Today, we’re going to have a look at a rather compelling watch that features tritium tubes for illumination. I’ve made no secret of being enamored by watches that feature gaseous tritium light sources (aka GLTS), and I think that the model sent for review is a great entry.
If you’re not familiar with Tawatec, they’ve been around since 1993, and are located in Biel, Switzerland. They focus on producing timepieces that are targeted towards law enforcement, military and firefighting professionals, and the demands that those professions place on watch. This is even reflected in the company name, TAtical WAtch TEChnology. What this means for us, the consumer, is that these watches aren’t just for show – they should stand up to quite a bit of abuse.
The model in question has a name that’s quite a mouthful – TAWATEC E.O.Diver Tactical ICS. Let’s break that name down a little bit more. For it to be used by an explosive ordinance tech (the E.O. portion of the name) it needs to not interfere at all – you don’t want an explosive going off unexepectedly. For this, the case is made from a carbon fiber composite, making it anti-magnetic.
The, for it to be a diver, we need a few things. First up? Water resistance, which for this piece you’ll find it rated to 200 meters. How that’s done without a screw-down crown I’m not sure, but there you have it. Next in the diver category, you need a uni-directional bezel for use in timing. Once again, it’s there, and it’s very readable with the white markings (or by use of the tritium vial at the zero position). The bezel itself offers pleasingly solid clicks (even for being plastic), and negligible play.
And finally, we come to Tactical. When it comes to any accessory (be it watch, pen, or nylon bag), when the the tactical name gets slapped on, there can be some unfavorable connotations. I can’t speak from personal experience, but it does seem we’ve got some features here that would be of use to some in the military or on a police force. First up, you’ve got 24 hour indicators marked on the dial, just inside of the regular one through twelve markers. Second, the watch comes with either a rubber or nylon nato strap – both very functional, and quite practical. Third, you’ve got a reliable quartz movement inside, so accuracy won’t be a concern
For the final (and coolest, IMO) tactical facet, and my experience with the watch, you’ll need to tune in tomorrow.
