ProTek Watches: Mil-Spec Watchmaker Barry Cohen’s Latest Project

Barry Cohen may not be a name you’re familiar with, but you’ve almost certainly heard of the watch company he created in 1989, Luminox. Recently, after several decades of producing illuminated watches for the U.S. military with Luminox, Cohen set out on his own to launch his latest creation: the ProTek watch series. ProTek was designed for hard use by those who need a rugged, dependable, and easy-to-read timepiece, such as members of the military, law enforcement, and first responders. Cohen appears to have accomplished exactly that, since the ProTek collection has been designated an Official Watch of the U.S. Marine Corps. These watches feature tritium built into the face and hands for illumination that lasts consistently for 25 years.

Above: The ProTek Official USMC Dive watch is available in a variety of colorways, each with the company’s signature tritium illumination (as seen in this article’s lead photo).

Series 1000 Carbon Composite Dive

As the name suggests, this model was made for underwater operations. Water resistant down to 300 meters, the 42mm carbon composite case has a 60-click timing bezel and a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating. Japanese quartz keeps the time, the illumination system is many times brighter than other watches of a similar vein, and the rubber strap is reinforced with light-weight steel tubing.

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An additional line of products in the Carbon Composite Dive series features ProTek watches with the USMC logo engraved in the back of the case.

Series 2000 Stainless Steel Dive

This watch is rated down to 200 meters of water resistance, and is entirely stainless steel. For timing, the Gents Steel Dive features a 120-click unidirectional bezel, and the strap is genuine Italian leather. Japanese quartz keeps the hand and date movement, and its battery will keep it ticking for about 10 years. As with all ProTek watches, these feature self-powered tritium illumination.

Series 3000 Titanium Field

Last but not least is the Titanium Field 3000. As the name suggests, the 40mm case, caseback, and push crowns are made from marine grade titanium. It is water resistant down to 100 meters, and features the same sapphire anti-reflective crystal and Japanese quartz as the other watches. The Titanium Field also comes with an Italian leather strap, and uses the largest tritium tubes available for the indices in three different colors.

Modifications and Accessories

In addition to the different series of ProTek watches, they can can be further customized to one’s personal style. Replacement straps are available in both rubber and water-resistant leather in a wide range of colors. Rubber watch straps can come in: charcoal gray, red, blue, green, orange, USMC red, USMC blue, USMC green, and USMC desert sand. Leather watch straps can come in black, dark tan, and dark brown with stainless steel buckle, black with gun metal buckle, black with black titanium buckle, and tan or dark brown with a titanium buckle.

MSRP: Starting at $450

URL: protekwatch.com

Written by Patrick Diedrich