Having supplied watches to various military units and special forces, Luminox is going full circle with the Navy SEALs as it presents the Luminox Master Carbon SEAL Automatic 3860 Series. Luminox and the Navy SEALs have a relationship that dates back to 1992 when the special forces group first commissioned Luminox to produce watches as part of its Essential Gear. Given the precarious nature of the missions, Luminox sought the use of a carbon case for its strength and lightweight properties — both highly desirable especially when facing harsh conditions.
This spurred Luminox to develop its proprietary carbon composite materials, including Carbonox+ and Carbonox, which were introduced in 2016 and 2006 respectively. Since their development, both materials have been household names for Luminox, gaining recognition for the brand alongside its iconic Luminox Light Technology (LLT) gas tubes. Together, these innovations form the foundation of the new Luminox Master Carbon SEAL Automatic 3860 Series which, for the very first time, houses an automatic movement within a Carbonox+ case.
At first glance, the tool watch nature of the Luminox Master Carbon SEAL Automatic jumps with its no-nonsense outlook. A stealthy colourway in tonal black and grey is punctuated by a red-pipped second hand and striking red rubber strap. Legibility is ensured with the use of the LLT gas tubes positioned on the watch hands and hour intervals. Under low or no light conditions, the gas tubes glow naturally even without an external power source, making sure the watch is totally visible in low or no light conditions, never having to rely on an exterior power source.
With a 45mm diameter, the hulking demeanour of the Master Carbon belies its weight as the Carbonox+ case weighs between three and six times lighter than titanium and stainless steel respectively. Apart from being lightweight, the Carbonox+ case is durable, hypoallergenic, weatherproof, shock and scratch-resistant. A high-performance carbon long bar matrix is responsible for the unique properties as carbon fibres account for up to 40% of the compound, which contributes to the distinct grey case colour as well. The Master Carbon is finished off with a black IP-plated stainless steel bezel and sapphire crystal.
The workhorse automatic Sellita SW220-1 movement was chosen to power the Master Carbon for its reliability and performance. Creating the Carbonox+ case to house the automatic movement was no easy feat as a great deal of research and development had to be done to determine the correct thickness of the case walls and adapt it to the weight of the movement without compromising on overall structural integrity.
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