You Can't Get into the Discussion About Manly Watches Unless You Have Topnotch Lume

I saw the chief sales director for Deep Blue on ShopNBC say men love strong lume in a watch; it's a main selling point.

I couldn't agree more. It's really all about the lume. 

The best watches I know of for this category:

Around $200: Seiko Monsters

Around $300-1,000: Deep Blue

Around $500-1,000: Lum-Tec

Final Note:

I sold my beloved Lum-Tec LZ7, shown above, because you can't change the battery except by sending it to the company in Ohio. That wasn't acceptable to me. I would consider getting an auto in the future. 

Comments

[jonnybardo]

I'm going to have to disagree with you, Herc, at least somewhat. I love lume but it is a major attribute, not The Main Thing.

While it would be impossible to separate a watch's appeal into component parts in a definitive way, we could say that there are a few facets:

dial
case design (including bezel)
bracelet/band/strap
lume
overall look or "X-factor"

I'd say those four qualities are roughly equal, at least for me. The way you put it, lume is the most important factor. If that was the case for me, my all-black Ocean Speedway would be total crap, and my SKA425--which has solid lume, but not Monster-esque or even SNAD05-esque--would merely be an OK watch.

I can love a watch without great lume. Great lume makes it better, but it doesn't make or break a watch - it really comes down to a handful of factors and, in the end, how they combine into the total look and feel of a watch.

[herculodge]

I agree with a lot of your points, but superior lume will elevate a watch that doesn't quite carry its load in the features you mention.

[jonnybardo]

Yes, I agree. Lume is a bit of a wildcard - mediocre lume won't ruin an otherwise great watch (e.g. the Invicta SAS), but it will keep it from being truly great, and it can also push an otherwise decent watch up a notch.

Imagine an SAS with superior lume - it would be a truly great watch and we wouldn't complaint about its "Invicta-ness." But even with poor lume, the case design and overall style is so unique and awesome that it is still a keeper watch, Invicta or not.

[Angelo]

My feminine side must be showing---as I've stated before, lume doesn't impact my decision to buy a watch or how I rate a watch----except as a criteria that might be of interest to others. I do understand the appeal of strong lume----but it typically doesn't sway me one way or the other.