The New Air Series: Luminox Launches The Air Pilot-38 Lightning And Constellation Automatic 9600

The best way to define a Luminox watch is with the three R’s – rugged, reliable, and robust. Just one glance at their range of watches will tell you that they’re more than capable in the most remote and extreme locations. It’s no wonder that Luminox is the watch of choice for adventurer, outdoorsman, and star of the hit television show Man Vs. Wild, Bear Grylls. Luminox’s recent release of their two new pilot’s watches however aren’t what you would expect from a typical watch from the Swiss-made brand. The P-38 Lightning and Constellation Automatic 9600 are not as aggressively designed compared to the rest of the Luminox line. They’re polished, sleeker and more approachable to the casual and conservative wearer without sacrificing the durability and functionality we’re used to from the brand.

The P-38 Lightning dial is simple, straightforward and most importantly, legible, which is exactly what you would want in a pilot’s watch, especially if you’re a pilot. The minute track is displayed on its own plane, separate from the Arabic numeral hour markers. In the center and slightly sunken into the dial, there is an inner numeral ring providing an additional time reference for the GMT hand. Flashes of aeronautical design are represented throughout. The 12 o’clock marker is demarcated by a triangle and two dots which assists pilots in knowing the upward orientation of the dial. The handset is reminiscent of those you would find inside of a flight instrument. Every millimeter of space is thought of and accounted for, even the negative space, resulting in a dial that provides all the necessary information without being too busy visually.

The P-38 Lightning case size is smaller than the 44mm to 45 mm watches we’re used to seeing in the Luminox pilot’s watch range. The P-38 Lightning is constructed out of stainless steel and spans a more approachable 42mm. The fixed steel bezel resembles that of a turbine and yet another homage to aircraft design. The case is also supported by an AR-coated sapphire crystal, screw-down crown, and a 100 meters of water resistance.

Powering the P-38 Lighting is the RONDA 515.24H, a Swiss quartz movement equipped with a date and a central GMT hand function, as well as hacking seconds and approximately 50 months of battery life. The P-38 Lighting comes in two dial variations: a black dial with white accents that can be had either on a brown stitched leather strap or a steel mesh bracelet, and an off-white dial with black accents with a black stitched leather strap.

The Constellation Automatic pays tribute to the Lockheed Constellation which was most known for completing its record breaking flight in 1944 from Burbank, California to Washington D.C. in just 7 hours. The Lockheed Constellation aircraft is displayed within a globe emblem in the center of the Constellation Automatic dial. Arabic numerals are displayed at every five minute marker and a date window with a color matched date wheel takes position at three o’clock.

Like the P-38 Lighting, the Constellation Automatic 9600 measures 42mm in width and 14mm in thickness. Unlike the P-38 Lighting, Constellation is supplied with a bidirectional bezel with a fully indexed display that allows the user to track a second timezone. For those more keen on a mechanical movement, the Constellation Automatic uses a Sellita SW-200-1 to keep accurate time up to 38 hours on a full wind.

There are three dial variations for the Constellation Automatic. A black dial with white accents can be had either on a steel three link bracelet or a black leather strap. Another variation is displayed in a dark matte gray dial with light blue accents attached to a matching gray leather strap. The final dial variation comes in an off-white dial with black markers, green and red accents and a contrasting black date wheel with white numerals on a dark brown leather strap.

Both watches come with Luminox’s proprietary “Always Visible” technology. Each hour marker and the handset are filled with borosilicate glass capsules, otherwise known as tritium tubes, which Luminox pledges will provide a glow seen night and day, and will last up to 25 years. With the P38 Lightning and the Constellation Automatic, the 12 o’clock marker and handset will glow a neon orange and the remaining markers glow a fluorescent green.

The P-38 Lightning retails for $595 on a leather strap and $645 on the steel mesh bracelet. The Constellation Automatic 9600 retails for $1,095 on the leather strap and $1,195 on the steel three link bracelet. The entire collection is currently available directly through the brand’s online platform. Luminox