In this episode of Watch Talk, we discuss which luxury timepieces we think have the best lume. Shop the watches featured in this video: https://www.bobswatches.com/luxury-watches/
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00:00 Intro
00:12 Wrist Check
02:04 Rolex Submariner 1680
04:04 Rolex Datejust II 116334
06:51 Tudor Heritage Chronograph 70330N
08:49 Omega Seamaster
10:20 Rolex GMT Master 126719
14:08 Outro
Visit us at Bob’s Watches, home to the world’s largest selection of certified pre-owned Rolex watches. Shop our catalog now: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex/
VINTAGE ROLEX SUBMARINER
Luxury watches are made to last a lifetime and can pop up on the secondary market decades after they were produced. As a result of constant wear or just the ravages of time itself, many of these watches patina and start to show some signs of aging. That’s what makes them so exciting to collect and wear.
One feature that many avid luxury watch collectors often search for in a vintage timepiece is the lume and how it has faded or changed in color over time.
The Submariner we have here is just one such example. It features Tritium lume on the dial, distinguished by the wording “T SWISS MADE T” at the very bottom of the dial under 6 o’clock. Rolex used this material for decades, from the 1950s until the late 1990s when Tritium paint was banned. After that, the company switched to Luminova.
The example we have here has patinaed very nicely to a creamy custard color. It doesn’t get much better than this vintage Sub if you love older watches with character and history.
TUDOR HERITAGE CHRONOGRAPH
Next on our list is the vintage-inspired Tudor Heritage Chronograph. The neo-vintage watch satiates many collectors’ desires for nostalgia and history, all without forsaking the modern luxuries that we’ve become accustomed to, such as better materials and more reliable movements.
The distinction “SWISS MADE” under the 6-hour marker signifies that this Tudor Chrono uses Luminova. Unlike Tritium, Luminova is completely non-radioactive. It also glows about 10x brighter than most luminescent materials on the market and ranges from bright blue to bright green hues.
OMEGA SEAMASTER 007 EDITION
The Titanium James Bond Omega Seamaster is another take on the neo-vintage watch. Only now, the lume features a faux patina. It’s a modern material that has the appearance of lovely patinaed luminescent material.
What makes this watch particularly special are the purposeful vintage elements, including the tropical aluminum bezel insert and matching brown tropical dial. The creamy luminescent hour markers and hands pair well with the brown tones of the entire watch.
ROLEX DATEJUST II REF. 116334
The Datejust II 116334 is another unique example of lume, featuring lavender Super LumiNova. The applied white gold Arabic numeral hour markers are filled with striking light purple material, creating contrast against the shiny silver dial.
It has “Super” before its name, signifying that the LumiNova material was produced entirely in Switzerland. It is distinguished on the dial by the words “SWISS MADE.”
Super LumiNova is a contemporary material that promises hours of vibrant luminescence for legible timekeeping in even the darkest environments. The fact that it’s also delightfully colorful when it isn’t glowing earns it a spot on our list of the greatest lumes.
ROLEX GMT MASTER II REF. 126719 WHITE GOLD/METEORITE DIAL
The GMT Master is easily one of Rolex’s most iconic watches. It’s instantly recognizable with the 24-hour bezel and dedicated arrow hand. What sets ref. 126719 apart from other watches, is the use of lustrous white gold and a rare meteorite dial harvested from an actual meteorite. It also boasts the iconic red and blue Pepsi bezel in ceramic Cerachrom.
Of course, it also utilizes some seriously impressive luminescent material, Chromalight to be exact. Chromalight replaced Super LumiNova in the Rolex catalog in 2008. It is a photoluminescent material produced by the brand that boasts a continuous glow for up to eight hours, nearly double the other materials currently on the market.
Chromalight is characterized by a vibrant blue glow in the dark yet stark white appearance during the day and is considered by many as a superior luminescent material. It’s easy to tell if your Rolex uses this innovative material, both for its vibrant blue glow and from the presence of a tiny Rolex coronet between the “SWISS MADE” distinction at the bottom of the dial.
