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Tools · 3 November 2009, 09:49 AM

LumiNova is a registered trademark of Nemoto & Co. Ltd., a Japanese company that has made luminous and phosphorescent paints and coatings since 1941.

LumiNova was invented in 1993 and patented in 1995; Nemoto & Co. Ltd. was contracted in 1998 to provide LumiNova to the Swiss Watch Industry..

This is when, of course, Rolex began the changeover although, it seems, that it was not until after 2000 that the industry started calling the compound "Super Luminova".... Our watches use the conventional paint grade GSS LumiNova.. Many WIS seem to believe, I think erroneously, that "Super-Luminova" is a different compound than that LumiNova used in the first two years.

I cannot find any reference outside the watch industry for what we call "Super Luminova" until the LumiNova plant and a joint venture was incorporated in Switzerland to specifically produce this compound for the Swiss Watch Industry, and surmise that it is the exact same substance, but just called super in the watch arena...

Here is a link to this interesting company..

http://www.nemoto.co.jp/index.html

For the Swiss Watch Industry, Nemoto & Co. Ltd, entered into a joint venture as previously mentioned, with RC Tritec Ltd. to form the LumiNova AG Switzerland company. This venture and Swiss plant was likely to ensure that LumiNova used in Swiss Watches was actually a Swiss product.. That Swiss marketed product is called "Super-Luminova (reg) Pigments", but only in marketing terms and not in the actual compounds produced..

So, we now see the name-change to "Super LumiNova", but can only find this reference with the new company; the LumiNova product is the same..

This Joint Company can be viewed here:

http://www.rctritec.com/index.php?id=13

....... Still, an exciting breakthrough for watches, and LumiNova can be had in a variety of colors as we are just now seeing with hands and dials in tints different from the original greenish hue..........

onkyo · 8 November 2009, 06:53 AM

Thanks for this very informative post Larry.

I am interested to see how this material ages over time.

sleddog · 8 November 2009, 07:00 AM

A great read and very informative as always Larry!!!!

Thanks for taking the time to post such things!!!!!

Prince · 8 November 2009, 07:03 AM

You da man, Larry. Extremely informative.

Alas, not ONE of my Rollies has LumiNova...

R1@160@alltimes · 8 November 2009, 07:49 AM

Thanks for a great write up, Larry

vitix · 8 November 2009, 12:42 PM

Great Info Larry...

my Sub has it

datejust1 · 8 November 2009, 12:46 PM

Great info! thanks!

HunterST · 19 December 2009, 09:15 AM

Wow - great info. Thanks. I have always wondered about the origin of Lumi and Super - etc.

stratus · 9 January 2010, 12:22 AM

thanks for info

Autobot · 27 March 2010, 10:28 AM

Do you know if the newer ceramic bezeled watches are the only ones with the new "blue" lume? Or am I misreading these posts I am seeing on here and the pictures that I have seen? Thanks for any clarification you can provide

Kanger · 27 March 2010, 12:54 PM

Autobot, I am quite certain that the Deepsea has the blue lume as well.

Autobot · 27 March 2010, 02:45 PM

Thanks Kanger, wasn't sure what in the new line would have this

Roxas · 27 March 2010, 07:51 PM

Thanks for this informative post Larry.

Mr. Greene · 20 May 2010, 07:33 AM

very informative thanks

Johny · 8 June 2010, 09:43 PM

very interesting. thank you larry.

Saxon007 · 9 June 2010, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autobot

Do you know if the newer ceramic bezeled watches are the only ones with the new "blue" lume? Or am I misreading these posts I am seeing on here and the pictures that I have seen? Thanks for any clarification you can provide

The (recent) Milgauss has both blue (at 3, 6 and 9) and green lume.

RFXMM · 9 June 2010, 11:51 AM

Interesting. Thanks

Mr. Greene · 18 June 2010, 12:22 PM

very informative

3 November 2009, 09:49 AM	#1
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,514	LumiNova..... LumiNova is a registered trademark of Nemoto & Co. Ltd., a Japanese company that has made luminous and phosphorescent paints and coatings since 1941. LumiNova was invented in 1993 and patented in 1995; Nemoto & Co. Ltd. was contracted in 1998 to provide LumiNova to the Swiss Watch Industry.. This is when, of course, Rolex began the changeover although, it seems, that it was not until after 2000 that the industry started calling the compound "Super Luminova".... Our watches use the conventional paint grade GSS LumiNova.. Many WIS seem to believe, I think erroneously, that "Super-Luminova" is a different compound than that LumiNova used in the first two years. I cannot find any reference outside the watch industry for what we call "Super Luminova" until the LumiNova plant and a joint venture was incorporated in Switzerland to specifically produce this compound for the Swiss Watch Industry, and surmise that it is the exact same substance, but just called super in the watch arena... Here is a link to this interesting company.. http://www.nemoto.co.jp/index.html For the Swiss Watch Industry, Nemoto & Co. Ltd, entered into a joint venture as previously mentioned, with RC Tritec Ltd. to form the LumiNova AG Switzerland company. This venture and Swiss plant was likely to ensure that LumiNova used in Swiss Watches was actually a Swiss product.. That Swiss marketed product is called "Super-Luminova (reg) Pigments", but only in marketing terms and not in the actual compounds produced.. So, we now see the name-change to "Super LumiNova", but can only find this reference with the new company; the LumiNova product is the same.. This Joint Company can be viewed here: http://www.rctritec.com/index.php?id=13 ....... Still, an exciting breakthrough for watches, and LumiNova can be had in a variety of colors as we are just now seeing with hands and dials in tints different from the original greenish hue.......... __________________ (Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member

8 November 2009, 07:00 AM	#3
sleddog TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Rob Location: Nearby. Posts: 24,931	A great read and very informative as always Larry!!!! Thanks for taking the time to post such things!!!!! __________________ He who wears a Rolex is always on time, even when late!! TRF's "After Dark" Bar & Nightclub Patron-Founding Member..

8 November 2009, 07:03 AM	#4
Prince "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Real Name: Allan Location: St. Augustine, FL Watch: Daytona/Sub/GMT/DJ Posts: 20,323	You da man, Larry. Extremely informative. Alas, not ONE of my Rollies has LumiNova... __________________ Member: Rolex Keeper's Society "You see, you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself." - Rick Nelson

8 November 2009, 07:49 AM	#5
R1@160@alltimes "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA Watch: ♛ Posts: 4,408	Thanks for a great write up, Larry __________________

9 June 2010, 11:51 AM	#17
RFXMM "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Mark Location: Atl Watch: 16710 Posts: 654	Interesting. Thanks __________________ No I'm not! I had mine removed.

8 November 2009, 06:53 AM	#2
onkyo Banned Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: Pav Location: Manhattan Posts: 11,495	Thanks for this very informative post Larry. I am interested to see how this material ages over time.

8 November 2009, 12:42 PM	#6
vitix Banned Join Date: May 2009 Real Name: magneeleVE Location: Usa Watch: magneeleVE Posts: 2,030	Great Info Larry... my Sub has it

8 November 2009, 12:46 PM	#7
datejust1 Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: G Location: N/A Watch: N/A Posts: 6,042	Great info! thanks!

19 December 2009, 09:15 AM	#8
HunterST "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Eli Weisman Location: Los Angeles Watch: 1675/3, 79090 Posts: 442	Wow - great info. Thanks. I have always wondered about the origin of Lumi and Super - etc.

9 January 2010, 12:22 AM	#9
stratus "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Stratos Location: Piraeus Posts: 30	thanks for info

27 March 2010, 10:28 AM	#10
Autobot "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Real Name: Colin Location: Charleston, SC Watch: LV, EXPII, BLNR Posts: 303	Do you know if the newer ceramic bezeled watches are the only ones with the new "blue" lume? Or am I misreading these posts I am seeing on here and the pictures that I have seen? Thanks for any clarification you can provide

27 March 2010, 12:54 PM	#11
Kanger Banned Join Date: Jan 2010 Real Name: Daniel Location: North Carolina Watch: Sea Dweller Posts: 5,524	Autobot, I am quite certain that the Deepsea has the blue lume as well.

27 March 2010, 02:45 PM	#12
Autobot "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Real Name: Colin Location: Charleston, SC Watch: LV, EXPII, BLNR Posts: 303	Thanks Kanger, wasn't sure what in the new line would have this

27 March 2010, 07:51 PM	#13
Roxas "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Earth Watch: 14060M Posts: 516	Thanks for this informative post Larry.

20 May 2010, 07:33 AM	#14
Mr. Greene "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Jeff Location: arizona Watch: Seiko 7A28 7049 Posts: 371	very informative thanks

8 June 2010, 09:43 PM	#15
Johny "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Real Name: john Location: Scotland Watch: sub 16610Lv Posts: 13,523	very interesting. thank you larry.

18 June 2010, 12:22 PM	#18
Mr. Greene "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Jeff Location: arizona Watch: Seiko 7A28 7049 Posts: 371	very informative

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