1. Seiko: Seiko is famous for its Lumibrite lume, which is known for its brightness and longevity. Many Seiko dive watches, such as the Seiko SKX series and Seiko Turtle series, feature generous applications of Lumibrite on their dials and hands.
2. Rolex: Rolex’s Chromalight lume offers excellent brightness and longevity. Rolex dive watches like the Submariner and Sea-Dweller feature Chromalight-treated indices and hands, providing excellent visibility in low-light conditions.
3. Omega: Omega uses Super-LumiNova for its luminescent applications. Omega’s dive watches, including the Seamaster Professional and Seamaster Planet Ocean series, feature Super-LumiNova on their dials and hands, offering excellent legibility in the dark.
4. Panerai: Panerai is renowned for its use of Super-LumiNova on its watch dials and hands. Panerai watches, especially those designed for diving, feature large, highly legible indices and hands coated with Super-LumiNova.
5. Citizen: Citizen’s Promaster series often features watches with excellent lume. Many Citizen dive watches are equipped with luminous markers and hands powered by Eco-Drive technology, ensuring visibility even in low-light environments.
6. Luminox: Luminox is a brand known for its use of tritium gas tubes for luminescence. Tritium tubes provide constant illumination without needing exposure to light. Many Luminox watches, especially those designed for outdoor and tactical use, feature tritium tube illumination for excellent visibility in all conditions.

what is lume on a watch

Lume, short for luminescence, refers to the material applied to watch dials, hands, and indices that glows in the dark. It serves the purpose of enhancing the visibility and legibility of a watch, particularly in low-light conditions or darkness. Lume allows wearers to read the time easily without relying on external light sources.

There are several types of luminescent materials used in watches:

1. Super-LumiNova: This is one of the most common luminescent materials used in watches today. Super-LumiNova is a non-radioactive material that absorbs ambient light (natural or artificial) and stores it temporarily. When placed in darkness, it emits a visible glow, making the watch dial and hands easily readable.
2. Tritium Gas Tubes: Tritium gas tubes contain a radioactive form of hydrogen that continuously emits low levels of light. Tritium tubes are self-powered and do not require exposure to light for charging. They provide a constant glow without needing any external activation.
3. Chromalight: Developed by Rolex, Chromalight is a luminescent material that offers a blue glow. It is designed to be longer-lasting and brighter than traditional luminous materials.
4. Lumibrite: Seiko’s Lumibrite is a proprietary luminescent material known for its brightness and longevity. It quickly absorbs light and provides a strong, long-lasting glow in low-light conditions.

The purpose of lume on a watch is to ensure that the timepiece remains readable in various lighting environments. In dimly lit settings, such as movie theaters, restaurants, or outdoors at night, the luminescent material allows wearers to glance at their watch and quickly discern the time without straining their eyes.

For dive watches specifically, lume is particularly important as it enables divers to read their watch’s elapsed time bezel and other critical information while underwater, where natural light may be limited or absent.

In summary, lume enhances the functionality and practicality of watches by improving visibility in low-light situations, contributing to both their aesthetic appeal and utility.