I recently picked up the Solar variant of the Deep Blue Daynight watches. After some time with it on my wrist, I can say it delivers exactly what I was looking for: a rugged, low-maintenance watch with excellent visibility day or night. The following is my review of the watch-
My take-
The specs are below but this watch is on my wrist almost every day, and I own a lot of watches. I have NITE watches, Marathon watches, but Deep Blue have nailed it with this watch in my opinon. It is light as a feather, and visibility is what sets it is apart. Both in daylight and in the dark, amongst all of my tritium watches, this one is the most readable of all, and the reason is the hands. When I look at my watch in the night, my eyes are bleary, and I have farsight. This watch however is so readable and with its multi color markers so beautiful, I rank this watch right at the top of my favorites.
The Deep Blue Daynight Solar feels solid right out of the box. The polycarbonate case has a purposeful, tool-watch look with clean finishing and just the right amount of heft. It’s substantial without being uncomfortable, and it sits well on my wrist. I opted for a NATO style watchband, and as you would expect, it’s more functional than luxurious. A super clear sapphire crystal with AR coating keeps the dial protected, and with a high water-resistance rating, this is a watch that’s meant to be used, not babied. Of course, I baby all of my watches.
One of my absolute favorites in my collection. Glows like a flashlight at night. Stunning visual design with its dial depth and perfect proportions.
I got this watch on a ‘Back to School’ sale so I paid 150 bucks! Regularly $349. I think that deal is gone, but look for sales.
Read my review of this watch on our sister-site Solar-Watches.com, focusing more on the solar power aspect of this Tritium lumed diver.
DeepBlue has authorized me to offer this coupon code-
‘tritiumlume‘ to save 10% on your next purchase!
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Case Diameter | 43 mm |
| Case Thickness | 14 mm |
| Lug Width | 22 mm |
| Lug-to-Lug Distance | 50 mm |
| Case Material | Polycarbonate (30% carbon composition) |
| Weight | 3 ounces |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Movement | Citizen Miyota 2070 Solar |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters (660 feet) |
| Bezel | Unidirectional rotating, 60-click, with tritium tube at 12 o’clock |
| Crown | Screw-down |
| Lume | T100 Tritium (16 tubes total on dial and hands) |
| Power Source | Solar-powered with rechargeable battery (converts light to electricity; surplus stored for extended reserve) |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Strap | Rubber strap (approx. 7.5 inches long, tang clasp) |
Dial & Legibility
I absolutely love the visuals of this watch. The size, the artwork, the depth, they literally hit this out of the park in my opinion. I own many more expensive watches with tritium, but this stunner is my go-to almost every day. Like my Marathon GPQ, I like the depth inside the dial. This is to accommodate the tubes on the hands, but the side effect is a neat 3D vibe as you look down into it, like it’s the Rose Bowl or something.
In daylight, the dial is sharp and easy to read thanks to bold markers and strong contrast. At night, the tubes glow steadily — no charging required — and it’s almost impossible to lose track of the time. The hands are perfectly proportioned/sized and lumed. This is my most readable watch at night, along with my other Deep Blue watch, the Daynight Diver PC!
Tritium Performance
Tritium lume is the main selling point here, and Deep Blue executes it well. Unlike painted lume, which fades after a few hours, the tubes glow consistently all night. It’s not blindingly bright, but it doesn’t need to be — the glow is steady and reliable, which is exactly what you want in a tool watch.
Is this T100 watch brighter than my two T25 watches, the Marathon GPQ & the Marathon NAV-D? The short answer is YES, it is brighter in the dark than those two, but four times brighter? I don’t think so. But I guess it depends on how light intensity is measured. If it’s like sound, where we use decibels to measure loudness, perhaps light is also measured on a logarithmic scale. Either way, I’m happy with the lume.
Movement & Solar Power
Powering the Daynight is a solar quartz movement, which combines accuracy with near-zero maintenance. A few minutes of sunlight keep it running, and once fully charged, it can last about 4 months in complete darkness. No battery changes, no winding — just set it and forget it. Accuracy has been excellent, with no noticeable drift so far. It uses a MIYOTA CITIZEN 2070 Solar Movement, which is plenty good enough for me.
Everyday Wear
On the wrist, the Daynight feels versatile enough for everyday use, though its design leans toward the rugged side. It pairs naturally with casual or outdoor wear, and while it may not be the dressiest piece, it can slip under a cuff if needed. The case size gives it presence without being overwhelming, and the bracelet can easily be swapped for a rubber strap or NATO if you want to change the vibe.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- The company has been making tritium watches since 2008
- Second to none legibility in all conditions IMO.
- Solar powered = love this, virtually maintenance-free.
- T100 lume. Not T25, which is 4 times less bright.
- Solid build quality and water resistance.
- Excellent value compared to other tritium brands.
Cons:
- The bracelet isn’t the softest in the world. Not the worst either.
Final Thoughts
The Deep Blue Daynight Solar is exactly what it sets out to be: a tough, reliable watch with unmatched visibility and hassle-free solar power. It’s ideal for anyone who wants a dependable tool watch without worrying about batteries, lume fading, or babying their gear. While brands like Marathon, Luminox, and Traser dominate the tritium space, Deep Blue offers excellent quality and features at a price that’s hard to beat.
For me, this is a keeper — a watch that can handle anything from everyday wear to outdoor adventures, all while glowing brightly through the night, and a welcome addition to my collection.
If you are eyeing this watch, be sure to also look at the German KHS Reaper MKII, as they are very similar. It is now a part of my collection.
