The Nite Icon T100 Review

Tritium-equipped watches are nothing new to these pages. We have taken a look at a few different brands and varieties over the past few years, and I always have come away enamored with the light output (and colors of said light) of the watches. Today, we have got something a bit different with regards to the tubes used. For the first time here, we will be featuring a watch that has flat tritium tubes – the Nite Icon T100.

Often times, when we see a watch with tritium, the tubes are literally that – tubes. As a matter of fact, you can see two of those on the hour and minute hands of the T100. The flattened tubes, on the other hand, are a bit more of a rare beastie. Obviously, they quite change the look of the dial, looking a bit more like traditional markers that may be applied to a dial. They also manage to give off a bit more light, at least to my uncalibrated eyes. Both of these are a nice change up to the formula we have seen in the past.

As to the watch itself, it is a fairly basic three-hander (driven by a Swiss Ronda 515) with a 44mm case (just a hair over 12mm thick) with a mineral crystal and 100m WR. On our particular review sample, it came in a PVD finish, which I believe is new for the Icon lineup this year. Paired as it is with a black dial and a black leather band, you have got yourself quite the midnight styling. This does set the stage for the white paint to really stand out in sharp contrast, which makes for an easy read of the time. It’s just a shame that the date wheel was not color reversed, allowing it to blend in better.

In that same vein, I want to talk about the strap. On one hand, I found it to be rather comfortable and quite flexible, given it’s relatively thick nature. It was also interesting to see the double prongs on the thumbnail buckle. Just a bit of a styling change, of course (not improving functionality), but it again mixes things up. The problem I had with the strap was with its intersection in the lugs – it squeaks. This is a pet peeve of mine with straps, and I have a feeling it is due to the edge finishing on the strap. Yes, it’s a minor thing, and you probably don’t have the watch moving around a lot during the day to cause the noise. But still, it is there, and something I hope brands will pay more attention to.

Now, based on those comments, it is not much of a leap to assume this is a watch I spent some time wearing. With its fairly light weight (80g), the Nite Icon T100 definitely did not weigh me down. The aforementioned strap also had a decent placement of holes in the strap, allowing me to get a snug fit to my wrist. These two factors combined to make it an easy partner as I went about my day. The watch itself worked well in an office setting, as well as over a weekend. Perhaps not a watch for more formal situations, but then again, that really is not a deal breaker.

I continue to enjoy seeing different tritium watches, and the light show that they make on your wrist. As well as the ability to very easily tell the time in the dark. I have also enjoyed sampling some of Nite’s wares, and the Nite Icon T100 definitely is one of my favorites from them. The flat tubes really make for a dramatic effect, whether it is light or dark in the room. I am not advocating that every tritium watch move to flat tubes (sometimes the regular round ones look just right), but it is nice to have some options in that regard. If you would like to get your own, the Nite Icon T100 can be had for $500 (or $625 if you opt for the metal bracelet). nitewatches.com

Review Summary

Brand & Model: Nite Icon T100 (ref. ICON-T201)
Price: $500 ($625 with bracelet)

Who’s it for?: This is for the fellow who wants the brightness of a tritium watch, but would prefer a more traditional look to the dial
Would I wear it?: Yes, I would. It is on the upper end (in terms of size) for what I normally wear, but it is a good casual watch
What I’d change: I am curious if they could get flat tubes on the handset to keep things consistent.