I’ve finally joined the ranks of the many, many Luminox watch owners. On my wrist, is the new Colormark Chrono (Chronograph) – in a delightful green on black color scheme. The Colormark line started with a three-hand model, where Luminox took their standard look, and switched up the colors for something more fun. As such, you have options such as green, blue, orange, and white.

Amazing is the comfort level of the watch, as well as the refinement for the price. This isn’t a luxury timepiece, but is a great little workhorse. For people in the active duty world, these have always been popular pieces for being highly legible, durable, and light weight. Coming in a hard polycarbonate case (basically a fancy plastic), this watch is hard, but oh-so-light. Luminox says the watch is carbon reinforced… never really sure what that meant, but it has a nice molded look that isn’t cheap in appearance, and feels nice to the touch. The case is 44mm wide, and looks it thanks to a bezel that isn’t extremely wide (as in some other Luminox watches). The crown and pushers are in polycarbonate as well, but in a metal color as opposed to the black. I would have liked for there to be a Luminox logo on the large crown. The screw-on caseback helps with the watch’s 200 meters of water resistance.  It has a mineral crystal.

Style wise there is a lot to like about the case – masculine and aggressive, it has a lovely feel under your fingers and a strong look. The curved lugs help the case sit very comfortably on the wrist. With the rubber strap closed tight, the watch sits very securely on the wrist, but doesn’t flail about if worn a bit more loosely.

The Colormark series is certainly one of Luminox’s pro style watches, with lots of function in mind. I love the chunky rotating diver’s bezel that clicks with 60 secure sounds, and tritium gas tube placed under a small window at the 60 minute marker. A lot of watches in this price range can learn lessons from Luminox when it comes to bezel design and refinement – even though it is made from polycarbonate. Functionally the watch is very reliable and simply to use. Though I must say that the crown is a bit harder than it should be when you are trying to pull it out. On the one hand it is nice to know it is securely “in there,” but it is tough and awkward to pull out.

I really love the rubber strap size and feel. It has a double pin style buckle in metal, and a thick, substantial, and textured feel to it. Luminox opted not to mach the black case with a black coated metal buckle, and instead went with a brushed metal buckle signed with the Luminox logo. I don’t mind the color discrepancy at all to be honest.

Inside the watch is a Swiss Ronda 5030.D quartz chronograph movement with the date. A solid movement that benefits from its Swiss origin, and enjoys pretty popular use in many watches. The watch dial is your typical Luminox fare that can take a bit of getting used to if it isn’t something you are already familiar with. It can look quite crowded at first, but you later come to appreciate, or at least enjoy the dial. The outer sloped chapter ring has tritium gas tube hour markers and minute hash marks, with an addition ring of Arabic numerals closer in to the center of the dial. The date window is nicely framed with a green ring, so as not to simply feel thrown in. While there aren’t that many of them on this chronograph model, the dial also (attempts) to have the time in 24 hour numerals as well. On the three-hand Colormark watches, you can spot the 24 hour style markers much more easily.

In contrast to the flatter toned dial, the chronograph subdials have a thin concentric circle pattern with a glossy finish. Hour and minute hands which are Luminox hallmarks in style, have tritium gas tubes applied in them. If for some reason you are new to tritium gas tubes, they are small tubes filled with a mildly radioactive (and safe) gas that glows without needing to be charged by the light for about 20-25 years. This makes all tritium gas tube watches ideal for night or darkness viewing. Though this does not apply to the chronograph function.

Luminox isn’t a brand that needs my help convincing people to buy their products. And I can tell why. For $425 (in this watch’s case), you get a solid, reliable, and handsome watch that is good enough for your lifestyle, as well as those of people like Navy SEALs, and other military special forces. Luminox watches are enthusiastic little  fellows, eager to work, and not afraid to get dirty. With a reasonable price, they sort of ask to be beat up a bit, and whine like small dogs when left idle for too long. www.luminox.com

Thanks to Luminox for the review unit. Opinions are 100% independent.