Lume

[Vinny 1966]

How long will the lume last on my DJ 2 baton dial ?

[Abdullah71601]

How long will it glow? All night, in theory. In practice it gets difficult to see after about 30 minutes.

The good news is it will always be this way. It won't die like the tritium did.

[droptopman]

Many variables determine this. Type and duration of light absorbed will influence how long the lume will last.
On my 116233 if worn all day in sunlight it would last a few hours. Worn in the office all day with unnatural light maybe a couple hours.
Love Rolex but their lume has never been overly great imho.

[Fitz The Barber]

If only Rolex lume was as good or better than a Seiko monster.

[cab56]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

How long will it glow? All night, in theory. In practice it gets difficult to see after about 30 minutes.

The good news is it will always be this way. It won't die like the tritium did.

I bought a 2016 Exp 1 recently. The lume is amazing. Very bright after turning off the bedroom lights and I can still see it in the dark at 5 AM.

I have a newish 116234 DJ with superluma stick batons and 16613 Sub with superluma service dial. They are (barely) visible in the dark after turning out the lights and unreadable at 5 AM.

I assume the difference is simply the amount of lume surface area.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by cab56

I bought a 2016 Exp 1 recently. The lume is amazing. Very bright after turning off the bedroom lights and I can still see it in the dark at 5 AM.

I have a newish 116234 DJ with superluma stick batons and 16613 Sub with superluma service dial. They are (barely) visible in the dark after turning out the lights and unreadable at 5 AM.

I assume the difference is simply the amount of lume surface area.

IIRC, the intensity of the glow is proportional to particle size with strontium aluminate phosphor (Luminova). Variation in manufacturing composition of the paint can make a difference. Though, I think the consensus is that Rolex has some pretty crappy lume for the price point.

On a night dive last year I could read a friend's Seiko diver from 3 meters away while my Sea Dweller was barely visible on my wrist. So, it's not like the technology isn't available, Rolex just chooses to use a less effective material.

[cab56]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

IIRC, the intensity of the glow is proportional to particle size with strontium aluminate phosphor (Luminova). Variation in manufacturing composition of the paint can make a difference. Though, I think the consensus is that Rolex has some pretty crappy lume for the price point.

On a night dive last year I could read a friend's Seiko diver from 3 meters away while my Sea Dweller was barely visible on my wrist. So, it's not like the technology isn't available, Rolex just chooses to use a less effective material.

I find the difference in lume intensity between the 2016 Exp1 stick batons and the 116234 DJ stick batons mysterious. The batons are only slightly different in size but the Exp1 glows as if powered by batteries and the DJ glows in a (weak) traditional way. Initially, I assumed the difference was surface area of the lume, but, after reflection, I think there is a deliberate difference in composition. Perhaps, the DJ is designed to have a "refined/tasteful" weak glow in a restaurant or movie theater and the Exp1 has a strong glow for camping and similar activities.

I have a Sub with 20 year old tritium lume (still working but dim) and a Sub with a superlume service dial (as bright as the DJ but nothing special).

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

How long will it glow? All night, in theory. In practice it gets difficult to see after about 30 minutes.

The good news is it will always be this way. It won't die like the tritium did.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Fitz The Barber

If only Rolex lume was as good or better than a Seiko monster.

When you compare the total lume surface area on a Seiko monster compared to a DJ or most of the Rolex range, then you will have a answer more lume surface area the brighter looking the lume.

[Dickie Watty]

I can almost read a book in the dark with the lume on my Pelagos. My Explorer II 216570 not so much. Still plenty of lume to see the time however.

[Onikage]

Rolex lume - Good/Average.. Pretty bad actually. I want a Seamaster 2254 just because the lume is insane. How thick it is spread plays a large part. I'm sure Rolex waters theirs down as well to keep the plots white...