LUME
a black surface. It features a traditional dive watch layout of darts edge. It travels smoothly through its 120-click rotation with firm
and bars with pencil hands and a spearhead second hand. Doug engagement in each detent. The insert is polished black ceramic,
went for two-tone Superlumiova on this model; green-white C3 which is greatly resistant to scratching and provides depth and
for the bezel and minute hand, and blue-white BGW9 for the hour luster that far outshines the more common aluminum. The C3
hand and markers. It is an uncommon design choice that works filling the engraved markers looks great and also makes them far
quite well here. Doug describes the dial as a “maelstrom,” an apt more useful underwater - something of particular importance on
descriptor for the micro-engraved spiral that shimmers on its sur- this watch.
face. That pattern doesn’t overwhelm but offers an eye-catching
glint that invites a second look. It is a clever touch and goes far polled divers about their watch-related requirements, he discov-
to set the watch apart from the rest of the dive watch crowd. ered almost no one uses a watch to track dive times. They quite
The only thing I would change on the dial is the typeface used for sensibly entrust that duty to modern dive computers, and wear
Beluga brand name. On the packaging, you can see the fine lines watches for nostalgia and as back up in case of computer failure.
and rounded corners that distinguish it from the generic lettering While a conventional dive watch is fine for measuring elapsed
used by so many microbrands, but that detail is lost in the far time, Doug thought he could do better for measuring ascent. US
smaller confines of the dial. Navy standards recommend a rate of 30ft (about 9m) per minute
with 5-minute safety stops at the last 15ft. On the Ascent Bezel,
The bezel is 43mm wide, creating a 1mm overlap for a bet-
ter grip that is further aided by tiny scallops surrounding its upper
Doug is not a diver himself, but he is a tinkerer. When he
each hash represents 1 minute elapsed and 9m distance, and
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