand drag at the center of the dial that is almost impossible to see without a loupe. The tritium lume plots have aged to a lovely yellow coloration and exhibit no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. The original tritium hands have aged similarly to the dial, and display no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. 

ACCESSORIES 

None. The watch is keeping time and just received a new battery.