Technical specs
Every component on Martino has a rationale. This page covers the full technical spec — what we chose, what we didn't choose, and why each decision matters for first responder use.
Full specification
Tritium illumination
Tritium (H-3) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. In watches, it's sealed inside tiny glass tubes and coated with a phosphor that glows when bombarded by the tritium's beta radiation. The number (T25, T100) refers to the activity level in millicuries — higher number = brighter output.
T25 is the standard tritium tube spec used in most "tritium watch" marketing. T100 tubes are 4× the activity level. Under the same ambient conditions, T100 produces significantly more luminescence than T25 — the difference is visible and meaningful in smoke, fog, or dusty conditions.
Why this matters in the field: T25 is bright enough for a dark bedroom. T100 is bright enough for a smoke-filled stairwell. For first responders, the difference between T25 and T100 is the difference between a watch that glows and a watch you can actually read.
12.32-year half-life. Tritium decays over time. At year 12.32, output is half of day-one brightness. Still usable; not worthless. Most duty watches get replaced before this matters.
NRC-exempt activity level. T100 tritium tubes in watch applications are NRC-exempt under 10 CFR 32.22. Legal for duty carry in all 50 states. No tritium license required for personal use.
Luminescence
Super-LumiNova is a strontium aluminate-based photoluminescent compound manufactured by RC TRITEC AG in Switzerland. It charges under any light source and re-emits that light in darkness over several hours.
The grade classification (A3, B3, C3) determines brightness. C3 is the highest commercially available grade — it produces the brightest initial output and longest sustained luminescence of any Super-LumiNova formulation.
On Martino, C3 is applied to all indices and both the minute and hour hands in a thick, domed application. The depth of the application matters — thicker lume application holds more charge and emits longer. Painted-on thin lume is visible in a dark room; thick-applied C3 is readable in active low-light environments.
LumiNova Grade Comparison
Relative initial luminance output — approximate representation.
Layered system: C3 + T100. C3 LumiNova provides the bright initial burst after a light charge. T100 tritium provides a constant, charge-independent baseline — your floor of visibility regardless of charging conditions.
Shock certification
MIL-STD-810H is a US Department of Defense environmental test standard. It's used by both military procurement and civilian manufacturers to verify that equipment survives specific environmental stressors. Here are the methods Martino is designed and tested to:
Third-party certification. All MIL-STD-810H certifications will be confirmed through independent testing before production — not after. We do not self-certify. Test reports will be published with production batch documentation.
Controls engineering
Why 120 clicks and not the industry standard 60? 120 clicks means each click = 0.5 minutes, not 1 minute. For CPR timing, medication intervals, and elapsed-time tracking, half-minute resolution is meaningful. 60-click bezels were industry convention before first responders became a design consideration.
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