There is no shortage of the variety of watches that you can buy in the market like skeleton watches, ceramic watches, rectangle watches, and so on. However, most analog watches suffer from a fatal flaw that you can’t read them in dark or low lighting conditions.
You can buy watches that come with an LED backlight to assist you in reading time but that decreases battery life substantially. That’s why most users like you prefer luminous watches that come with luminous coating on watch hands or markings. So if you are looking for the best luminous watches then you have clicked on the right article. Below I’ve listed 9 best illuminated watches that glow in the dark.
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- Best Lume Watch Comparison Table
- Best Luminous Watches That Illuminate In The Dark
- Which Luminous Watch Will Be Perfect For Me?
Best Lume Watch Comparison Table
IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Best Overall Lume Watch  | Victorinox Alliance Swiss Army Heritage |
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Best Budget Luminous Watch  | Timex Men’s Expedition Scout Solar |
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Best Military Luminescent Watch  | Luminox 3051 Navy Seal Colormark |
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Best Men’s Luminous Watch  | Seiko SRPD51 |
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Best Luminous Watches That Illuminate In The Dark
1. Seiko SUR373
The first watch on our list is a Seiko watch. As you may already know, Seiko watches are known for their exquisite design, first-rate workmanship, accurate timekeeping, and reasonable prices, and this Seiko SUR373 is no different. This Seiko watch is highly versatile as it is available in 13 color variants.
The dial on this watch comes with a sunray finish which adds a classy look to it. This watch comes with a date window which is located right by the 3 o’clock marker. The hour markers and hands on this watch are coated with Lumibrite coating which ensures optimum visibility so you can easily read the time even in the absence of light.
You won’t have to worry about the durability of these watches as these watches are extremely durable. These watches are built to last as the case and the bracelet of this watch is made out of titanium. This watch comes with 100 meters of water resistance, so you will not have any trouble wearing this watch for skiing, a dip in the pool, or swimming.
Timekeeping is reliable on this watch as it is highly accurate. The movement on this watch is a caliber 6952, an in-house movement developed by Seiko.
All in all, the Seiko SUR373 is one of the best glow-in-the-dark watches. This watch is both stylish and durable, which makes it an excellent choice for both new and well-versed watch lovers.
2. Casio MTP-VD01D0D-1EV
The next illuminated watch on our list is from Casio, which is well-known for its rugged and affordable G-Shock watches. This MTP-VD01D0D-1EV is also an affordable and well-crafted bracelet watch from them.
This watch comes with a 45mm stainless steel case along with an 18mm bracelet strap which gives the watch its masculine looks. You can even wear the watch while swimming as it is water-resistant up to 50m. And, the dial of the watch is protected by mineral glass which is good enough for daily usage.
Moreover, the watch features luminous watch hands so you can read the time even while laying in bed at night. Besides that, this watch comes with the Japanese quartz movement for accurate timekeeping. So if you are looking for a bracelet luminous watch then this is one of the best watches available on Amazon.
3. Timex Men’s Expedition Scout Solar
It’s no secret that most Japanese companies make very good quality watches and that’s why only a few companies are able to compete with them. And Timex is one of them as it is well known for its good-looking and reliable timepieces and this is Scout Solar from them.
As the name suggests, it is a affordable solar-powered watch so you won’t need to go to a jewelry store for battery replacement. Simply place the watch under the sun when you run out of battery. Once fully charged you won’t need to do that again for 3-4 months.
Talking about the looks, this watch features a 40mm brass case with a gunmetal finish that is accompanied by a 20mm brown strap. And, that isn’t the only thing going for the watch as it comes with a luminous watch dial. This means both watch hands and hour markings glow in the dark as they come with a luminous coating.
However, it is to be noted that watch hands glow for 2-3 hours continuously while hour markings glow only for a short period. So if you are looking for a reasonably priced lume watch then this Timex watch will tick all your checkboxes in the durability, features, and performance department.
4. Victorinox Alliance Swiss Army Heritage
If you are looking for the best luminous watch that uses the most reliable luminous material then Victorinox Field Force will be perfect for the job. Hour marking along with watch hands comes with Super-LumiNova which ensures clear readability of the watch in low lightning.
This watch offers different color dials and various options for watch bands and straps. You can choose from Nato-style bands, leather straps, or stainless steel bracelets. I prefer the variant of this watch with the Nato-style strap as it is breathable and doesn’t cause any irritation to my skin.
It is a hypoallergenic watch with a brushed stainless steel case, army-style dial, and a date window at 6 o’clock, on top of that it has the protection of sapphire crystal glass which is incredibly scratch-resistant. The glass is also covered with an anti-reflective coating that ensures you won’t be dazzled by the reflection of sunlight when looking at your watch.
This Swiss-made watch flaunts a military look that gives it a vintage appeal. It’s perfect for everyday use as well as special occasions. You can dress this watch with both casual and formal attire.
You don’t have to worry about getting this watch wet, as it has a water resistance of up to 100 meters. So you can wear it in the gym, for a dip in the pool, or even while snorkeling. This Victorinox watch also features a caliber 715, a quartz movement by Ronda which is very accurate and reliable.
Although the price of this watch is a bit high compared to some other watches on this list, it is affordable considering the Swiss craftsmanship. So, if you want an illuminated watch by a Swiss watch brand, then this affordable army-style luminescent watch by Victorinox can be a great choice for you.
5. Vaer S3 Calender Field Watch
If you are looking for watches that light up in the dark, have reliable movement, look sophisticated, and don’t cost over $200, then this Vaer S3 calendar field watch is the right choice.
This watch comes with a military look, the case is made out of 316L stainless steel which gives it a rugged but iconic and clean military look. With its timeless design, you can pair this watch with any look. It goes well with both casual and formal attires.
Time telling is reliable on this watch, as it comes with lume-coated hour, minute, and seconds hand. The Lume coating is also applied on 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12 o’clock markers, and you also get a date window on this watch at the 3 o’clock position.
Apart from this, the durability of this watch is also impressive as the watch comes with an anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal glass that makes it highly resistant to scratches. The movement used on this watch is Miyota 2035 which is an accurate and reliable Japanese quartz movement.
Rain or water is not going to be an issue for this watch, as it comes with a 10 atm or 100-meter water resistance rating. You also get a locking screw-down crown on this Vaer field watch that further aids in enhancing its water resistance.
All in all, it is a good watch illuminated watch that offers very good value for the price. You can consider this one.
6. Seiko SRPD51
Another watch by Seiko on this list is the SRPD51. Seiko is probably one of the best glow in the dark watch brands. This watch belongs to the Seiko 5 series, which resembles Seiko’s iconic discontinued SKX series. This SRDP51 watch by Seiko comes with a caliber 4R36 movement which is an in-house made automatic movement. It is a reliable movement with fair accuracy as per mechanical watch standards.
The case is brushed stainless steel with a similar stainless steel oyster-style bracelet that has a deployant clasp. Along with that this watch also has a unidirectional rotating bezel. The hour, minute, and seconds hand along with the hour markers are covered with Lumibrite that lits up brightly in low light to provide excellent visibility.
The blue dial on this watch resembles that of its predecessor, the iconic Casio SKX. The dial on this watch also features a day date window and is covered with a hardlex crystal which makes it highly resistant to scratches. As compared to sapphire crystal, hardlex does not shatter upon heavy impacts.
You can wear this watch in the shower, in the pool, or even while snorkeling as it comes with 100 meters of water resistance. The screw-down case back further aids in improving its water resistance.
7. Fossil FB-01
Some men just like bracelet watches as they go perfectly with all fashion styles no matter whether you prefer polos or T-shirts. And, which brand is better than Fossil when it comes to making stylish watches? This FB-01 watch from Fossil takes its inspiration from diving watches.
So just like all the dive watches it is also a luminous watch with coating on hour markers and watch hands. Therefore, you would be able to read the time whether it’s day or night. Additionally, since the watch is water-resistant up to 100m, damage from water is one less thing to worry about.
Talking about specifications, it comes with a 42mm case and a 22m bracelet strap. Along with that, the watch features a date window with a magnifying lens that makes the date easy to read. Furthermore, the quartz movement on the watch ensures that the watch always keeps accurate time.
Besides all that, Fossil is also offering complimentary engraving with the watch so you can take the watch to the Fossil store to get it engraved. However, it is only available in selected stores in the US and Canada. With amazing looks, quartz movement, a stainless steel strap, and a current selling price of around $80, this just might be the ideal luminous watch you are looking for.
8. Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster
If you want a watch that you can wear without worrying about water damage then Citizen Eco-Drive is the watch you want. This watch is water-resistant up to 200m making it suitable for swimming, surfing, and even scuba diving. You can trust Citizen’s claims as the watch is ISO-certified for its water-resistance capabilities.
Moreover, the watch also features a rotating bezel that can be used to time your scuba diving sessions. Outside of the water, the bright sun on the beach won’t affect the readability as the dial window features an anti-reflective coating.
Along with that, this is also one of the best luminous watches as it features luminous coating on both watch hands and markings. And, it is a good quality lume that ensures you would be able to read the time in low light.
Besides that, it also comes with Citizen Eco-Drive technology which can charge the watch through solar and artificial lights. Hence, you will never have to go to the jewelry store to get the battery replaced.
If you are still not convinced then maybe a 30-day money-back guarantee along with 5 years limited warranty would finally convince you to go for the watch.
9. Luminox 3051 Navy Seal Colormark
Some people prefer military luminous watches and if you are one of them then Luminox 3051 is one of the best G-Shock alternatives you can buy right now. This watch features both 12 and 24-hour time modes so you can read time in whichever way you prefer the most.
Moreover, Luminox 3051 comes with a Swiss quartz movement so you can trust the timekeeping abilities of the watch. And, the luminous watch hand and markers on the watch ensure you can read time during tactical operations at night. The rotating bezel also features a single luminous marking at 12 o’clock position to time your activities in the dark.
However, what makes this the best luminous watch is the fact that it comes with a tritium luminous material on the watch hands and marking. So it offers the brightest glow out of all the luminous coating materials and it doesn’t need to be exposed to light to make watch hands glow in the night.
In addition to that, it is also water-resistant up to 200m so you can wear the watch while rowing, surfing, or performing any surface water sports activities. However, scuba diving is not recommended and it can damage the watch.
Talking about the dimensions, the watch features a 44m case and 22mm polyurethane strap with gorgeous Luminox marking. Also, silicon material ensures that the watch is easy to clean and won’t corrode with exposure to moisture.
With so many features and good build quality, the watch also carries a premium price tag along with it. So if you are looking for a luxury luminous watch from a premium brand then this watch’s performance won’t disappoint.
Which Luminous Watch Will Be Perfect For Me?
Without a doubt, all the watches on the list are best in their own way. Some offer good performance at a reasonable price while others at a premium price. So ask yourself what is the most important feature for you apart from the luminous coating. Is it build quality, price, accurate timekeeping, day and date window, type of strap watch uses, or waterproofing capabilities?
Then based on the answer, you can select the watch from the list. We have ensured that you will be able to find the watch you are looking for whether it’s an affordable, military, or luxury luminous watch.
