The Luminox Mil-Spec, short for military specification, was designed and built in compliance with the technical requirements of the United States military as outlined in MIL-PRF-46374G. This is the official standard established by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to ensure timepieces used by America’s armed forces are accurate, legible and reliable.The Mil-Spec demonstrates these values and upholds Luminox’s 35-year tradition of tough, dependable timepieces.

The Mil-Spec’s dial and coloration is inspired by the DOD standard. The black dial uses two sets of contrasting white Arabic numerals at each hour markone for 12-hour and another for 24-hour timekeeping. The stenciled styling adds to the watch’s “government issued” look while imbuing it with a unique sense of character. The titanium unidirectional rotating bezel goes above and beyond to provide superior lightness and durability.

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A key requirement from the DOD standard is that watches must be “able to be read after eight hours in total darkness without intervention on the part of the user.” The special color-coded, selfpowered luminous markers on the MilSpec overdeliver. They provide continuous low-light and no-light visibility for upto 25 years without any charging from an external power source or activation.

LUMINOX MIL-SPEC

MSRP $745

Movement Swiss quartz, ETA F06.412

Power Reserve 395, 84 months

Water Resistance 300 meters/1,000 feet

Case 46 mm

Material Carbonox+ with 316L stainless steel case back and titanium bezel; includes rubber strap and camo webbing strap

Crystal Anti-reflective sapphire

Website luminox.com

Military watches must be able to withstand extreme conditions. The DOD standard defines requirements for everything from resisting vibrations and temperature to magnetism and human perspiration. The Mil-Spec is depth-rated to 300 meters, and its stainless-steel case back adds resistance to magnetism. The case is made of Carbonox+, a special carbon compound material that is stronger than steel yet lighter than aluminum, allowing for comfortable everyday wear without sacrificing strength or durability. The quartz movement has a special feature that produces a counter-impulse when subjected to shocks to prevent the hands from skipping. The movement is designed to compensate for changes in ambient temperature.

I used the Mil-Spec’s military-grade hardware to evaluate the ability of BCs to cope with a runaway power inflator, which required me to activate a BC’s exhaust valve and power inflator simultaneously underwater for exactly 20 seconds. During test dives, the luminous markers made the transition from sunlit shallows to shadowy cavern opening perfectly seamless, and I had no trouble reading the watch in either condition.

The Mil-Spec’s effortless legibility and unshakable precision make it suited for elite military forces, and anyone looking for a rugged, heavy-duty dive watch.

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THE RIGHT STUFF The Mil-Spec’s case is made of a special high-performance carbon compound called Carbonox+. Composed of 40 percent carbon fiber, the material is extremely lightweight without sacrificing rigidity or strength. It is also resistant to shock and temperature, and won’t get hot or cold to the touch in extreme temperatures. The nonmetallic material is anti-allergenic and anti-magnetic, which provides additional comfort and protection. The material is highly chemical-resistant and weatherproof. The carbon-fiber pattern is visible on the case, which provides a rugged, distinctive look to the watch.