Luminox

Luminox was founded in 1989 in San Rafael, California by watch industry veteran Barry Cohen and his friend Richard Timbo after discovering Swiss self-powered tritium illumination technology. The brand name derives from Latin: 'Lumi' (light) and 'Nox' (night). They set out to create affordable military dive watches with visibility in low-light or no-light situations. In 1994, the U.S. Navy SEALs approached Luminox to develop a reliable, luminous watch for their operations, leading to the Navy SEAL series and establishing the brand's reputation for professional-grade tactical timepieces. The brand became known for its 'Always Visible' technology using gaseous tritium light sources. In 2006, Swiss brand Mondaine acquired a 50% stake, providing access to European and Asian markets. Mondaine acquired full ownership in 2016. The brand has since expanded collaborations with Lockheed Martin for aviation-inspired collections featuring military aircraft including the SR-71 Blackbird, F-117 Nighthawk, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-22 Raptor.