Deepsea Lume question

[CPD]

Hey everybody,
I just purchased a Rolex Deepsea last week. I'm 33 years old and this is my very 1st Rolex. Panerai was my 1st choice, but Rolex was a watch I've always wanted when I was a kid. But anyways, how in the hell does the lume work in the dark? I've read somewhere that you need to use a flashlight for the lume to work. I just spent close to $11,000 bucks for a watch and I need to use a flashlight for the lume to work!!??? Say it ain't so please.

[ElPrimero]

Have you pressed the button??

[ElPrimero]

Apologies, I'm only having a bit of fun!!

Unfortunately the Rolex Lume isn't renowned for its constant brightness and does need to be 'charged' with an external light source if you want to see it in all its glory!!

Welcome to the forum

[Runnin' Rebel]

Charge it up with the iphone 4 flash, put it on the continuous light for like 5 mins. or just put it out side for like 5 mins so it can suck all the sun in

[CPD]

I've done the flashlight charge for like 3 minutes and the lume doesn't last long. If I charge the watch longer does the lume last longer? Man, this is BS! Panerai has such a better lume!

[Runnin' Rebel]

...That was funny, press the button..

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by ElPrimero

Have you pressed the button??

It's touch sensitive.

[broncophil]

yes.. sorry the $10k watch you bought does need to be charged.. but coming from gmt2c and SUBC - its the nicest and brightest i've had so far..

i know the subC is blue too, but having had both side by side, the deepsea is brighter and bluer and lasts longer..

[Runnin' Rebel]

Johnny, the lume is just ok, it's not the best. Look at the bright side of things

take it easy

[mike]

Johnny,

Rolex, like most brands use luminova ,or a form there of,--On the DS Rolex calls it Chromolite- for luminosity.

Luminova (or Superluminova) is non-radioactive and needs an outside light source to power.

The old style tritium markers havn't been used for a while due to concerns of long term radiation to watchmakers and those that work on them.

The intensity and length of the "glow" depends on the mixture used and with Rolex it's something that many feel leaves something to be desired when compared to other brands.

I've found Chromolite to be much better than the older lume Rolex used as to longevity, but certainly not as good as some from other brands.

Yes there are brands that use tritium still in the form of gas-lite technology-Ball for one-, but Rolex does not.

It doesn't take much to "power up" the luminova though. Be aware it will fade over time a bit.

[CPD]

Thanks guys!
It is what it is I guess. The only reason I'm upset is this morning around 4 a.m., I woke up to see what time it was and the watch was dark. No lume showing what so ever. I just want to make sure I don't have a defected Deepsea.

[Onikage]

A relatively new deepsea should be visible throughout the night. Mine still pops since 2006. Don't Deepseas have that new blue stuff?

[mascot]

I have some onther brands and they glow like torches emidetly after charging with sun/LED but 5-6 hours later they fade so much that its impossible to see the time without focusing hard
.
My Sub 116610 doesnt glow as a torch after charging in sun/LED but when I wake up 05:00 (sometimes drunk :D) the index is still bright and readable.

Just great!

[TheWatchFiend]

From my knowledge, the best way to power the lume is from the sun. If that's not possible use a light on it for several minutes. From what other DSSD owners here say, it should last all night, albeit not that bright, but readable, which is more than other brands using superluminova that may initially illuminate bright for a bit, but then fade more over time compared to chromolight.

[wrxsti]

my deepsea lume is awesome and lasts all night, i paid more for my iwc big pilot and that lume is terrible!

[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by CPD

Thanks guys!
It is what it is I guess. The only reason I'm upset is this morning around 4 a.m., I woke up to see what time it was and the watch was dark. No lume showing what so ever. I just want to make sure I don't have a defected Deepsea.

defected, that was funny...from Geneva, Switzerland it did

[Srbell67]

The lume should work fine and be noticeable!!

[springbar]

The lume on my Milgauss GV fizzles out pretty quickly but my late-model 14060M is visible (if dim) until sunrise. I would think the DeepSea should be at least that good.

[ecsub44]

FWIW my '97 tritium dial Sub still has a pretty strong lume. Not super bright, but I can see it in the middle of night well enough to tell the time.

No charging required!! :)

[jay_kay]

Came in from doing some painting this morning and was greated by this.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by ElPrimero

Have you pressed the button??

[Megalobyte]

If you still have a Pam, charge both under a ligtht for the same time, set them in the dark for the same time, then check at the same time, maybe 6 hours later, to be sure.

My Sub-C has pretty much the same dial as your DS, and I find it to be pretty good. It's very bright after charging, and I can easily read it any time throughout the night, or, towards the end of a movie in a theatre for instance, no trouble at all. I don't even charge it before bed, and it's still readable 6-8 hours later.

I do have a Panerai, and it does have great lume, but honestly, I am finding the lume on the Sub to work pretty much just as well. The Pam does seem brighter just after charging, but as for lasting a long time, they seem pretty equal.

[Lagunatic]

you paid $11,000 for a Deepsea? you must be nuts

[Rolex Snob]

As long as we're on the subject, is it a sin to have the dial relumed? I've been thinking about doing this and if so, my choice would be to go with a green instead of the blue. I understand that blue is the new "green," but between the two, green blows the blue out of the water. At least that's my experience...

[jay_kay]

Originally Posted by Megalobyte

If you still have a Pam, charge both under a ligtht for the same time, set them in the dark for the same time, then check at the same time, maybe 6 hours later, to be sure.

My Sub-C has pretty much the same dial as your DS, and I find it to be pretty good. It's very bright after charging, and I can easily read it any time throughout the night, or, towards the end of a movie in a theatre for instance, no trouble at all. I don't even charge it before bed, and it's still readable 6-8 hours later.

I do have a Panerai, and it does have great lume, but honestly, I am finding the lume on the Sub to work pretty much just as well. The Pam does seem brighter just after charging, but as for lasting a long time, they seem pretty equal.

I presume that's a pic of your Sub-C!?! Why does it appear so blue? I am sure my deepsea is green lume. It's definitely not the same blue as yours!!!!

[jenniferjanef]

Green??? Are you sure? Mine certainly looks blue and last all night.. Better than my pam328 Pam305 pam000.. You better bring it back to your AD or bring it back to official rolex services center to check if it is a real DSSD. I have seen fake DSSD here in Asia with green lume and it is a dead give away for spotting the fake from the real. Good luck!

[jay_kay]

Originally Posted by jenniferjanef

Green??? Are you sure? Mine certainly looks blue and last all night.. Better than my pam328 Pam305 pam000.. You better bring it back to your AD or bring it back to official rolex services center to check if it is a real DSSD. I have seen fake DSSD here in Asia with green lume and it is a dead give away for spotting the fake from the real. Good luck!

There is no question of it's originality but if you compare my above pics with the Sub-C it certainly doesn't glow blue!!

[jenniferjanef]

Then your watch would be a unique piece and a real keeper. It may fetch lots of bucks in the future! It could be a mistake done in the factory. Keen to sell? ;)

[jay_kay]

Ater studying 100thmonkeys review his lume is the same as mine.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...hlight=Deepsea

Do we think some of the mk1's may have come with green Lume?

I'm confused.

[CPD]

Originally Posted by Lagunatic

you paid $11,000 for a Deepsea? you must be nuts

$9,800.00 plus tax is almost $11K. My guess is you're not an owner.