Best Watch Lume (Review & Buying Guide) in 2022

In the early days of civilization, as the sun went down the sundial was unusable for the night, a graduated candle was used at that time to tell the time. It is said that over 1000 years ago the discovery of photoluminescent objects and paint in Japan and China was mentioned. Many wonder what best watch lume is, lume is a short-term luminous phosphorescent glowing solution applied on some watch dials.

Phosphorescence is what is called the ability of materials to glow in the dark. The lume is an important part of many watches. Lumibrite is a newly-developed luminous paint that absorbs the light energy of the sunlight and lighting apparatus in a short time and stores it to light in the dark. As Lumibrite emits the light it stores, the luminance level of the light decreases slowly over time.

The luminous watches today use Super-LumiNova, LumiNova, or LumiBrite. The luminosity of a watch is dependent on the pigments that have compounds which after “charging” from a source of light, emit a glow for a couple of hours thereafter. Luminous paint is completely harmless to human beings and the natural environment, containing no noxious materials such as different radioactive substances.

How does best watch Lume work?

Pigments that are based on photoluminescent material are what are most usually used for best watch lume these days. This non-radioactive material is painted onto numerals, dials, and hands, then usually a green or blue hue light glows by absorbing light then re-emitting light. The Lume usually lasts about seven hours glowing. 

In order for phosphorescence to take place, you will need an energy source and a “phosphor” which is a material that absorbs and re-emits light. Radium paint is actually self-luminous when newly applied, it does not require an external energy source because the excitatory energy comes from radiation emitted by radium particles in the paint. 

Radium by itself glows doesn’t glow that powerfully, so it’s combined with a phosphor in radioluminescent paint which is almost invariable, zinc sulfide, which is combined with a “doping” metal to give a specific color. Another key point to keep in mind is that the dial is highly radioactive. The phosphor deterioration means that you won’t be able to see a glow anymore, on the other hand, radium takes thousands of years to completely decay. 

Unlike radioluminescent materials, such as pigments and paints using radium, promethium, and tritium, Super-LumiNova uses no excitant at all. Instead, it incorporates a material known as strontium illuminate, which is an efficient phosphor that once it gets charged it will glow very brightly initially, and with diminishing intensity for a couple of hours thereafter.

How long does lume last?

Usually, some watch manufacturers state that your watch may glow up to 3-5 hours. It depends on how well you charge it and how much luminous material was applied to the hands and markers. If the lume gets exposed to light of more than 520 lux for approximately ten minutes it can emit light for 3 to 5 hours.

What Watch has the best watch Lume?

There are various luminous watch materials used these days. For example, those that have embedded glass capsules that produce an instant glow, those that have the dials painted with a non-harmful coating material, and those that use led technology. Most of the big and prestigious brands have their own versions of these watches, so choosing the best one may be a little bit confusing.

You might get confused because there are so many excellent luminous watches in the market to choose from. We can list you eight of the best watch lumes for that will let you see in the dark areas easily.

Not only because of their different illumination features but for some of the other things to be discussed below are durability, price points, and style. We’ll also write about some of the latest technologies in luminous watches these days. 

1. Best Watch Lume Overall: Seiko Prospex Automatic Dive Watch
2. High-End Military Tactical Watch: Luminox 6251
3. Pick for Elegant Sport Watch: Mondaine Night Vision
4. Honorable Mention: Luminox Original Navy Seal Watch
5. Honorable Mention: Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Navihawk Atomic
6. Honorable Mention: Casio Men’s Pro Trek Solar Powered
7. Honorable Mention: Victorinox Night Vision

Best Watch Lume Reviews & Recommendations

Best Watch Lume Overall: Seiko Prospex Automatic Dive Watch

The Swiss made Luminox has one of the best self-powered watch lume which is a technology that allows you to see clearly in dark places. The original watch comes in different styles but all boast an exceptional illumination system that is more than 90 times brighter than other luminous watches available in today’s market. The Luminox watch is also water and scratch-resistant, it can be used for recreational swimming and diving up to 200 meters, and is made of mineral crystal that weighs less than 50z.

The thing that makes this watch unique is that the sunlight is not required to charge the dial and hands. You don’t have to push any button to illuminate it.

High-End Military Tactical Watch: Luminox 6251

If you are looking for a watch that is both functional and stylish but you are looking also for the pricey side, then the Luminox Mariner Series is one that you should take a look at. This diving watch is the best watch for extremely durable sports that’s also a stylish dress watch. It is available in stainless steel and black leather straps with red or black stitching. 

Pick for Elegant Sport Watch: Mondaine Men’s Night Vision

This watch is recommended if you prefer an elegant and sleek model over the more military watches above.  It has a long-lasting self-powered illumination that glows continuously for decades without even needing batteries or exposure to light to get recharged.

Honorable Mention: Luminox Men’s 3001 Quartz Navy Seal Dive Watch

The Luminox Men’s 3001 Quartz Navy Seal Dive Watch was created by Luminox after they were commissioned by military pilots to make a design that they can use while flying. This model boasts of a self-powered illumination which one of its well-known features is that lets the user view the time even in extreme lighting situations. 

Honorable Mention: Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Navihawk

This watch is made of a polyurethane strap and has a fold-over clasp which has a hidden push-button, an anti-reflective crystal, and stainless steel case. It also has a water-resistant feature for up to 200 meters.

Honorable Mention: Casio Pro Trek PRW-6000 Series

Casio has a wide variety of watches that are perfect for night use. The Casio Men’s Pro Trek PRW-6000Y is a watch that is radio-controlled that’s excellent for users who will be using the device in an outdoor setting. One of the best outdoor-friendly features of this watch is the ABC feature: the barometer, altimeter, and compass.

Honorable Mention: Victorinox Swiss Army Night Vision Watch

This watch is highly visible during both night and day thanks to the brand’s LED lighting. This Swiss made model is also known for its night vision security and features. The Dial Illumination Mode is activated by pressing the button that activates the LED light for almost 6 seconds.

Honorable Mention: Seiko SRPB55 Men’s Black Ion

One of the watches in this list is the Seiko Men’s SRPB55, it is a Japanese brand to look out for if you are investing in a night watch. It takes only 10 minutes of exposure to sunlight that will allow the Seiko Lumibrite watch to stay illuminated for up to 5 hours.

Does Rolex uses the best watch lume?

The Chromalight material that Rolex uses for best watch lume was released in 2008 in that time Rolex released the Deepsea Sea-Dweller, a watch that demands a reliable and strong lume. Chromalight is a photoluminescent material that, according to Rolex, Chromalight can last up to eight hours that is more than double the time of other luminescent materials. Rolex promotes this material as being easy to use and highly legible.

If you are interested in knowing what are the best watch movements you can check our blog.