The Lüm-Tec Combat B66 is one of the latest versions of the Combat B series, a model that has been part of Lüm-tec’s portfolio for at least 15 years. Two versions are currently available: a chronograph version in two different colors and this day/date model, which is a personal favorite of mine. This 2025 model is quartz, for an easy grab and go timepiece, with a titanium carbide gunmetal PVD coated case, and is still 200m water resistant, with a screw down crown, and of course a sapphire crystal. I had it sent along with the standard zulu style straps as well as a new FKM fitted rubber, and I love the look of this watch both on and off the wrist, and it’s easy to see why this model has been around for almost 2 decades.
Specificaitons
43mm Stainless Steel Case
Titanium Carbide Gunmetal PVD Hard Coating
Bead Blasted Finish
22m Lug Width
12.50mm Thick
51.5mm Lug to Lug
108 Grams
7.7mm Diameter Crown
Screw Down Crown
Double Diamond sealed case back
Viton Gaskets
200m Water Resistant
Miyota 2105 Quartz Movement
3 Year Battery
Two Zulu Straps included
MSRP $545
Fitted FKM Rubber MSRP $59.95
https://lum-tec.com/products/b66-day-date
The case of the Lüm-tec Combat models has stayed mostly the same over the years, but there have been different case materials offered through the years, such as carbon fiber cases, black DLC, and bronze as well. I reviewed a GMT version about 9 years ago and the case design on this Combat B66 is still the same: 43mm, a large 7.7mm screw down crown, and a 51.5mm lug to lug, which some may consider a long case length but the lugs are deeply curved and the design is very classic looking, yet still has a modern flair.
The titanium carbide gunmetal PVD coating is a hard coating that is very scratch resistant, and the case and crown are bead-blasted as well, for a very attractive but more importantly tough finish.
I did apparently measure the thickness of the Lüm-tec Combat B66 incorrectly, though, but I used my calipers, and I got 12.5mm. I guess I don’t know how to use calipers, as I clamp down until I can’t anymore and then take that reading, which was 12.5mm for me. The Lüm-tec website, on the otherhanbd lists it as 13.6mm, including the domed sapphire. Regardless of the actual measurement, I don’t find the case to be very thick, and when on the fitted rubber instead of the zulu straps, while I wouldn’t call it a super svelte watch, it’s not a brick on the wrist by any means.
The fluted bezel is fixed, and I believe it’s always been fixed on these combat models, unlike a lot of the watches from Hanhart with this style of bezel. For me, I have no issue that is fixed, I do not need to time anything with a watch such as especially in this configuration have always considered this watch to be inspired by military combat pilot watches and not completely accurate to watches made for military pilots. All that said, I love the look, with that coin-edge style domed fluted bezel and the large screw down crown, it’s a simple and clean case design, and one that fits well on my 7 1/2 inch (19.05cm) wrist.
With the Lüm-tec Combat B66, the dial is just about 37mm wide, and though it’s listed as matte grey on their website, this is matte black by any standard. The printed markers and Arabic numerals are coated in X1 C3 SuperLumiNova, as well as the sword minute and hour hand. The second hand is also coated in lume, as well as the day/date wheel. This dial is bold and sporty, easy to read, and the sapphire crystal is very glare-resistant, allowing you to really see the dial and not just a crystal on top of the dial.
Maybe it’s just because I am getting older, but nothing beats a dial with large hands and markers such as this, and while we all have our smartphones and smartwatches, and probably don’t need to look at a watch for the day and date, I’m just a creature of habit and glad they chose this complication.
The movement is a Miyota quartz, and I personally have no issues with quartz watches. I know, so many enthusiasts love to hate on quartz, and a watch without a manual or automatic movement has no soul, whatever that means. For me, quartz keeps time as well, if not better than automatic, and while I do miss the sweep of an automatic watch, I do love the grab-and-go aspect of a quartz.
Unfortuanly, this Lüm-tec Combat B66 suffers from what a lot of quartz watches do these days, a second hand that doesn’t hit the markers properly. Again, this is not solely a problem for Lüm-tec. I’ve encountered it on many quartz watches in the last decade, and it can easily be rectified; I just wish it had been rectified before it was shipped. The movement used also only has a 3-year battery, and I would have liked it if they went with a 5 or 10-year battery.
Of course, the Combat B66 glows brightly in the dark, I mean, it’s in the name of the brand, and they have been perfecting lume technology since 2008. Everything lights up in the dark on this dial, including the day/date wheel, though that’s the only area that fades quickly, but it’s a cute little feature, and I would prefer it over a lumed clasp.
Included with the purchase of this Lüm-tec Combat B66 are two zulu-style straps, and I believe these straps are very similar to the ones that came with the Combat B I reviewed 9 years ago, if not the same type of straps. Both are well made and can easily fit up to an 8 1/2 inch ( 21.59 cm), and for many is probably the preferred way to wear this style of watch, but I have never found these straps comfortable or attractive.
Fortunately, beyond just using a non-OEM strap to wear this watch, Lüm-tec now offers a fitted FKM-branded rubber strap that looks great, but as it’s FKM, it’s a very pliable but still tough rubber strap. I could do without the PRE-V style buckle, but this strap is the perfect way to wear this watch, at least for me. Only one thing is missing, which would be drilled lugs, as it would make strap removal much easier, but I would never take this rubber strap off, unless to clean the watch or because it was damaged.
These days, I am gravitating towards watch styles outside of divers, as far as watches that I personally like to wear, and the Lüm-tec Combat B66 fits right in the mix. It’s sporty and rugged, a good size at 43mm, and with the fitted rubber, it’s a watch that I just enjoy on my wrist. While Lüm-tec is far from the only watch brand making watches with excellent lume, I do love how this watch looks both in the light and the dark, and while to some it’s a very simple-looking watch, sometimes that’s just part of the appeal. At the time of publishing this review, all of their watches are on sale for Cyber Week, bringing this one to $501, but even at the MSRP of $545, I think it’s a decent value, though I would like to have an option for choosing the rubber strap instead of having to purchase seperatlely, but I get it, every watch brand needs to make money and I am glad this strap is offered at all, as it really changes the way I look at this watch.
I've been an avid watch lover since the age of 7. Watches are not only my hobby but a passion. My favorite style used to be dive watches, but field or non bezel watches have been growing on me. When I'm not reviewing watches I am either cooking or with family and friends.
