Tritium Watches

[this_is_nascar]

Well, my newest addiction (still light related) is with a tritium watch. I've spent quite a bit of time over the last few days reading everyone's comments here and about. It seems the big daddy's in the game are Luminox and Marathon. I love the looks of that Marathon SAP watch, but I don't want to spend that much money on a watch. I like the Luminox Titanium, but I have the issue issue of spending massive bucks on something as simple as telling the time. All this being said, I still want a Tritium watch, so I odered the following watches.

The Luminux is actually the smaller "ladies" watch. I have small wrist, so anything that's much larger than a $19.00 Casio looks stupid on my wrist. They market this as being 3/4 the size of a standard Luminox. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

The Marathon is the one that's listed on Country Comm. It's a bit less expensive, however it doesn't have a date window. I'm not sure how much I'll like that.

 

[McGizmo]

Ray,

When I was in Japan in the late 80's, I saw a Ti Seiko dive watch. It was the first Ti watch I had seen and I bought it. It never made it to the states but it was a bezel size between the Ladie's version and the big, normal version that they also had. It was a great watch for about 10 years until it gave that dreaded "fog" report one day. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif I have always wondered why more of the mfg's don't offer a "middle" size. I suspect that there are other watches available in Japan and Asia that don't make it to the states.

- Don

 

[yclo]

I know that watches are seperated into Ladies and Men which have small and large sized bezels respectively, but I've also heard of a term used in Hong Kong which is "Boy sized" which denotes a watch with a bezel size between the ladies and mens.

-YC

 

[this_is_nascar]

Well, the Luminox arrived today, however I'm still waiting on the Marithon to get here. I really don't know whether I like the Luminox or not. It didn't "wow" me when I looked at it in person and it didn't do much for me once I put it on my wrist. The bezel is a good size for me and I'm glad I went with the smaller "ladies" version. The little date window is pretty much useless considering my eyesight. Even with my reading glasses on, I can't see the date window enough to tell you the date. I'm a bit bummed, since I've heard nothing but good things from the Luminox. Granted, this is probably the least expensive version, but I think I was expecting more. The Tritium glow is just OK, nothing spectacular. In my opinion, it could have been at least 50% brighter. I'm not sure if I'll keep it or not, whether I like the Marathon or not.

 

[flownosaj]

Nascar--does yours have a date on it? Maybe it seemed half as bright 'cuz it was made in the early 90's and it's coming up on the 12-14 year half-life.
just a thought...

I hope I like mine when it gets here (birthday present to me!)

-Jason

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Nascar, this is great. I just got a Liminox, used, from a fellow CPF'er who recently got some "Cheers". Mine is probably 6+ years old. Looks just like yours escept face is yellow, or more like gold. Standard size. Looks like Marithon Navigator, synthetic. Tritium is not super bright, but very adaquate, and is on all five of the watches' features. Very light. I removed my Seiko Diver, automatic, put on Luminox, and felt like I had added a feather to my wrist. I have owned Seiko's forever, and in fact have a gold tone, undirectional bezel, day, date, Seiko dress watch that is outstandin, old too. Too early to tell, but I think I am going to like this Luminox. Bill

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Nascar, whoops. I compared Luminox to wrong watch. It looks nothing like Navigator. It looks better.

 

[bigcozy]

The Luminox Seal is the least bright watch they make. The Captain's, NATO, Dual Time, Marine and others are much brighter. They have the vials actually on the dial and are much larger than the small ones on the Seal. The pictures they show in the ads are not the Seal model.

 

[Zephyr]

My Marine series Luminox tritium vials are pretty bright. I have small wrist too but somehow the Marine series fits just perfectly on my wrist.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Looking at my watch last nite I noticed that the small vials glowed making their own light against the skin surface of my other hand. Very bright, and yes larger vials are brighter, I know, but I got what I got for a very reasonable price and I am more than pleased. I will longer be using my Sieko Automatic Dive watch as an EDC. Bill

 

[flownosaj]

Just put my order in for a Luminox titanium diver's watch. Should be here in 7-10 days. Sweet! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/huh.gif

I'll post a review when I get a chance to play with it.

Jason

 

[GJW]

As weird as it sounds go try your local Sears.
Mine was selling tritium Lumisport watches.
They looked like your typical Casio/Timex offerings but they did indeed use tritium vials.
They were all in the $49-$99 range.

When I went back weeks later they were completely gone.
I'd almost convinced myself that I'd dreamed it but an internet search today for "lumisport" did yield a link to www.sears.com but with a "file not found" error.

 

[this_is_nascar]

I just received confirmation that I have one of these bad-boys on its way to me. I should have it in a week or so.

 

[avusblue]

Ray, how is this different than a Luminox? Isn't Traser the same watch (MB Microtec), just with a different name on it for European markets?

Is it the full size or something smaller?

Anyway, it does look good, and at least it doesn't scream NAVY SEALS on its face. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Dave

 

[this_is_nascar]

I think it looks much cleaner with the Luminox logo and especially the Navy Seal nonsense.

 

[mrorange]

Not sure if it would interest you, but Bill Yao at "Mark II Watches" http://www.mkiiwatches.com/index.html can take your Traser or Luminox and replace the factory face with one that will make the watch match a military issued one, here is a pic from his site showing a converted Luminox model 3001 (the Navy Seals watch)

And here is a pic of a real military issue Stocker & Yale model 650

Mr. Yao uses the newest font revision for his watch faces, which is why the numbers look a little different, the newest mil issue watches use the same font as he has on his watch faces. The good news is Mr. Yao can do this conversion to your Lumninox/Traser watch for $45.00 plus shipping, or he sells brand new, but already converted Luminox model 3001's for $155.00. The bad news is he is apparently taking the summer off and will not be accepting any new work or watch orders till August 1, 2003 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif I wanted to order a watch directly from him, but didn't want to wait, so....
I have a Luminox 3001 enroute, come Aug 1, I will be sending it to Mr. Yao for conversion.
Finally, have you considered replacing the downright ugly rubber watch band that the Navy Seals watch comes with for one of these?

These are authentic NATO watch bands and Howard Marx at Westcoastime http://www.westcoastime.com can supply you with one for $19.00 delivered.... you'll need the 22mm version for the Navy Seals watch.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Thanks. I've actually visited his site last week and learned he's moving and won't be doing any new work until August.

 

[McGizmo]

Ray,

Here's my watch on Maui time......

Notice I have real thin wrists! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif

- Don

 

[this_is_nascar]

That doesn't look too bad at all Don. The watch looks pretty good also.

 

[McGizmo]

Ray,

I really like the watch. It has a simple and plain face and I can read the dang calendar with my reading glasses! The other feature that is important for us skinny wrist guys is that the bracelet has an additional "dive" fold for expanding over wetsuits. I use this to open the bracelet more for easier passage over my hand. I only take the watch off to change the date. I wear a watch 24/7 and usually don't change one 'till it wears out or dies.

- Don