Source: http://www.luminox.com/watches?fam=SEA

If you read the advertising hype you would think that among the world’s foremost military watches is the line produced by Luminox. None is more famous than the Luminox Navy Seal watch, a timepiece that is worn by the members of one of the world’s most elite fighting forces.

Luminox came to fame 20 years ago when it developed the technology to embed light sources into the hands and hour markers on watches. Now you may think that your watch already has luminious hands, but that is like saying your house is lit by a small candle in the living room.

The big difference with this illumination is that the hands actually light up using tiny canisters filled with Tritium,  a radioactive form of hydrogen, and phospors, the stuff that used to be used to make old-fashioned television tubes. In essence tiny bits of radiation (so little that it is no risk to you – it can’t even get throuhg your skin) is beamed from the gas into the phosphors that then light up. What you have then is what they call self-powered lighting, which is very different from the normal luminous paint that goes on most watches and that has to be “charged” by being exposed to light and that then get dimmer with every passing minute.

This is the same form of lighting that is used in the night-sights of some military weapons including the British Army’s standard rifle. In short, it works.

Luminox Men's 3951 EVO Navy SEAL Watch Average Rating: 21 total customer reviews...

Luminox Men's 3901 Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch Average Rating: 25 total customer reviews...

Luminox Men's 3903 Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch Average Rating: 19 total customer reviews...

Luminox Blackout

One of the most popular lines in this is the Luminox Blackout watch. This is a lower profile watch than many of the others in the Luminox line. The big difference is that it has a much dimmer set of tritium tubes that light up to a subdued blue colour rather than the bright, almost luminous green glow of the others. It has a very light reinforced polymer case and a soft rubber case.

Unfortunately there are less impressive things to say about the watches themselves. Although the company presents them as really tough and rugged, there are numerous complaints on the web and bad reviews on sites such as Amazon.com about these watches falling apart after a year or two and breaking when they get wet.

It seems that in fact most Navy seals and other special forces operators wear watches that are a lot less fancy. Some of the most popular watches that are worn by Seals include various forms of Casio G-Shock such as the GW5600 classic G-Shock or the Casio Pathfinder watch.

I also believe that a popular navy seal watch is the Suunto X-Lander. Waht you will note about many of these watches is that they are pure function with useful sensors such as a compass and altimeter. When Seals and other SF guys go on operations they dress for action, not to look good.

Update on the Luminox Navy Seal Watch

I’ve just done a bit more reading and finished a great book called Seal Team Six by Howard Wasdin. If you want an insight into the BUDS training and hell week that Navy Seals go through as well as an idea of some of the missions this elite force has participated in then I highly recommend this book. But there is a line in it where he talks about getting kitted out to go on a mission. What was his watch? A Casio. Sorry guys, but it seems elite warriors don’t spend a lot of time thinking about fancy watches with titanium bezels. All they want is something that tells the time, isn’t too expensive and won’t get bust the moment the shooting starts.

The Luminox Navy Seal Watch

You probably already knew that diving watches—while certainly acceptable for diving—are marketed just as much for non-divers as they are hardcore divers and military units. The latter explains why. A diving watch as a fashion statement can take all the qualities of a toned, tanned elite diver and incorporate all them into the watch. Who knew that watches could serve such a powerful fashion metaphor?

Up your cool factor

Whether diving watches have fancy movements, triple-time zones or artfully-crafted dials and bezels, you can be sure that they will make a statement about your person. These pieces of wrist-wear are made for both sexes and give nearly anyone that cool, svelte look that only three-piece suits and lace-up Rockports could only fathom doing. Not only are diver watches cool-as-hell, and not only do they go to super-duper great depths in the sea—they also evoke a sense of “action” in their owners.

As far as others are concerned, you’re one that has served in elite military units. You’ve been a paratrooper for the Swiss government, and you’ve been a Navy Seal. You could have looked death in the eye—a killer shark or legendary giant-squid, perhaps—and lived the experience to gloat to tell it.  Talk about cool!

Wenger® Men’s 72328 Battalion II Diver Swiss Watch $125.00

Wenger Battalion Diver Watch N\A Wenger Mens Black Battalion Iii Diver Watch $208.12

Wenger Men’s 72325 Battalion II Diver Swiss Watch $97.94

Form over function—or is it function over form?

As stated before, of course, many diving watches never even come close to open water. People love them because of their attributes. Most do not even understand how those fancy dials, bezels, chronographs and chronometers actually work. And that’s fine, because these watches are marketed to practically everybody—not just the professional diver. Of course, if you wanted to use these deep underwater, most submerse up to 2000 feet quite comfortably and also come with such handy features as rotating bezels that serve as an alarm clock as to when you will run out of oxygen.

There are essentially two varieties of diving watches:

• The attribute type of diving watch is far more about form over function. These are the Blancpains, Panerai’s, Swiss Armies and Rolexes that are meant more for show. Nonetheless, they will usually come with essential diving features such as depth resistance, fancy luminescence and bezels that revolve and rotate.
• The computer variety of diving watches is more-or-less just that: computerized. They rely on sophisticated electronics to aid divers in critical measurements like depth, temperature, air mixture availability, and a myriad of electronic alarms that sound when circumstances are dire. They often feature the ability to even download diving data to a PC or MAC, share it or to just sit there and bask in your accomplishment.

The crème-de-la crème of dive watches

Among the most distinguished, most ruggedly-elegant watches there are a few diving watches that stand-out from the pack:

• Luminox’s Navy Seal Chronograph
• Bulgari’s Diagono Professional’s Scuba
• Blancpain’s “50^th Anniversary Fifty Fathoms” (which will set you back a “miniscule” $13k)
• Oris’s TT1 Divers Regulator 1000m watch
• Tag Heuer’s Aquaracer 2000

Online varieties for all budgets

Okay, yes—those are some fairly high-end diving watches. However, there are brands online that are much, much more affordable. They are also just as handsome and lush as the former brands and models, and can fool practically anyone into believing that the time-piece is a five-figure watch.

MENS WENGER SWISS MILITARY STEEL 20 ATM AQUA DIVER DATE WATCH 79948 $79.95

MENS WENGER SWISS MILITARY STEEL 20 ATM AQUA DIVER DATE WATCH 79947 $69.95

MENS WENGER SWISS MILITARY STEEL 20 ATM AQUA DIVER DATE WATCH 79946 $79.95

Diving watches as Fashion Statements

Among Switzerland’s most famous brands is the wide range of military style watches that are produced. These draw on both Switzerland’s heritage of watch making and fine craftsmanship as well as on its tradition of independence and neutrality. Switzerland’s military has long been revered across Europe and the rest of the world and it has long been the country’s guarantee against invasion by its bigger neighbors. As such Switzerland has always ensured that its citizen soldiers have been well trained in marksmanship and tactics and equipped with the finest equipment. And Switzerland’s gift to the world has been the innovation and attention to detail that goes into items such as Swiss Army knives and Swiss Army Watches.
The best-known military style watches are clearly those associated with the Swiss Army knife, which made by two Swiss companies, Victorinox and Wenger. The two companies merged a few years back, yet still operate under different names in many parts of the market. That said, both offer unsurpassed quality and reliability. Victorinox and Wenger Swiss Army watches offer a really good blend of features and price. One of my favorites is the Wenger Commando Watch. This is a really rugged and tough watch. It also has a brilliantly lit up display that makes it easy to see at night. Two other favorites of mine are the Wenger Ranger Watch and Battalion Diver Watch, which is also made by the same company. The Victorinox Swiss Army Infantry vintage watch is also a really beautiful and classic timepiece with a real old-style look.
Both Wenger and Victorinox offer a really wide range of watches so that you can usually find something to fit almost any pocket with prices starting at under $100 and going up from there.
There are however quite a few other companies that you can look at when looking to buy a Swiss Military Watch. Most people overlook firms such as Hanowa, which makes a really high quality range of watches sold under the Swiss Military brand as well as the more exclusive Swiss Eagle watch brand.
Even tougher (and more expensive) is the range of watches produced under the CX Swiss Military brand. These are some of the world’s toughest watches and have stood up to all kinds of tests including being dropped out of airplanes, blown up with high explosives and shot at with a shotgun. They survived most of these tests whereas other watches just got smashed to pieces.
If you are looking for a cheap military-style watch then you could consider Invicta. These are Swiss-made watches but they have a bit of a mixed reputation when it comes to reliability. I don’t endorse them wholeheartedly but some people swear by them. That said, you can’t say they aren’t cheap. Some Invicta military watches can be bought for under $50. And although this blog is really all about Swiss Watches, there are also some other really popular manufacturers of military watches. Citizen has an eco-drive military watch that also has a really clear face with an easily-to-read dial. It also never needs its batteries changed,

Features of a Military-Style-Watch
Apart from the obvious point that most people buy Swiss military watches because they look good, some of the better ones also have some features that provide real tactical assistance. In this I’m thinking of a watch with a dial that is easy to read and a face that is not confusing. You also want something that is self illuminating, so you can see it even in the dark, and you almost certainly want a watch that will not beep and give away your position. There are a number of cheap military watches on the market that I haven’t mentioned here but be sure to do your research first as if you end up paying a very low rate you may end up with something that is also not very good quality either.

Wenger® Men’s 72328 Battalion II Diver Swiss Watch $125.00

Wenger Battalion Diver Watch NA Wenger Mens Black Battalion Iii Diver Watch $208.12

Wenger Men’s 72325 Battalion II Diver Swiss Watch $97.94

The Wide Range of Swiss Military Style Watches

If you are in the market for one or more quality Swiss diving watches, you had better take the time to really get to know your options out there.  Diving watches are a must, it is not like you can dive without one, and if your watch dies in the deep blue, that can really ruin your trip fast so having one you can really count on being right every time is not something you can afford to be without.  Swiss watches are known for their reliability and the watches they offer are no exception to the rule.  Take a peek at the ones offered online, the internet is a great place to buy things like this, and figure out which watch suites your tastes and needs.  This is a big purchase, and likely to cost you a boatload of money (pardon the pun) in the process.

The Rolex Submariner

This is the crème dele crème of Swiss diving watches, and is by far in a way one of the very best products you can buy, period.  If you are looking for a really phenomenal gift for a husband, father, or son who loves to dive this is the gift to boot.  Trust me when I tell you, the Submariner is the watch to beat in the quality department.  The chronometer has COSC certification, it is about forty millimeters, is made of high quality steel, boasts a black, rotatable bezel, has a sapphire crystal, and a black face and dial.  The Submariner is waterproof to three hundred meters or one thousand feet, is self winding and has a flip lock bracelet.  The Submariner has been a big name in diving watches since it came out in nineteen fifty three.  The Rolex website doesn’t say how much this bad boy is going to put you back, but if you are lucky enough to receive one as a gift from say, your lovely wife, know that you are going to be rubbing her shoulders for a pretty long while.

Swiss Army Dive Watches Offered

This company runs the Dive Master 500 line in watches, and there are six in this line to choose from.  Two of the six have a stainless watch band, and the other four have a rubber strap band.  Boasting Swiss analog quartz movement, and there are two with black faces, two with white faces, and one which has a blue face, and one with an orange face.  The models in this line start at about five hundred dollars and end up at around six hundred dollars for the ones with a stainless steel band.   They, like the Citizen, feature luminescent hands for added visibility underwater and have a three year manufacturer’s warrantee, ensuring that you enjoy your watch for a long time.  They all have a screw down case back and are good for diving up to over sixteen hundred feet, or five hundred meters which is very impressive.  Swiss diving watches are a big name in diving safety, and the Swiss Army company delivers this along with so many of its other reliable products offered.

If money is really an issue for you you may also want to consider some watches made in other parts of the world such as the The Citizen Professional Diver.

This is, at least in performance capability, comparable to the Submariner.  Watertight to three hundred meters (one thousand feet) this watch will never need a battery, and will be able to gather all the energy it will ever need from light it collects.  Retail price is almost three hundred dollars, but I was able to find the watch online offered on sale for about two hundred twenty dollars or so.  The case is forty four millimeters across and is highly visible while underwater.  The bracelet is a durable black rubber band, ensuring that the diver doesn’t lose the watch while out and about under water and has a five year Citizen United States warrantee.  I also really like how the hands on this watch luminescent as you are underwater, making them easier to see in compromised light situations that you may be diving in (like at home here in the Puget Sound, at least you will be able to see you are wearing a watch).  Citizen is a great watch and has been around for a long time, it is a good name to trust.

Guest Post – Bill S

Swiss Diving Watches: Timepieces you can Trust Your Life With