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StarSovereign · 11 November 2013, 10:14 AM

Was working with a black light today and had my Sub C on. After a few seconds under the light my watch' lume was fully "charged." Anyone know why? Is UV exposure to lume, or the dial in general, bad for the watch?

Thanks!

Laszlo · 11 November 2013, 10:28 AM

Would make for an interesting study.

accce · 11 November 2013, 10:30 AM

The black light was charged by the Subc? How is that?

cop414 · 11 November 2013, 10:31 AM

I have no idea of the answer that you're looking for but I'm interested in the answer also.

Rashid.bk · 11 November 2013, 11:08 AM

Dude, you've had some incredibly original observations with your Rolex. Good luck with this one.
Light is light, the paint absorbs light, so....yeah, that's that.

Frosty · 11 November 2013, 11:14 AM

I have heard of people charging their lume with black light. I have no idea if it works or why it does, if it does?

aeon888 · 11 November 2013, 11:57 AM

I believe it has something to do with UV light. My lume is charged more and brighter when out in the sun for less than a minute than a few hours inside my office with so many bright artificial lights on. Maybe the sun has more UV light than an artificial light.

On the OPs post, i noticed that black light makes your lume glow brighter when me and a friend went to a bikini strip club and my watch was like a light saber glowing in the club. I was really amazed. In fact, i was glancing at my watch every few seconds because I really love the glow. Yeah, I look at the show in front of me too. Lol

Beef · 11 November 2013, 12:06 PM

Sure, artificial light comes in different wavelengths on the light color spectrum or something to that effect. The closer that the artificial light is to the true UV spectrum, the better it charges Luminova. I have read some of the more learned members here state that exposing old tritium to bright sunlight will cause it to glow for a few minutes. Anyway, General Electric Reveal bulbs are supposed to be closest to natural sunlight's spectrum. I use them to charge Luminova dials after removing the watch from a few weeks in a bank vault. It works much better than regular incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. I've black light does the same, but the duration of the charge isn't as long. This could be a "Big Bang Theory" project!

samsmart · 11 November 2013, 12:18 PM

Black lights definitely change the color of the lume. Here is a shot from a Friday night game of air hocky with the family.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

subtona · 11 November 2013, 12:18 PM

lume always charges in seconds and fades soon after, thats just what it does?

Lexxxus · 11 November 2013, 03:09 PM

I find the same thing. I have an old UV tube lamp and it makes the lume really "pop" when observed in black light / UV. The wavelength does this I suspect. Conversely, a shot of direct sunlight does the same.

And of course older watches tend to lose their lume brightness and duration. My Fat Lady GMT has only weak lume in the 11:00 dot. None of the other glow at all.

W

venom43 · 11 November 2013, 05:12 PM

I noticed this the other day also looked so good I had to take a pic....

Mickyfin · 11 November 2013, 05:26 PM

http://www.rolexforums.com/archive/i.../t-106656.html

toph · 11 November 2013, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by accce

The black light was charged by the Subc? How is that?

That is what I was thinking

Must have meant the other way round...

ksh977 · 11 November 2013, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarSovereign

Was working with a black light today and had my Sub C on. After a few seconds under the light my watch' lume was fully "charged." Anyone know why? Is UV exposure to lume, or the dial in general, bad for the watch?

Thanks!

One likely explanation comes from quantum physics and something called Planck's relation. Planck's realtion says UV light has more energy per photon (unit of light) than does visible light. The higher-energy photons release more energy to the lume and charge it up faster.

Stellite · 11 November 2013, 11:04 PM

The luminous coatings are designed to be activated by UV rays. Since Black light is near the same wavelength as UV rays it more directly effects the lume reaction since it is a concentration of blue/uv light.

77T · 11 November 2013, 11:35 PM

I could explain it but a picture is worth a thousand words...

K7Baixo2 · 12 November 2013, 03:37 AM

More than you want to know but extremely interesting.

http://kronometric.org/article/lume/

DJJon · 12 November 2013, 03:41 AM

For sure charging a a Rolex lume under a new CFL style bulb works faster and brighter than an order style incandescent bulb. It is the difference in emitted spectra. So for a blacklight to work differently is to be expected.

Brushpup · 12 November 2013, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJJon

For sure charging a a Rolex lume under a new CFL style bulb works faster and brighter than an order style incandescent bulb. It is the difference in emitted spectra. So for a blacklight to work differently is to be expected.

Yes, this +1

Good answer and correct it is the UV that most activates the Lume.

StarSovereign · 10 December 2013, 06:06 PM

Interesting thoughts.

Any chance black light could alter the color of the white index markers?

Sometimes they look more cream color….

Andad · 10 December 2013, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77T

I could explain it but a picture is worth a thousand words...

Are you playing with crayons again?

ecsub44 · 10 December 2013, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarSovereign

Was working with a black light today and had my Sub C on. After a few seconds under the light my watch' lume was fully "charged." Anyone know why? Is UV exposure to lume, or the dial in general, bad for the watch?

Thanks!

Yes. UV light is terrible for a watch.

That's why I keep mine in a box during the day...and only peak at the watch at night.

Speedbird-1 · 11 December 2013, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecsub44

Yes. UV light is terrible for a watch.

That's why I keep mine in a box during the day...and only peak at the watch at night.

What I do is, switch the light on for a few moments to power-up the lume so that I can switch the light off and tell the time.

dysondiver · 11 December 2013, 06:28 AM

i look at mine with my eyes closed to save wearing out the crystal ,,,, hth

11 November 2013, 10:14 AM	#1
StarSovereign "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Real Name: Erik Location: Bay Area, CA Watch: 116234, 116710LN Posts: 936	Black Light Charged by Sub C's Lume in Seconds. Why? Was working with a black light today and had my Sub C on. After a few seconds under the light my watch' lume was fully "charged." Anyone know why? Is UV exposure to lume, or the dial in general, bad for the watch? Thanks! __________________ Submariner 116610LN - Black Dial & Stainless Steel DateJust 116234 - White Stick Dial & Roulette Wheel GMT-Master II 116710LN - Black Dial & Green "Fouth Hand"

11 November 2013, 10:28 AM	#2
Laszlo 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Watch: Date & No Date Posts: 10,868	Would make for an interesting study. __________________ "You might as well question why we breathe. If we stop breathing, we'll die. If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die." Paul Henreid as Victor Laszlo in Casablanca

11 November 2013, 10:31 AM	#4
cop414 TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Apr 2012 Real Name: Tim Location: Pennsylvania Watch: 14060M Posts: 72,158	I have no idea of the answer that you're looking for but I'm interested in the answer also. __________________ Rolex Submariner 14060M Omega Seamaster 2254.50 DOXA Professional 1200T Card carrying member of TRF's Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons TRF's "After Dark" Bar & NightClub Patron P Club Member #17 2 FA ENABLED

11 November 2013, 12:06 PM	#8
Beef "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,824	Sure, artificial light comes in different wavelengths on the light color spectrum or something to that effect. The closer that the artificial light is to the true UV spectrum, the better it charges Luminova. I have read some of the more learned members here state that exposing old tritium to bright sunlight will cause it to glow for a few minutes. Anyway, General Electric Reveal bulbs are supposed to be closest to natural sunlight's spectrum. I use them to charge Luminova dials after removing the watch from a few weeks in a bank vault. It works much better than regular incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. I've black light does the same, but the duration of the charge isn't as long. This could be a "Big Bang Theory" project! __________________ "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." "So you have enemies. Good. You must have stood up for something, sometime in your life." Winston Churchill

11 November 2013, 12:18 PM	#10
subtona "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: gus Location: East Coast Watch: APK & sometimes Y Posts: 26,563	lume always charges in seconds and fades soon after, thats just what it does? __________________

11 November 2013, 10:30 AM	#3
accce "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Chevy Chase Watch: WG Daytona Posts: 1,088	The black light was charged by the Subc? How is that?

11 November 2013, 11:08 AM	#5
Rashid.bk "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Dallas Watch: 12800ft = 3900m Posts: 11,173	Dude, you've had some incredibly original observations with your Rolex. Good luck with this one. Light is light, the paint absorbs light, so....yeah, that's that.

11 November 2013, 11:14 AM	#6
Frosty 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2009 Real Name: Larry Location: So Cal Watch: Rolex GMT 1675 Posts: 5,087	I have heard of people charging their lume with black light. I have no idea if it works or why it does, if it does?

11 November 2013, 11:57 AM	#7
aeon888 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Midwest Posts: 746	I believe it has something to do with UV light. My lume is charged more and brighter when out in the sun for less than a minute than a few hours inside my office with so many bright artificial lights on. Maybe the sun has more UV light than an artificial light. On the OPs post, i noticed that black light makes your lume glow brighter when me and a friend went to a bikini strip club and my watch was like a light saber glowing in the club. I was really amazed. In fact, i was glancing at my watch every few seconds because I really love the glow. Yeah, I look at the show in front of me too. Lol

11 November 2013, 03:09 PM	#11
Lexxxus "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Winnipeg CANADA Posts: 57	I find the same thing. I have an old UV tube lamp and it makes the lume really "pop" when observed in black light / UV. The wavelength does this I suspect. Conversely, a shot of direct sunlight does the same. And of course older watches tend to lose their lume brightness and duration. My Fat Lady GMT has only weak lume in the 11:00 dot. None of the other glow at all. W

11 November 2013, 05:26 PM	#13
Mickyfin "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Real Name: Michael Location: Suomi Watch: Planet Ocean Posts: 334	http://www.rolexforums.com/archive/i.../t-106656.html

11 November 2013, 11:04 PM	#16
Stellite "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Dennis Location: Colorado Watch: 16600 Posts: 338	The luminous coatings are designed to be activated by UV rays. Since Black light is near the same wavelength as UV rays it more directly effects the lume reaction since it is a concentration of blue/uv light.

11 November 2013, 11:35 PM	#17
77T 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: PaulG Location: Georgia Posts: 41,944	I could explain it but a picture is worth a thousand words... __________________ Does anyone really know what time it is?

12 November 2013, 03:37 AM	#18
K7Baixo2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Real Name: Gerry Location: USA Watch: AP Code, Explor.II Posts: 289	More than you want to know but extremely interesting. http://kronometric.org/article/lume/ __________________ Cheers, Gerry

12 November 2013, 03:41 AM	#19
DJJon "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Real Name: Jon Location: USA Watch: DJ - Need Sub Bad Posts: 1,889	For sure charging a a Rolex lume under a new CFL style bulb works faster and brighter than an order style incandescent bulb. It is the difference in emitted spectra. So for a blacklight to work differently is to be expected.

10 December 2013, 06:06 PM	#21
StarSovereign "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Real Name: Erik Location: Bay Area, CA Watch: 116234, 116710LN Posts: 936	Interesting thoughts. Any chance black light could alter the color of the white index markers? Sometimes they look more cream color…. __________________ Submariner 116610LN - Black Dial & Stainless Steel DateJust 116234 - White Stick Dial & Roulette Wheel GMT-Master II 116710LN - Black Dial & Green "Fouth Hand"

11 December 2013, 06:28 AM	#25
dysondiver "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Real Name: tom Location: northern ireland Watch: my fins Posts: 10,063	i look at mine with my eyes closed to save wearing out the crystal ,,,, hth

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