Explorer ii 16570 luminous question please ...

[betterwatchit]

Hi all,

Perhaps Explorer ii owners can help me, please ...

How's the quality/ general brightness of the 16570 lume?

Does it compare well with the newer 42mm version?

Or, is it significantly darker by early morning given the smaller hand width etc?

Thanks!

[SG73]

I used to have a 2001 polar 16570 and thought the lume was terrible IMO. I traded it for a 2001 GMT which for some reason has awesome lume in comparison despite the dial and hands being the same size. I haven't been able to compare it directly to the newer one but everything I read says the new lume is much better plus the maxi dial and hands will have more lume in them.

My main problem with the polar was the general legibility in less than perfect light. The white of the lume made the black hands very narrow so white hands with thin matt black surrounds on a white dial made it hard to read at a glance.

That all said, the polar looks stunning in photos and looks great on the wrist. If I could afford to have one to just wear occasionally then I would probably still have one!


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[Ragna]

I use the newer lume to look for things in my room.

Kidding..

About the lume my opinion is that its totally irrelevant when considering a model. Choose the model you like best for other reasons than lume power.

[Dirt]

I've had a few 16570's over the years.
1 with tritium which was virtually dead, the others(depending on vintage) had either Luminova or Superluminova.
The Lume was ok on the Luminova variants and barely adequate early in the morning, also somewhat underwhelming from my personal perspective.
It's one of the reasons why I no longer have the reference in my collection.
The exact same scenario applied to my long gone Kermit with the Maxi-dial also my remaining Seiko diver, both of which have Superluminova.

A critical factor in the brightness of the lume is the total volume and or surface area.
The 16570 doesn't have a lot to start with, and Superluminova is a little underwhelming. IMO.

The new 216570 has both more lume and the later Chromalight lume.
Both factors contribute to a superior outcome.

If lume is a critical factor then one has to make a decision as to one's priorities.

[betterwatchit]

Thanks.

Is it also the case the later 16570s also have poor lume?

I already have the 42mm version, but am looking for an older one also- however, decent luminous is important to its intended use.

[Dirt]

The lume on all of the 5 digit reference models was a bit disappointing without exception.
Just stick with the 6 digit reference and you'll be happy.