LUMINOX - An American Success Story
Like many other American success stories, Luminox came from a forward-thinking individual realizing a need in the market and meeting it. Barry Cohen had been in the fashion watch business for quite some time when he came across a Swiss self-powered illumination system and knew that it would make watches more visible and easier to read in low or no light situations. As a result, Cohen decided to launch a watch brand that would employ this unique enabling technology. He asked his friend Richard Timbo if he would like to join him in this endeavor and the two established the company in 1989. Cohen researched Latin for a name that defined the technology and the Luminox name was conceived (Lumi is Latin for light while Nox is Latin for night). Next, he designed the shield logo and a new brand was born. Logically, they referred to the illumination technology in their watches as Luminox Light Technology. Luminox has always been driven by a commitment to offer cutting-edge luminescence and readability in its line of high-performance sports watches. Ultimately Timbo sold his shares in the company to two Swiss gentlemen (Ronnie and Andre Bernheim) with a long history in the Swiss watchmaking industry and the company has continued to flourish, expanding its presence globally.
The Navy SEALs and More
The Luminox Navy SEAL watch is the timepiece that made Luminox famous. The Assistant RDT&E Officer for the Navy SEALs, Nick North, was asked to seek a more dependable watch for night missions and found the solution at a trade show where he discovered Luminox. He worked with Barry Cohen to develop a watch specifically for them and the Navy SEAL watch was born.
"“Luminox had exactly the watch we were looking for – we only added a few small things,” Nick North, Senior Public Safety Engineer and Operations Specialist, remembered. “We arranged to test some and they worked great. We made a few changes, then the East Coast team started issuing them and the West Coast teams came on board.”
After Luminox provided the watches to the SEALs, more elite units contacted them directly, while at the same time Luminox began marketing the watch across the country and the world. Luminox was then approached by US Air Force pilots flying the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth fighter jet. They were wearing the Navy SEAL timepieces, but chafed at the word “Navy” on the dial. Luminox then developed a watch for these pilots and approached Lockheed Martin, the makers of the F-117 Nighthawk in order to obtain the rights to use images of this jet to use in the catalogs that marketed the watches.
This initial contact turned into a worldwide exclusive license agreement to produce Lockheed Martin timepieces, including watches tied to the F-117 Nighthawk, F-16 Fighting Falcon, SR-71 Blackbird and the new F-22 Raptor, and most recently, the F-35 Lightning II.
The Rest of the Story
Over the past 22 years, Luminox has never strayed from its mission which has been confirmed and validated by the many elite military and law enforcement units that have adopted Luminox as standard equipment.
Luminox has expanded its collection to include a variety of styles, created for the active consumer, the sportsman, law enforcement and military groups, divers and more. Currently, Luminox is distributed in 50 countries around the world and supplies elite units all over the world. In addition, the man on the street has shown particular interest in Luminox, anxious to use the watches put to the test every single day – on the world’s most difficult jobs, figuring rightly that if they have been requested by, designed for and used by the Navy SEALs, they have to be able to stand up to every day use.
The Technology
The Luminox Light Technology makes Luminox watches Always Visible – in fact, the technology Luminox uses provides 24/7 luminosity, no matter the conditions, up to 25 years.
Most other watches use luminescent paint that has to be charged by a light source and fades very quickly, or a “push to light” system, where you push a button for battery-driven illumination.
Luminox, however, uses proprietary technology, in the past reserved for the military, that makes Luminox watches stand out, literally. Each Luminox watch features tiny gas lights (borosilicate glass capsules), which are always lit, on the hands, hour markers and when necessary, bezels. As a result of this unique technology, Luminox watches are always readable at a glance, no matter the conditions.
The U.S. military has long recognized the advantages of micro gas light sources and their use is mandated in procurement specification MIL-W-46374F. Being able to read the watches in any conditions, even in total darkness, is an important requirement of many military and law enforcement agencies.
The U.S. Navy SEALs use the watches, as do U.S. Air Force pilots, FBI and ATF agents, Secret Service officers, Border Patrol units, Coast Guard officers, SWAT teams, as well as general law enforcement officers, helicopter search and rescue pilots, professional divers and other groups around the world.
The Luminox Light Technology system is hand applied in each and every watch. Though more complicated, expensive and time consuming than normal luminescence, it is one of the things that makes Luminox watches special. This unique technology and the additional quality control steps Luminox mandates require extraordinary attention to detail and care in manufacturing.
Production
All Luminox watches are Swiss Made, produced by Luminox’s corporate partner, Mondaine Watch Company, one of the leaders in Swiss manufacturing. Located in Zurich with manufacturing facilities in Solothurn, Switzerland, Mondaine recently won a Swiss Logistics Award for its “just in time” production. Mondaine applies its more than 60 years of experience when producing the complicated Luminox watches.
The Future
Luminox will continue to combine cutting edge technology, forward-thinking design and extreme performance. Luminox delivers, when and where it counts.
Essential Gear
Invented in the United States, Made in Switzerland, Always Visible.
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