How long does your lume last?

[Jsimon]

I have a 2018 Sub and although I don’t use the Lume that much, I was wondering how long people have found it lasts? And also how long does it need to be exposed on average to get a good stint?

[Kostas]

All night long , depending on my eyes adjusting to the darkness.

Same with the seiko skx

[THC]

Lionel Ritchie ... All Night Long

[WJGESQ]

Not as good as Omeg. Not even close.

[Jsimon]

I think mine has gone by morning

[Xxmikeyb]

All night

[jnkay]

All night with Chromalite; less with older lune. Just an instant of bright light from a strong LED flashlight will “charge” the lume fully. It’s about the intensity of the light source not the length of exposure.

[JR16]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Al1969]

Originally Posted by THC

Lionel Ritchie ... All Night Long

Beat me to it.

[fishingbear]

2-4 hours depending on what reference.

[DubaiRolex2000]

How long does Oyster Perpetual’s lume last? Mine doesn’t seem to last more than a few minutes :(

[Burlington]

Depends too much on the ambient light conditions to be objective - pitch black will 'last' much longer than semi darkness.

[Flier]

Have not checked the deep sea yet but the SubC a few minutes
Pretty pathetic if you ask me
Btw here is an interesting article on lumes
http://www.kronometric.org/article/lume/

[jimcameron]

It lasted about 10 of the 33 years I've owned my 16800. Somehow trending fashion has created the desire for the "patina" cream color of my aging watch. Personally, I'd rather have a dial that lets me know what time it is when it's dark. I've been told that replacing the dial and hands with new ones would be around $1K and would "ruin" the "vintage" value of my watch. Ironically, my 1982 Casio "Marlin" still lights up with the push of a button, and functions 100% in every way. It cost about $30.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by THC

Lionel Ritchie ... All Night Long

This is my experience. I wake up to use the bathroom and glance over at it around five or six o'clock sometimes...still going.

[Carry The Interest]

Do modern sports models really last "all night long"? Is this from getting a decent amount of natural light exposure during the day?

My BLNR (less than 6 months old and purchased new from AD) fades pretty quick shortly after I get home. I spend almost the whole day in the office and the watch doesn't get much direct sunlight at all. Any time I've looked at it in the middle of night it's as if there is no lume "charge" at all. I feel like the same is generally true with my SubC (less than two years old).

Is there a good "lume" test to make sure the watch is fine? Alternatively, are my watches just trying to tell me I need to get more natural light during the day?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Jsimon

I have a 2018 Sub and although I don’t use the Lume that much, I was wondering how long people have found it lasts? And also how long does it need to be exposed on average to get a good stint?

Have never checked whats far more important for me at the moment, is when I wake up and my watch is still running, and I can see its running I am still alive.

[Switzerland]

Originally Posted by JR16

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

This

[lenfried29]

Originally Posted by padi56

Have never checked whats far more important for me at the moment, is when I wake up and my watch is still running, and I can see its running I am still alive.

I disagree. Rolex watches are not cheap. If Rolex advertising this: "Highly legible Chromalight display with long-lasting blue luminescence" then I expect at least it would be longer them my 22 year old Tag quartz watch. But unfortunately it is not the case.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by lenfried29

I disagree. Rolex watches are not cheap. If Rolex advertising this: "Highly legible Chromalight display with long-lasting blue luminescence" then I expect at least it would be longer them my 22 year old Tag quartz watch. But unfortunately it is not the case.

What do you disagree with, the fact I have never checked my lume, or me thinking it's more important I am still alive to read the time on my watch when I wake up in the morning.??????

[1William]

It lasts longer than my attention span or need for it.

[jimcameron]

It is a feature of $7+K watches that is not very impressive. Marketing the Rolex as an heirloom piece, .....oh, by the way, the lume either dies or sucks to begin with. Thanks for getting me aggravated all over again.


Generally speaking, the Rolex lume is almost as good as my $29 Invicta Pro-Diver 40mm NH35A

[Nandor]

On my Exp1 it lasts about 1-3hrs and then it is useless.

[Kjus21]

Originally Posted by Carry The Interest

Do modern sports models really last "all night long"? Is this from getting a decent amount of natural light exposure during the day?

My BLNR (less than 6 months old and purchased new from AD) fades pretty quick shortly after I get home. I spend almost the whole day in the office and the watch doesn't get much direct sunlight at all. Any time I've looked at it in the middle of night it's as if there is no lume "charge" at all. I feel like the same is generally true with my SubC (less than two years old).

Is there a good "lume" test to make sure the watch is fine? Alternatively, are my watches just trying to tell me I need to get more natural light during the day?

I bought my BLNR last month from an AD. Noticing the same issues on the Lume. Coming right inside from outside, its lit pretty well. However, as the minutes/hours go by, it definitely dims out. By a couple hours in, it is barely noticeable unless in a completely dark room. I love everything about this watch, but this is the one thing that frustrates me.

[smym18]

Originally Posted by Kjus21

I bought my BLNR last month from an AD. Noticing the same issues on the Lume. Coming right inside from outside, its lit pretty well. However, as the minutes/hours go by, it definitely dims out. By a couple hours in, it is barely noticeable unless in a completely dark room. I love everything about this watch, but this is the one thing that frustrates me.

This is how I feel. It seems like mine doesn't last nearly as long as others report on here.

[Jsimon]

Went to an AD and they said they will get it tested under warranty (takes 4 weeks) or I can pop into the factory (as I’m relatively local) and they can check it within the day. I’ll do the latter when I get a chance.

[Onikage]

Lume threads always interest me. Rolex lume is adequate. I have another watch that has really strong lume that you can practically see absorb light and turn green in the sun to be treated to a light show when returning indoors - Yet try to sleep with the thing and the same watch is completely illegible if I wake up a few hours into the night. Even after 'charging'.
I have watches that have really poor lume even when 'charged' yet are clearly legible all night. Even without prior exposure to a lamp. I have no idea how that is possible but I can say Rolex superluminova examples I have tried are somewhere in between.

[thegents]

it last long enough though.

[droptopman]

Surprised to hear all the "all night long" posts. Been wearing Rolex for 30 years and lume is not one of their strengths. Not that I really care, but I drive a convertible and even after a long drive in the sun, the lume on any of my modern Subs only last a couple hours or so after no more light exposure. It was really evident when we went to the movies a couple months ago. Hot sunny day, 1 hour top down drive before the movie and the lume did not last for the whole movie.

[Green Arrow]

If you charge a new Submariner with a high intensity flashlight for a minute, and if your eyes are in low enough ambient light to adjust to "night vision", the Chromalight will last 7 hours, but the sweep second hand will be difficult to see. If I am somewhere it makes sense to have 2 watches. (Like home, not on an airplane somewhere) I switch to an Isobrite T100 tritium tubed watch. Not as bright initially as a freshly charged Chromalight, but within 6 minutes brighter, with zero fade at any point in the first 25 years. Mine is an ISO 503 and T100 is brighter than T25 (a debate among lume nut cases like me).

If lume is important enough to you many brands are better than Rolex. One excellent high end watch is a SEIKO Spring Drive Diver. But even inexpensive Seikos are better than Rolex in this area. Also Omega 9300 Planet Ocean, GP Seahawk, some Never DRk Reactors, and some Tritium capsules Ball Watches.

I have owned them all. Current configuration is the 116613 LB Bluesy for a do it all, go anywhere, do anything watch with acceptable lume, and the Isobrite when lume is the most important issue of the moment.