Luminox Pacific Diver
Contents
- Luminox Pacific Diver
- As soon as I saw this model, the Luminox Pacific Diver, I knew I wanted to review it. The Pacific Diver line is unique for Luminox, as it’s not only stainless steel and an automatic, but it also has a lumed ceramic bezel insert, and Super-LumiNova on the dial, and this one, the Midnight Mariner, does so with a full lume dial. Tritium tubes are still used as well, on the hands and with tubes around the chapter ring, so this has the most lume of any Luminox so far. The dial has a wave pattern, sapphire front and back, and 200m water resistance, as it is a dive watch. There are 3 automatic Pacifid Diver models, the others being blue or black dial, and both of those lack the lumed ceramic bezel. A bracelet version is available as well (blue dial), but this one comes on a cut-to-fit rubber strap, and pricing starts at $1745.
- Recently, I reviewed another Luminox, the Navy Seals 3001 Heritage, a very different watch than this one, and if nothing else, it does show the range of models from Luminox these days. The 3001 Heritage was a 43mm Carbonox case, and while it does contain a piece of carbon, most would refer to it as a plastic case, and I still think that’s what many think of when they think of Luminox watches, even though they have been making stainless steel watches for probably over 20 years now. This Pacific Diver is not only stainless steel, but it’s an automatic, and coupled with the ceramic bezel and this dial, it somewhat gives me Ball vibes, as this is not what I think of when I think Luminox.
- Now Ball is very well known for Trititum tubes, as is Ball, but it’s the higher-end materials here, the sculpted case design, this is an upscale Luminox, no other way to put it. This is not your typical tactical piece, and there’s no plastic bezel, no Carbonox in sight, and unlike many, this is an SW200-1 automatic, not a quartz, which a quick look on the Luminox website shows that the quartz is mainly what Luminox makes, and automatics are used in only a few pieces, 3 models to be exact. This one is shown off through the sapphire case back, and if you’ve seen an SW200-1, you’ve seen them all. I am disappointed, though, that it doesn’t have a black rotor as depicted on the Luminox website.
- The case is a familiar bumper case, or at least that’s what I call it, as the 9 o’clock side of the case has a bump similar to the crown guards at 3 o’clock, so it’s a very symmetrical case, and it’s a very sculpted-looking case as well. To create those bumpers, Luminox has these large cutouts on the side of the case, and these are pretty deep cutouts, and the design reminds me of a bottle opener. Again, this is not the type of case when you think of Luminox; even the top of the case has a polished chamfer, and the bezel edge is polished as well, to break up the sea of brushed steel. The crown is not massive at 6.9mm, but I still found it easy to use the screw-down crown, even with those large crown guards.
- Moving back around to the dial, and all of the Luminox Pacific Diver models have a wave pattern on the dial, and if you look closely, you’ll see this wave pattern does go through the date window surround, odd, but it doesn’t impede your reading of the date. All colorways have applied indices and numerals; this Midnight Mariner full lume version has them filled with a black paint or enamel instead of the Super-LumiNova, as the dial itself is lume-coated. The dial text is kept to a minimum, and the Luminox logo looks good, applied as well, and all around the chapter ring, you find those tritium tubes.
- The hour, minute, and second hands are brushed steel or nickel, and I really don’t love the look here. I feel they should have just gone with black-coated hands against this white dial, and the brushed finish contrasts too much with the polished surrounds of the applied indices.
- The bezel and bezel inset are beautiful. The bezel has a great coin-edge grip, easy to grasp even with medium to large-sized hands, and it’s a 120 click bezel, and it’s just one of those bezels that are very satisfying to turn, with a good ratcheting feel. The insert is polished black ceramic, and possibly for the first time, the bezel is lumed, all the numbers and lines are filled with Super-Luminova, and the 12 o’clock space is occupied by a tritium tube in a round chamber.
- And yes, the dial of this Luminox Pacific Diver Midnight Mariner has a lot of lume, possibly the most lume ever produced by Luminox, but there are a few things to note here. These are smaller tubes, and like all tritium tubes, they glow best in full darkness. Super-LumiNova, on the other hand, if it’s been charged through the day or was just in a bright lit area, will glow in dim as well as complete darkness. So, if you are outside, for example, and walk into a dimly lit area of your house, you’ll see that full lume dial and that lumed bezel. 5 hours later, that lumed dial probably won’t be glowing, at least not anywhere near as strong, but those tubes will be. What you are getting here is the best of both worlds: a watch that will glow in both dim lighting and complete darkness.
- There are 3 colors of the Luminox Pacific Diver, and as I said, this is the only one with the lumed dial and bezel, and there’s another big difference between the 3 as well; only the blue dial comes on a bracelet. This Midnight Mariner and the black dial are sold with a rubber strap, and it’s a candy bar style natural rubber strap, molded with the Luminox name and branded underneath as well, and has a simple stamped dive clasp, though the deployment is milled. I quite like the look of the strap, but the big issue I have is that you need to size it, and that means get out that razor blade, measure twice, and cut once. It’s a large strap, much larger than my 7 1/2 inch or. 19.05cm wrist, but I wish they had gone with a standard hole strap and clasp, or possibly designed a new no-cut strap.
- I do love how it looks on my wrist; it’s a 42mm case, and the lugs and strap width are 24mm, which is again, not normal for a 42mm watch, but at least to me, this does not feel like a very large or wide watch. I know that will be different for everyone, and the trend is smaller watches for a lot of brands and a lot of customers, but I love this 42mm case for my wrist. The case does have the faux end piece lugs though, which I don’t mind with a rubber strap, but the 24mm bracelet does not have solid fitted end links, and at least from the photos Ive seen, I’m not a fan. The bracelet also costs $216, as you can not get a bracelet or a strap.
- I’m definitely glad I got to review this Luminox Pacific Diver, as this really is a departure for the brand, and for the most part, in a very good way. If you have always thought of quartz plastic case watches when you think of Luminox, this one shows you that’s not all the brand does these days. As I mentioned in my last review, Luminox prices have sure gone up, but so has everything else. At $1825, my only grip is that cut-to-fit strap; if this Midnight Mariner came with a bracelet for the $1825, it would be very much in line with any other watch at this price.
- All of them combine Tritium with Super-LumiNova, which is not common for Luminox or any other brand, for that matter, and this one, having the full lume dial with the lumed ceramic bezel, does put it over the edge. It may not be the most tactical piece, but it is sure an attractive piece from Lumionx, and I hope to see more diversity in their model lineup in the future.
- Luminox
As soon as I saw this model, the Luminox Pacific Diver, I knew I wanted to review it. The Pacific Diver line is unique for Luminox, as it’s not only stainless steel and an automatic, but it also has a lumed ceramic bezel insert, and Super-LumiNova on the dial, and this one, the Midnight Mariner, does so with a full lume dial. Tritium tubes are still used as well, on the hands and with tubes around the chapter ring, so this has the most lume of any Luminox so far. The dial has a wave pattern, sapphire front and back, and 200m water resistance, as it is a dive watch. There are 3 automatic Pacifid Diver models, the others being blue or black dial, and both of those lack the lumed ceramic bezel. A bracelet version is available as well (blue dial), but this one comes on a cut-to-fit rubber strap, and pricing starts at $1745.
Specifications 42mm Stainless Steel Case 47.3mm 9-3 (including crown) 48mm Lug to Lug 13.2mm Thick 24mm Lug Width 123.5 Grams Sapphire Crystal Lumed Ceramic Bezel Full Lume Dial 200m Water Resistant Screw Down Crown Sellita SW2001-1 Automatic Movement Cut to fit Black Rubber strap with clasp MSRP $1825 https://luminox.com/products/pacific-diver-automatic-midnight-mariner
Recently, I reviewed another Luminox, the Navy Seals 3001 Heritage, a very different watch than this one, and if nothing else, it does show the range of models from Luminox these days. The 3001 Heritage was a 43mm Carbonox case, and while it does contain a piece of carbon, most would refer to it as a plastic case, and I still think that’s what many think of when they think of Luminox watches, even though they have been making stainless steel watches for probably over 20 years now. This Pacific Diver is not only stainless steel, but it’s an automatic, and coupled with the ceramic bezel and this dial, it somewhat gives me Ball vibes, as this is not what I think of when I think Luminox.
Now Ball is very well known for Trititum tubes, as is Ball, but it’s the higher-end materials here, the sculpted case design, this is an upscale Luminox, no other way to put it. This is not your typical tactical piece, and there’s no plastic bezel, no Carbonox in sight, and unlike many, this is an SW200-1 automatic, not a quartz, which a quick look on the Luminox website shows that the quartz is mainly what Luminox makes, and automatics are used in only a few pieces, 3 models to be exact. This one is shown off through the sapphire case back, and if you’ve seen an SW200-1, you’ve seen them all. I am disappointed, though, that it doesn’t have a black rotor as depicted on the Luminox website.
The case is a familiar bumper case, or at least that’s what I call it, as the 9 o’clock side of the case has a bump similar to the crown guards at 3 o’clock, so it’s a very symmetrical case, and it’s a very sculpted-looking case as well. To create those bumpers, Luminox has these large cutouts on the side of the case, and these are pretty deep cutouts, and the design reminds me of a bottle opener. Again, this is not the type of case when you think of Luminox; even the top of the case has a polished chamfer, and the bezel edge is polished as well, to break up the sea of brushed steel. The crown is not massive at 6.9mm, but I still found it easy to use the screw-down crown, even with those large crown guards.
Moving back around to the dial, and all of the Luminox Pacific Diver models have a wave pattern on the dial, and if you look closely, you’ll see this wave pattern does go through the date window surround, odd, but it doesn’t impede your reading of the date. All colorways have applied indices and numerals; this Midnight Mariner full lume version has them filled with a black paint or enamel instead of the Super-LumiNova, as the dial itself is lume-coated. The dial text is kept to a minimum, and the Luminox logo looks good, applied as well, and all around the chapter ring, you find those tritium tubes.
The hour, minute, and second hands are brushed steel or nickel, and I really don’t love the look here. I feel they should have just gone with black-coated hands against this white dial, and the brushed finish contrasts too much with the polished surrounds of the applied indices.
The bezel and bezel inset are beautiful. The bezel has a great coin-edge grip, easy to grasp even with medium to large-sized hands, and it’s a 120 click bezel, and it’s just one of those bezels that are very satisfying to turn, with a good ratcheting feel. The insert is polished black ceramic, and possibly for the first time, the bezel is lumed, all the numbers and lines are filled with Super-Luminova, and the 12 o’clock space is occupied by a tritium tube in a round chamber.
And yes, the dial of this Luminox Pacific Diver Midnight Mariner has a lot of lume, possibly the most lume ever produced by Luminox, but there are a few things to note here. These are smaller tubes, and like all tritium tubes, they glow best in full darkness. Super-LumiNova, on the other hand, if it’s been charged through the day or was just in a bright lit area, will glow in dim as well as complete darkness. So, if you are outside, for example, and walk into a dimly lit area of your house, you’ll see that full lume dial and that lumed bezel. 5 hours later, that lumed dial probably won’t be glowing, at least not anywhere near as strong, but those tubes will be. What you are getting here is the best of both worlds: a watch that will glow in both dim lighting and complete darkness.
There are 3 colors of the Luminox Pacific Diver, and as I said, this is the only one with the lumed dial and bezel, and there’s another big difference between the 3 as well; only the blue dial comes on a bracelet. This Midnight Mariner and the black dial are sold with a rubber strap, and it’s a candy bar style natural rubber strap, molded with the Luminox name and branded underneath as well, and has a simple stamped dive clasp, though the deployment is milled. I quite like the look of the strap, but the big issue I have is that you need to size it, and that means get out that razor blade, measure twice, and cut once. It’s a large strap, much larger than my 7 1/2 inch or. 19.05cm wrist, but I wish they had gone with a standard hole strap and clasp, or possibly designed a new no-cut strap.
I do love how it looks on my wrist; it’s a 42mm case, and the lugs and strap width are 24mm, which is again, not normal for a 42mm watch, but at least to me, this does not feel like a very large or wide watch. I know that will be different for everyone, and the trend is smaller watches for a lot of brands and a lot of customers, but I love this 42mm case for my wrist. The case does have the faux end piece lugs though, which I don’t mind with a rubber strap, but the 24mm bracelet does not have solid fitted end links, and at least from the photos Ive seen, I’m not a fan. The bracelet also costs $216, as you can not get a bracelet or a strap.
I’m definitely glad I got to review this Luminox Pacific Diver, as this really is a departure for the brand, and for the most part, in a very good way. If you have always thought of quartz plastic case watches when you think of Luminox, this one shows you that’s not all the brand does these days. As I mentioned in my last review, Luminox prices have sure gone up, but so has everything else. At $1825, my only grip is that cut-to-fit strap; if this Midnight Mariner came with a bracelet for the $1825, it would be very much in line with any other watch at this price.
All of them combine Tritium with Super-LumiNova, which is not common for Luminox or any other brand, for that matter, and this one, having the full lume dial with the lumed ceramic bezel, does put it over the edge. It may not be the most tactical piece, but it is sure an attractive piece from Lumionx, and I hope to see more diversity in their model lineup in the future.
Luminox
