One of the most obvious places to turn would be Lum-Tec, and I’m doing just that. Today, we’re going to have a look at their M41 model, which is currently up for pre-order at $825. Why this particular automatic? While I am a sucker for the black/orange combo they’ve gone with, it was the lume shot (over to the right there) that got me – the blue/orange lume combo just plain looks cool.
Fittingly, the lume is what drew me in to this watch. However, this is a solid Swiss automatic on it’s own rights. You get a PVD-coated 44mm stainless steel case with 24mm lugs, a sapphire (AR-coated) crystal, and water resistance to 100 meters; this is all housing a (what else?) ETA 2824-2 movement. I mean seriously, is there a brand out there that doesn’t use this movement? Not that that’s a bad thing – it’s ubiquity means it has reliability, and when it comes time for servicing, parts (and familiarity on the part of your watch servicer) should be plentiful.
To further sweeten the deal, Lum-Tec throws in three straps with the watch – leather, rubber, and a stainless steel bracelet. The also include free lifetime timing adjustments. This means that if you start seeing it not keeping time as accurately as you could, you just send it back in, and they straighten things away for you.
Of course, the watch in and of itself is not breaking any new ground. It has simple and easy to read styling (I dig the font on those numerals), a time-tested mechanical heart, and a 1 year warranty. Of course, it’s claim to fame is the nighttime visibility, and that will certainly not dissapoint. Short of going to something with tritium tubes or backlighting, I’m not sure how you’d get a brighter watch at night.
