Luminx watches are garbage... IMHO

I need to vent... I'm on my thrid Luminox Navy Seal watch already. I fear for life of our Seals if they are using these watches to keep time. I had a Citizen watch I used but if hands were not "recharged" by light they kind of didn't work in the middle of the night. I needed someting with continious glow, strong, durable and not light dependant. Obvious choice was Luminox with their design. I was amazed by clarity of the face and strong even glow. I admit first watch went thru hell and had a right to crack. But on two other ones front just cracked for no reason after three months of use. I guess EMS job is more demanding and physical than Navy Seals. Also coating on the back of the watch gets easly dissolved by sweat, and reacts with your skin. But the matter of fact is I need a new watch. Any recommendations? It has to be easy to read and show time <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. I don't really need pressure/temperature/moon phases readings. I need clear big hands and if there is an electronic display it needs to be backlighted.

Matt

I bought a tritium watch that's probably the same as yours but in the UK they're sold under the brand Traser. It hasn't broken during a year of abuse, but I did get that bad reaction to the back coating. In the end I scrubbed it off and it seems OK now. When this does die I won't be buying another, I think I'll go back to Casio (had an alti-barometer thing that was OK) or maybe try the Timex Expedition range.

I'd say go for a Casio G-Shock. I have been able to ruin a Sector Watch before but not a G-Shock yet. When I was in UK for rescue boat training I broke my Sector. Then my friend gave me a an Army watch which only lasted one and a half days. The very same day I bought a G-Shock. I am stil using it. I have done lots of heavy field work with it. The best part is it is cheap.

Burak

I, too, used to be a devotee of the Casio G-shock (there have been LOTS of models by this name). I've probably got three of them in drawers...

They lost me when they kept adding junk to the display and case that "looked neat" but didn't do anything worthwhile. It got ridiculous, there were things flashing and moving that had no apparent significance whatever.

I've been quite taken with the Suunto line. I wear a "Yachtsman" when I need a watch on weekends (what with a Palm and mobile phone that both tell time, I've given up wearing a watch most days). Large numerals, easy to read, backlit (electro-phosphorescent mumble), has been very sturdy so far, and though it's bulky, they're VERY lightweight (much lighter than the Casio) and the rounded contours mean that they intefere with sleeves much less- generally more comfortable.

Mine has a compass, barometer, and a bunch of timers of interest only to sailboat racers, but they seem to have dozens of models, one for almost every taste- unless, of course, you're locked into analog watches.

I prefer analoge watches for the simple reason that you are able to navigate with them (and what a great technique it is!).

Also quite a fan of Traser (hey McNab promotes them). BUT dont buy them on the high street. They are so over priced. It is the same with standard issue british army watches (if there is such as thing) on civvy street they cost £75 (source: FHM).

reinhardt

I am using this simple one:



Burak

]Polak187[

The Luminox watch that you have used is different to the one issued to the military.

History of tritium watch.
http://www.khs-watch.com/english/index.php?action=id11_story

Usually, I use a Gshock & rarely use my Luminox as I prefer a watch that has a date view.

Matt:

Try these guys. I have not bought a watch from them but they do stand behind what they sell.

Countycomm

The Marathon watches look nice and tough.

Chris

My personal selection is a Seiko Kinetic. Never needs a battery, self winding, glows all night using the slight electrical charge stored inside, waterproof, and has always been tough enough for me.

Costs a little more, but IMHO well worth every penny.

http://www.seikousa.com/Technology/TechHome.aspx?technologyId=2

You see I want a simple watch. I want nothing from it except to show time, be water proof to 100 meters and be very bright at night. I can settle for backlight but would prefer natural way. And that damn thing needs to be durable and take abuse. Yeah that marathon looks awfully similar to my watch. It's a gov't issue but I don't know if it is made any better than civilian version.

Matt

Knifemaker Bill Harsey sent an email with a few observations. SEALs do not use this watch. It is to luminous ( picks up IR) and having SEAL emblazened on gear isn't what spec ops people call "sterile." Personallly, I think merchants promotion of products by association with military units is vulgar. Whats next, Coca-Cola logos painted on Bradley fighting vehicles? Maybe I'll start marketing the Saddam BOB on EBAY <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Don't forget to include all of your WMD in your Saddam BOB. You should also have the modified bio-lab mounted on the Deuce-n-half standing by to carry your Saddam BOB safely into syria a few days before you beleagured minions face the wrath of the largest military on the planet on your behalf and getting slaughtered.

Or perhaps you could recommend a Custer SERE Manual?

I bought a Seiko kinetic watch a few years ago and still use it every day.
That 'no battery' concept appealed to me.
(model not displayed on seikusa.com)

But after about 3 or 4 years, the mechanism failed and needed repair.
It's working fine again.... for how long, time will tell...


Alain

You correspond with Bill Harsey, Chris? I would have been a little more circumspect with my comments on the Lone Wolf Harsey folder, earlier. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, I did half-heartedly look for his e-mail online once, just to compliment him on the designs of the two that I have, and to say thanks. I won't ask for his e-mail (no desire to intrude), but maybe you could convey that much, if opportunity presents.

Matt--

Among my half-dozen or so watches (wrist & pocket), the two I use are a TAG/Heuer analog quartz & a Casio G-Shock digital. Both are utterly reliable and very accurate.

My everyday, most of the day watch is the TAG/Heuer. It is Swiss-made & certified waterproof to 200 meters. It has a true mineral crystal, a day of the month display (must change manually for months not 31 days), a one-way ratcheting bezel, & luminous hands & marks. They are not self-luminous, but must be "charged"--a quick flash from a SureFire 6P does nicely for hours; a Photon takes a bit more time, & doesn't last quite as long. Though I’d prefer an automatic (read: self-winding), this one was a gift from my wife. It’s accurate to +/-2 seconds/month. The battery must be changed every 2 years, more or less, and to retain waterproof certification, must be done by an authorized/accredited facility. So far, I’ve replaced the battery twice, and no leaks to date, though I don’t dive. It’s been in pool & ocean, but probably no deeper than 6 feet or so.

The Casio G-Shock is one of several incarnations of that model. It sees use on weekends, for yard work, & lately, for travel (see below). Like Presumed Lost, I don’t like all the flashing blocks & dancing digits (when rolling over from 0, the elements of the numbers do a little “dance”—which I find quite distracting). They have nothing to do with being able to read the time quickly, and appear to me to be there because some programmer was showing off.

The G-Shock also has features I simply don’t understand: What purpose does a counter serve that will tell me how many days in the past, or in the future, a given date is from today? Or rather, FIVE (5) such counters? (BTW, I put my birthday, & that of my wife & kids in, so we can all find out how many days old we are…whoop de do.) I also don’t have much use for the Phone # data bank—it only holds 25 numbers, whereas my cell phone holds 100. I put a couple of pizza places in just to see how it works.

However, it also has five (5) independent alarms (occasionally useful—especially to replace an alarm clock when traveling, or when sick children need multiple doses of medicine throughout the night), a stopwatch, and dual-time zone display.

It’s tough, waterproof, & light, though bulky. The blue-greenish display will light up a room when illuminated, which fascinates my kids. Based on experience with previous models, the battery should be good for 5+ years; longer, if it’s not illuminated frequently. I was told by a jeweler that battery life was based on using the illumination button for 1 second 10 times a day—more frequently would reduce life, less would lengthen. Also based on previous experience, I don’t expect to be able to replace the battery & have the thing retain any semblance of a watertight seal. I expect to buy a new watch, instead.

Note, too, that these watches are on opposite ends of the price spectrum (well, the Heuer is really only mid-range, overall, but it still cost over 10 times the G-Shock).

This is my experience & opinion; YMMV.

Good luck.

David

This is not a true Navy SEAL watch, they are not, nor were they ever issued or even used by the SEALS. There was an issue watch for navigators which looked like the Luminox, it was a Stocker & Yale Sandy model 650. It had a 12 hr bezel, not 60 min markers. The Luminox watch is a great watch if you get the stainless steel version, screwdown crown and case back, making it reasonably water resistant. If you want to get rid of the Navy SEALS dial, go to www.mkiiwatches.com and get a plain dial installed, also available fully assembled from MKII, with the dial.

Don't go with the Timex Expidition. They break - quickly. I've given them the benefit of the doubt for three tires now, no way.
I also used to have a VibraLight III watch, which I beat the heck out of. I liked it because it VIBRATES for alarms, which helps maintain marital bliss when I have to get up at 4:00 AM and also allows me to FEEL alarms when I'm in a noisy environment.
The software in a vibra-light is shoddy in terms of practical user interaction, but it does have neat feature - you turn your wrist and the backlight comes on automatically - neat feature!