What lume is brightest?

[Heilong]

[streetracer101]

I don't think that there is any doubt of which is brighter (lumed dial) or which maintains it brightness longer (tritium). What I don't understand is why manufacturers haven't designed any watches with both tubes and a lumed dial. It seems like such an easy fix that would provide the bright pop after a sunlight charge as well as the glow power of tritium.

[Heilong]

I don't think that there is any doubt of which is brighter (lumed dial) or which maintains it brightness longer (tritium). What I don't understand is why manufacturers haven't designed any watches with both tubes and a lumed dial. It seems like such an easy fix that would provide the bright pop after a sunlight charge as well as the glow power of tritium.

Reactor Trident NeverDark

[Blue bird]

I've found it depends on the watch. As for trit, I found the 1st gen Ball Fireman to glow twice as bright as the Fireman II but it only has 2 extra tubes. A boutique brand with a generous application of C3 or a Seiko with a ton of lumibrite will be enough to light a room.

[Dark30]

Apologies as this is somewhat off topic but still relevant, but what is the simplest way to get a bright lume applied to an existing watch? And how much does it run? Ideally what I would like is the hour and minute hands to be different colors, maybe one greenish and one orangish. If you are discussing the merits of the various lumes, I am guessing that is because you can get it applied to watches you already have?

Thanks,

D30

[happyholiday]

what watch is that???

I prefer super luminova over tritium... A fully charge SL can easily last thru out the nite, although it last few hrs is not as bright as initial but still can be spottted easily in nite.

Attachment 674293

Tritium will have no changes but is always the boring small fine straight line and is SO SMALL...

[Precise]

This amazon page has good data on lume vs tritium.

Amazon.com: REACTOR Men's 52001 Gamma Never Dark Black Dial Titanium Bracelet Watch: Watches

I have this exact watch and like the combination of lume and tritium.

[Raza]

The big difference between tritium and Superluminova is that while Superluminova needs to be charge and fades through the night, good lume will fade as your sensitivity to light increases, giving it the appearance of a constant light source. Tritium, on the other hand doesn't need to be charged and appears to grow brighter through the night.

Luminous paint is also more visible in low light situations than tritium, which requires more darkness for your eye to pick up the glow. At least in my experience.

Now for my opinion. Both are useful, with tritium getting the nod for its low-maintenance glow and through-the-night visibility. However, I personally stay away from more expensive tritium watches, as its nature as a radioactive material means that the glow will fade and it will need to be replaced, but it's not exactly something that can be done easily. I can't recall anyone coming up with a satisfying solution to the tube replacement problem, though I admit it's possible that they have. I have both and will continue to keep both in my collection (I have my GSAR on right now and my Deep Blue Daynight T25 lives on my bedside table), but if I had to choose one, I'd take luminous paint.

[Raza]

Apologies as this is somewhat off topic but still relevant, but what is the simplest way to get a bright lume applied to an existing watch? And how much does it run? Ideally what I would like is the hour and minute hands to be different colors, maybe one greenish and one orangish. If you are discussing the merits of the various lumes, I am guessing that is because you can get it applied to watches you already have?

Thanks,

D30

Jay at MCWW or Jack at IWW will apply the lume, but you'll have to send it to them. I had mine done by MCWW. I trust his work and couldn't have been happier with the price and quality.

[Danny T]

Armida A1 is the new standard on lume.

quoted for truth!

My A1 lights up like a torch with just barely a charge in the sunlight. I did a good charge one night with an LED flashlight and it lasted all night long.