Where Are All The Good, Cheap Tritium Watches?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ม.ค. 2025
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Well, this video doubles the 'tritium quota' for the year so far. I am still chasing the unicorn of a cheap and decent everyday tritium watch though. With a few tweaks each, these two would be possibilities, and on leather, are getting close. What is going on with the bracelets though? Who designed that? Cheers, Jody
The dial of the quartz watch looks like a circular bar code. The search continues. Keep up the good work Jody.
As a Chemist, I have always been cautious of budget or discount Tritum. Whenever I see it I just assume the tritium vials are older. The main thing to remember with Tritium is that 12.5-year half-life, and the countdown starts as soon as that vial is sealed off. So if the vial winds up sitting around unused for a few years, that's a good chunk of its useful life you can never get back.
I still say a good Swiss C3 Superluminova or a good BgW9 is hard to beat!
I agree, but if these are T100 tubes as advertised, they will be as bright as new T25 tubes after 25 years…
@@ED-od6hy The T rating is for the amount of Tritium in the tubes. More = brighter. Half life is the same regardless.
@@ffedurch The previous comment is correct. After 2 half lives, a T100 should be equivalent to a new T25, if all else is equal: size and number of tubes.
One of the best value Tritium watches I've seen and use to have is the Carnival 8638G. That was before I had my channel though, so I don't have a review. I have reviewed the Yelang V1019 though.
I was just about to mention that!! How did it get overlooked? I wore one for a few months in 2020. Pretty good, but my OCD over the seconds hand got the better of me!
@@hogwash120664 That's exactly why I sold mine in the end too.
Jody , suggestion for a video: who’s who of micro brands? Are they struggling, starry eyed young designers? Rich kids having fun? Faceless mass producer? Thanks
Had a look on Ali Express and came across the EPOCH 6021G. Tritium tubes, sapphire crystal, 100m water resistant and apparently has a swiss movement inside for £121
I love tritium tube watches and have a number of them: Luminox, Isobrite, Armourlite, Nite, and Traser. Last summer I got the same Yelang you highlight here (the second one), the exact same pilot watch. I chose the black version because I only have the Traser in black metal but bigger, and the resin-type case Luminox and armourlite. I had the same problem with the bracelet and could NOT size it because of the micro issue. So I bought a "Barton Elite Silicone band", in black, with quick release pins and it works GREAT (with multiple lug sizes available). I absolutely love this watch and wear it often, even more than my Traser and Luminox watches (which are also black). It is very legible and not big or heavy - just right. IMPORTANT note: with tritium watches, some T-25 and some T-100, I can tell you that this Yelang watch is NOT as bright as a T-100 as with other manufacturers; it's more like a T-25. My Isobrite is a T-100 and my Armourlite is a T-25, both higher quality and more expensive watches, but from the same company. This Yelang T-100 is like the T-25 Armourlite or cheaper Lumiinox, not the T-100 Isobrite.
Glad to hear I’m not the only person with a “bed watch”. I have an old Luminox that I wore for 10-12 years before the movement died. I got a donor watch with a busted lug off eBay and rebuilt it. That tritium is great for a night watch.
Hey Jody!
Regarding the “10-year battery” claim of the pilot styled Yelang, Ronda does make a modified 515 movement that uses a lithium cell (most often a CR2032) instead of the standard 370/371 (SR920). Now 10 years may be a stretch, but with a watch that only displays the time and the date, it would certainly last a good long while.
I am an apprentice watchmaker, and we see these movements all the time when servicing quartz watches. Typically, they are in watches with more complications.
a 2032 is an awful lot of battery compared to standard sizes. in this age of huge watches i'm surprised more manufacturers couldn't be bothered squeezing one under the hood
Wait watchmakers need to service quartz movements. Just kidding
@@mistersilly9012
I agree. From my perspective, it seems like the bigger watches get the smallest movements. Only the movement rings have grown in size. I chuckle every time I open up a giant Invicta and see a super small movement that uses a 364. Hahaha.
@@oscarosullivan4513
Hahaha. Indeed, my friend.
Deep Blue makes a number of affordable tritium divers. They're chunky, but the 41 is wearable even for smaller wrists.
I have ‘almost’ purchased one of those several times...do you, or have you, owned one?
I did own one. Liked it a lot. Great quality. It was a little too thick for me, but in general it was a great watch.
Aliexpress sells cheap tritium watches in a field watch style, the brand is Carnival.
Picked 2 up for $120 each last year. Powered by a Ronda 517.
Can you link that?
They’re getting hard to find. Most of the listings use traditional lume now. And the tritium was T25, which isn’t as bright as T100.
@@Alias_Anybody I searched for "Carnival Tritium Watch" on AliExpress but nothing is coming up right now.
@@sudhirmungur8708 Try again, I got a bunch of hits!
Also look for NEDSS. All their watches are automatic and have Tritium tubes. The Carnival ones are more affordable.
Nice video Jody, THX! If you own a Seiko Flightmaster you have a few 21mm straps lying around.
Your bed watch! Ditto! I have an LL Bean Tritium Tube Field watch and every night off goes the watch of the day and on goes the Tritium Tube watch! Good vid. Keep at it!
3:30 That is why I absolutely love tritium watches the glow stays the same & never fades I couldn’t care less that the other one glows brighter at first because it fades away so quickly anyway
"I will be going for the leather strap, as I will explain later"
We already know Jody that the bracelet will be crap now.
I wasn't ready for the way it ended up being crap.
I think it's 'find out how much of a crap it is and if you would be okay with it' type of a thing.
My 20 year old Luminox still has outstanding night time legibility.
I was considering a Traser watch before getting a Marathon. Some of the newer Traser models are advertising an 8 year lithium battery with a Rhonda 715.
I literally looked up Tritium watches about 30 minutes ago and now you upload this, damn.
I guess you'd have to play the Airwolf-theme at 11 to fully appreciate that logo... :D
I loved Airwolf!!! Showing your age I feel by remembering that great 80s show!!!! As am I by commenting!
Great. Now I've got that epic theme stuck in my head. I feel a marathon coming. Dom, warm her up.
Nothing beats an LED watch in the dark. I have a mid-'70s Westtime that still works just fine.
I've been in the search too, glad to see you're on the case.
They're like a couple of my exes, they look better in the dark.
Nice!
What says it about me that I read axes?
Hahaha
So, these watches look like my currents
🤣🤣
I used to own a Smith and Wesson Emissary and I really loved the looks of it. Unfortunately I had the newer version with only tritium tubes at the 12, 3, 6, 9 and on the hands. The older version is better since it has a tritium tube at each hour marker. It is a tactical style watch (similar to Marathon) so you have to like that style, but for the price point it's a fantastic watch!
Jody, Deep Blue makes a nice selection of Tritium divers on sale now for $500, selita movements, sapphire, etc. 😎
Aragon, formerly Android, has a few affordable T-100 watches. I have 2 of their Regeneron T-100's and love them. $219 on their site. 42mm and 50mm.
I’m researching tritium watches too Jody, Traser watches are looking good to me, perhaps you could review some of theirs ?
Keep up the good work 😎👍
I have 2 Traser's and they are excellent, really light to wear, but tuff and well made, bomb proof really 👍😉⌚
I got a KHS Reaper recently which is a nice, affordable tritium watch from Germany. The white and red lume is very cool looking.
The red glow is fantastic
If you really want a affordable everyday tritium watch have a look at KHS Watches. It's Quartz and not exactly haute horlogerie but a fairly good looking beater watch nevertheless. I got a KHS Reaper which I use for hunting at night because of its obvious benefits in dark environments. For around 140€ it's a pretty good contender for a tritium watch. If you want I can send you mine for review.
I have to give it to the swiss quartz movement, it ticks very consistently. Shame it does so between the markers.
Ha! For the next ten years, apparently.
Annoyed me more than it should have.
I wear 24/7 and yes, I switch to a different watch if the one I'm wearing has poor lume. Nice to hear it's not as uncommon as one might think. I might even charge mine with a flashlight prior to hitting hay as well, just so I know lume makes it to least early morning.
If they go quartz I hope they go mecha-quartz for that smooth sweep of the seconds hand and to avoid the seconds hand missing the markers as so often happens on quartz watches.
Love to see Casio make a tritium lumed watch ... I think it would be right up their alley too.
I love my Traser watch, fully lumed dial plus Tritium tubes and sapphire glass, lights up everything. It was around $400 though, if someone is looking for super cheap. I guess tactical is in the eye of the beholder. I'm not sure why you would be crawling around the jungle, in the dark, with a dress watch but then I don't know Australia.
I bought a Traser P59 Essential (quartz) a couple of months ago. $200
Aragon has some good quality pieces..
I just bought one today.
I bought a Deep Blue T-100, tritium watch some 3-4 months ago Jody. 41mm, white dial & I love it! It was however US$330 or thereabouts with I think a 30% discount. Sapphire crystal with AR coating & rated at 500m also! Worth a look.👍🏼😎
Deep Blue, noted!
@@JustOneMoreWatch I have a 44mm version before they came out with the 41mm. It is indestructible, but big. It also has that 13-24 hour field dial like the Glycine Combat Sub. I highly recommend their watches. Great service.
The hunt continues! I'd love an inexpensive T-100 tritium watch, but these just aren't up my alley. Great video as always, Jody!
Spot on.
If they take your advice to heart, they could be winners with their resources.
I only use my Yelang pilot when I defecate.
The dark colour helps when I clean the mess. They are certainly well made.
Perhaps you also should consider to buy one, for your defecations.
Perfect timing for this review. I am one of those 40%rs who swaps to a tritium watch at night. Currently I wear a Deep Blue DayNight Recon with an ETA 2824. I have been looking for an affordable quartz option so that I don't run the risk of letting the DB run down. You Sir are a mind reader.
Perfectly timed video , my cousin was just asking me about Lumed watches that would last the night. I didn't know any decently made and priced tritium watches. Now i could recommend some. Thanks !!!
I got a Carnival 1986 field watch with tritium and I just love this watch. I don't know what it is but I find myself wearing it all the time. It is also my bedside stand 'clock'. The tritium is excellent when checking in the night.
I do love the idea of affordable watches with tritium tubes. For a graphic design class I took this past semester I made some concept material for my own watch brand (that I might actually start when I have some money and/or partners/investors) and it used tritium tubes.
I have a Vostok K-39 with Tritium. It's big and thick, but I have big enough wrists to wear it well. And the cream /black colourway I own, imo is a very good looking watch.
I own the nite icon . One of my favorite beater watches Swiss quartz movement. I love tritium lume wish some of the bigger brands used it.
Love your videos brother. Lol I've purchased so many watches because of your videos.
Nice work Jodie, Ronda 715LI with CR2032 in my Nite Alpha300 which I swap to wear at night.
OOH! Happy to see more tritium! Funny thought though - I guess liking these watches more when the lights go out than during the day is a good thing(?). The phrase 'coyote ugly' comes to mind.
Hi jody, I own a praetorian tritium had for last 7 years still bright, cost 150 gbp, fantastic watch
Have a look at the Swiss brand Traser.
I checked my Ebay account and it says this black Yelang Pilot watch is a WR100M, sold by pony3477, and now comes with a leather strap. It's listed at 42mm bezel x 11.4 thick, with a 20mm lug (which is the size black Barton Elite silicone band I used).
I always switch to a night time watch, my Zelos Abyss 3. The Lume is outstanding & if there's a break in it can be used as a weapon.
Looking at your channel I am gonna say you own an invicta collection. Way to go, kid. Way to go
@@Mile-long-list Judging by your comment & 7 subscribers, I'm gonna say you have a vast collection of Daniel Wellington, MVMT, Flilipo Loretti & that trash in your profile pic is your only means of transportation. Things will look up boy...mmm maybe not. #TriggeredTroglodyte
@@GeeMood your eyes deceive you and I think that's funny. Look a little closer at the picture kid.
When Jody recommends a leather strap on ali, I can already guess it's due to the "superb" quality of the bracelet
Great, timely topic. Your content is a treat every time. Thanks so much!
Have you looked at Aragon Watches? They've got pretty good sales @ 169 bucks.... model DF-45 T100
Does the V in PVD stand for Vader, Jody?
I bought an Epoch 6029G from the Quick Fashion Watch store on AliE. The case isn’t going to win any awards, but the textured dial is quite nice and reminds you of the Aqua Terra and the handset does it justice. The movement is the Sea-Gull ST2130 which is outstanding. There’s an option for the ETA 2824, but I like the ST2130 so we’ll I don’t think it’s worth the extra money. I liked it so well I bought a second in white to go with my blue one. I got one on the bracelet and one on leather, but swapped out both for custom leather. The supplied leather is your typical Chinese leather strap so nothing special. The bracelet isn’t bad. The crown is NOT screw down as the ad suggests making the 100m of WR a bit suspect. Very comfortable on wrist with T25 that is almost too bright at night.
Ronda 715LI has the 10+ year battery life and is a 5 jewel movement ,The Miyota 2S60 also has a 10 year battery life.
I have a deep blue and a Reactor Gryphon, both have been great.
I daily the reactor , it has both super luminova and tritium .
Ronda 715 Li is the movement. I have the same watch - in mine, they use the "Swiss Made" version, which is better than the "Swiss Parts" version of the movement. It uses a CR2016 battery.
Hi Jody, you should take a look at Aragon watches out of Florida. They ues the t100 tritium tubes in some of their watches. They offer large watches 45 to 50 mm but recently introduced 42 mm ones. All appear to be well made.
I did have a Luminox with a Swiss Rhonda movement that had a 10 yr battery. Sorry, I can’t remember the movement number. I will not get tritium again unless it is t00. The Luminox blew me away at first, but then I got a few Seikos that made the t35 tubes seem horrible. Some day, I hope to have tritium again. I have been considering some of the Nite t100 models. Good luck finding yours Jody!
Check out the Jack Mason AOPA Pilot’s Chronograph, Jody; it’s big, but it’s got 100m water resistance, chronograph complication, a 12-hour second time zone bezel,, date complication, and good tritium in a legible flieger layout for under $500.
The Aragon Regeneron T100 is a 42mm skeleton dive watch with the Seiko NH70 for 189$. Or you can get the Aragon DF-45 T100 dive watch with a Seiko NH35 for 169$ but it's a big boy at 45mm.
Aragon has a 16 tritium tube with nh35 automatic movement on their site for $169. The nicer looking one with 32 tubes and MOP face is sadly out of stock, but there's a gray one there that's nice looking I'm thinking about picking up if I don't see the MOP come back around.
I think a few others have mentioned them, but I'd also suggest you have a look at Deep Blue. They're a bit chunky, but there are a few models with T-100 tubes. They frequently have "sales" but the 40% off codes work pretty much all the time, so assume that the actual price is 40% off SRP. Lots of brand character as well. For better or worse, there would certainly be plenty for you to talk about.
I'm 40% !! Helps to figure out whether I should go back to sleep. My nighttime watches: Marathon GSAR. Luminox. CountyComm GMT Rhonda Quartz Super LumiNova
Hi Jody, I have a ARAGON DF-45 T100 tritium watch. Big chunky thing at 45mm and has a NH 35 movement, $170 USD. I know it's there at all times.
I just received my Deep Blue ALPHA MARINE 500 TRITIUM T-100 and I love it. It's 45mm, so it may be too big for small wrists.
Jody. There’s a Nite Icon that doesn’t look too military and is way cheaper than a Ball, but its dimensions are a bit funky.
Glad to know I'm not the only one to have a 'Designated Bed watch', which I believe should be an LED lit up display or a Tritium watch for extra convenience.
(My go to is my Marathon Navigator, extremely light with a Tritium pip on the Bezel)
Have a look at Traser P59 S , around $200, (37mm, Sapphire glass, ETA quartz and 100m)
Also 42 mm.
I got a bracelet off of Ali that had those shoulders that made the micro adjust unusable. I filed them down and now it works. It's helpful to put it in a vice. But it was stupid that I had to do that; it's a clear design flaw. Either way, the tritium is a showstopper for me.
Jody you should give Aragon Watches a try. Now granted they are BIGGER in size from 45mm to 50mm but they wear very nice even if you have small wrist. I have their bioluminescence and a full lume dial divemaster
Love the look of these watches. Tritium is usually a premium so it's nice to see it at this price point. May have to slip them a message to see if I can get one in for review.
Marathon GPM field watch. A little too pricey new (~$400 US), but I found one not running for $25. Cracked open that ugly (but small at 34mm) resin case. Bought a 39mm basic case with domed sapphire for $35, and a new NH35 movement for $20, and put it all back together :-)
Traser does H3 tube watches.
Try the Jack Mason AOPA Aviator. Nice size, good tritium and even a 2-way rotating bezel. Keep the videos coming! Great leads for a recently self- diagnosed, early onset horophile.
A Timex Indiglo like the Waterbury also makes a great night time watch
Nothing glows like a backlit dail
Jody, why not a Luminox (or a 2nd hand Luminox)? I can also vouch for Deep Blue build quality.
I picked up a Del Mar dive watch on Facebook Marketplace for $50. Tritium tube's, pretty nice piece.
Check out Deep Blue watches they have a tritium diver. 41mm, $333 on leather, $416 on steel. Usually a 40,% off code like deep or cyber will work. Good quality watches.
Thanks for this video, Jody. I would indeed like a watch with Tritium, but none of these two are to my liking. I look forward to more of your “affordable Tritium watches” videos.
maybe 3 or 4 years ago I bought 2 "Ballast" Tritium watches
WR 200M with a dive bezel and tritium pip ... €49,- a piece
( some outlet )
they are great.. something comparable to a Traser Pioneer..
fiber case, rubber strap and allegedly a Swiss Ronda movement
( and the secondhand hits the markers every time )
sadly no tritium on the secondhand and only mineral glass
Fyi Jody I got a real premium ad on my end watching your video: Apple IPhone. To me that means TH-cam thinks your content and viewers are the best. It is a great thing and means the algorithms believe in you!! I hope knowing that TH-cam algorithm likes you is a nice thing. Great work.
Great videos and great reviews! Can you please review the new Pagani Rootbeer??
I do have a bed watch but I take it off if I'm "entertaining", at least as far as I remember.........Im thinking of running a sweepatake on Jodys collection with bets taken on which will be flipped and how soon....these'll be on ebay already......
I have 4 tritium watches. Favorite is the quartz polycarbonate case marathon . Second best is a quartz pvd field style made by military watch co.
I'd second Deep Blue. Would recommend their 41mm T-100 models.
Ball Railroader : 36mm, tritium tubes, sapphire, integrated bracelet with diver extention... blingy little field watch! (Can be found for around $300)
Thanks for sharing Jody. The diver has a seiko Land shark vibe. Such a shame about the bracelet. Lots of cheap t25 watches on ali X e.g. Carnival. It's the t100 that seem rare.
I'm curious: What does a 10 yo tritium tube look like vs 10 yo lume?
Tritium tubes don't change colour, they just don't glow.
This is because the phosphor on the inside doesn't fade due to UV damage.
I'll get back to you on that one.....
I've got some 6 year old T25 in my old Borealis Scout Sniper and it's still glowing away, not quite as bright as it once was, but still more than bright enough! I have no doubt that it wouldn't be too different a story 4 years from now!
I have a 22 year old Luminox 3600 Titanium. The hands I've had replaced recently because I beat on the thing so long they fell off, the original indices are certainly faded but easily legible in the dark still, and I'd say still would be adequate at even half of today's level. It's been a great watch but I wouldn't buy a newer Luminox (first hand experience to say that).
10 year old Tritium doesn't glow anymore (at least not to a level that the human eye will see). The Tritium in my TA01NSN ACOG went out after about 8-9 years.
Everyone wants color matched dates but I'm wearing a black dial with a color matched date window right now and to be honest it's harder to see the date. I think I prefer the white on the darker dial so I can pick it up faster. It doesn't help that the date on this watch is at 4:30 LOL
I work in theatre and low light visibility is important.. I wear my Oris ig Crown since it has great lime..
Try the EPOCH Men Tritium light Watch T25 Quartz Swiss Mov't Date Day Sapphire Luminous and the EPOCH Men Tritium light Watch T25 Quartz Swiss Mov't Luminous Moon Phases Date found on eBay. Both are $144.00
i concept Japanese diver (Amazon but currently unavailable in UK) sort of Marathon vibe, but worth a look. Price varies £150-250 very solid and heavy by all accounts possibly too big (I think that's why I didn't buy one) Yelang watch, buy a bigger clasp? Pity it's got an oddball size across the lugs...
Dunno if you'll see this Jody, but you and I emailed about this brand, thanks for getting a review in. they don't look great.
As someone else said check out deep blue. They finally came out with a small version, the daynight 41. Discount Code 'Deep' is always in effect, so they are always 40 percent off.
Hi!, my swiss army lancer 100 uses tritium paint! Please check out that watch, as it is an everyday wear, all purpose watch with dial and under 100 usd now.... They are discontinued, vintage (30 years), but really rugged: just changed the battery on mine and it is ticking fine. My ask: the tritium paint is starting to chip off, inside the dial: ¿is it safe to open by myself and replace with other lume paint or should i take the watch to an expert?
Keep up the great channel, have some of the watches that you review!
Vostok Europe has amazing looking tritium watches - and the only ones I've ever seen with vertical tritium vials.
My apologies. I posted about Vostok Europe because I hadn't seen your post.
Hey Jody, you should review the new Vostok Komandirskie with titanium oxocarbonitride coating. It has a bead-blasted look now. Looks way better now compared to the shiny chrome coating.
Ronda Harley 715Li the Li stands for Lithium using a CR2016 3v cell. The 10 year status is pretty common, but whether it means 10 year shelf life, or 10 year reserve? That's harder to suss out. CR2016 cost $2.50 a 5 pack locally, so it's not a big deal. Originally the 10 year batteries were Milspec'd for their shelf storage life range, ie. 10 yrs ... MWC makes a fair few "affordable" Tritium dialed watches. All using Swiss MB Mircrotec or Trigalite branded tubes. Field watches, Divers & General Service models. The price of tubes is why the watches cost more. So "cheap" tritium dials mean they are cutting costs somewhere, because the tubes are not cheap.
I like your T-shirt and there's a nice watch to go with it .
The Casio DW5900 😜
Jomashop search Deepblue cheapest place to purchase plus the selection is pretty massive. Not tritium but they also offer a seiko skx homage I'd really like to see reviewed.
Cheers!
hi Jody, just a quick question though, which one is brighter to your eyes in the dark, the green tritium, or blue tritium ? I been told green color is brighter than blue.