What, as they are saying, is in a reputation? This generally is a difficult query with regards to branding. For those who ask Barry Cohen, the founder and former proprietor of Luminox, he may inform you to incorporate your greatest function 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 atmosphere.” To not be confused with Casio’s ProTrek lineup (which we’ve coated 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 Collection 3000 Discipline. There are loads 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 … properly, you get it.
In brief: The ProTek Collection 3000 Discipline is an fascinating watch, with a titanium shell, a dependable quartz motion, and a strong pedigree. The 100m water resistance is nice, the form is traditional and cozy, and the tritium “ProGlo illumination” system is without doubt one of the brightest I’ve seen. The dial is a bit underdressed, and the function set is fundamental for the value. However with regards to legibility and ease of damage, the 3000 Discipline actually shines.
ProTek Collection 3000 Discipline Watch Specs Case Measurement 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
Cozy and traditional styling
Out-of-this-world lume Cons Arguably underdressed dial
Worth is a bit excessive
Lack of screw-down crown Josh Wussow
ProTek Collection 3000 Discipline Watch Overview
The complete title of the tester proven right here is the ProTek Discipline Collection 3005. As you may 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 in comparison with among the busy (if useful) 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 loads of inventory into its “Swiss self-powered ProGlo illumination system,” which it says is:
“100X brighter than standard lume and glows repeatedly for 25 years with no have to be ‘charged’ by an exterior mild supply. [The Series 3000] makes use of the most important tritium tubes obtainable for the indices in three colours to create a mesmerizing mild present in darkness.”
Sturdy phrases. And I’ll admit, my earlier experiences with tritium-tube watches (together with Luminox’s Bear Grylls Survival ECO Grasp) have been good, however not nice.
This one, although … to cite a traditional 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!
Nevertheless it’s extra than simply the ProGlo. Take a look at the best way 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 Discipline, ProTek has gone with a MIYOTA quartz motion. This group is a division of Citizen, and you understand 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 currently. And the Collection 3000’s Italian cowhide might be the very 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 elements of the watch.
A Collection of Minor Complaints
A caveat, earlier than you learn on: For essentially 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 may skip straight to the acquisition hyperlinks.
However there are just a few tiny particulars that hold the ProTek Collection 3000 from being an unqualified advice.
First, there’s the “titanium push crown with a number of O-rings.” It’s a effective piece by itself — signed, well-finished, and straightforward to make use of. However there’s additionally a super-slight sponginess to it that’s a bit arduous 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 subject 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 inner MIYOTA motion may be, the seconds hand simply barely misses its markers. Like, we’re speaking a few naked fraction of a millimeter right here.
Most individuals received’t discover this, and it has no impact on the watch’s timekeeping means. However the model does declare to be “Constructed for Earth’s most demanding,” and I’m form 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 Collection 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 Collection 1000 and 2000 Divers will go for a similar value, or barely much less.
ProTek Collection 3000 Discipline Watch: Conclusion
That was an extended stretch of negatives, and I need to get again to what the Collection 3000 Discipline does properly. 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 beautiful.
Nonetheless, I’d prefer to see ProTek do one thing extra to set its model aside from Luminox. Maybe a solar-powered Discipline? That would assist account for the empty dial house, and it’s one thing their older Swiss cousin lacks. MIYOTA is Citizen-adjacent, in any case.
However by itself, the Collection 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 when you prefer it in images, you’ll find it irresistible in particular person. However with one other iteration and possibly an added function or two, it could possibly be one thing additional particular.
