Led Dive Light
Led Dive Light LED flashlight question? Just curious, I've been told that you should shouldn't shine an LED light directly in someone's face since the light hurts their eyes. But one thing I tho...
Led Dive Light
The Making of Luminox Watches
Sometimes, all it takes is one big idea to make a company stand out from the crowd…and sometimes all it takes is one big contract to put a company on the road to success. Luminox has enjoyed the resulting good fortune from both: their unique illumination technology and a perfectly-timed deal to develop watches for the Navy SEALS.
In 1989 watch illumination wasn’t a new thing by any means…there were watch faces coated with tritium phosphorescent paint, (which required sunlight for charging and wasn’t really very bright) or there were battery operated lights, (which required replacement and charging). But, there wasn’t anything perfect on the market – something to provide an easily readable lit face without exterior aids. This is where Luminox’s unique illumination technology made the difference. The light sources of the Luminox watches are self-illuminating, and almost one hundred times brighter than that of watches with traditional tritium phosphorescent paint. The Luminox light system consists of sealed, tritium-filled glass tubes, whose inside walls are coated with a phosphorescent substance. The electrons emitted by the small quantity of gas in the tube excite the phosphor to give off a cold light. The extraordinary brightness of this hands-free lighting system is guaranteed for 10 years but lasts over 20 years.
It’s said that the high radioactivity observed in the military’s then-current phosphorescent coated watches caused enough concern to make finding a better illumination source essential, and in 1991 the US Army started buying watches with newer technology, the unique H3-light is a Gaseous Tritium Light Source (GTLS). Once Luminox paired this illumination with their dependable sports wristwatch, the company was on the path to success. In 1993 the US Navy SEAL contract was negotiated to provide dive watches to meet their unique specifications…to become part of the standard equipment of special units such as the Army Rangers, Army Special Forces (Green Berets), Navy SEALs (Sea, Air, Land), and EOD (Explosives Ordinance Demolition) Teams. With the launch of the original SEAL Dive Series I in 1994, Luminox was well on the road to success.
Luminox has continued to innovate and keep passion for their collections soaring by expanding to include improved and upgraded versions of the Original Navy SEAL dive series, and ultimately an entire line of watches of many types and styles created for the active consumer, the sportsman, law enforcement and, of course, military groups. In 1999 the US Air Force contracted for a line of watches meeting specifics required for their pilots flying night missions. In response to this, Luminox began developing the watches that led to the current U.S. Air Force Stealth Pilot Series.
The biggest growth to Luminox’s offerings have been instigated by the makers of the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth jet, Lockheed Martin©, the largest defense contractor in the world. An entire array of aviation inspired watches has been created that tie to specific Lockheed Martin properties, such as the collection of pilot watches Sr-71 Blackbird, F-117 Nighthawk, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor.
About the Author
Ming Cheung is the co-founder of ShopLuminoxWatches.com, an authorized Luminox watch dealer that specializes in Luminox watches including Luminox Navy SEAL dive watches, Luminox Colormark watches, and Luminox accessories.