My lume sucks

[Sunspark]

I wonder how many times the lume has changed formulas, or whether it just wears out pretty fast with age.. I have a Bond SMP that's about 11 or 12 years old. A lot of the time it was in darkness. Anyway now it's getting active daily use again and the lume is unimpressive.

If I expose it to light and take it into a dark area, the lume is visible.

Problem is, the lume fades out pretty fast and needs strong light to charge.

It also isn't sensitive enough.. even if it's getting exposed to store lighting, etc. while shopping, it's not enough of a charge to glow.. dial stays black. Sucks because new Japanese watches glow all night.

Is this consistent with Omega lume today on new stuff?

[EL]

I am not a lume expert, but do know that there was a switch between Tritium and Superluminova somewhere along the way. I had a 1991 Speedy Pro with Tritium and its lume was lame. Lame Lume. I then picked up a 2001 Speedy Pro 3572.50 with Superluminova and its lume is great. Super Lume. My other Omega watches apparently have the Superluminova, as they are awesome. Planet Ocean and 2254.50.

You should probably just order a new dial for yours at <$200 and you'll be golden. Or green or blue. You might be able to snag one with applied markers and that would be even cooler.

Regards,
Eric

[jbdan]

Your thread title made me chuckle...could it be tritium lume which does age compared to SuperLuminova (which is used today and ages very very slowly if at all iirc)?

I'm not knowledgeable enough to know when tritium was done with, but I do know there are many here that will be able to provide you with that info.

[GTTIME]

Edited

[Sunspark]

I just have no idea. I'm assuming it is some sort of luminova material because it looks like a light green blob on top of the dial markers but I'm no tritium expert, I just assumed tritium was in a tube based on pictures of Ball watches.

It fades really fast which surprises me if it's luminova because I read it isn't supposed to fade.. I charged it up bright with an LED flashlight and less than an hour later it's nearly black again.

Maybe it is tritium?.. The bright green glow noticeably fades within a minute of being charged. My serial number begins with 60 which I know covers 1995 to 2000.

[KXL]

I sent my old Omega off to Kent Parks at Everest Watchworks for a custom lume job as the old lume had completely worn down. Looks fantastic during the day and at night---so now I have 24 hour coverage . I got it done over a year ago and have nothing but positive comments still. KX

[Chev James]

Now that is MOST impressive! The lume on my Omega SMP and AT coaxials is pretty decent. I've got a Lum-Tec on order that has Superluminova all over the dial--only the hands and markers are not lumed. That dial should stay readable all night long!

I sent my old Omega off to Kent Parks at Everest Watchworks for a custom lume job as the old lume had completely worn down. Looks fantastic during the day and at night---so now I have 24 hour coverage . I got it done over a year ago and have nothing but positive comments still. KX

[Bezel]

I also have a Bond SMP titanium chrono (I don't remember the model #) that I think I got in 1998. I'm sure it's not tritium, so it must be superluminova......the lume is terrible. Not a little terrible. Really terrible. I'm a lume freak and it drives me crazy....I like the watch but "HATE" the lume.

Earlier this year I bought the last titanium SMP that our favorite AD had in stock. And if you love lume it's the watch to buy. I always thought the Black Monster was the best,(I bought one just for the lume) but now for me it's my titanium 2231.I like it so much that I might get the GMT version.

Bezel

[Bezel]

KXL is that superluminiva?

Looks great.

Bezel

[jbdan]

Tritium is the one that stays lit all night. Superluminova when at max brightness is brighter than Tritium but it fades quickly and doesn't last long at all, whereas Tritium is more consistent

Your thinking of Tritium tubes....like ones used in Ball or Luminox among several others now. Tritium paint on the other hand was what I and a few others were referring to. Tritium paint ages and degrades. The tubes have a so called 10 year lifespan before brightness degrades to half the initial brightness per my Luminox manual.

I think the OP has Tritium paint, but it's just a guess