The Secrets of Glow-in-the-Dark Lume: Watch Luminescence and Super-Luminova Deep Dive

[@DIYWatchClub]

People were asking where to buy X1 SuperLuminova. Well, we are officially selling Swiss SuperLuminova Grade X1 in our store, check it out! shop.diywatch.club/collections/uv-flashlight-lume-tools/products/swiss-lume-bundle-with-d03-watch-dial-and-hands-grade-x-1-c3-lume

[@npgatech7]

I like that you don't hold back from nerdy information. Most people love it, please don't hold back. Go full nerd mode. Also, I'd buy your watches if it came without a logo, please consider :)

[@DIYWatchClub]

We did a poll on what you all want to know about our most beloved lume formula, and you overwhelmingly answered difference between various grades of lume. So we dived deep into the sources to get you the most complete answer to that question. And we dove still a bit more. This is a massive knowledge dump of all we know about Super-luminova. But there is only so much we can put in one video. Comment down below if you have other burning questions about lume stuff in general. We'll make sure to incorporate them in future videos!

[@johnbaldessari9710]

This is BY FAR the best & most complete video I’ve seen regarding both the historical points and data, along with the current data for luminous materials used on watches and similar! One part I especially liked was the mention of the older zinc-sulfide lume, which was common years ago, long before the luminous compound came out in the 1990’s. All other commentaries I’ve seen talk about the radium-type lume, tritium-type lume, and luminova-type plumes, but they always fail to mention what accounted for the by far most common glow-in-dark compound used everywhere back before 1990’s - i.e. the zinc-sulfide compound, used on watch faces, clocks, toys, etc., etc. Note that these were non-radium or tritium applications - they just charged up w/ normal light, albeit the glow didn’t last very long as compared to the luminova type compounds available today. Once again, great job on that video!!

[@manuelneves248]

Excellent travail, merci beaucoup d'avoir partagé ces précieuses connaissances. Pouce en l'air et abonnement garantis !

[@turansoyozen9557]

This is an amazing video, good job!

[@DIYWatchClub]

Thank you so much!

[@jimmydivine242]

Best lume video yet!

[@barrengton]

very informative video! I did not know there was this much that goes into the lume on watch dials. Although, I am curious about where you can buy Super-Luminova pigments like the one in 4:53. I seem to have looked everywhere but can't find it

[@kevinsong712]

Same as well. Ebay sells 1g vials of x1 for like $60

[@DIYWatchClub]

Sorry, missed your comment! We have plans to sell it and it's coming pretty soon-ish. We'll announce it through social media when it's ready. Stay tuned! But if you mean exactly the bottle in 4:53, you'll need to get in touch directly with Tritec and buy it from them and they only sell to watchmaking professionals or companies. (And it is really really expensive)

[@DIYWatchClub]

Worst thing is that with ebay you don't even know it's real SL Grade X1. They have so many ways to scam you. I won't complain about the price tag though -- it is originally already very very expensive and it's impossible for ordinary individuals to get a hold of it directly (see my previous comment).

[@ronniejarvis2679]

Love this video. Can’t wait for the next lume video

[@sodster68]

Very interesting, thanks! What kind of binding chemical is used to attach the lume to the hands? Laquer?

[@DIYWatchClub]

The binder is made with a proprietary formula by the lume manufacturer to pair with the lume powder. Without going into details, it's a solvent based binder.

[@jimbojones101]

​@@DIYWatchClubso laquer. I know.

[@thelonemodder630]

Great stuff! Very informative. Thank you for sharing.

[@felipe-tassoni]

Insane video!

[@Kel7S]

Very informative!

[@RabbitWatchShop]

My knowledge concerning horology is above average; however, I had limited knowledge regarding watch lume. This education therefore was useful and new to me. From my perspective, regardless of strength, I've always perceived all lume as lackluster. Whether it's Seiko's lumibrite, Rolex chromlight, or whatever, they have initial bright bursts of light that fades rather quickly and becomes near impossible to read in the early dark hours of the morning upon waking. I have 20/20 vision, and while I can see the lume hours later, it is difficult. It's my hope we have some breakthrough with lume technology. We need a lume that maintains that bright initial burst of light for hours. I know we have tritium tubes, but I am excluding that. That's a different technology.

[@matts2581]

Fresh review - TY! :) 'Smashed the Subscribe button. ;) :D

[@marpro1824]

Great explanation, thank you for that! Any idea what sort of lume is Certina using nowadays?

[@DIYWatchClub]

Not sure I'll have to look into that!

[@marpro1824]

@@DIYWatchClub asking as I'm into some of their redesigns issued recently. Purchased the DS PH 500 and DS 200. They sort of look as af it's superluminova. But on the other hand, it doesn't last that long, so I'm wondering what sort of material has been used by them.

[@DIYWatchClub]

It does say it's superluminova on the website. So if it's not performing well, I guess that has to do with either grades or application

[@marpro1824]

@@DIYWatchClub thank you for the response! ❤️

[@slartyism]

I enjoyed that way more than I thought I would. Who knew lume could be so interesting?

[@RabbitWatchShop]

I hate Tudor's lack of transparency regarding what lume they use. I reviewed the BB54, and had to tell my viewers what I guess the lume to be. Probably C3. And this will be the case when I review my Pelagos 39. I'm sure it's BGW9, but have no clue.

[@docholliday9124]

How long should lume in the sun to last the maximum amount of time it can

[@JohnSmith-pg9ns]

No one seems to know I'm also curious

[@panchoskywalker]

So luminova is as bright as superluminova, the only difference is the swiss made label. So If I want to mimic BGW9 I can use luminova white/blue and it's about the same?

[@DIYWatchClub]

It's more or less a yes, BUT in our experience Superluminova tends to be slightly more refined so there's still a slight edge in performance. And luminova comes in different grades/lines too, so get the better version too

[@adiathasan8721]

How can I differentiate between Radium and luminova in watches?😭

[@DIYWatchClub]

Radium is no longer used in watch lume, and is replaced by tritium. It glows the same brightness indefinitely and luminova needs to be charged by light and glows dimmer over time when it's not being charged.

[@CharlieMander843]

I think blue is pretty

[@上权]

i like superluminova

[@mwatkins0590]

I have an Orient RA-AC0H03B10A which I believe uses the Seiko lumibrite, and I also have a Mido Commander Gradient, which uses Superluminova. The superluminova is PATHETIC compared to the orient watch ($265 new!). Fades in minutes, within 15 minutes or so you can barely tell it has any and after an hour its just.. off. The orient lume lasts for HOURS. I slept for 6 hours the other day and I had shined it under a light for like 5 minutes before I went to bed and the hands were still noticeably glowing when I woke up. swiss watches might have better movements, but lumibrite still wins the lume game.

[@DIYWatchClub]

Japanese lume is underrated for sure

[@CeoABcompany]

Bgw9 vs timex indiglo

[@DavidTipsin]

this is serious!

[@puddysbrother664]

Missed a syllable pronouncing phosphorescence.