our story

Like many other American success stories, Luminox came from a forward-thinking individual realizing a need in the market and meeting it. Barry Cohen, a watch industry veteran, came across a Swiss self-powered illumination system and knew that it would make watches more visible and easier to read in low or no light situations.

He partnered with a friend, Richard Timbo, and Luminox was born in 1989 (Lumi is Latin for light, Nox is Latin for night) driven by a commitment to offer cutting-edge luminescence and readability in its line of high-performance sports watches.

See The History Behind Our Brand
See How Luminox Watches Are Made

The Official Watch of the Navy SEALs

The Luminox Navy SEAL watch is the timepiece that made Luminox famous. In 1993, the Assistant RDT&E Officer for the Navy SEALs, Nick North, was asked to seek a more dependable watch for night missions and found the solution at a trade show where he discovered Luminox. He worked with Cohen to develop a watch specifically for them and a revolution was born.

20 years later the SEALs approached Luminox again, and again we were the only model to pass all their rigorous tests. The result was the ANU (Authorized for Navy Use) model provided to new graduates of the BUD/S training.

Lockheed Martin Timepieces

After Luminox provided the watches to the SEALs, Luminox began marketing the same style of watch (model 3001) across the country and the world. As the watch gained reknown, Luminox was approached by US Air Force pilots flying the F-117 Nighthawk fighter jet in 1999 — Luminox developed a watch for these pilots and then contacted Lockheed Martin, which turned into an exclusive arrangement to produce Lockheed Martin timepieces.

25 Years of Luminox

For 25 years Luminox has been confirmed and validated by the many elite military and law enforcement units that have adopted Luminox as their own personal standard equipment or Essential Gear.
Luminox continues to combine cutting edge technology, forward-thinking design and extreme performance in Swiss Made timepieces.