A few weeks ago, I read about an interesting independent watchmaker in Ohio who has been creating limited runs of about 20 different types of military style watches. I started doing some research and got bitten by the watch bug. Most guys who are into watches go straight for the generic fancy labels: Tag Heuer, Omega, Rolex etc. And all fine watches. I looked at them but I was really drawn back to the military style watches. The military and government currently issue the Marathon Navigator watch… which looked nice but an interesting post on a forum enlightened me to what is probably a very true reality: actual military issue watches are contracted out for the lowest price and are probably cutting some corners. Ha! So I also checked out Traser watches which was interesting too (specifically the P6500). Lastly, I spent some time looking at the Breitling Avenger in black but at $4000, it was way out of my price range (I even looked into ordering a Breitling Chinese knock-off).
After 3-4 weeks of pounding the online pavement, I kept circling back to that independent watchmaker: Lum-tec. My original criteria was pretty much what I had currently been wearing… a black face and case, a chronograph for timing my runs, a diving bezel because I thought it looked nice (would have gone with a GMT bezel which is probably more practical) and a date. No Lum-tec model fit all these criteria. The closest thing they have was the M14. But it was already full on the pre-order list. So I kept looking… Hamilton, MKII, Seiko, Citizen, IWC, Luminox etc. What I kept getting drawn back to was the original Lum-tec watch that I saw… the B-series. Extremely clean, simple and beautiful. And when I put a picture side-by-side of the Lum-tec and one with a chronograph…I started shifting towards the cleaner, simpler Lum-tec.
There were 3 choices of the B-series that had black cases/black faces: the original B1 which is out of production now and has an interesting dial pattern from 0-60 which probably would have slowed down my time telling anyway, the B2 which is like the B1 but with a date and normal dial and the B3H which was a limited run with a display case and no date. All beautiful and when I finally let go my silly criteria, I settled on the one that would be most practical for me every day: the B2.
When I got the B2 in, it was a really cool looking tank of a watch. Solid and the first mechanical watch I had ever owned. I wasn’t completely sold just yet but after a short week of wearing it, I knew I was in love. I didn’t miss the chronograph and really liked the pilot-watch-type styling. And there is just something very charming about the fact the watch was put together by hand in a private shop in Ohio. It’s like buying local. The anti-reflective coat is beautiful and has withstood well against scratching. I got a green Nato band for it and it’s been a pleasure to wear. And you know you have a unique timepiece when within the first week more than half a dozen people have asked about the watch.
Now a note about Lum-tec. They really are a privately-owned family business. The owner picks up the phone when you call! How often does that happen these days. They were extremely accommodating and worked with me to get a second watch to me before my trip for a friend. I won’t go into detail as not to set any ridiculous precedent for them but don’t hesitate to order. It’s well worth every penny! My Tag is off to eBay.
Order yours here.
Watch in Auckland New Zealand.
Thanks for this. I’ve been looking at Lum-tec’s watches for a couple of years now and contemplating a purchase. I’d actually ignored this particular model but you’ve now made me think twice. What turned me off it was the serrated bezel but your photos (as always) have made it look like a far nicer design than the ones on the manufacturer’s website.
Oh yeah… the bezel is very soft and rounded… not sharp at all and actually one of my favorite features of the watch. There are some new B-series watches coming this year though:
thats a beauty. is that strap from lumtec or is it a nato g10? it looks higher quality than the $15 g10 straps.
@jules
Sorry… just saw this question… the strap is directly from Lum-Tec. Call them and they will sell them to you if they have it.
I think it’s nicer and thicker than the Nato ones. They only carry green and black ones.