# Luminox

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**Luminox** is a [Swiss-made](/source/Swiss-made) watch brand owned by [Mondaine](/source/Mondaine) and based in [San Rafael, California](/source/San_Rafael,_California), United States. Luminox watches contain [tritium](/source/Tritium) inserts, providing long-term [luminescence](/source/Tritium_radioluminescence).

## Luminox history

Luminox Watch Company is a U.S. company founded in 1989 and headquartered in Pfaffikon, Switzerland. Luminox also makes branded watches for various [military](/source/Military) groups with custom insignias and designs. Among these are the [Heliswiss](/source/Heliswiss) team, [US Coast Guard](/source/United_States_Coast_Guard), [US Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force), and a variety of other [special forces](/source/Special_forces) and [EMS](/source/Emergency_medical_services) teams worldwide.[citation needed]

The brand has since expanded into over 30 countries. Among the more popular watch models are those designed using visual elements of the fighter jets made by [Lockheed Martin](/source/Lockheed_Martin). To date, Luminox has designed watches taking cues from the [SR-71 Blackbird](/source/SR-71_Blackbird), the [F-117 Nighthawk](/source/F-117_Nighthawk), the [F-16 Fighting Falcon](/source/F-16_Fighting_Falcon), and the [F-22 Raptor](/source/F-22_Raptor).[1]

In 2006, a fifty-percent stake in the Luminox company was purchased by the Swiss brand [Mondaine](/source/Mondaine), giving Mondaine increased access to the American market, and Luminox increased access to the European and Asian markets.[2] In 2016, Mondaine Watch Ltd. took over the remaining half of Luminox to become sole owner.[3]

## Notable technology

Luminox watches are advertised to possess "always visible technology." The watch hands and markers contain [tritium](/source/Tritium) inserts which provide [long-term luminescence](/source/Radioluminescence), as opposed to [phosphorescent](/source/Phosphorescence) markers used in other watches, which must be charged by a light source.

The tritium in a gaseous [tritium light source](/source/Tritium_illumination) undergoes beta decay, releasing electrons which cause the phosphor layer to fluoresce. During manufacture, a length of borosilicate glass tube which has had the inside surface coated with a phosphor-containing compound is filled with the radioactive tritium. The tube is then fused with a [CO2 laser](/source/Carbon_dioxide_laser) at the desired length. Borosilicate glass is used for its strength and resistance to breakage. In the tube, the tritium gives off a steady stream of electrons due to beta decay. These particles excite the phosphor, causing it to emit a low, steady glow.

## Products

Luminox offers four lines of water resistant watches, labeled "Sea", "Air", "Land" and "Space". There are reported cases of [counterfeit watches](/source/Counterfeit_watch) in circulation for the Luminox brand. The fake Luminox watches are reported to be shinier than originals and have wrong font numbers on the dial.[4]

## References

1. ["Luminox F-22 Raptor Collection Adds Version with Telemeter Scale"](http://www.luminox.com/files/luminox-f-22-chronograph-series-telemeterpr.pdf). Retrieved 2012-10-13.[dead link]

1. [*Luminox, the American watch brand teams up with Mondaine*, Allbusiness Monday, April 3 2006](http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/general-merchandise-stores/4172948-1.html)

1. [*About us.*](http://www.mondaine-group.com/about-us/) mondaine-group.com. Retrieved 2020-12-27.

1. ["How to recognize fake or real Luminox watches"](http://www.usnavysealstore.com/fake-or-real-luminox-watch.pdf). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170327042248/http://www.usnavysealstore.com/fake-or-real-luminox-watch.pdf) 2017-03-27 at the Wayback Machine.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.luminox.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Luminox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminox) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminox?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.