Luminox

Luminox Men's 3051 EVO Navy SEAL Colormark Watch

• Precise Swiss-quartz movement
• Mineral crystal
• Case diameter: 43.9 mm

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Perfect for low-light or no-light situations, the Luminox Men's Navy SEAL Colormark watch glows 100 times brighter than other luminous watches, which allows for easier visibility. This timepiece This versatile timepiece is constructed with a 43.9-millimeter polyurethane case and matching durable polyurethane band, which includes a buckle clasp. Eye-catching white Arabic numerals contrast with the classic black dial, while smaller white numerals mark the 24-hour clock. In addition, a handy date calendar rests at the three o'clock position, and the unidirectional textured bezel features popping-white minute indexes for easy readability. Powered by analog-quartz movement and protected by a durable mineral dial window, this watch is preferred by US Navy SEALs and US Air Force Pilots, and is water resistant to a depth of 660 feet.

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: 6.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000WY8ZHO
• Item model number: 3051
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311 in Watches (See Top 100 in Watches)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice watch for the price, July 2, 2009

By 

stealth916 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Luminox Men's 3051 EVO Navy SEAL Colormark Watch (Watch)

I own several TAGs, Breitlings, Omega, Citizen, Torgoen, and Tissot. This is my first Luminox, and I bought it mainly for the novelty of the Tritium illumination vials - everyone should have at least one H3 watch in their collection.

All markings are *very* high contrast white. The tritium 5-minute marker vials are BLUE, the second hand marker vial is BLUE, with GREEN vials on the hour/minute hands, a GREEN vial on the 12 hour marker and a small GREEN bezel marker. The tritium illumination isn't as bright as perhaps some marketing material and pictures would make it out to be - however it is very good and certainly does the job in low light or darkness.

The watch is large which is my preference, about the same size as a TAG Formula One Grande. The bezel turns in one direction, and has a nice, solid ratchet feel. The numbers on the bezel are in fact countersunk/engraved, not just painted on the top surface of the bezel - so it would seem to be difficult to 'wipe or rub off' the paint as some have suggested.

The watch case, case back, and bezel are made from a polycarbonate & carbon composite material. This makes the watch light, but some may think it feels cheap. However these materials are very strong, and give the watch a low magnetic signature - important if you are working near explosives/mines (EOD) or navigating with a handheld compass. It probably makes the trip through airport metal detectors a little easier too :-) The case back has a large engraved Special Warfare insignia (aka Navy SEAL Trident, aka "The Budweiser"). The case back is secured to the case by 4 screws.

The crown seems to be plastic or perhaps composite, and it does not screw down. If the crown was a screw down, eventually users would strip the plastic screw threads. So this crown pushes in and pulls out. This could be a concern for preventing moisture entering the watch, however Luminox rates the watch good to a 200M depth. Be sure your crown is pushed in well before you take to water or even wash your hands.

The band is a typical Polyurethane strap that seems well made and offers plenty of adjustment for wrists large or small. Be careful though - I have seen these types of straps be destroyed by some bug sprays/bug lotions. The north strap has a Luminox logo molded in. The buckle is stainless steel, has a stamped Luminox logo, and has double tangs of stainless steel.

Once concern is that the strap is 23mm. This will make finding replacement straps difficult, as 23mm is not a popular size for watch straps. The AMAZON ID for the replacement strap is B001BQNWBQ or B001MV2J7S.

The mineral crystal is very clear, but it sure would be nice (and more expensive) if the watch had the harder sapphire crystal.

This is a nice knockaround watch, made better if you catch it on sale. I paid $157 direct from Amazon.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rugged, Durable and Downright Cool, February 13, 2008

By 

Brian P. (La Porte, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Luminox Men's 3051 EVO Navy SEAL Colormark Watch (Watch)

Have been, and still am, a big fan of Casio G Shock line of watches, but have always longed for one of the Luminox watches. After seeing the EVO Colormark line, I could resist no longer. Watch is large, but it is light in weight. If you are accustomed to the weight and size of Casio G Shock watches, this watch will not be anything that requires you to adjust to. The band is substantial yet flexible. The luminous quality of the dial and hands wins outright compared to the light activated paint of the G Shocks and others. Numbers on watch face and bezel are highly conrasting and easily read. A quick glance is all that is needed to tell what time it is. I may have watches with more bells and whistles or flashier dress watches, but this one combines ruggedness, funtionality and simplicity with aesthetics. It's my favorite out of all my watches.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars *** WARNING -- DO NOT BUY YOUR LUMINOX WATCH FROM AMAZON.COM ***, June 22, 2010

By 

James Stock (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Luminox Men's 3051 EVO Navy SEAL Colormark Watch (Watch)

*** WARNING -- DO NOT BUY YOUR LUMINOX WATCH FROM AMAZON.COM ***

LUMINOX WILL SAY AMAZON.COM IS NOT AN "AUTHORIZED" SELLER AND WILL NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY.

Mine broke in a year and I just had this problem.