Luminox combines an automatic movement with a Carbonox+ case. 

When Luminox first began developing carbon-reinforced watches with tritium tubes for long-lasting illumination on their dials, it was well ahead of the Swiss watch industry. Founder Barry Cohen’s vision was to build timepieces that are durable, precise, and legible under any conditions. In fact, its reputation earned the attention of the Navy SEALs, which sought its help in developing a watch to its specifications in 1992.

The Luminox Navy SEAL collection has been a core collection of the brand since 1993, with upgrades in case materials such as Carbonox and Carbonox+. These are carbon-based composites proprietary to Luminox, made with carbon powder (Carbonox) and carbon long bar compounds (Carbonox+). Both offer great tensile strength and are lightweight and hypoallergenic, with low thermal extension and heat expansion.

The Master Carbon SEAL Automatic 3860 is the brand’s latest addition to its line-up and features, for the first time, an automatic movement in a Carbonox+ case. The grooved dial features a black bar across the middle, with the day and date windows adjacent to the 3 o’clock marker. The brand’s tritium light tubes are set into the hands and minute track encircling the dial.

Carbonox+ gives the moulded case its signature matte grey colour and carbon fibre texture. The unidirectional rotating bezel has a 20-minute countdown indication and oversized minute markers, a useful feature for divers. Powering the watch is an automatic movement (the brand typically uses an ETA 2826 or 2878, or Sellita SW 220-1 or 200-1 in its self-winding models) with a power reserve of at least 38 hours. The 45mm sized case has a sapphire caseback through which you can see the movement, and the watch comes with a rubber strap that’s highly durable.

There are four references available in this model: an anthracite dial with grey minute track and grey rubber strap; an anthracite dial with green minute track and green rubber strap; a blue dial and matching rubber strap; and an anthracite dial with a red rubber strap.

The Luminox Master Carbon SEAL Automatic 3860 is lightweight, durable, hypoallergenic, weatherproof, and shock and scratch resistant. It’s pretty much the Navy SEAL of watches, and now it runs on its own power as well. It’s priced at S$1,690 and available from all authorised retailers.

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