Lume (mini rant)

[watch watcher]

Am I the only one who thinks that lume does not belong on a Rolex and other high-end watches? It is completely useless after a short while in the darkness. If I want to see the time in the dark I either lean over and look at my clock-radio, or look at my cell phone (during the day in a dark situation), which is always with me.

Worse, it cheapens the look and distracts from the beauty of the watch. If the watch has gold hands, I want to see that, not some lume splashed on it. Lume is appropriate and desirable on a $100 watch, but not an expensive one.

I was at the AD looking at the DD II. It has much more lume than my DD. Also the sport models have a lot of lume (which sort of looks appropriate for that type of watch, though). She said Rolex did that because "the prior models were hard to see"; that is in the daylight. Well, I see my other watches sans lume very well, so I'm not sure how credible her statement was.

Also, is it possible to have a watch de-lumed? I'm sure Rolex won't do it, but is it even possible to do it without ruining the hands or dial? I love the watch anyway no matter what, so I'm just wondering more than anything.

I will admit that playing with the lume is a fun thing, and there are some impressive lume shots posted here. But, on a classy watch, is just dosen't seem right, IMO.

[Badfish179]

I don't think you are the only one to feel the way you do but I sure don't agree with you. I not only like lume but there are times in my life when I need to know the time and there is no clock radio or getting to the cell phone could be a chore. But then again I wear the sports versions of Rolex.

My guess is you could have the watch de-lumed. What about a serti dial? That may be a nice option, jewels instead of lume. I don't know how they would handle the hands though. In any case, best of luck.

[Frogman4me]

I don't like Lume because I prefer vintage watches but I understand the need, many times I look down and can't see a thing on my vintage watches at night. Lume is useful IMO and is a must on modern watches, especially divers.

[karmatp]

I enjoy lume, and I absolutely love the new blue lume. There are brands out there that don't use any, why not wear one of them.

I buy the brands that offer what I want, if I did not like lume, I would not buy a watch with it.

[ecsub44]

I think of it as a trait that is a carry-over from when it was needed. In the 50's and 60's there was no other option when diving, caving, climbing, etc.

Every feature of a Rolex is superfluous today. You could just buy a $30 Timex and get a better watch all-round.

[GasMD]

I use my Sub as an every day beater. My only complaint is the weak lume. I've got a Seiko "007" and the lime is almost blinding in the dark!

[Dr. Robert]

Lume is a beautiful thing & IMHO should be on all watch dials.

[mike]

For those of us that spend time in less than ideal conditions luminosity is an important consideration.

Perhaps on a pure dress watch it isn't something that is needed, but it's nice to have the capability otherwise.

[Jason71]

Bah Humbug.

Next you will be saying that you don't like lug-holes or rattly bracelets. Leave the lume on my watches alone. Can't take a cellphone or a clock-radio diving with me.

[cedargrove]

I don't often rely on the lume on my Rolexes, however it does add some enjoyment when I am in a dark area and happen to glance at my watch. It has also proved useful on the very rare occasion when it helped me see the time.

But I certainly wouldn't rely on a Rolex to see the time in the middle of the night. In fact I bought a watch with tritium tubes specifically for camping, when I will need a good lume the most, but wouldn't wear my Rolex camping anyway.

I consider the lume on my Rolexes as a "nice-to-have". The lume doesn't detract from the overall appearance, so no downside for me, and on the rare occasion is useful.

[Art161]

Lume is important to me. I wear my Rolex 24/7 and want to be able to tell what time it is if I awaken during the night. If my present tritium dial and hands can not be re-lumed when the next service time rolls around, I'll probably stick the Rolex in my safe deposit box and buy something with decent lume, such as Luminox. Other high-end watches use tritium tubes. If Rolex would offer you a choice of no lume and tritium tube lume, then it would be "problem solved."

[conrail]

Thats why I've gone vintage - my watches better not have any glow to them anymore haha :)

[MortgageGuy]

I like my loom too

[S52]

I too dont understand the super luminova on my 16710... it works great within a few minutes of being charged up by a lamp or whatever... but if I check it in the middle of the night, or slowly transition into a dark room or area, the hands/dial barely glow enough to be seen anyways.

[wokafu]

Lume=Love U and ME

[Omega 1120]

It's nice to be able to read the time on my watch in low-light conditions. I don't use it very often but I am glad it's there. Lume also makes my watch seem kinda "alive" at night.

[want to be]

The lume on the Rolex Millie GV SUCKS and is USELESS!
But I love the watch. Middle of the night? FORGETABOUTIT!
Lume what lume?

[htc8p]

i live for lume on watches.

[Art161]

Originally Posted by S52

I too dont understand the super luminova on my 16710... it works great within a few minutes of being charged up by a lamp or whatever... but if I check it in the middle of the night, or slowly transition into a dark room or area, the hands/dial barely glow enough to be seen anyways.

That's the nature of superluminova. You need to "charge" it by exposing it to light. Then it fades out within a few hours.

[S52]

Originally Posted by Art161

That's the nature of superluminova. You need to "charge" it by exposing it to light. Then it fades out within a few hours.

Yeah, I understand how it works... it just seems kind of useless... akin to having a flashlight that needs to be exposed to bright light to recharge it prior to use...

[nowzen]

I disagree totally with the OP.
For me Rolex is not about prissy, glitzty, blingy, flashy jewellery.
Gold & diamonds are a distraction.

Its about a reliable and quality made watch to read the time anywhere, anytime.
That includes at 4am on a dark stormy beach during a typhoon.

I only wish the lume was brighter!

[The Waddler]

Originally Posted by nowzen

I disagree totally with the OP.
For me Rolex is not about prissy, glitzty, blingy, flashy jewellery.
Gold & diamonds are a distraction.

Its about a reliable and quality made watch to read the time anywhere, anytime.
That includes at 4am on a dark stormy beach during a typhoon.

I only wish the lume was brighter!

Well said

[ddpd]

n/t

[Changmaisausage]

I change my watches over the week and prefer the ones that have a good lume glowing guiding me through my nightmares... sorry getting carried away. I like the lume as I wear my watches 24/7 and one thing I dont want next to me when I'm in bed is my mobile the wife will surfice.

[Art161]

Originally Posted by S52

I too dont understand the super luminova on my 16710... it works great within a few minutes of being charged up by a lamp or whatever... but if I check it in the middle of the night, or slowly transition into a dark room or area, the hands/dial barely glow enough to be seen anyways.

Originally Posted by Art161

That's the nature of superluminova. You need to "charge" it by exposing it to light. Then it fades out within a few hours.

Originally Posted by S52

Yeah, I understand how it works... it just seems kind of useless... akin to having a flashlight that needs to be exposed to bright light to recharge it prior to use...

It seems kind of useless because it is kind of useless.

[slcbbrown]

To me, Rolex makes sport watches and dress/sport watches. As such, they should all have quality lume. My one complaint about my early 90's no-date is that the lume is kaput.

[Badfish179]

I must be lucky. On my 5512 from 1967 when I wake up in the middle of the night and my night vision is optimum, I can still read the time from the faint glow of the tritium. The glow is very faint, but I can read it.

[rolexertion]

Yes, in fact I believe you are the one and only person in human history to 'not like lume'. Having said that, I also believe that Rolex has a fair number of choices to avoid lume if you wish to.

[Danand]

The lume on my subc is very easy to read in the middle of the night. The tritium on my almost 20 year old tag otoh is quite spent and hardly shows at all.

[rms]

I love the lume on my watches. If I fully charge the lume on any of my luminova watches, I can read the time in complete darkness 8 or 9 hours later. The trick to lume is making sure your eyes are adjusted to complete darkness. Even my 19 year old GMT Master II with tritium can be read in complete darkness if my eyes are fully adjusted.