What are lume standards on gen and rep watches?

[interzonez]

This is probably a general question but will make it particular to Panerai as that's the watch brand I'm interested in.

What are the differences between rep and gen lume? When TDs state the lume has been done by a certain 'superlume' or other 'same as gen' description what does it mean?

How is PAM lume expected to perform on gen watches - i.e. should a PAM gen (or other new gen watch lume) be expected to be fully viewable in the dark - and for how long, all night, for years, etc. I would understand that after years a watch may need relumed.

And where does this leave our reps - to have them professionally relumed? Significant difference from TD lumes? And finally if TD lumes - on PAM reps for example - don't last or end up being unreadable in the night - then why the insistence by TDs and others to post QC pics of the shining lume - which only shines because it's been powered by a bright light for 30secs etc.

Having taken a long flight yesterday I noted my PAM564 didn't have a readable lume when the lights were out. Then what point lume??!!

:bug::bug:

 

[JackJ1980]

Real Swiss lume is all the same with the name of the brand called "superluminova"

 

[JackJ1980]

The C1/C3 etc is the color type of that brand. It's all made by RC Tritec. It uses super fine grain and seems to glow brighter and last longer than any other. The reps and other brands produce good and solid lume but not the same. Reps could maybe get their hands on it but it would be cost prohibitive. Many other lumes look almost the same and glow almost as bright. They never last as long though

 

[Woogie]

I have the same issue with a recently purchased noob PAM365. The lume glows well when exposed to direct intense light for 20-30 seconds, however almost disappears after 20-30minutes. Strodda and mysterio mentioned the possibility of rep lume being poorer at the end of a run - as the factory may water down the mix to stretch it out (rather than use additional pigment).

I would definately be interested to know what options are available for having a few items relived with superluminova. Hopefully someone here can point us in the right direction.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JackJ1980]

Lume is @Strodda and @vaccum

 

[interzonez]

Yep having been talking to @Strodda about a relume job.

Interesting to know about the different grades and types that could be used and that TDs may have different batches. My 564 was stated by TD site to have been lumed with 'genuine super-luminova'. Seems doubtful if dial is unreadable in dark. Though also noted that the lume needs certain amount of exposure to light sources through the day for adequate viewing at night.. just expected gen watches to more or less always be vieweable at night.. thereby they may use better quality or more quantity of superluminova? A diver's watch would need to be seen in the dark depths! :nuke: :biggrin:

 

[slaughterer62]

Rep lume is very inconsistent in quality. Some models have really good lume, others poor. The best lume on rep PAMs I ahem seen were the C3 lume on some of the 47mm subs from KW, like 305 ad 389 also some Noob Luminors. The lume on those particular models was almost as good as gen lume.
As far as length of glow, I do not think that Tritec/Superluminova is the longest glowing lume. There are independent and smaller lume companies that produce longer glowing lume.