OX OCEANIX FROG300 Pro Diver [Zombies can't swim]

** IMPORTANT UPDATE ** 

The FROG300 is now getting the Miyota 9075 GMT. Please scroll down for NEW details.

Frozen in a grotesque mimicry of their former selves, shuffling eerily, eyes devoid of life, face bereft of even the faintest flicker of humanity, these seemingly apathetic abominations can't do much of anything. 

But the second a horde of ravenous zombies senses your presence, they explode with a primal rage as they relentlessly chase and hunt you down until they eventually catch up with you and chew your frightened face off.

But … "zombies can't swim", so let them remain on dry land while we venture into the water for a deep dive with the forthcoming FROG300 pro diver collection from OX OCEANIX. Your life depends on it! 

I've introduced more new diver's watch projects over the past almost two decades than I can shake a large stick at but never have I come across such an intriguing, whimsical yet thought provoking slogan as "zombies can't swim."

It tells me several things; to expect the unexpected, to buckle up for a potentially wild ride. Such as jumping out of a rescue helicopter into the raging sea or launching into space with NASA's Artemis-II on a trip to the moon. And that life's too short to be taken so seriously. 

It also tells me that the maverick, the mastermind behind OX OCEANIX and the FROG300, Joseph Bolart might be a fan of the forthcoming comic of the same name from Kim Herbst. I don't know, but he has my attention.

When it comes to attention grabbing diver's watches, I'm not talking about those pretty faced vintage watches with one foot stuck in the past and another in a smart dress shoe that are undeniably, ubiquitously popular. 

And of which the dive watch collector's market is about as saturated with, as a small yellow sponge boy living in his pineapple under the sea is with seawater.

I'm talking about fully employed diving instruments, proper modern day tool-watches like those that are perhaps being produced by the true masters of durability, reliability and utility, the Japanese. 

Watches like G-SHOCK's colorful, indestructible Frogman or Seiko's prolific, iconic Marinemaster, or Citizen's dependable, durable Promaster.

Now here comes a brand-new watchmaker that imbues all those watchmaking values, those diver-centric design traits that divers have sought out in their diving companions, in their life preserving safety equipment for decades. 

Only with an outlook and an aesthetic as modern and as fresh as the latest iphone. This is OCEANIX and this is the inimitable, the inexorable FROG300 pro diver collection with its innovative, technical, lifesaving safety features and its seven striking contemporary looks.

And like a horde of zombies or a shower of frogs raining down from the sky it plans to take the dive watch world by storm. Introducing the OCEANIX FROG300, the next generation of pro diver's watches, a disruptive new watch featuring lifesaving technological innovations such as its ID+SYS™.

After more than two years of intense research and development the FROG300 diver's watch with its breathtaking blend of watchmaking tradition and technological innovation is here. 

Well almost. Pre-orders are open but you'll have to hang on just a while longer as manufacturing is still underway. But until then why not see what all the fuss is about.

OCEANIX, a new watch manufacturing company makes the bold claim that it is the first watch brand in the world to successfully merge traditional mechanical watchmaking with useful technology as illustrated by the FROG300, their debut diver's model. 

The watch doesn't adhere to the traditional tried and tested or perhaps that should be "tired" (as in yawn-yawn) and tested conventions of the 300m diver’s watch segment with its titanium case.

In fact the opposite is true as it sets out to break preconceived notions of what a diver should or shouldn't be with its refreshingly bold aesthetic. 

Furthermore the FROG300 has been designed to be a supremely durable wristwatch, with a highly robust case construction that makes use of high-tech materials such as titanium grade 4 as well as DLC surface treatment on some of its components. 

Making it the sort of tough timepiece that has been built to withstand whatever life might throw its way, and as such a worthy proposition not only for frogmen or those involved in maritime pursuits but any form of adventure and exploration. And one day it might actually save your life!

The FROG300 pro diver’s watch boasts 3 vital functions: Advanced Dive Time, GMT Time and ID+SYS™. ID+SYS™ EMERGENCY DATA SYSTEM OX® FROG300 introduces the patented (pat. pending 06/23) and internationally registered ID+SYS™ system, allowing owners to have vital data (The ones they have chosen to enter, such as personal, contact, medical information on allergies, incompatibilities, or medical conditions, and medical insurance details…) on the ID+SYS™ Disk inside watch for use in emergency situations, providing an unparalleled layer of security in watchmaking and instrument watches.

Furthermore, the NFC technology used does not require a battery, Wi-Fi connection, or any coverage, and it remains active at all times. The ID+SYS™ will deliver relevant data of the accident victim to the rescue team, maritime rescue, or paramedics, helping to save the life of the FROG300 owner, if necessary. 

ADVANCED 'DIVE TIME' CROWN Precision Underwater: Designed as an auxiliary tool, especially for demanding divers, the FROG300 features an advanced 'Dive Time' crown that allows precise unidirectional adjustment of 60 minutes even underwater (e.g., adjusting from dive time to decompression time), a distinctive and crucial feature for diving professionals. 

Additionally, the crown self-locks, preventing accidental changes to the adjusted time on the unidirectional inner bezel with high legibility in both day and night.

AUTOMATIC TRUE GMT. MIYOTA® RELIABILITY The automatic True GMT caliber, the 9075 manufactured by MIYOTA® (Citizen® Movement Division) in Japan, is the perfect companion for the FROG300, a traveler’s GMT that features the jumping hour hand functionality.

With 28,800 vibrations per hour, 24 jewels, and a power reserve of 42 hours, this mechanism ensures precision. This excellent mechanism is a guarantee of durability, thanks to its internal Parashock system and redesigned Cushion. The accuracy is adjusted (and tested) in-house to +15/-10 sec/day as an act of good faith to meet expectations.

DURABLE CONSTRUCTION Manufactured from marine-grade titanium - grade 4 Sandblasted finished, the FROG300 Diver's combines strength, hardness, and lightweight properties to withstand the most extreme diving environments. 

It features a double-curved sapphire crystal with blue anti-reflective AR coating on the inner surface. The standard straps are made of high-density FKM (fluoroelastomer).

ADVANCED CLASP The titanium clasp, also of a proprietary design, allows strap micro-adjustments for user customization as well as adjustment over wetsuits or technical gear. It includes a safety lock button. 

ACCESSORIES AND COMPLEMENTS The FROG300 can be customized with the use of a solid titanium bracelet with colored inner links or with textile and nylon straps with Velcro® Cosmoband© closures, available when delivering the initial FROG300 units. 

SUPERIOR COMFORT With its distinctive design and anthropometric focus, the watch features internal crowns that free the wrist, ensuring unrestricted movement and exceptional comfort throughout the day. 

Despite its 45mm case diameter, the lug-to-lug distance is very short, making it adaptable to medium and large wrists alike. Furthermore, due to its eccentric case design, the case's mass along with the center of gravity is shifted inward, achieving an additional level of comfort.

ISO-CERTIFIED DEPTH The FROG300 diver raises the bar for water-resistance with its usable dive bezel function and a rating to 300 meters (1000 feet). It complies with ISO 6425 standards, offering highly precise hourly and dive-time readings in both daytime and low visibility conditions, thanks to the use of Super-LumiNova, applied in strategic areas in two-tone colors to differentiate both readings. 

(C5 Light Green for Time and GMT hand, hours markers too, BG W9 A Grade Blue for Dive Time, markers or Dive Time zone from 0 to 15’. And the exception in the GMT zone of Depth Rainbow model, that is in C5 Dark Red on hand and 24H marks).

A 300M RESISTANT FROG In the case of water-resistance, the FROG300 has a depth rating to 30 ATM, 300 meters and as previously mentioned, is equipped with a Helium Expulsion Valve integrated within the crown area, a feature that whether or not we agree is essential offers a further stylistic touch of utility. 

In addition to these outstanding features, the FROG300 Diver's offers a unique ownership experience. Owners can reserve their watch during the pre-sale, which began in July 2023, and will be kept informed of the process continuously.

The watches will be manufactured in Hong Kong and will be delivered in April 2024 (or even earlier). Each watch comes with an international warranty of 2 years, extendable to 6 years with a simple online registration on the official website. 

The warranty system has been designed with Pick-up and Delivery (PaP) service, subject to acceptance and validation of the case registration in the Customer Service section of our website. Prices start from MSRP 1,430 USD up to 9,100 USD for the 18K Gold case alloyed with G2 Titanium version.

OX OCEANIX is an American company that challenges convention by merging automatic watches with useful technology. Founded in 2023, the company is committed to offering 'Next Gen' creations of exceptional quality and technological innovation, always in limited production and under the umbrella of instrument or Diver's watches. 

They are working to launch 2 more advanced models in the near future, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in the technical and Diver's watch segment. The launch of two new models is scheduled for the end of 2024 (Diver's GT) and in 2025 (EMERGENCY PRO).

The FROG300 Diver's is now available for pre-order at www.frog300.com, and in 2024/2025, showrooms will open in New York, Barcelona, Milan, and other strategically selected cities where you can see, touch, and try out OX®'s first creation. 

The FROG300 diver’s watches will be available for delivery to owners in April 2024 (or earlier).

Thoughts? No stone left unturned, no box left un-ticked, no man left behind, all zombies left on the shore. OCEANIX has left absolutely nothing to chance. Seldom have I encountered such an eye wateringly complete debut diver's collection. 

Seldom have I encountered such fastidious attention to detail. Such imagination. Such thought for the design and innovation of utilitarian diver's features. It's a truly staggering first foray and from a newcomer to boot. The obvious investment of time, and money. The passion, the obsession it all shines through.

The FROG300 professional diver's watch promises so much. Features such as its dual dive-time safety system, its lifesaving disk embedded into the case-back, its safety locking clasp. 

Then there's its attractive retro-futurist, asymmetrical case design, constructed from titanium grade 4 and offered in seven uniquely striking looks, the plethora of colorful accessories on offer, including a bespoke full titanium grade 4 bracelet. 

OX OCEANIX's FROG300 could be the refreshingly functional technical tour de force that modern day divers and survivors of the zombie apocalypse have been waiting for. To the diver, professional, recreational or otherwise, how will this fresh faced frog function in the pond? How will it perform beneath the lily pads, down there in the deep?

And to the collector; when and if you can ever decide which of these seven seductive looks to choose from; what will the FROG300 look and feel like on the wrist? And how will it perform on a day to day basis? Ultimately all these questions must be answered. 

When at last we can defy the zombies with OX OCEANIX. And explore the ocean's depths, the depths of our imagination with the FROG300 pro diver's watch, unmolested by the living dead as we drift beneath the waves while zombies sink. ;)

PARADISI RP 01 [Solid Handbuilt Italian Diver]

When the founder of Paradisi, Riccardo Paradisi decided to design and engineer his own diver’s watch, he looked to one of the toughest case materials that there is to work with within the watch industry. Not because he wanted to make life difficult for himself but because he wanted the very best for his debut model, the RP 01. And because of Riccardo’s experience working within the materials technologies sector, he knew exactly what he wanted for his first watches, and that was Grade 5 Titanium. We are no strangers to Grade 5 Titanium, here. We know of its virtues such as its high-tensile strength, its ultra-lightweight, its high-level of corrosion-resistance and of course its hypoallergenic properties. We also know that because of its incredible strength that it is also one of the most expensive materials to work with, often damaging the tooling used when manufacturing with it. Nevertheless Riccardo forged ahead with his plan which was to produce a small series of the RP 01 in Grade 5 Titanium of which some would be even supplied for use by the Navy. But before fully realizing his RP 01 ambitions, Riccardo had to create the necessary infrastructure in which to produce such a watch. This included building and engineering his own testing machinery; he manufactured a machine capable of testing the water-resistance of his diving instruments up to a water column of 4’000 meters.

All this propelled Riccardo, aged just 25 (at the time in 2015) well and truly into the field of watchmaking and industrial design and technology. A year later in 2016 Riccardo finally undertook his ambitious and fascinating project, to make a divers’ watch entirely made in Italy with the exception of a Swiss movement. All the RP 01’s mechanical components have been designed by Paradisi and manufactured by several companies within Italy.

The final version of the ref. RP 01 was eventually produced in 3 variants: Grade 5 Titanium, 904L Stainless steel, Grade 5 Titanium with DLC. The RP 01 has been engineered for use in Saturation Diving even without the aid of a Helium Escape Valve, made possible through working with highly accurate processing techniques with high tolerances. The case, the winding crown, the unidirectional bezel, the case-back and the movement ring have all been machined from solid from a bar Titanium or Steel while the satin finishing of the cases has been performed manually by several craftsmen. Every single component used for the RP 01 has been fabricated in Italy involving more than twenty different companies, allowing Paradisi to keep a close eye on each stage of the manufacturing process. Each individual watch has been tested to the equivalent pressure of 1’500 meters below sea level, thus ensuring a large margin of safety allowing for extreme professional use.

Other testing included thermal stress and mechanical resistance of the straps, in order to guarantee the maximum reliability. Production is truly limited, so just ten examples of each of the three variants. Thoughts? There are few things we appreciate more than hand-built, handcrafted tool watches, those from Germans and Italians alike; Ennebi, G&W and Gruppo Ardito, VDB, Kaventsmann. 

 

Now, Paridisi are looking to enter this legendary segment with their RP 01. It has all the hallmarks of a great artisanal tool diver. 

 

It even has many of those desirable design cues such as its sheer presence and paired back dial and bezel features. Now the proof of the pudding must be in the eating.

SHERPA Watches ULTRADIVE & OPS [¿ expensive homage watch brand or benevolent custodians of a sacred name?]

The Sherpa name is a name that is synonymous with Mount Everest and of course Tenzing Norgay AKA Sherpa Tenzing, the Nepali-Indian Sherpa mountaineer; 

who was one of the first two known climbers to successfully summit Mount Everest, which he did with Kiwi, Sir Edmund Hillary on May 29th 1953.

The Sherpa people are a Tibetan ethnic group native to the most mountainous regions of Nepal, Tingri County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and the Himalayas. 

At this point I really need to say; “FREE TIBET! Don’t get me started on the CCP!” 

I digress, the term Sherpa is often used when referring to those extraordinary local guides and climbing supporters hired for mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas.

However this iconic name associated with the World’s highest mountain peak was once the model name of one the most famous compressor diver’s watches from the last century – that name is back! 

A new German high-end, homage brand called Sherpa Watches has launched, and their debut lineup includes a pair of compressor divers based on those once bearing the same name from Enicar S.A.

Enicar is an historic Swiss brand dating back to 1914; back in the day they made some pretty epic watches besides those famous Sherpa compressor models that included the Sherpa Ops, a personal favorite of mine. 

The stunning Graphomatic (as good looking as any Speedy imho), the Sherpa Star Diver just as special as the Doxa ARMY, the quirky Ultrasonic Healthways 100 Fathom with its oversized markers and a segmented seconds hand - all are worthy of our attention but it was the Sherpa compressor models that endured.

Enicar seem to be in a state of dormancy since 2015, we haven't heard much of anything about them recently as they became one of these Sino-Swiss brands with a large portfolio of derivative-style, semi luxury watches. 

They are currently owned by the Hong Kong-based wholesale distributors of jewelry, precious stones and metals, costume jewelry, watches, clocks, and silverware - Wah Ming Hong Limited who were founded in 1967.

The new Sherpa Ultradive and the OPS are based on the Enicar Sherpa OG models, once favorite of pro deep-sea and military divers from a bygone era as well as cult actors like, Alain Delon who wore one of these robust super compressor case models. 

The OG models measured 40mm in diameter, excluding their dual crowns and crown protections guards - with those they measure around 43-44mm.

Both case size and crown protection guards are identical to the OG Sherpa models from 1968, just like the revolutionary water-resistant technology as developed by Ervin Piquerez S.A. (EPSA) – updated to today’s technologies. 

Even the unique bayonet compressor case-back construction, originally named EPSA-STOP, and the re-invented MONOFLEX compressor crowns are present in the new Ultradive and OPS offering a highly authentic functioning Compressor Dive Watch experience.

Sherpa Watches is also planning to bring back other legendary watch models; perhaps like those mentioned above. 

If the Ultradive and Ops models are well received we could eventually see a homage Graphomatic or Sherpa Star Diver resurrected in a similar fashion to these. Scroll down for full specs.

Thoughts? Enicar’s Sherpa Ops and Star Diver models have been favorites of mine for years. 

I have this file on my desktop named ‘treasure’ with images that I’ve scavenged from all the top auctions sites showing all my vintage grails inside; the Sherpa Ops is in there. What can I say I’m a sick man! However I never buy vintage watches because if you don’t know your sh!t inside out it can be a minefield, but I do love a good revival watch as much the next watch geek. 

I'm kinda' smitten by these new Sherpa watches which have been lovingly and faithfully recreated to the very last detail – design, tech, even the Sherpa brand logo recalls the Enicar logo with its use of two circles. There is no denying the watches are breathtakingly stunning and are a perfect modern equivalent of the OG watches and no doubt beautifully made to boot.

But the pricing seems a little askew. Whichever way you cut it, these are homage watches, h o m a g e  w a t c h e s ! If they (Sherpa) had committed to buying the Enicar brand itself, it would have been one thing; perhaps they did try to buy the brand but failed and thought f*ck it, we’ll do it anyway? I dunno’. 

But what I do know is that €5’900 for a homage watch is a tad optimistic and €5’900 for a Sellita SW200-1 (even in Top Grade) from an untried, untested, startup with zero heritage is pretty darn audacious! If they’d thrown a Manufacture movement into the mix like Aquastar did with the DEEPSTAR or a ton of their own diver’s watch innovations like ZRC did with the GF300 when they re-birthed their historic models, there would have been a lot more justification for the pricing. The entire design, all the watch's compressor tech, such as the EPSA-STOP brevet bayonet type compressor case-back, thingamabob – no matter how revered comes straight off the OG model.

It isn't anything new is it? So should it add up to nearly 6'000euros? You tell me. Case in point; look at Christopher Ward’s C65 SUPER COMPRESSOR for comparison or even the Circula SUPERSPORT. But what do you think? Sherpa Ultradive 

360° rotating inner bezel, marked with Super-LumiNova X1 for optimal readability underwater 

EPSA-STOP bayonet compressor case back construction

Top crown to operate the inner bezel 

Full crown protection, to avoid entanglement with seaweed while diving 

Bottom crown to operate the hands and set the date 

Domed crystal that withstands 20 bar of water pressure 

Retail price: €5.900 incl. 19% VAT 16 

 

Sherpa OPS 

Very durable satin black DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coating 

Fully water resistant up to 20 bar (200 m) 

Swiss made Sellita Caliber SW200-1 (Top Grade) automatic watch movement with 38 hrs power reserve 

Sculpted lugs with 20mm band width, ready to fit your favorite watch strap or bracelet 

Tropic style watch strap, made of robust vulcanized rubber 

Retail price: €5.800 incl. 19% VAT