ProTek owner Barry Cohen is not what you would call a novice when it comes to tritium-illuminated timepieces. He pioneered the genre as Luminox’s original owner and founder, the brand that revolutionized tactical-style watches with continuous illumination capabilities. Thirty-five years later, he now leads another tritium-focused brand called ProTek, which manufactures watches for those working in challenging environments. They use only high-quality components that can withstand harsh conditions.
ProTek is proud to be approved and recognized as an Official Watch of the United States Marine Corps, a testament to the ruggedness and reliability of their timepieces. These watches are as tough as the service members who wear them, enduring the most adverse environments. If they can endure the challenges of the USMC, you can trust their performance on your wrist. In June 2024, they launched a new automatic version of their popular Official USMC dive watch, available in multiple colors.
These watches feature 42mm cases made of carbon composite, a material known for its lightweight and extreme durability. The unidirectional rotating bezel is also made of this material, ensuring the watch’s resilience. The screw-down stainless steel case provides 300 meters of water resistance and features an embossed USMC logo. To maintain this rating, the screw-down crown is equipped with multiple O-ring gaskets.
The dial, hands, and bezel pip are equipped with ProTek’s ProGlo tritium illumination, which will continuously glow for 25 years without the need for an external light source. The sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective coating, and it comes on a genuine 22mm rubber strap that tapers to 20mm at the buckle. Powering this new mechanical version is the ultra-tough Seiko NH35 automatic movement, which comprises 24 jewels, beats at 21,600 beats per hour, and offers a 41-hour power reserve.
The four available colors are black, red, green, and brown. The ProTek USMC Automatic is currently available for $695. ProTek
