Luminova charge does not last long

[Jcy90]

Good Morning TRF,

I have a luminova dial Gmt (F series) and the luminova charge does not seem to last nearly as long or glow anywhere nearly as brightly as my seiko skx007 diver or my Breitling Superocean. Is this the norm? If not what should I do?

Thanks,

Jon

[Cru Jones]

Normal. Rolex lume is kind of not great, to put it nicely.

[subtona]

Luminova is a safe but sad replacement of the hazardous radioactive stuff.

It's as good as terrible, that's all it can hope to be.

[JP Chestnut]

Non-maxi Rolex lume sucks. It's normal. Seiko Diver lume is nuclear.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

Non-maxi Rolex lume sucks. It's normal. Seiko Diver lume is nuclear.

Maxi and non maxi are negligible in difference and let's not forget we can't tell the time with lume plots alone.

The only thing that matters is the hands and there is very little difference between the maxi hand and previous version.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by subtona

Maxi and non maxi are negligible in difference and let's not forget we can't tell the time with lume plots alone.

The only thing that matters is the hands and there is very little difference between the maxi hand and previous version.

I was specific, only because I don't own anything recent. The new stuff might be terrible as well - I don't know. However, my five digit divers are much worse than similar aged omegas and totally incomparable to a Seiko tuna. I still love them though.

[Jcy90]

Agreed. I LOVE the watch. The Lume... not so much.

[JRT]

I believe the lume (with Super-Luminova) of Tudor Pelagos beats all diver watches aforementioned.

[Loevhagen]

Well - the 216570 Polar has a lume that is strong. But agree that 5-series Submariners, Sea-Dwellers are to weak - and probably due to the small surface of (Super) Luminova.

[Quailhunter]

Totally enjoy wearing my Rolex watches in the day, but the Luminox watch goes on at night. The tritium still glows strongly all night even after 10 years.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by JRT

I believe the lume (with Super-Luminova) of Tudor Pelagos beats all diver watches aforementioned.

If you don't own a tuna, I wouldn't make that bet. Seiko lume is insane.

[Jcy90]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I appreciate it!

[Lemieux66]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

If you don't own a tuna, I wouldn't make that bet. Seiko lume is insane.

I agree - and I have had a Tuna AND a Pelagos.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Normal. Rolex lume is kind of not great, to put it nicely.

Sad but true

[the0thrdude]

oh man, I thought it was just my GMT that had awful lume.

[locutus49]

My lume is great for an hour or so.

[T. Ferguson]

.

Originally Posted by Quailhunter

Totally enjoy wearing my Rolex watches in the day, but the Luminox watch goes on at night. The tritium still glows strongly all night even after 10 years.

Just FTR, it's been glowing all day for ten years as well.

---------

As for Rolex lume, I'm happy if I can see how much time is left before the movie lets out. It's never been an issue with me. If I needed all night lume say for work I'd get a less expensive piece with tritium tubes and when it decays just bin it and get another. Honestly, I don't want my elegant timepiece glowing in the dark of a nice dimly lit restaurant like I'm some kind of club kid at a rave with a glow bracelet.

[tvad]

Originally Posted by Jcy90

I have a luminova dial Gmt (F series) and the luminova charge does not seem to last nearly as long or glow anywhere nearly as brightly as my seiko skx007 diver or my Breitling Superocean. Is this the norm? If not what should I do?

Upgrade to a newer GMT II with Chromalight. Give it a zap before bed with a Surefire (or similar) flashlight. It'll last all night, and you'll be able to read the time without a problem if your eyesight isn't too bad without glasses.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by tvad

Upgrade to a newer GMT II with Chromalight. Give it a zap before bed with a Surefire (or similar) flashlight. It'll last all night, and you'll be able to read the time without a problem if your eyesight isn't too bad without glasses.

YMMV. My experience does not mirror this. Some of you guys that claim all night readability must be owls. Chromalight is the same paint, just a different tint of SL with a fancy name Rolex attached to it. If your eyes are better at reading the blueish tint than the greenish one that will help, but all night? Not for me it doesn't. Not enough anyway to suggest someone spend $10K upgrading just for the blue lume.

[cop414]

I'd have to agree that this pretty much normal. My 11 year old omega Seamaster blows my 4 year old Submariner away in the lume dept, always has. The Submariner is good for an hour or two then it's pretty much done. The Seamaster I can still see great at 5-6am.

[SA1]

Agree, lume is surprisingly mediocre...

[tvad]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

YMMV. My experience does not mirror this. Some of you guys that claim all night readability must be owls. Chromalight is the same paint, just a different tint of SL with a fancy name Rolex attached to it. If your eyes are better at reading the blueish tint than the greenish one that will help, but all night? Not for me it doesn't. Not enough anyway to suggest someone spend $10K upgrading just for the blue lume.

Well...we're all different, I suppose.

For me (isn't this all about me? :)), the Chromalight works all night (albeit with diminishing brightness) once blasted at bedtime with a flashlight...and the readability versus Luminova is significantly better (plus the hour markers are a little bigger on the newer watch).