Had a couple over the years….quality is ok, tubes are useful for low light usage, but just don’t pay list for them.

Buy LNIB used at -50%.

 

I agree with Clive.

 

Had one years ago. Tubes were fine, but nowhere near as bright as the average Seiko. The case was tinny and did not feel substantial to me. Sold it off and moved on.

 

They are ok, middle of the road in terms of overall quality, IMHO.

Overpriced at MSRP, at least to me.

 

They are ok, middle of the road in terms of overall quality, IMHO.

Overpriced at MSRP, at least to me.

I agree about the overpriced. The one I mentioned and pictured has a Luminox MSRP of $595 per some web listings but a Amazon seller is offering it for about $235. At that price range the typical Luminox is plastic body and has a lot fewer Tritium tubes on the dial. The one pictured is all metal except for the band.

 

I've had a couple Deep Dive automatics and they were ok and worked as they should, but are very basic with fit, finish and accuracy. They are living on the Navy Seals and Military inspired connection in my opinion.

 

Rugged, usually too large for my liking but definitely not bad to have in the collection. I agree, usually overpriced, find a cheaper one on a gray market website.

 

I've had several Luminox throughout the years. Including the one the OP is showing. My first was purchased around 1993 when they were headquartered in San Rafael Ca. Currently I have 3 and one automatic on the way. MSRP is crazy but it's easy to find them at much lower prices. Some can be a bit large and bulky but they have recently started making smaller sized watches.
I've never had a problem with Luminox. They seem to be well made and reliable. I recommend Luminox to anyone looking to step into the tritium world at a low price without having to worry about low quality.

 

A few years back I had one of their carbon case ‘Navy SEAL’ Colormark chronographs. I really liked it. Great design, solid Ronda movement, tritium tubes, very light on the wrist, etc. But I sold it because I couldn’t stand the SEAL logo on the caseback knowing full well that it wasn’t ever officially endorsed by the Navy SEALs. It was all a marketing scam, and the SEAL that did endorse it did so privately, then was later reprimanded by the USN because of the stir its caused.

 

Hard no from me. Had one back in about '02. One of the lugs snapped right off fly fishing - not exactly the most strenuous of activities. I wouldn't recommend. Plus, they're a little gimmicky with all the military references.

 

I have a 3000 series in yellow. Because of the aggressive faux military thing, the plasticky feel, the random case protrusions that server no purpose except to make it look "tough", and the glow-in-the-dark appeal, I realized it's an 80s action figure transformed into a watch. And I love it. It's a joy to wear, comfortable enough to totally disappear on the wrist. I'm wearing it now, and I can't feel it at all. The tritium is very useful in my life and feels like magic. I wish I hadn't waited so long to buy one.

Personally I wouldn't think of shelling out for the metal one because a tritium watch is pretty much inherently disposable. Plus, the plastic (carbon fiber reinforced nylon) is super comfy and light, absorbs shocks to protect the movement, and never shows scratches. But to each his own!

 

I had a carbon case one about 12 years and the crystal fogged up with moisture -- which was my fault because i wore the watch in the shower every day... I liked the watch though...

 

I had a carbon case one about 12 years and the crystal fogged up with moisture -- which was my fault because i wore the watch in the shower every day...

Why do you say that? Surely it was water resistant. And in that case, you were totally within your rights to wear it in the shower...

 

Have had many of them and still have a few. I like them. Build quality is good and they work as intended. Only had one that had to be sent back, came damaged from the factory, looked like it was damaged in shipping, they wuickly refunded me so no worries.

 

If you're asking for opinions, that doesn't look like a watch that an adult, or professional, military leader, husband, or father would wear. If you walked into my office or we met in an elevator, I would not ask you about that piece. It makes me cringe. It reminds me of my middle school watches or something from Burger King. Quality wise, I appreciate that brand's marketing but the quality physically and relatively isn't there.

I assume you have about $500 to spend on this format?
You should buy a $200 G Shock + $300 Seiko.

 

If you're asking for opinions, that doesn't look like a watch that an adult, or professional, military leader, husband, or father would wear. If you walked into my office or we met in an elevator, I would not ask you about that piece. It makes me cringe. It reminds me of my middle school watches or something from Burger King. Quality wise, I appreciate that brand's marketing but the quality physically and relatively isn't there.

I assume you have about $500 to spend on this format?
You should buy a $200 G Shock + $300 Seiko.

As a 79 year old DOM I am not too worried about looks and the pictured watch is at least all steel and includes 16 total tritium tubes including one on the bezel. Far better than the cheaper Luminox watches with 4 dial tubes and one on each hand. I have plenty of dressier watches so not too concerned with looks, just function.

 

Luminox Impressions?

Hi, I'm a Luminox !

 

Had one a little while ago as well, felt cheap and sold it fairly quickly after purchase. The feel and look of the watch doesn't match the implied ruggedness. Would definitely look elsewhere.

 

What's a DOM? And 79?! Congrats. You've certainly earned the ability to buy whatever the hell you want hahaha

 

DOM = Dirty Old Man! At my age I think that I qualify.

 

I had a metal cased Luminox. Water ingress via the caseback after about 3 years of owning it. Not especially remarkable with regards to the build quality. My citizen and casio steel watches feel more substantial. My son has a 15 year old Navy Seal and it still works great without any servicing other than battery changes. The tubes no longer glow as to be expected for a watch that old.

 

I love my PVD 3000 series "F-117 Nighthawk." It's a pretty no-nonsense quartz field watch that glows 24/7; basically everything it's supposed to do.

Looks good on a wide variety of straps, too - bracelet, NATO, velcro, silicone, etc.

For sentimental reasons, it's the one and only watch in my modest collection that I will never let go of.

 

I'm no physicist (uh-oh, this is how useless posts often start), but:

• 1), was the water really that hot? You'd have to be scalding yourself by the sound of it;
• 2), how long were you showering for? As far as I know, it takes a while for an object to assume the temperature of its environment. I remember Casio stating in their manuals that you need to take off your watch for at least 20 minutes in order to get an accurate reading from the temperature sensor.

And, finally, 3), shouldn't all that be engineered for? I'm sure it could be - your quote from Luminox's manual sounds a bit of an excuse to me...

Well, it was a Luminox, which have had problems in the past.

I'm no physicist (uh-oh, this is how useless posts often start), but:

• 1), was the water really that hot? You'd have to be scalding yourself by the sound of it;
• 2), how long were you showering for? As far as I know, it takes a while for an object to assume the temperature of its environment. I remember Casio stating in their manuals that you need to take off your watch for at least 20 minutes in order to get an accurate reading from the temperature sensor.

And, finally, 3), shouldn't all that be engineered for? I'm sure it could be - your quote from Luminox's manual sounds a bit of an excuse to me...

Well it was a Luminox, which has had problems in the past...

 

Well, it was a Luminox, which have had problems in the past.

Well it was a Luminox, which has had problems in the past...

Why I originally posted as I read one review that claimed that the owner had some of the tritium vials come unglued from the dial. Having worked i QA for years I know that every manufacturer can have occasional quality problems but some are worse than others. Years ago the Japanese made their reputation by having much better than average quality.

 

I love mine

 

Retail prices are too high imho but if you get one for a good price than…

 

Agreed on the retail price but to me this applies to a great many watches. I got the watch pictured in post 1 from an Amazon seller for $235 + tax rather than the Luminox supposed MSRP of circa $675, a ridiculous price in my opinion. I note that the luminous gas tubes are not nearly as bright as high end luminous coatings when fully charged as used in better dive watches such as NFW and Citizen so require my eyes to be dark adapted to be visible. My NFW Shumate watches have the best luminous coatings I have experienced.

 

Luminox is a fun watch for me like G-Shocks. I bought mine for 275€ new that’s ok for me.
If I seriously want to dive than I take a diver like on the pic.

🤷‍♂️

 

I picked up a pure black Luminox Military Sea Lion with green accents and numbers two weeks ago.
Highly recommend it for the following list of reasons because I have had 5 other military style watches previously:

1) Carbonox - the case and bezel are 5 times lighter and tougher/scratch resistant than titanium (you guys with stainless steel? Watch out what happens in 3 years)

2) Tritium- wow so much better and brighter than luminescence

3) 330 feet water resistance - perfect for military specs
Normal air in a tank is poisonous after 200 ft underwater

4) US Navy Seals can't be wrong - good enough for them, good enough for me

5) it's just more beautiful than the rest" case design, shape, numerals, colours

6) Price - skip the G Shock

 

I've had a couple of Luminox watches. They seem to eat up a battery pretty fast and the tritium isn't all that bright. Light weight and keeps time OK. They are overpriced, do some shoping around for a deal before you buy one.

 

My not-so-knowledgeable opinion is as what some have already pointed out:

1. Look for one at a good price; don't bother paying retail
2. "Military", "Navy Seal" and the like are just marketing. Set your expectations accordingly. You're not buying a G-shock.
3. From all the tests and comparisons I've done, tritium is always great for night use, even T25 (unless you are doing secret military ops). Don't let anyone tell you otherwise
4. A steel Luminox is still a Luminox, nothing more or less