LUMINOX

In the world of contemporary watchmaking, the name Luminox is instantly known. Many people swear by this brand—and nothing else—because it has a stronghold on the inexpensive military dive-watch industry. Each of their timepieces, which are named "Lumi-" (light) and "-nox" (night), is significantly more than a night light. These watches are truly radioactive, with tritium-filled tubes on the display and hands. Tritium is a radioactive isotope generated from hydrogen that keeps these timepieces glowing day and night. This isotope is combined with phosphorescent paint, resulting in the reactionary glow for which these watches are famous (don't worry, it's not harmful).Originally intended to be a low-light luminous sports watch, the brand's name has been associated with elite military missions across the world, especially the renowned US Navy SEALs. In terms of nomenclature, the firm was founded and named not long ago. Barry Cohen, an industry veteran, founded Luminox in 1989. He enlisted the help of a colleague called Richard Timbo to take on the brand, and it was the Navy SEALs who initially boosted the company's notoriety.

The year 1992 is likely the most significant in Luminox's history.

When (now retired) Nick North, the SEALs' procurement officer, stumbled across Luminox at an industrial fair, Cohen and Timbo's brand was on full show.

Their timepieces (along with other wristwatches) were put to the test by the SEALs R&D department to see how well they would function in the field. Luminox stood out versus every other contender after the dust settled on these testing. Luminox introduced their famous "3001" watch in 1994. From 1994 to 2000, the company received contracts from the Singapore Air Force, the United States Coast Guard, and the New York City Police Department, as well as a license to manufacture Lockheed Martin wristwatches.

Luminox was seen in feature films and on 2002 U.S. Olympians by the early 2000s.

They also created brand-exclusive boutiques in Japan, cementing their status as a tough-looking timepiece with a worldwide appeal.

However, it was in 2006 that Ronne and Andre Bernheim, owners of the watch company Mondaine Watch Co., acquired a 50% stake in Luminox. Luminox's attractiveness on the worldwide scale was further enhanced by its competence in global marketing methods. Luminox created a number of special edition timepieces based on the brand's history with various military/police forces throughout the world with Bernheim's help. A major release a year later, in 2007, made ripples inside the company. On their "Colormark" series, they used an extra-hardened mineral crystal (registering at 550-650 Vickers) and a Carbon Compound case, which set a new standard for their watches. The Colormark line rapidly became their best-selling wristwatch following its release. Given how much the Colormark watches pay homage to its original SEALs ancestors, this isn't unexpected (the 3001).

As the decade progressed, Luminox began to appeal to a larger and larger audience. The corporation, with their Colormarks out in full force, proceeded to grow widespread popularity with endorsements from counter-terrorist officials and individual explorers. Luminox proceeded to make watches for land, air, and even space with the Bernheim brothers efficiently assisting with global distribution and diversification. To commemorate their 25th anniversary, Luminox created a limited-edition GMT Space Series in 2014. These watches were a terrific addition to the brand, with the same tough Carbon Compound as the original Colormark.

Andre and Ronnie Bernheim purchased Luminox wholly from its inventor, Barry Cohen, in 2016. Though the brand's headquarters are in San Rafael, California, the watches have been made (for a while) in Switzerland. In 2017, Switzerland passed a "Swiss-Made" regulation, which Luminox continues to adhere to in its movement designs. The Bernheim brothers are sure to have more in store for this powerhouse brand in the 2020s. Luminox celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. Regardless of who eventually owns it, one thing is certain: they aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Whether it's a Bear Grylls special edition, a space watch, or a traditional SEALs watch, they're ready for anything. And, history notwithstanding, if things become too rough, it's still advisable seeing a watchmaker for maintenance.