Luminox

Luminox Men's 3005 Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch

• Precise Swiss-Quartz movement
• Mineral crystal
• Case diameter: 43 mm

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Prized for its durability and unique illumination system, the Luminox Original Navy SEAL Series 1 stainless steel men's watch exudes confidence and power whenever it's worn. Thanks to the vaunted Luminox self-powered illumination system, this watch's hands and dial markers glow 100 times brighter than other luminous watches and will provide continuous illumination for more than 25 years. It's also water resistant to 200 meters (20 ATM, 660 feet), which is suitable for recreational scuba diving.

The large, black-plated stainless steel watch case--measuring 1.7 inches wide and 0.4 inches thick--is topped by a ratcheting, unidirectional rotating bezel with engraved 5-minute Arabic numerals in white and coin-edged detailing for an improved grip. The yellow dial face is accented by white Arabic numeral markers, large black-outlined baton hands (with seconds hand), and a date function at 3 o'clock. It's completed by a comfortable polyurethane (PU) diver's strap in black. Other features include a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, multi-jeweled Swiss quartz watch movement, double gasket crown, and 4-year battery life. It's backed by a 1-year Luminox warranty.

Luminox Self-Powered Illumination System
Each Luminox watch employs tiny self-powered micro gas lights (borosilicate glass capsules), which are firmly embedded in the hands and the hour indicators on the watch face (as well as on the turning ring of diver's watches). Luminox watches need no external light source to "charge" the paint on the dial or hands in order to glow as do conventional luminous watches, nor do they require a push of a button to light the dial as do electro luminescent watches.

About Luminox
Luminox combines the finest tradition and precision of Swiss watchmaking with the durability demanded by US armed forces and the latest innovations in timepiece technology. The company pioneered the development of small, individual luminescent tracer lamps and was contacted by the U.S. Navy SEAL teams to build a dive watch for their use on night missions. After their popularity in the Navy grew, the Air Force asked Luminox to develop a watch specifically for F-117 Nighthawk Stealth pilots.

The Luminox Story

AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY

Like many other American success stories, LUMI•NOX came from a forward-thinking individual realizing a need in the market and meeting it. Barry Cohen had been in the fashion watch business for quite some time when he came across a Swiss self-powered illumination system and knew that it would make watches more visible and easier to read in low or no light situations. As a result, Cohen and a partner developed watches using this unique illumination system (called Luminox Light Technology) and LUMI•NOX was born back in 1989 (Lumi is Latin for light while Nox is Latin for night), driven by a commitment to offer cutting-edge luminescence and readability in its line of high-performance sports watches.

The Navy SEALs and More
The Luminox Navy SEAL watch is the timepiece that made Luminox famous. The officer in charge of procurement for the Navy SEALs, Nick North, was asked to seek a more dependable watch for night missions and found the solution at a trade show where he discovered Luminox. He worked with Barry Cohen to develop a watch specifically for them and the Navy SEAL watch was born.

"Luminox had exactly the watch we were looking for – we only added a few small things," Nick North, Senior Public Safety Engineer and Operations Specialist, remembered. "We arranged to test some and they worked great. We made a few changes, then the East Coast team started issuing them and the West Coast teams came on board."

After Luminox provided the watches to the SEALs, more elite units contacted them directly, while at the same time Luminox began marketing the watch across the country and the world. Luminox was then approached by US Air Force pilots flying the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth fighter jet. They were wearing the Navy SEAL timepieces, but chafed at the word "Navy" on the dial. Luminox then developed a watch for these pilots and approached Lockheed Martin, the makers of the F-117 Nighthawk for a picture of the plane to use in the catalogs that marketed the watches.

This initial contact turned into an exclusive arrangement to produce Lockheed Martin timepieces, including watches dedicated to the F-117 Nighthawk, F-16 Fighting Falcon, SR-111 Blackbird and the new F-22 Raptor.

The Rest of the Story
Throughout the following 20 years, Luminox has never strayed from its mission which has been confirmed and validated by the many elite military and law enforcement units that have adopted Luminox as standard equipment.

Luminox has expanded its collection to include a variety of styles, created for the active consumer, the sportsman, law enforcement and military groups, divers and more. Currently, Luminox is distributed in 40 countries around the world and supplies elite units all over the world. In addition, the man on the street has shown particular interest in Luminox, anxious to use the watches put to the test every single day – on the world’s most difficult jobs, figuring rightly that if they have been requested by, designed for and used by the Navy SEALs, they have to be able to stand up to every day use.

The Technology
The Luminox Light Technology makes Luminox watches Always Visible – in fact, the technology Luminox uses provides 24/7 luminosity, no matter the conditions, for more than 25 years.

Most other watches use luminescent paint that has to be charged by a light source and fades very quickly, or a "push to light" system, where you push a button for battery-driven illumination.

Luminox, however, uses proprietary technology, in the past reserved for the military, that makes Luminox watches stand out, literally. Each Luminox watch features tiny gas lights (borosilicate glass capsules), which are always lit, on the hands, hour markers and when necessary, bezels. As a result of this unique technology, Luminox watches are always readable at a glance, no matter the conditions.

The U.S. military has long recognized the advantages of micro gas light sources and their use is mandated in procurement specification MIL-W-46374F. Being able to read the watches in any conditions, even in total darkness, is an important requirement of many military and law enforcement agencies.

The U.S. Navy SEALs use the watches, as do U.S. Air Force pilots, FBI and ATF agents, Secret Service officers, Border Patrol units, Coast Guard officers, SWAT teams, as well as general law enforcement officers, helicopter search and rescue pilots, professional divers and other groups.

The Luminox Light Technology system is hand applied in each and every watch. Though more complicated, expensive and time consuming than normal luminescence, it is one of the things that makes Luminox watches special. This unique technology and the additional quality control steps Luminox mandates require extraordinary attention to detail and care in manufacturing.

The Benefits

The ultimate Swiss illumination system glows without the need to push a button or expose to light

Glows continuously for more than 25 years

Swiss Made with jeweled Swiss movements

Water resistant and shock resistant

Production
All Luminox watches are Swiss Made, produced by Luminox’s corporate partner, Mondaine Watch Company, one of the leaders in Swiss manufacturing. Located in Zurich with manufacturing facilities in Biberist, Switzerland, Mondaine recently won a Swiss Logistics Award for its "just in time" production. Mondaine applies its more than 50 years of experience when producing the complicated Luminox watches.

The Future
Luminox will continue to combine cutting edge technology, forward-thinking design and extreme performance. Luminox delivers, when and where it counts.

Product Details

• Item Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000F1S0AQ
• Item model number: 3005
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,164 in Watches (See Top 100 in Watches)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only one unique feature, September 5, 2007

By 

S. Adam Hill "Watch guy" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Luminox Men's 3005 Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch (Watch)

I've owned this watch for 5 years and the one outstanding feature, the illumination, is truly outstanding. The borosilicate glass capsule/tritium technology is slick and is very bright. Mine has faded minimally over time.

But otherwise, this is just an ordinary watch. Downsides include a nonrecessed crystal that has become significantly scratched, poor comfort and function of one band (two bands are included with the watch and the velcro one works well) and a second hand that aligns poorly with the markings on the watch face. The last feature seems poorly compatible with any notion of build quality or precision.

As a side note I'm not sure that the "Navy Seals" aspect of this watch is anything but marketing. The few Navy Seals I've talked to don't use this watch. They all used G-Shocks (another watch I like).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as bad a watch as some reviews say., September 9, 2007

By 

Topher C "Topher-Loaf" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Luminox Men's 3005 Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch (Watch)

I figured it would be just a watch to wear seeing as a buddy of mine gave it to me because he bought the F-117 Luminox watch. Most of the reviews (especially for the black faced watch) really rag on it and totally discredit the watch and company as a whole. I've had the watch since 2002, lets not take into account that it was bought and worn before it came into my possession, and the battery ran out....2 months ago. The original battery. The only problems I've ever had with this watch were the pins for the watch. One broke as I raked my hiking backpack across it by accident. Dissapointing yes, but I don't mind paying Target or Wal-Mart $8 or so to give me brand new pins. The customer service IS pretty horrid, send it in they say and we'll let you know the price...yeah, not too impressive. For those that complain about the watch band breaking, I suggest go to Target or Wal-Mart to buy a cheap new one. It doesn't have to be a Luminox band. I've bought two cheap bands, one I bought simply because the first I bought was too stiff. So what?!? Also a good watch band is the ZULU 4 ring or the NATO nylon straps. Point being, I don't see what all the griping is about, I've known several people with this exact brand watch (some have the different color faces) and none have ever had a problem. Yes, the casio g-shock is what most of the military wears, my cousin is in the Army and that's what he uses. So, use it as a good casual watch, camping watch, or traveling watch.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Watch!, November 21, 2007

By 

Watch-a-holic (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Luminox Men's 3005 Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch (Watch)

I am a watch-a-holic and own several watches. This is by far my favorite watch. When I first opened the case and picked up the watch I thought it was a cheap dollar store watch because it was so light. After examining it and wearing it I realized the quality of this watch. It is very light, durable, comfortable and easy to read in the dark. It looks great as well. Highly recomend this watch. I will definitely buy another Luminox.