Plenty of watches can be the statement piece of your EDC during the day, but few make the same impact in pitch black darkness. As pioneers of using self-illuminating tritium in their military timepieces, Traser makes watches that look even better at night. The new P59 Essential series dials down the military styling and size you’d expect from the Swiss brand, resulting in a comfortable and versatile EDC watch option that doesn’t sacrifice legibility in the dark.
If you think the P59 Essential looks great during the day, wait til you see it at night. It features Trigalight, a technology invented by Traser and used in countless military watches, for legibility in complete darkness without ever needing to charge. It consists of tubes containing tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that continuously self-illuminates. The P59 Essential S still uses traditional SuperLuminova lume around the dual and on the markers that glows brightly but requires a charge under the sun or other light source. But even long after the lume fades, you’ll still be able to tell the time thanks to green tritium inserts on the hands and at the 3, 6, and 9 positions with a contrasting orange insert at 12 o’clock. The tritium glows at a consistent intensity that’s legible but low enough to preserve your night vision.
The P59 Essential S also sets itself apart with its size. At a conservative 37mm diameter and 10mm thickness, it’s wearable even on smaller wrists and keeps a low profile. Combine that with a black dial and black PVD stainless steel case for a subtly stealthy look. The smaller size and infinitely adjustable Milanese mesh strap also make the watch extremely comfortable to wear. If you do prefer a watch with more presence, the P59 Essential does come in a 42mm diameter with identical features to its 37mm counterpart, called the Essential M (for “medium”).
The Traser P59 Essential comes with many of the EDC-worthy specs and features you’d expect coming from one of the leading manufacturers of military watches. It’s a Swiss-made watch with a quartz movement and 100m water resistance, making it a reliable option for your daily driver. An anti-reflective, scratch-resistant sapphire lens offers excellent clarity. The metallic black dial is as dressy as it is tactical, with green-tinted Arabic numerals (oversized at 12, 6, and 9) bordered by tick markers, and a small date display at 3 o’clock.
The P59 Essential S comes in two colors (silver case with blue dial and black on black), two sizes (the 37mm “S” and 42mm “M”), and multiple strap options so you’re sure to find a configuration that works for you. If you want a smaller watch with a dressy look and a low-profile tactical feel, the P59 Essential might be what you’ve been looking for.
