Photo by the author
Captain Jack Sparrow may have his beloved Black Pearl pirate ship, but it’s a “Whitepearl” that he really should be hankering for, especially for his nautical adventures.
What is the “Whitepearl?”
It’s a stunning Swiss dive watch that is a veritable pirate’s treasure—and it’s made by Doxa.
Doxa, founded in 1889 in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, gained fame in the late 1960s by launching the SUB 300 with an orange dial—chosen for maximum legibility underwater—and it became a favorite of both French oceanographer and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau and explorer/bestselling author Clive Cussler, legends both.
In 2019, the brand introduced a more affordable, retro‑styled SUB 200 collection—a striking 42mm dive watch with 200m water‑resistance and six signature Doxa “rainbow” colorways: Orange (Professional), Silver (Searambler), Black (Sharkhunter), Navy (Caribbean), Yellow (Divingstar), and Turquoise (Aquamarine).
The Whitepearl—The 7th colorway
Two years after the debut of the SUB 200 line, Doxa formally unveiled on July 2021 at Geneva Watch Days a new SUB 200 colorway with a fully white dial and strap/bezel combo—Whitepearl—bringing a minimalist, monochromatic aesthetic to Doxa’s colorful heritage.
The SUB 200 Whitepearl (P65,000 SRP) shares the 42 mm 316L stainless‑steel case, 14mm thickness, “glass‑box” domed sapphire crystal, screw‑down crown, and 200m water‑resistance with the rest of the SUB 200 line. Inside beats the dependable ETA 2824‑2 automatic movement (~38‑hour reserve, 28,800 vph).
A matte snow‑white dial, black‑outlined applied indices, black handset, and date window frame create crisp contrast and excellent legibility—even in low light, thanks to Super‑LumiNova.
The Whitepearl is offered with either a textured white rubber strap (standard or small size) or a stainless steel “beads‑of‑rice” bracelet with folding clasp and wetsuit extension.
The Whitepearl represented a bold paradigm shift for Doxa—bringing its colorful dive watch DNA into a minimal, modernist aesthetic while retaining solid tool‑watch specs at a compelling price.
The reception to the SUB 200 Whitepearl was such that, by 2022, Doxa expanded the colorway to other SUB models including SUB 300, SUB 600T, SUB 1500T, and SUB 300 Carbon versions.
I’ve sported the Whitepearl and have found it to be a versatile all-season/all-occasion watch that can be worn at work or even for casual or formal events. It’s got that effortless and unintimidating “wrist presence” that makes it an easy conversation piece, even among non-watch lovers.
The SUB 200 Whitepearl offers Doxa’s rich dive heritage and build quality. Its unique visual appeal—a full‑white look—is still rare in dive watches, while offering great legibility and functionality with built‑in dive tool specs. Then there’s the proven reliability of the brand’s ETA 2824‑2 movement—all at an attainable price.
Jack Sparrow would approve.
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