Inside the DOXA collection of a true SUB devotee
There are watch collectors, and then there are those for whom collecting becomes something far more personal, more like a lifelong friendship than a hobby. For Serbian collector Predrag, known to the DOXA community as @drsub on Instagram, his collection is not just about rare watches; it’s a reflection of his journey from professional sport into the deep world of dive watches, driven by a love for scuba diving, a passion for the ocean, and an unmistakable draw to a certain dial colour.
“I’m from Serbia,” Predrag begins, “a country where it’s really hard to be a watch collector, at least a collector of DOXA SUB watches.” A former professional basketball player, Predrag only started wearing watches after retirement, when he found time to indulge his growing love for scuba diving. “I was so obsessed with underwater adventures that I spent hours investigating everything connected to diving. One of the topics that came up, of course, was diving watches, and once I saw the orange dial of the DOXA Professional, it was love at first sight!”
Interestingly, his first DOXA wasn’t the iconic orange dial. It was a SUB 300T-Graph Sharkhunter, an unusual entry model for someone so immersed in the brand’s vibrant history. “It had the least connection with DOXA’s heritage, but it found its way to me in a beautiful way,” he says. “My father was in the Yugoslavian special forces long ago, and the person selling the watch turned out to be someone from his old unit. We had no idea when I first called to ask about it. Once we discovered the connection, he just said to name the price.” That personal history, combined with the watch’s significance, makes it an important foundation piece in what would become an extraordinary collection.
With over 35 DOXA SUB watches now in his collection, ranging from modern limited editions to rare vintage pieces, Predrag has become a recognised figure in the community. The name @drsub wasn’t something he gave himself, but one that found him through his growing influence among local collectors. “Before we had an official DOXA retailer in Serbia, I was the guy bringing DOXAs in from abroad. I became friends online with renowned DOXA expert and author Peter Miller, who taught me a great deal. I passed that knowledge on here, and because we have this slang where if you’re an expert in something you’re a ‘doctor’ of it, people started calling me ‘Doctor Doxa’… and so I became drSub.”
His collecting philosophy began simply, “let’s get all the colours”, but quickly evolved into a pursuit of limited editions, vintage models, rare ‘three-stamp’ dials, and even DOXAs for his daughter, who now has four of her own. “It’s a never-ending journey,” he says with a smile. “I think I could write a book about the journey of some of those watches before they were ‘smuggled’ into Serbia!”
So, what is it about DOXA that sets it apart in Predrag’s eyes? “It’s not a status symbol here. Most people in Serbia have no clue about the brand. It’s not about showing off, it’s about loving what’s on your wrist. These watches are built to impress the wearer, not the people around them.” He also praises their comfort, easy servicing, and bold colour palette. “We had Aquamarine before it became trendy,” he says proudly. “DOXA is a simple yet beautiful tool watch with an amazing history.”
When asked about his favourites, he doesn’t hesitate. “Sometimes I change four or five watches in a day,” he laughs. “But the vintage Sub 300 Searambler is probably the most comfortable DOXA ever made. Then there’s my vintage Sub 300T Professional Aqualung; it’s orange and it’s Aqualung, what more do you need? The 300 Sharkhunter Aqualung is just rare, beautiful and super comfortable.”
But if he had to choose just one? “The 200 T-Graph. Maybe a strange choice to some, but for me, it’s the most beautiful DOXA ever made. DOXA, you know what the community wants!”
Of course, there are still pieces on his wish list. “This is kind of a sickness,” he admits, “and there’s no cure. I’ve said many times: ‘just this one, then the collection is finished’… but it’s never finished.” His current ‘grails’ include a vintage Poseidon, a vintage Army, and a vintage 200 T-Graph. “But I’m also a proud owner of the Army LE, which is incredible.”
The DOXA community plays a central role in Predrag’s journey. “Every single watch I’ve bought used was from another member of the DOXA community,” he says. “There’s respect and honesty. Every vintage piece I have has been checked with Pete Millar to make sure it’s authentic. Without the community, I could’ve ended up with Frankenwatches. Instead, I know everything I’ve got is correct.”
He also sees the strength of the DOXA community as something that actively shapes the brand’s direction. “The brand is evolving, they’ve introduced new materials, new colours, and even I, a hard-core fan, now own two carbon watches I swore I’d never buy.” He believes DOXA has found a better balance in recent years, listening to its collectors while growing its reach.
“When the brand nails it, like the new GMT, we all agree it’s a hell of a watch. Maybe we all wanted it a bit bigger, or slightly different, but we all saw that it had real DOXA DNA.”
His passion is infectious, and it’s clear the brand recognises it, too. “I missed out on the Army LE initially due to bad luck, but the team at DOXA helped me get one. I’m truly grateful! I hope to visit the headquarters one day and thank everyone in person.”
And finally, if he had the chance to design his dream DOXA? “My local retailer Filip and I have already talked about this. We’d love to see a ‘From Collectors to Collectors’ edition one day. Maybe we’ll get to pitch it to Mr. Edöcs soon…”
Until then, Predrag, our Doctor of DOXA, will keep wearing, collecting, and sharing his passion, one SUB at a time.
