Customer Reviews

Luminox Men's 8352 EVO Ultimate SEAL Chronograph Watch

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Review of the LUMINOX EVO "Ultimate Seal" Chronograph 8352 / 8351

For those who did not read the review I did of my first "Ultimate Seal" model 8251, I will recap some of the new features of the Luminox EVO "Ultimate Seal" collection.......
The "Evo Ultimate" series has come a long way from the original plastic Luminox I remember years back. I cant believe it is the same company and it isn't (kind of). The "EVO" stands for evolution and marks the new products from Luminox since the merger with the Mondaine Watch Ltd Swiss company. This is a huge step for Luminox taking their watches more upscale. (Pricier $$ but better)
No gratuitous military logos across the face. A honest to goodness professional rugged tritium timepiece. The watch is very solidly built out of stainless steel with excellent machining details over the entire watch.
The case itself is made out of stainless steel that is coated with a satin PVD plating. It is very tough. So tough that when I was adjusting the bracelet, my tool slipped with great force across the link and did not leave a mark. What ever Luminox is using for their PVD plating, its almost scratch proof! That being said, PVD will eventually get scratched if you use the watch so be prepared to live with the scratch or use a black sharpie marker to touch it up. All of the edges are debured for a snag free feel (very nice). The stainless steel bezel has a striking two tone metallic silver finish contrasting in satin and flat mat. The bezel clicks very firmly and solidly in a unidirectional direction. It is machined to have excellent grip for turning underwater or with gloves on. The bezel will not be unintentionally turned. The back of the watch has screw down polished stainless steel lid. It is smooth and very comfortable. The watch face has a anti-reflective scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. This is the best you could ask for at any price point. It is crystal clear. So clear you have to tap on the face of the watch to see if there is anything protecting the display.

The CHRONOGRAPH model...
The Luminox EVO "Ultimate Seal" Chronograph model 8352 and 8351.

The 8352 and 8351 are the same watch other than the 8352 comes with a steel two tone bracelet and the 8351 comes with a rubber strap with double prong buckle.

The bracelet is very solidly built out of solid stainless steel links with a two tone PVD plating and a satin stainless steel "dog bone" design. It is very heavy duty weighing in at 100 gr. Just for the bracelet alone. It has a safety clasp with divers extension. The under side is very smooth and does not pull hair on the arm. (See at bottom for: "Tips and tricks on adjusting this type of bracelet.")
The watch is heavy but wears very balanced on the wrist.

The Chronograph uses the excellent RONDA 5050. B. Big Date movement.
The USERS GUIDE and operation instructions and chronograph hand calibration info can be found here....

[...]

The chronograph uses 3 dial set up that counts the 1/10 second, second, minute, and hour (up to 12 hours). The small dial by the 3 o'clock position is the second hand for the general time. The large second hand is for use in chronograph mode.

When starting the chrono, the large second hand and 1/10th hand jumps to life. The 1/10th hand spins one revolution every second. After 30 seconds the 1/10th hand stops moving but is counting internally. When you stop the chronograph, the 1/10th second hand jumps to the correct position. (Very cool). The Chronograph has "Accumulative timing" and "Intermediate or interval timing"
All of the hands and markers in small and large dial, line up perfectly.
Very high quality feature.

The date is displayed at the 6'oclock position using a large split digit window. This is exclusive to only the Chronograph.

The only labeling on the dial is the Luminox crest at the top and "PROFESSIONAL DIVER" between the 3 and 4 o'clock.

The chronographs size makes it easy to read and the crisp dial it first rate.

The entire watch oozes quality and rock solid build construction. 54 month battery life with End Of battery Life feature. It's easy to read the dial In any light condition, it is easy to see the time at any angle of the watch face. Tritium markers glow brilliantly in green with the 12 o'clock in yellow. The bezel 12 o'clock glows in green. The watch is idiot proof to read in low or no light situations.
Accuracy has been stellar so far at 0 + or - seconds!! In my experience, typical of the new EVO series.

The style of the watch is upscale enough to be used for any occasion. It has great wrist presence. It feels like a tank on the wrist and should be a excellent choice for serious diver, hunters, climbers/explorers. The Luminox"professional" series are just that,... "The Ultimate Seal"

I called Luminox and Amazon.com IS a authorized dealer.

NOT ALL STORES THAT SELL LUMINOX ON AMAZON.COM ARE AUTHORIZED DEALERS so check first.
AMAZON.COM (IS) A LUMINOX AUTHORIZED DEALER. These watches will be backed by the Luminox factory 2yr warranty.

A NEW Luminox Ultimate Seal will come with a protective clear plastic sticker over the face, and case back. It will be wrapped around a pillow in the Luminox square presentation box. The bracelet will be wrapped in clear plastic tape to avoid scratches.


I also bought the rubber strap that is found on the 8351. The quality is excellent and will lighten up the watch for other activities.



Note to owners. The hands can be easily calibrated. It uses a Ronda 5050.B movement. Pull crown to the 3rd spot, then hold both top and lower buttons in for 2 seconds. At this point, the lower button pics the dial to be calibrated and the top button advances the hand 1 click at a time. When you have corrected the positions of the hands, push the crown in and you are ready to go. Most Chronographs need to be corrected because of battery change. Luminox SHOULD have this in their operating instructions but they dont.

Tips and Tricks for adjusting the "Dog bone" bracelet:

The only thing I do not like about this bracelet is the way the links are removed for adjustment. The bracelet uses a "friction pin" set up. The back of the bracelet has arrows on each link that can be removed. The arrows point the direction the pins are to be pushed out.
Some are in very snug and some are not as snug as they should be.
I have a 15 year old Tag Heuer that uses this design and I found a sure fire trick to making the pins so they wont ever fall out accidentally. For all links that have removable pins, I use clear coat touch-up paint that is used for cars. I push all the pins out half way, brush a little clear coat paint on them and push them back. I then wipe the excess paint off the end of the links.
This acts like a thread locker and the pins wont ever vibrate out. They still can be removed for later adjustment if need be, just re apply clear coat paint when finished. Clear nail polish also works but is not a temperature stable as clear coat touch up paint that you can get at any automotive store. Duplicolor is what I used.

It's a nice watch and it works as advertised. The tritium hands and numbers glow very brightly, which is a good thing. I'm wearing it in Iraq, and have banged and scraped it all over the place, but it still looks pretty new. This is my second Luminox watch (bought a somewhat dressier one 2 years ago) and I've become brand loyal. My only gripe is that it's a bit heavy, but after a day I didn't even notice.

I ordered this watch after looking for a chronograph for several months. It more than exceeds my expections. Its rugged, keeps great time and looks great. However, it is not for those that like a thin piece of gold jewelery. It is heavy, but not uncomfortable. It has a large face but only because it makes its functions easy to see. It's a great watch, even if you're not on a SEAL team.

This is an extremely durable and useful watch, not to mention attractive. The illumination system works great and keeps good time. Chronometer works well and face is large enough to see the increments without having to lose track of the task at hand.

I have two problems, neither of which is the watch's fault. First, the watch came with a chronometer that wouldn't reset to -0-seconds, -0- minutes. Flying timed approaches while having to adjust for where the chronometer started is, to say the least, a real pain. The manual said nothing about resetting the chronometer, and, if not for an earlier reviewer, it would still be broken. I'm sure SEALs are smarter than I am, but it seems like an item that should have been in there.

Secondly, when I called the repair service in New England somewhere, they could not have been any less interested that my new $600 watch came "broken". When I asked how I might reset it, they had no idea. They suggested I send it in for warranty repair, which I reluctantly did considering I wanted to wear my new watch. I called 2 weeks after sending it in, to which they said it was received but not yet inspected, and should be turned around within a week. I received my watch, that still WOULD NOT RESET to -0-/-0-, 4 WEEKS LATER. 6 Weeks and still wasn't fixed; with all do respect, their service really stinks. I certainly hope they take better care of our SEALs.

Really cool watch, I hope they hire a new repair service.

I can not add much to the reviews already written but only to agree with them. I would like to add that if you do not mind a watch that weights 6 3/4 oz that is built like a Sherman tank than this is the watch for you. I use it in very harsh conditions in salt water and doing marine ship chores along with swimming in salt water. If you want a dainty dress watch then this is not the watch for you. Buy a Patek Phillipe instead. You can easily read the time in pitch black conditions and it is also keeps extremely accurate time. Look on the US Navy Seal web site to see that they are using this brand watch so it must have passed a stringent test to get approved. Wrong time and failures is not in their vocabulary. I am please with this watch and would recommed it for its purpose.

Have had the watch for several years and really liked the look, the chrono and especially the brightness of the dial. It fit my lifestyle on the coast and around the water perfectly. I would have been a repeat customer over and over. My pleasure in the watch ceased when it needed service.

First issue was the clasp on the metal band came off due to a bad rivet or whatever. Had to send it to the factory repair place up in New England and they charged a ridiculous price to fix the clasp. The repair was garbage since the clasp would not fold flat to the band, much less into the indentation. Within a week the clasp caught on something and was gone. Now without the clasp to hold the band shut, it would pop open all the time. Very aggravating.

Fought the band until I needed a battery so I had to sent it back to the luminox repair facility again. They could not repair the metal band so put a black resin band on it that increased the diameter on the overall watch on your wrist so that it barely fits within a long sleeve shirt. Arrgh.

Even worse, the factor repair facility said they could not insure water resistance, or a good seal, on their replacement of the the battery!!!! What on earth? So I have been babying the Luminox since I got it back and still have gotten moisture in it. Guess it is a matter of time before it goes belly up.

I guess I am concluding these great functional watches are only good for one battery or to the first back removal by the factory repair facility??? I am now looking for a watch to replace it and since I have not recieved any response from luminox, I cannot see buying another. Way too much money for what appears to be a one battery watch.

Still not sure if the seller made a mistake on the price but next lowest price for same item elsewhere was $200 more. Arrived quickly in all orignal packaging with manuals, etc. Great deal and love the watch!