Luminox 1500 Series - Manual (Page 3)

For a professional diving watch, it is critical (and could even be the difference between life
and death) that the time is visible in any and all conditions, be it night diving, deep diving,
diving in poor visibility or wreck diving. The Luminox Light Technology (LLT) ensures easy and
immediate readability, and is always visible, constantly glowing for up to 25 years. The tiny
micro gas light glass tubes that guarantee constant visibility glow blue on the Deep Dive
series, as blue is the last color that the eyes register as one goes deeper and deeper under
water. In addition, the Deep Dive features different (contrasting) color of LLTs at the 12
O’clock position on the dial, as well as on the rotating bezel, and since the minute hand is
particularly important to divers, it is equipped with a double-LLT for easier reading, even in
complete darkness.
Why 500 Meters Water Resistance?
Many companies make watches with 200 meters water resistance, but 500 meters / 50bar is
much more challenging and as a result separates the Deep Dive Luminox from more common
200 meter models. The sapphire crystal must be more than twice as thick as on a 200 meter
watch (3.00 mm), as well as the caseback (3.00 mm). Steel deforms at 50 bar pressure, so the
overall case construction has to be much more robust and rugged.
How was the Deep Dive tested under Norm ISO 6425?
The International Standard Organization ISO specifies certain requirements and test
procedures for dive watches and especially for dive watches made specifically for deep
diving. Special tests are done under Norm ISO 6425 that regular, non-dive certified watches
do not have to undergo. Each watch must be submerged in water, at 62.5bar (equivalent to
a pressure at 625 meters depth, which is 25% more then the stated 50 bar on the watch, for
security reasons) for two hours and then for one hour at 0.3 bar, before and after which the
watch is tested for condensation. The entire water resistant testing procedure takes 3.5 hours
for just 24 watches, demonstrating the intensity of these tests.
In addition to above strict water resistant tests and as per the strict requirements of ISO 6425,
a random selection of Deep Dive watches have to undergo further tests which can be tested
only in a specialized laboratory, such as:
• Strap/band strength. This is tested by applying a force of 200 N to each springbar (or at
taching point) in opposite directions with no damage to the watch at attachment points.
• The presence of a unidirectional bezel with minute markings minimally at 1 minute
intervals, and a pre-select marker to mark a specific minute marking.
• The presence of an indication that the watch is running in total darkness. This is usually
indicated by a running second hand with a luminous tip or tail.