To Lume or not to Lume, That is the question?

[rogerwine]

I have made a decision in regards to Pam reps; If it does'nt have super-lumed hands and dial I probably won't buy it. Luminosity is a defining feature of Panerai watches and should be just as important in the production of a Pam rep as any other aspect of any model. To my mind it's just as important as the look and accuracy of the dial font or the engravings on the movement. IMHO this should be the next major step for rep producers towards the improvement of each production model. It my be more problematic for sausage dials, but more easily done for sandwich dials. I know this narrows me down to Davidsen models and moded models for re-sale, but so be it.
NO LUME, NO ROOM !!
If many join the bandwagon maybe this will happen sooner then later
Just my "Bright Idea"
Rogerwine

 

[Hambone]

agreed

You make a good point Roger. Of all my pams the only one with a decent lume is Davidsen's latest fiddy, and even that could be improved on. I am sure that I will have all my watches re-lumed as it is indeed the trademark of a Panerai watch. Besides that, it is cool to watch that dial just glowing away in a darkened room.
Perhaps the dealers will be able to pursuade manufacturers to use the right stuff when it come to making a good rep. I am sure all of us would pay a few bucks more rather than the higher fee to have it done after the purchase.

 

[bigbadbrad]

reg lume or c1, c3 etc

-

My view on this has changed. I thought like you, Roger, when I first started collecting.

Now, for me, it depends on the piece and its age, and what the gen should look like, as enzo outlines above.

So, that means I want the full lume effect on all the NEW watches AND in the colour that corresponds to gen (C1, C3 etc). And yes, I'm fine w/ paying more at the outset for this upgrade to be present on a new piece.


In my vintage pre-V etc I want faded lume, but now it's more imp to me that the colour / finish is closer to the vintage look. I guess I've picked up some knowledge on this board

Last point: do what makes you happiest - there really IS no right answer.

 

[rogerwine]

I am coming from a diving watch background, which is basically what the Panerai started out as and still is for the most part. Lume on a dive watch , any good brand, is part and parcel of the usefulness of that watch in a diving senario, to be able to read the dial and the elapsed time. I don't think many people are using Pams for diving but many are still rated to 300 meters or better. Any watch with Tritium dies out after x amount of years and superluminova has it's end date as well and if you want to chase vintage reps that is all well and good, but Panerai continues to release new homage models as well as other designs and the lume is part of the heritage. Are the new 2006 homage Panerai's released without very good lume? I don't think so. If I was buying any model from 02, 03, 04. 05, or 06 releases would I expect burned out lume? No. I wouldn't. So why is this not as important as Sappire crystals or AR or cannon pins. Why are so many interested in and acting on having thier watches re-lumed. Why are so many people interested in swan necks, usable or not. Because of the aesthetics of these issues and thier relationship to the gen. I am just saying that "decent lume" should be part of the equation of any new non-vintage model.
Rogerwine

 

[lasaint_1]

I agree with enzo.

The first request from dealer or manufactures is to make the reps more accurate to the gen -- in terms of weight, font, dial layout, etc. The lume would be last on the list, if at all.

Don't get me wrong, lume would be nice. However, my first criteria to getting a rep is comparing it against the gen.

 

[rogerwine]

Enzo - Question

Enzo, do you know what substance the manufactuers are using now? For a while there Andrew's Best Fiddy had very good super-lume on dial and hands (He says they no longer are providing it on those dials) Of course that was a sandwich dial w/swiss swan neck for $298.00. And there is the Pam 243 with super-lumed dots on the dial
It would be interesting to know why they decided to do that upgrade on the 127 and then stopped providing it. But it does point to some possibilities for special production runs in the future for the Perfect Pam model.
Rogerwine

 

[rogerwine]

La-saint1

That is exactly what I am getting at with post-vendome Pam models. If everything else is very close and then you have to step in to a darkened room full of Paneristi, you are busted pal. Even coming out of the sunlight into a darker room I can't even read the dial on my rep 183 Black Seal, the lume is so wimpy on it. With a Pam it is part of the authentisity of the model. When they might not see that the font is off or too small, they will surely notice the non-glow of your hands and digits and nuckels. And don't call me Shirley. I can see I am getting in too deep here. Oh well I am going to open another bottle of wine and get a GLOW ON.
Rogerwine