Luminox
Encyclopedia
Luminox is a brand of watch
es and clock
s that use tritium
to illuminate the hands and numerals of its products. Luminox was originally designed for United States Navy SEALs
when a procurement officer approached the company to design a watch specifically suited for the needs of this special military unit. Though the watches were never accepted by the SEALs due to design issues in the illuminating tritium, the watches were made available to the general public. All Luminox watches are Swiss-made.
groups with custom insignias and designs. Among these are the Heliswiss
team, the US Bobsled Team, US Coast Guard
, US Air Force
, and a variety of other special forces
and EMS
teams worldwide.
The brand has since expanded into over 30 countries. Among the more popular watch models are those designed using visual elements of the fighter jets made by aviation titan, Lockheed Martin
. To date, Luminox has designed watches taking cues from the SR-71 Blackbird
, the F-117 Nighthawk
, the F-16 Fighting Falcon
, and the F-22 Raptor
.
In 2006, a fifty-percent stake in the Luminox company was purchased by the Swiss brand Mondaine
, giving Mondaine
increased access to the American market, and Luminox increased access to the European and Asian markets.
in a gaseous tritium light source undergoes beta decay, releasing electrons which cause the phosphor layer to fluoresce. During manufacture, a length of borosilicate glass tube which has had the inside surface coated with a phosphor-containing compound is filled with the radioactive tritium. The tube is then fused with a CO2 laser
at the desired length. Borosilicate is used for its strength and resistance to breakage. In the tube, the tritium gives off a steady stream of electrons due to beta decay. These particles excite the phosphor, causing it to emit a low, steady glow. One could use any beta particle-emitting substance, but in practice tritium is preferred because it is not very hazardous.
Watch
A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...
es and clock
Clock
A clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
s that use tritium
Tritium
Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. The nucleus of tritium contains one proton and two neutrons, whereas the nucleus of protium contains one proton and no neutrons...
to illuminate the hands and numerals of its products. Luminox was originally designed for United States Navy SEALs
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
when a procurement officer approached the company to design a watch specifically suited for the needs of this special military unit. Though the watches were never accepted by the SEALs due to design issues in the illuminating tritium, the watches were made available to the general public. All Luminox watches are Swiss-made.
Luminox History
Luminox also makes branded watches for various militaryMilitary
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
groups with custom insignias and designs. Among these are the Heliswiss
Heliswiss
Heliswiss AG is a Swiss helicopter company with headquarters on the property of Bern Airport in Belp, Switzerland, near Bern.-History:Heliswiss - the oldest helicopter company in Switzerland - was founded as „Heliswiss Schweizerische Helikopter AG“ with headquarters in Berne-Belp on April 17, 1958....
team, the US Bobsled Team, US Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, US Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, and a variety of other special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
and EMS
Emergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
teams worldwide.
The brand has since expanded into over 30 countries. Among the more popular watch models are those designed using visual elements of the fighter jets made by aviation titan, Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
. To date, Luminox has designed watches taking cues from the SR-71 Blackbird
SR-71 Blackbird
The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by the Lockheed Skunk Works. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the...
, the F-117 Nighthawk
F-117 Nighthawk
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was a single-seat, twin-engine stealth ground-attack aircraft formerly operated by the United States Air Force . The F-117A's first flight was in 1981, and it achieved initial operating capability status in October 1983...
, the F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
, and the F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...
.
In 2006, a fifty-percent stake in the Luminox company was purchased by the Swiss brand Mondaine
Mondaine
Mondaine is the trademark for a series of watches made by the Swiss company Mondaine Watch Ltd.Most Mondaine watches are heavily influenced by classical railway station clocks, and according to the Mondaine web site, Mondaine is the official Swiss railways watch...
, giving Mondaine
Mondaine
Mondaine is the trademark for a series of watches made by the Swiss company Mondaine Watch Ltd.Most Mondaine watches are heavily influenced by classical railway station clocks, and according to the Mondaine web site, Mondaine is the official Swiss railways watch...
increased access to the American market, and Luminox increased access to the European and Asian markets.
Always Visible Technology
The tritiumTritium
Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. The nucleus of tritium contains one proton and two neutrons, whereas the nucleus of protium contains one proton and no neutrons...
in a gaseous tritium light source undergoes beta decay, releasing electrons which cause the phosphor layer to fluoresce. During manufacture, a length of borosilicate glass tube which has had the inside surface coated with a phosphor-containing compound is filled with the radioactive tritium. The tube is then fused with a CO2 laser
Carbon dioxide laser
The carbon dioxide laser was one of the earliest gas lasers to be developed , and is still one of the most useful. Carbon dioxide lasers are the highest-power continuous wave lasers that are currently available...
at the desired length. Borosilicate is used for its strength and resistance to breakage. In the tube, the tritium gives off a steady stream of electrons due to beta decay. These particles excite the phosphor, causing it to emit a low, steady glow. One could use any beta particle-emitting substance, but in practice tritium is preferred because it is not very hazardous.