Luminox

Luminox Men's 3901 Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch

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

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

This Luminox Men's Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch features a unique illumination system that glows 100 times brighter than other luminous watches, making it the perfect choice for low-light or non-light situations. This versatile timepiece is constructed with a polyurethane, 43-millimeter case. The durable nylon band is accompanied by a Velcro closure. Stand-out Arabic numerals adorn the dramatic black dial face. For further time-keeping practicality a handy date calendar rests at the three o'clock position. Powered by analog-quartz movement and water resistant up to a depth of 660 feet, this watch is preferred by US Navy SEALs and US Air Force 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

• 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: B000F1OH08
• Item model number: 3901
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,345 in Watches (See Top 100 in Watches)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars These watches are not as rugged as implied, February 15, 2009

By 

Michael Jewett (Ketchikan Alaska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Luminox Men's 3901 Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch (Watch)

My wife and son bought me a luminox water resistant watch for christmas one year.It was a fairly expensive watch and I was happy with it for two years.At that time I was stepping aboard my boat when the pin holding the band fell out. I caught the watch just before it hit the salt water where it would have been lost forever. It might as well have been. I replaced the pin and it happened again. I took the watch to the jewelry store and was told that the watch could not be fixed as the stainless pins had worn out the rubber where the ends of the pins seat. The name Navy Seals suggests that this is one tough watch which it is not. Stainless pins must have a metal seat.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dive watch?, May 21, 2008

By 

Neil Ensign (Dutch Harbor, AK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

My 2 year old Navy Seal II dive watch filled up with salt water at about 30 feet. It was the first time I wore it in the water. Maybe they don't like cold water? Customer service was a little rude. It was a very good watch and I will buy another. I just won't dive with it.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Luminox, September 21, 2009

By 

J. Rodgers (California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Luminox Men's 3901 Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch (Watch)

This is my 2nd Luminox watch the first one I wore in the Marine Corps. These watches hold up very well in my opinion. I was always low crawling and running through the mud and my first Luminox to this day does not have a single scratch on the crystal. I bought a new one only because I wanted a black face. If you want a good watch that will take a beating then get one of these.