Luminox Vs. Seiko Vs. ???????

C

Chadilac

Joined
Jan 10, 2006
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I welcome any thoughts on dive watches. I don't dive but I want a watch I can wear all the "time"...;) that is durable. I don't want a stainless band but rubber or leather or something that buckles...

I like the tritium on the Luminox, but if the Seiko monster is a much better watch, then I am open to that, or any other suggestions in the $150-$200 range or so....

If you offer other suggestions, I also would like suggestions on where to buy online. Thanks! :thumbup:
 
i would take a seiko diver over a luminox anyday of the week and twice on sunday. imho seikos are vastly superior watches in both F&F and durability, i have had 3 seiko divers and my wife had one too, never a problem with anything. luminox is not bad but i think the seiko is just a lot more watch for the $$. in fact for less than $200 the seiko is pretty hard to beat even by watches 2X as costly. now ya get up in the $500 range and there are some other good ones around.
 
I have a MB Microtec H3 stainless steel case watch and it is great. Extremely durable, it has been hit against trees, rocks, the ground, concertina, you name it! Seiko watches are nice. I almost bought one, but they are more of a gentlemans watch. Kind of how I feel about my Omega. If you want a dress watch go with a seiko, if you want a really durable watch go with a Microtec or a G-Shock. I have a new one and it is solar powered and updates with the atomic clock, which by the way is nice and annoying.... The Microtec watches are very similar to the luminox ones, but are a little nicer I think.
 
I wear my watches always (including hot, hot showers).

I cannot recommend G-Shock - the last three I've owned developed fogging in mildly cold weather. They run, take a beating, etc. - but the fogging is unsat.
 
beefangusbeef said:
The Microtec watches are very similar to the luminox ones, but are a little nicer I think.
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I don't know if they're actually the same company, but I know they're at least made in the same factory.
 
I have a Luminox Navy Seal. I wear it all the time and beat it pretty hard. It has held up fine for 8 years now requiring only battery and band replacements every few years. The rubber Luminox bands get pricey -- I have a Zulu band waiting for my rubber to break.:eek:
 
I've got 13 G-Shcoks, they will stand up to anything you might encounter.
Here is a crazy test a guy did on his G-Shock.
http://www.gshockpics.com/ref01.html

A personal favorite of mine if my GW-200
frog24.jpg


You would be hard pressed to find a more durable watch anywhere.
 
I'm not sure either. My guess is they aren't just that the same swiss factory produces both watches for different companies. Kind of like how knife factories in japan do the same thing. I just couldn't live with myself having a watch with a gay pride symbol on it so I bought it instead of a luminox. I paid about 100-150 less than what the similar luminox costs also.
 
well, if you're looking for a general "knock-around" watch, I'd probably go with a Luminox-style watch. I think there are better deals for a Tritium watch than Luminox. Try the Traser watches or the S&W Watches. They're a lot less than the Luminox, but made by the same people.

As far as a Seiko being a "Gentleman's watch," I'd have to dispute that. The 007/009 watches are most certainly NOT a Gentleman's watch. The O&W WCT (Sub clone) I'm wearing currently (in place of my 007) is much more of a gentleman's watch than my Seiko.
 
Ok, just took a look at the 007 watches. I've never looked that in depth at their strictly dive watch offerings, just most of their watches are more style and technology I'd say than durability. Then again I have destroyed 3 swiss army watches so far. Did James Bond ever wear this watch in a movie? I was under the impression he only wore seamasters. I wouldn't be surprised with the path the series is taking though.
 
At one time, I had an Ollech & Wajs Professional Diver, a Marathon SAR (2003 model), and a Seiko SKX007.

I've sold the O&W, the Marathon sits in the safe, and I wear the Seiko every day.
 
Off-hand, the three watches I can name that Mr. Bond has worn include the Rolex Submariner (mostly Sean Connery), Omega Seamaster (Mostly Pierce Brosnan), and a Seiko (Roger Moore)- though I can't remember the model number.
 
I think we're talking apples and oranges here, as the Luminox are quartz movements, and the more desirable Seikos are automatic movements. For the most part, people either love automatics or they don't. There's not much in between. Quartz is usually far more accurate. An automatic is less accurate, but a whole lot more fun to own, and never needs a battery change. From what I've experienced, watch lovers love automatics. Watch users love quartz.

90% of my watch wear is done with two watches now. My Seiko Orange Monster is what I wear to work, out on the town, and around the house. If I'm going to have a very active day, usually hiking, fishing, chopping wood for the wood stove, mowing the lawn, or out bashing nitro RC trucks, I wear a G-Shock Frogman. The same model that sak_collector wears, but with strap adapters and a two-ring Zulu strap. I own probably 10 or 15 different G-Shocks. I've never had a problem with a single one, but love the Frogman the most. G-Shocks are as close to indestructible as you can get.

I've never owned a Luminox, and probably never will. I have nothing against their products though. I just don't dig analog watches with quartz movements. Once you experience the smoothness of the second hand on an automatic watch, it's awfully hard to go back to analog quartz. I save my quartz needs for digital watches.
 
I love my G-Shock too, its just when I'm in the woods I always hit it up against something and activate the automatic illumination button, so minutes later I move my arm and it lights up the night sky. Not at all a good feature for certain uses. Automatics are nice, but you're not going to find anything in the 150-200 dollar range and there is not much added "performance". I agree with you on the comment that watch lovers love automatics and watch users love quartz. My dad has 3 omegas and 2 rolex's and has nothing but trouble with them. Always has to wear them to keep them going, wind them, take them in for service because they break sitting around, on and on and on. I guess I never really paid attention to what watch James Bond was wearing until the blatant advertising of the Omega's in the Brosnan films. It is a great watch though!
 
I don't know about the watch that Ednemo gave a link to...it is only water-resistant to 3 atm, which is not recommended for swimming or diving.

Buzz is right about the automatic vs quartz thing.
If you want the toughest watch for the money, the G-Shock simply can't be beat.
I wore one for years when I was a Soldier.
However, it is an ugly hunk of plastic to have on your wrist all day long.
And it's also very common.


OTOH, an automatic Seiko diver, like my Black Monster, is a terrific piece of engineering wrapped in a beautiful steel case.
And they're not so common that you will see your watch on every other wrist.
And they're some of the most affordable quality automatics that you can buy.
They can easily hold their own with watches costing thousands more.

So I recommend a Seiko diver's watch.


But you also might want to consider a Citizen Eco-Drive diver's watch.
They're good looking, have quartz accuracy, and they never need a battery changed.


...take them in for service because they break sitting around,...
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I think that you're mistaken on this.
An automatic does'nt just break while sitting around.
In fact, you can take it off and leave it on your desk for ten years, come back, wind it up, and it will work just fine.
And I got my Black Monster for less than $180.00 dollars from Watchpavilion online.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
I love my G-Shock too, its just when I'm in the woods I always hit it up against something and activate the automatic illumination button, so minutes later I move my arm and it lights up the night sky.
Click to expand...

I would be interested in knowing whether your watch is defective or not then. On G-Shocks, in order to activate the auto-EL, the button must be deliberately pressed and held for a few seconds to turn the feature on. If it is turning on from just a bump then thats just not right.
 
no, it's not defective, I find myself leaning against trees and rolling around on rocks and such in the middle of night at times. I know it sounds odd, but it's all part of the job. it does get accidentally depressed for a few seconds.
 
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