What watch did the up-and-coming film director Taika Waititi, nominated for six Academy Awards, choose?

What kind of watches do top celebrities choose? Celebrity Watch Hunting is a series of columns that introduces private moments of celebrities from around the world. This time, we'll be introducing the watch chosen by Taika Waititi, director of the currently-showing movie "Jojo Rabbit"!

Taika Waititi (left)

　Many people may have first heard of director Taika Waititi at the 92nd Academy Awards in February 2020. His film "Jojo Rabbit," which was nominated in six categories including Best Picture, is a human drama set in Germany during World War II, depicting life from the perspective of a 10-year-old boy. He directed, wrote, produced, and even played the role of Hitler. The film, which blends humor with a serious subject, drew mixed reviews, but went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

　Taika Waititi was born in New Zealand in 1975 to a Maori father and a Russian-Jewish mother. He captivates people with his unique sensibility, and his choice of clothes and watches is also unique.

　This photo was taken at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California in 2019. Actress Natalie Portman is pictured on the right. The upcoming Thor 4 film, directed by Waititi and starring Natalie Portman, is scheduled for release in November 2021.

　Waititi, who sometimes likes to wear shirts with unusual patterns, appeared on this day wearing a purple shirt with a long-tailed bird on it and a watch that was just as eye-catching: the orange watch was probably a Swiss brand Doxa diver's watch.

Doxa
"SUB 300T"

　Doxa was founded in Le Locle in 1889. Although it has not yet arrived in Japan, it is a long-established brand known among watch enthusiasts for its cutting-edge designs. The company also once manufactured its own movements, and the patented 8-day movement it released in 1908 was used in many automobiles, ships, and aircraft, including the Bugatti racing car.
　The company first produced diver's watches in the 1960s. The SUB 300, with a 45mm case diameter, a helium escape valve, and water resistance to 300m, was released in 1964. Oceanographer and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau is credited as a collaborator in the development of this watch.
　The orange dial color has been there since the beginning: orange is the last color you'll see when diving in the darkest depths of the ocean, so it makes sense for a diving watch.
　After the quartz crisis, Doxa was acquired by its current owner, but the SUB series, featuring the company's iconic orange dial, continues to be produced to this day, retaining the design from that time.

　Let's return to Taika Waititi. On March 6, 2020, Netflix announced that he would be directing, writing, and executive producing two animated films based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. As his field of activity expands, we're sure to see more and more of him in the future, so when we do, we'll want to check out his outfits too.