How Luminox Keeps Reinventing the Field Watch -and Its Aluminum-Powered Future

When the U.S. Navy SEALs were looking for an official watch to supply their troops with back in 1992, they could’ve gone with one of the dozens of legacy watchmakers in the world. However, after getting hands-on with Luminox’s original 3001 model for a series of rigorous testing, they could clearly see that there was no other choice. 

Despite only being around for a few years, Luminox had an obsession with toughness, visibility, and tech, which still courses through its veins today. It’s what’s made the brand so beloved by military personnel and outdoorsmen alike for well over three decades now. Even renowned survival expert Bear Grylls has put out over 30 models with the watchmaker (more on this below). 

In this article, we’ll break down a few of Luminox’s most renowned tech innovations, including one new material that has the watch community buzzing.

It would be almost sacrilege to begin a conversation about Luminox’s technology without first discussing their LLT (Luminox Light Technology). A cornerstone upon which the brand was founded in 1989, LLT was also one of the major deciding factors for the Navy SEALs. It even meets MIL-W-46374F procurement specification by the military.

Aiming to achieve a dial glow that would stay visible through all hours of the night without fading, Luminox’s founders developed the tech, which is a series of micro gas light tubes (borosilicate glass capsules) that remain lit without needing to be charged. It’s similar to tritium lume but is actually safe for humans and the environment. Unlike other watches that have a glowing lume coat that charges by sunlight but usually fades by the end of the night, LLT is meant to last up to 25 years. Whether you’re adventuring, diving, or lying in wait, you’ll have exceptional visibility of the time.

If LLT helps serve the user experience of the watch, Luminox’s CARBONOX ensures its actual longevity. While the majority of tool watches on the market are made out of steel for its toughness and affordability (including Luminox itself), the watchmaker has become revered for its employment of the innovative carbon compound material. 

Consisting of varying percentages of carbon powder, CARBONOX is ultra-lightweight — 6x lighter than steel and 3x lighter than titanium — but insanely durable and weatherproof. Other benefits include its natural anti-magnetic properties, a strong resistance to chemicals, and scratch resistance. In terms of use in the field, CARBONOX also has a very low thermal extension and heat expansion. Essentially, it doesn’t get too hot or cold very easily.

Looks-wise, the material also provides an extra dose of stealth with its matte black texture, giving more of a tactical aesthetic to many of Luminox’s timepieces.

There’s also CARBONOX+, a more high-performance compound with a 40% carbon fiber count. You get all the properties of standard CARBONOX but heightened. This means twice the tensile strength and a third of the water absorption. As opposed to the matte black of its big brother, CARBONOX+ gives you a visible carbon fiber pattern on the case for an entirely new look.

Proof that Luminox never stops innovating, the watchmaker has now unveiled a brand-new material called ALUMI-NOX. Used for the watch’s case, ALUMI-NOX is a cutting-edge compound made from AAA aerospace-grade aluminum with the same hard-anodized oxidation treatment used in military hardware like barrels and artillery tubes to protect them against water and sweat.

Similar to CARBONOX, the material is very strong and lightweight — 3x lighter than stainless steel and with a surface hardness of 250 HV (at least 50 HV harder than steel). Unlike steel, it’s highly corrosion resistant as well and does well in extreme temperatures.

A new alternative for Luminox, ALUMI-NOX takes well to a wide range of colors and finishes, expanding the range of designs for the watchmaker. The versatility of the compound, both stylistically and functionally, brings an everyday wearability to even the most rugged tool watches.

Luminox Bear Grylls Survival Land 3710 Series

Showcasing the new ALUMI-NOX material for the first time is Luminox’s two latest watches, the Bear Grylls Survival Land 3710 Series, consisting of the 3716 and 3717. Among the lightest field watches on the planet, these models still give you plenty of wrist presence thanks to their 43mm case size, 12.4mm thickness, and minimal fixed bezel, maximizing the real estate on the dials.

Speaking of those dials, the inaugural timepieces feature textured surfaces in brown with a sand minute track (3716) or beige with an orange minute track (3717). While the former has a gray ALUMI-NOX case, the latter has a unique beige color to match the inner dial. Each watch comes adorned with a rubber strap to match the case color.

The dial layout here is intuitive, with a 24-hour track along the inside and a red-tipped minute hand for visibility. You also get a date window at the 3 spot. At night, the 12 notch and minute/hour hands glow orange, while the rest of the hours glow green for distinction. Another really cool detail is the orange crown — a signature Bear Grylls touch. You can also find nods to the adventurer with his iconic logo at 10 o’clock, and his “Never Give Up” mantra engraved on the caseback.

Powered by the Swiss-made RONDA 515 quartz movement with 60 months of battery life, this watch also gets you 100m of water resistance, making it an exceptional timepiece for off-grid activities. However, the understated styling gives you plenty of everyday wear as well.

Priced at $650, the Bear Grylls Survival Land 3710 Series watches are available now from Luminox’s website.