These Stylish Luminox Watches Are Military-Grade Tough

Joel Arbaje/Men's Health

When the Navy SEALs need the most durable, dependable and—above all–most accurate timepiece on their wrists, they turn to one company: Luminox. The incredible Swiss-made watches have been the trusted timekeepers for our nation’s most elite soldiers since 1993, after Luminox worked with a SEAL to create the most reliable watch for night missions.

More than two decades later, the SEALs tapped Luminox to develop a newer edition and the resulting product was the only such watch to survive and pass the SEALs rigorous tests. That model is now gifted to every graduate from BUD/S training.

Part of what makes a Luminox so great is the permanent visibility in low light and at night. The dials and hands have a special compound which makes them luminescent. That inventive touch is actually how the brand derived its name: “Lumi” is Latin for “light” and “Nox” is Latin for “night.”

The other reason Luminoxes adorn the wrists of rugged outdoorsmen, athletes, and military personnel is because they’re at once stylish and indestructible. Here are our favorite Luminox watches.

Joel Arbaje/Men's Health

F-117 Nighthawk

Part of Luminox’s Air collection, this 45mm watch sports a matte gunmetal PVD-plated stainless steel case, a rotating bezel and an anti-reflective sapphire crystal face. It’s water-resistant to 200 meters and, with the SuperLuminova compound on the numbers and bezel, looks incredible in the dark.

Buy It Now, $1,400

Joel Arbaje/Men's Health

Atacama Field Watch, 1920 Series

The blue dial with the silver hands and markers really pops nicely against the brown leather strap, making this watch perfect for a casual outing or for tucking under a French cuffed shirt in the boardroom. The stainless steel case ensures sturdiness should you take it along on an adventure, too.

Buy It Now, $625

Joel Arbaje/Men's Health

Tony Kanaan Valjoux Chronograph

Tony Kanaan is a race car driver and an Indy 500 champion. A collaboration with a man with the ultimate need for speed produced this beautiful asymmetrical watch, with carbon-reinforced accents and plenty of nods to race cars. It’s one of four, all of which only feature the number 10 on the dial, Kanaan’s racing number in the IndyCar series.

Buy It Now, $1,499