Although Luminox enjoys a strong following within enthusiast circles, the brand has always catered to a much larger segment of the population, and this widespread focus can be observed in the diversity of its modern catalog. Luminox’s various entry-level offerings are frequently spotted on the wrist of everyone from law enforcement and military professionals to random individuals in everyday life, although many of the brand’s more premium models are clearly aimed at an enthusiast-driven demographic. For its latest release of 2024, Luminox has expanded upon its popular Pacific Diver collection with three watches that perfectly represent this other side of its portfolio, and the new Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic 3100 Series pairs a self-winding mechanical movement with elevated design details to create a high-end expression of the brand’s best-selling dive watch.

At the time of writing, the new Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic 3100 Series is available in three different colorways (black, blue, and white). The ref. XS.3101 is the black version that is paired with a black rubber cut-to-fit strap, while the ref. XS.3104 is the blue version fitted with a matching three-link stainless steel bracelet. Meanwhile, the ref. XS.3101.H.SET is the white-dial version, and although it is also paired with a black bezel and a black rubber strap, the dial features a fully luminous Super-LumiNova surface, and its bezel markings are also all filled with Super-LumiNova, rather than just having a single luminous tritium tube embedded at the zero-marker like the other two Pacific Diver Automatic models.

Crafted from 316L stainless steel, the case of the new Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic 3100 Series watches feature the same distinct angular profile that unites the rest of the Pacific Diver collection, and it measures 42mm in diameter by 13mm thick. When looking at the rest of the Pacific Diver lineup, the 42mm case diameter of the new Automatic 3100 Series watches places them right between the standard 44mm quartz models and the smaller 39mm Pacific Diver Ripple collection. With that in mind, despite the reduction in case diameter, the new Pacific Diver Automatic models feature the same 24mm lug width as their larger counterparts, which means that these new models will likely offer a bit more presence on the wrist compared to other watches with the same on-paper case diameter.

Just like the standard quartz Pacific Diver models, the new automatic versions feature flat sapphire crystals (with anti-reflective treatment) above their dials, and surrounding them are unidirectional rotating bezels with 60-minute timing scales. However, while the quartz models have bezels crafted from Luminox’s Carbonox carbon-composite material, the new Pacific Diver Automatic watches have stainless steel bezels with inserts made from ceramic. Additionally, to help guarantee the 200 meters of water resistance that is offered by the Pacific Diver collection, the new 3100 Series watches feature signed screw-down crowns set between two guards on the 3 o’clock side of their cases, while the reverse side receives a screw-down display caseback to showcase the mechanics of the internal movement.

The dials fitted to the new Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic 3100 Series watches offer the same fundamental design and layout as what can be found among the standard quartz versions, although all three watches feature a wave texture embossed into their surfaces to create a slightly more elevated overall aesthetic. Brushed syringe-shaped hands display the time against applied luminous hour markers, while a rectangular date appears at its usual palace at the 3 o’clock location. Additionally, while most of the indexes appear as slightly tapered batons, the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock markers are large Arabic numerals, and all three colorways feature seconds hands with bright red tips to provide a splash of color and increased visibility.

While the hour markers on the Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic 3100 Series watches are finished with Super-LumiNova (the white ref. XS.3101.H.SET features non-glowing indexes set against its fully luminous dial), a secondary set of glowing tritium gas tubes are mounted horizontally into the angled chapter ring, and all three of the hands also receive tritium tubes to provide the Pacific Diver Automatic 3100 Series with a luminous display that will glow for up to 25 years, regardless of whether or not it receives any light exposure to charge the Super-LumiNova elements. Additionally, different colors are used for both the tritium tubes and Super-LumiNova accents, and this provides all three versions of the Pacific Diver Automatic with a multi-colored display in the dark.

Powering the new Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic 3100 Series watches is the Swiss-made Sellita Caliber SW200-1 automatic movement, which runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. Although the Cal. SW200-1 is the definition of an unremarkable and ubiquitous design, it is also a highly reliable and proven piece of engineering, and since internal movements are rarely the prime focus of Luminox’s watches, the Sellita SW200-1 is ultimately a rather appropriate choice for a model like the Pacific Diver Automatic 3100 Series. Additionally, while it is relatively safe to assume that Luminox is using standard-grade Sellita SW200-1 movements, a view through the display caseback reveals that the rotors are finished black and engraved with Luminox’s logo.

The black rubber straps that come equipped with the ref. XS.3101 and ref. XS.3101.H.SET versions of the Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic 3100 Series have the Luminox name boldly embossed across their outer surfaces, and they feature a cut-to-fit design that connects to a stainless steel folding clasp. Meanwhile, the stainless steel bracelet found on the ref. XS.3104 features a standard three-link design with entirely brushed surfaces, and it is completed by the same style of folding clasp as the rubber straps. Based on the photos, the bracelet doesn’t appear to offer all that much of a taper, and I’m personally not the biggest fan of cut-to-fit straps, in general, although given that the Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic has standard 24mm lugs, an ample option of third-party alternatives will also be compatible with its case.

Prices for the new Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic 3100 Series watches range from $1,295 to $1,395 USD, which makes them the top-of-the-line offerings from the Pacific Diver collection. However, it is important to remember that these new watches are not just automatic versions of the existing quartz models, and the additional price premium also goes towards a more elaborate dial and the upgrade to a ceramic bezel insert. While some of Luminox’s models offer designs that are tactical to the point of alienating certain buyers who simply want a rugged and practical everyday wristwatch, the new Pacific Diver Automatic 3100 Series is perfectly poised to be a person’s daily timekeeping companion, and it represents a premium rendition of one of Luminox’s most popular models. For more information on the Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic, please visit the brand’s website.