Luminox "Navy SEAL" watch - overpriced wannabe gizmo, or a good watch?

T

thaddeus

Joined
Oct 2, 1998
Messages
212
I am looking for a good watch. I go through watches like underwear. No, I take that back, my underwear lasts much longer.
Watches in my possession just BREAK. And, I am ****ing sick of it. I have tried everything from top of the line Swiss Army, down to Timex and everything in between. They all break. I have been through at least 10 watches in the last several years. Most of the time I don't even have a watch on, because I am in search of the next one (to replace the broken one at home).

Okay, enough bitching. Now, I need a new watch yet again, and I need it to be tough and resilient. I am not brutal on my watch by any means, but they just break.

So, how about that Navy SEAL watch?
I have been avoiding one like the plague because every time I see someone with one on, it screams "WANNABE!". In other words the "I want to be a Navy SEAL but never could so I buy everything that says 'Navy SEAL' on it" Hey, I just want a good watch, not something to make me feel like I am a SEAL because they supposedly wear it.
So, is the Luminox really a good watch, or a POS gimmick?
(Would the SEALs really wear a watch that glows anyway?....the SEALs I have known wear Swiss Army, Casio, and others).

This cake eating civilian just wants a good watch, and I like the features of the Luminox: date, and some form of illumination (because I won't be sneaking around at night eliminating sentries, but I will be trying to tell what time it is in a dark theatre or nightclub).

I am willing to pay the price because it is a good looking watch with exactly the features I want. The price is on the high end for me right now, but other than that I have no hesitation paying the price because I like it.

So, is it a wannabe gizmo or, setting aside the fact that it says 'Navy SEAL' on it (boy am I sick of that) is it a really good watch?

Thanks!
 
Thaddeus,
Worry not my friend, the Luminox watch is a good piece of gear. I have no idea how many Navy SEALS actually wear one, and I could give a rat's azz. I will say that it has survived several backpacking and camping excursions with no problems. The crystal gets a solid above average in my book in terms of durability and scratch resistance, and the tritium illumination system lives up to the hype and then some. I can't even tell you how bright this is compared to the luminous paints that are used on most watches. Patrick Ma at Triple Aught has a sale going on for the black faced ones at something like $119.00. I'd jump on it if I were you. If that's still pushing the upper limit of your watch purchasing budget, then I think I know why your watches are breaking down so often
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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
If you want one you wont need to worry about get a Casio G-Shock. It is one heck of a tough watch. Look around and you can get some models for around 70. These things will outlast many others costing 5 times the amount.



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Keith D.Armacost
If The Women Don't Find You Handsome,
At Least Let Them Find You Handy. R.G.
 
Originally posted by Kdarmy:
If you want one you wont need to worry about get a Casio G-Shock. It is one heck of a tough watch. Look around and you can get some models for around 70. These things will outlast many others costing 5 times the amount.
Click to expand...

I have one, brand new, but no box or manual, that I'll sell for $30 shipped.
It's model dw-9000. Of course, I would also be happy to trade it for a Spyderco, especially an Endura.

 
Mike, thanks for the offer! I have tried so many others, maybe it is time to try a G-Shock. I really always thought the G-Shock was just a gimmick, that they made the watch look all tough, but it really is just a normal watch. Maybe they really are tough? I do know that my buddy who was just discharge from the Teams wears one, so maybe he found that it does last well.


Ps- I have wanted an Omega Seamaster for about ten years, and someday will have one, hoping that it is as good and durable as I am told. I am not afraid to spend money on a watch (my Swiss Army watch cost almost $700), when I have it. Perhaps I might get an Omega as a graduation gift? I can hope.

[This message has been edited by thaddeus (edited 10-06-2000).]
 
No, the G-Shock is really a tough watch, it's not just a gimmick. If you manage to break one of those, then it would really be interesting to learn how you did it. A friend of mine once had his G-Shock fall about 12m. down on a hard pavement (his little daughter was only 4 years old, and in the habit of throwing things out of the window)and the watch is still working fine after 3 years.
Actually I don't wear a G-Shock (I like my Breitling much more), but I respect it for being really bulletproof!
 
I break watches too. I used to buy a Swatch every two years; had two on the go at a time. One looking good the other surviving. It seemed a good idea at the time, but I don't think I'll continue now that I'm on my fifth and they are not that cheap. The timing has never stopped unless the batteries had gone.

I went and bought a Traser off my own bat. I'm really pleased with it. Water sports, shooting and fishing, and when you are walking across the fields at night trying to get back from the pub. The luminous dials really do shine.

Then I found out it has been given the SEALS' logo. That to me is a real turn off. Special Forces merchandizing is one of my pet hates. I'm pleased my watch has the Traser logo.

I've only had mine for a year now which is not long enough to compare to the other watches posted. You wouldn't go wrong with any of them. I like mine and not too expensive. I went for the steel housing and black face/bezel.

Here are couple of others to look for:
CWC Naval Divers. Very tough.
Seiko Mitary/Divers. www.silvermans.co.uk (their pricing is way too high)

Be careful of top end fashion watches. They are not that good - Brietling, Tag Hauer, Rolex. Half their cost is on their advertising.
 
Thaddeus,
You have my apologies as I had no idea there were Swiss Army watches that were that expensive. If there's a chance you could finagle your way into a Seamaster as a graduation present, I'd say go for it. But in the meantime I don't think you'd be wasting your money on a Luminox. I think there can be a time and place for each.

For ninety percent of my activities I wear a Rolex Submariner. And I'll take some small exception to what Greenjacket has said here only in terms of them not being that good as watches. I'll admit that they are overpriced, but over the course of the last 18 years mine has been subjected to the rigors of diving, parachute training, survival training, rapid depressurizations at 20,000 feet, and has absorbed the recoil of tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition. Through all this it has only stopped once due to a small screw working its way loose. It's true that every four or five months I need to adjust it a minute or two, but it's a small price to pay for never having had to purchase a battery in all that time. And despite that wonderful track record, I'll still swap it out for the Luminox on extended backpacking trips only because the Luminox is very lightweight, reliable and extremely easy to read in any lighting condition. Besides, you'd never want to have just one knife, would you?
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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
I have a Luminox wannabe navy seal watch. I like it a lot, one of the few that has tritium tubes instead of paint, and a Rondo swiss movement. I've read on military watch forums that people think that the luminox watch sucks compared to genuine military issue stuff made by Marathon and Stocker & Yale but you have to also consider that at least one of those companies are not producing that type of watch anymore, and that the second hand does not have a tritium tube on it. I too would rather have a Traser which looks exactly the same as the luminox except it doesn't have US NAVY SEAL printed under the luminox logo but I paid $159 for the stainless steel version and the Traser version would have been easily much more. From people who I know that are Navy SEALs, none of them wear that watch, it is not issued to them and they couldn't care less. I think the story is that a Navy SEAL tested one.

[This message has been edited by paranoid9999 (edited 10-06-2000).]
 
There used to be links to watch websites at www.broadarrow.net They do have some nice photos of military watches (if you're into watches).
There's also a forum or two there with links back to here... curious...

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Runs With Scissors
AKTI# A000107
 
I have both the Luminox and a Israeli Military Watch (was Jim Mattis' watch of choice) and both are pretty rugged. I am also a watchaholic (Breitling Superocean, Rolex Submariner, SAK and my fav Chronosports) and of all I like the Chronosport UDT the best. I just wish Chronosport would put tritium vials on the hands.
 
Just to qualify my comment on top name/price watches. My old man has an Omega Seamaster which has lasted 30/40 years. He has had it revamped three times.

I have friends working in the PR side of several big name watch makers. They tell me that you are paying through the nose for the stuff and that they are not as well made as they used to/should be. Its in the marketing that all the investment is going.

I not big into watches, but the above is my two pence.
 
The citizen eco-drive is a great watch. I have the titanium case, keeps excellent time, great looking, and is rugged. The dial for the date is small and hard to read, and the hands only glow for a few hours after dark. Was hoping to be able to see the dial anytine at night.
Have a g-shock with back light for those early morning hours in the duck blind. It is one very rugged watch.(traded an endura for it). Much bigger than I thought it would be.
Jim


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What? Another knife? Don't you have enough of those things already?
How many does one person need?
And just what are you going to do with this one that you can't do with the others?
What is the purpose of all these knives anyhow??

 
Gonesailing,
If you've been disappointed with the night time legibility of most watches and haven't checked out a Luminox or Hesco Israeli military watch, you really owe it to yourself to give one a try. Not only are they shockingly bright in total darkness, but they are also easy to read at dusk where, for other watches, there's not enough light to see the hands and not enough darkness to see the luminous paint.
smile.gif


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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
Originally posted by thaddeus:
Mike, thanks for the offer! I have tried so many others, maybe it is time to try a G-Shock. I really always thought the G-Shock was just a gimmick, that they made the watch look all tough, but it really is just a normal watch. Maybe they really are tough?

[This message has been edited by thaddeus (edited 10-06-2000).]
Click to expand...

Maxim magazine torture tested several sports watches, including the G-shock. The test included Drop Test, freezing, boiling ect. The G-shock was the clear winner. The testers finally smashed it with a large hammer becuase thats the only thing they could come up with to break it.

To answer the original question. My Luminox watch broke the first time i dropped it. the minute hand broke off the center stud. It was dropped from waist hight onto a limolium floor. Not exactly a torture test.

[This message has been edited by AR15fan (edited 10-12-2000).]
 
I'd buy one of them without the Navy Seal logo on it as it cheaper and is the same watch but Luminox is a good watch yes.

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Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.
 
I had been looking for a good quality, reasonably priced BRIGHT watch and got the Luminox Stainless version (with the rubber straps) for my birthday. LOVE IT!!! Looks great and is incredibly bright. I had seen the standard picture of the face taken in pitch blackness...doesn't do it justice. It will show through the sleeve of your shirt in a black room.

Like you, I was not planning on any Black-Ops special missions, however, i did have he mission of seeing what time it was in the movie theater or in my car at night, etc. This watch is excellent. Keeps VERY accurate time and, not to forget, DOES in fact have the Navy SEAL label on it. DOes that mean anything???maybe not, but it dosn't hurt either. Does that make me a SEAL wannabe...probably not, but I am not ashamed of the name on it, especially if it does the job I need for it to do.

DPS

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David P. Sproles
Eagle Scout Class of 1988
dps2970@hotmail.com
 
Originally posted by paranoid9999:
I've read on military watch forums that people think that the luminox watch sucks compared to genuine military issue stuff made by Marathon and Stocker & Yale but you have to also consider that at least one of those companies are not producing that type of watch anymore, and that the second hand does not have a tritium tube on it. [This message has been edited by paranoid9999 (edited 10-06-2000).]
Click to expand...

According to the Military Watch Resource webpage, someone finally cracked open a stocker and yale and compared it to a luminox. The result; the same Rondo 7 jewel movement in both of them. So, I guess the people that buy a SANDY 660 for $500+++ are buying it for the cachet of buying a truly rare watch, but not because the movements are radically different. The news made me happy because now I know that the "civie" wannabe NAVY SEAL version is just as mechanically sound, just far less rare and infinitely more replaceable.
 
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