What, as they are saying, is in a reputation? This generally is a difficult query in terms of branding. For those who ask Barry Cohen, the founder and former proprietor of Luminox, he would possibly let you know to incorporate your finest characteristic within the firm’s title. That was actually the case along with his earlier group, recognized for its tritium lume tubes, which emit a steady glow for as much as 25 years.
It’s a theme he’s adopted along with his newest enterprise too: ProTek, a brand new “no-excuses model of tritium tactical watches, constructed to deal with what life calls for, in any surroundings.” To not be confused with Casio’s ProTrek lineup (which we’ve lined greater than as soon as), this firm leans into the picture of navy, rescue, and outdoor professionals working in difficult environments.
As well, it makes use of, “solely high quality parts in a position to stand as much as the pains of harsh extremes.”
You’re seeing one of many preliminary fashions right here — the ProTek Sequence 3000 Subject. There are a number of Ts within the spec sheet, with titanium, tritium, ten atmospheres of water resistance, and an total emphasis on toughness.
So when the corporate provided up a loaner for overview, it match our tastes to a … nicely, you get it.
Briefly: The ProTek Sequence 3000 Subject is an fascinating watch, with a titanium shell, a dependable quartz motion, and a stable pedigree. The 100m water resistance is sweet, the form is basic and comfy, and the tritium “ProGlo illumination” system is likely one of the brightest I’ve seen. The dial is a bit underdressed, and the characteristic set is primary for the worth. However in terms of legibility and ease of wear and tear, the 3000 Subject actually shines.
ProTek Sequence 3000 Subject Watch Specs Case Dimension 40 mm
Lug Width 20 mm
Case Materials Titanium
Water Resistance 100 m
Crystal Sapphire w/ Anti-reflective coating
Motion Quartz Citizen/MIYOTA Tremendous 2035
Battery life 4 Years
Strap Waterproof real Italian leather-based Professionals Excessive legibility
Comfortable and basic styling
Out-of-this-world lume Cons Arguably underdressed dial
Worth is a bit excessive
Lack of screw-down crown Josh Wussow
ProTek Sequence 3000 Subject Watch Evaluate
The total title of the tester proven right here is the ProTek Subject Sequence 3005. As you possibly can see, it comes with a inexperienced dial and a brown leather-based strap. The face is flat, open, and freed from ornament, aside from the corporate’s apostrophe-shaped badge and the textual content above and beside the 6 o’clock.
I used to be instantly struck by the legibility of the design, particularly when put next with among the busy (if practical) preparations you see from Luminox. And after the fisheye bulge of the Spinnaker Piccard, the flat sapphire crystal of this ProTek was an easy-reading breath of recent air.
Talking of legibility, ProTek places a number of inventory into its “Swiss self-powered ProGlo illumination system,” which it says is:
“100X brighter than typical lume and glows constantly for 25 years with out a have to be ‘charged’ by an exterior mild supply. [The Series 3000] makes use of the biggest tritium tubes accessible for the indices in three colours to create a mesmerizing mild present in darkness.”
Robust phrases. And I’ll admit, my earlier experiences with tritium-tube watches (together with Luminox’s Bear Grylls Survival ECO Grasp) had been good, however not nice.
This one, although … to cite a basic Popscicle industrial: “The colours, Duke! The colours!” Even in reasonably lit rooms, you can also make out the various, delicate hints of the indices. And as soon as the solar units — completely attractive!
However it’s extra than simply the ProGlo. Take a look at the way in which the indices notch into the minute ring. There’s a secondary bevel there, creating one other angle that catches the sunshine. It’s a really delicate factor, however noticeable and pleasing to the attention.
Let’s Get to the Guts
Beneath the inexperienced floor of the Subject, ProTek has gone with a MIYOTA quartz motion. This group is a division of Citizen, and I’m a fan of the Promasters. This specific mechanism is dubbed the Tremendous 2035 and options an estimated 4 years of battery life.
For somebody who’s not an enormous fan of leather-based straps, I’ve been seeing some good ones these days. And the Sequence 3000’s Italian cowhide might be one of the best of the bunch.
The holes really feel a bit broadly spaced, however the band itself is thick, supple, and feels each bit as rugged because the steel components of the watch.
A Sequence of Minor Complaints
A caveat, earlier than you learn on: For probably the most half, my complaints about this watch don’t have anything to do with its performance. For those who like what you’ve learn above, you possibly can skip straight to the acquisition hyperlinks.
However there are a couple of tiny particulars that maintain the ProTek Sequence 3000 from being an unqualified suggestion.
First, there’s the “titanium push crown with a number of O-rings.” It’s a fantastic piece by itself — signed, well-finished, and straightforward to make use of. However there’s additionally a super-slight sponginess to it that’s slightly onerous to explain. Maybe it’s the results of stated O-rings, because it’s not of the screw-down kind.
There’s additionally just one crown place, as this ProTek lacks a date perform.Now, I do know there’s debate as as to if a calendar belongs on a area watch. However that is my overview, and I prefer to have the day of the month on my wrist. However I perceive why it was unnoticed, the 3000’s face is completely symmetrical, and an added numeral would throw it off.
My greatest nitpick can be the smallest. As good as the interior MIYOTA motion is perhaps, the seconds hand simply barely misses its markers. Like, we’re speaking a few naked fraction of a millimeter right here.
Most individuals gained’t discover this, and it has no impact on the watch’s timekeeping skill. However the model does declare to be “Constructed for Earth’s most demanding,” and I’m sort of a stinker. At slightly below $500, I’d prefer to see its alignment at 100%, not 92%.
And talking of value, I’m curious as to why the Sequence 3000 is among the many most costly fashions within the ProTek lineup. It must be the titanium and large lume tubes, proper? As a result of even after the 20% preorder reductions expire, the upcoming Sequence 1000 and 2000 Divers will go for a similar worth, or barely much less.
ProTek Sequence 3000 Subject Watch: Conclusion
That was an extended stretch of negatives, and I need to get again to what the Sequence 3000 Subject does nicely. As a result of regardless of my choosing of nits, I might advocate the watch, total. Many of the proper items are right here, the wearability is subsequent to none, and the ProGlo tritium is gorgeous.
Nonetheless, I’d prefer to see ProTek do one thing extra to set its model aside from Luminox. Maybe a solar-powered Subject? That might assist account for the empty dial house, and it’s one thing their older Swiss cousin lacks. MIYOTA is Citizen-adjacent, in spite of everything.
However by itself, the Sequence 3000 is an intriguing entry right into a recent, purpose-built lineup. It’s a considerate design with some robust, colourful touches, and the symmetrical face makes for one of the evergreen timepieces I’ve seen.
As it’s, this 3005 is an excellent watch, and in case you prefer it in images, you’ll find it irresistible in individual. However with one other iteration and perhaps an added characteristic or two, it might be one thing additional particular.