I have re-lumed my SubAqua Noma. This is a very well made watch and I love it very much. I'm a big proponet of lume, and Invicta has always fallen short in my opinion. I opted for the new 200 micron premium SuperLuminova, and incredible is the only word to describe the watch now. It was 200.00 for markers and hands. It will keep the charge in the photo for about 3 hours before starting to fade.

 

Superluminova and other compounds better than Invicta's Tritanite are considerably more expensive and a bit harder to get.
Lume has always been an Invicta weakness.
Even my Reserve Pro Diver (great watch) has weak lume compared to others in the luxury class - despite the use of superluminova. Just one of Invicta's quirks.
However, the SubAquaNoma series is supposed to have killer lume. I haven't actually seen one in real life.
Last point: if you're a lume freak, nothing beats Seiko regardless of price.

 

Seiko is the hands down king when it comes to lume with one exception. Several watches can be found using a product known as, tritium. This product is found on the night sites of numerous handguns. It is also found on some watches. If you want to find one of these treated watches you can web search police supply vendors. Although I do not know who actually manufacturers the watch, S&W along with 511 are two brands you may find it in. This product will glow in the dark even if it has not been exposed to light AT ALL! I just pulled my para ordinance 45 acp out of the drawer it has been in for about 4 months and they were glowing away. It is not as bright as the lumes you find in your watch when "freshly" charged but, it is constant. It glows the same all the time. It can be read in complete darness, all the time.

I wonder why more watch manufacturers don't use this?

 

I had Super Luminova applied to the hands and dial of a vintage Seiko about a year and a half ago. Outstanding results for about $100.

Seiko's lume IS exceptional as Boscoe noted.!

One other note: My Rolex's lume is probably the worst of all my sport watches!

 

All this talk of Lume makes me want to post some. C'mon . . with a title like Invicta Lume do you need a better excuse??

 

All this talk of Lume makes me want to post some. C'mon . . with a title like Invicta Lume do you need a better excuse??

QUOTE]

What watch model is the one with the illuminated ring? Cost?

 

So cost does come into play... Never imagined it costing so much....

Does Seiko use the same lume on all models, even the lower priced models?

 

Smitty. Regular SuperLuminova applied to the hands and markers is around 80 bucks. I opted for the more extravagant stuff. IMO regular SuperLuminova is superior to Invictas tritnite. Or try-n-light as I refer to it.

 

I would agree that Invicta does not have the greatest lume I can tell you that my 4473 is awesome. I can tell the time right through the night and the markers are real bright.

 

Is there anybody that specializes in applying new lume paint?

 

Check your PM. I'll send you the info for the fellow who did mine.

 

Good excuses for lume shots. Here are a couple of mine:
My 8928

My Russian Diver

And my Grand Diver

 

My 4469 also has great lum that rivals Seiko. This doesn't mean as good just in the same class.

 

when you put an invicta watch on a lamp for a few secs youll say ''wow thats lume'' but after 3 minutes , ops its gone, thats the way tritnite is. look how good it looks when exposed to light, one will say wow, but the sume fades in 3 minutes.

however for the price, its cool.

my tag heuer aquaracer glows all night long, but hey, its a $1,400 watch compared to a $320 invicta so.

the reserve line its suposed to have superluminova but dont think they can rival the Aquaracer.


this is the lume shot for a steinhart, aquaracer, tissot and my daytona.

 

I'm really looking forward to getting it!! I wasn't kidding when I said it looks custom made for you. How big is your wrist?

 

About 7 3/4.

 

As far as Tritium goes, The Nuclear Regulatory Commission only grants permits to a finite number of watch companies to utilize Tritium. Off the top of my head there are only a few.......Ball, Luminox, Marathon, Traser, a couple of those tactical companies that got into watches as an afterthought like you mentioned, and then weird one time only cases like that one Croton, and that cheap chinese S.U.G.

 

Mike, I'm wondering what will happen if I give my Luminox too much wrist time? Is this stuff radio active, will I grow a 3rd eye in the middle of my forehead? :scared: :scared:

 

The Lume on my Luminox is insane. In the dark when I reach for the door handle it glows on the wall it's so bright. I wish all watches had lume like that. It isn't the most important thing to me on a watch but it is cool.

 

Thanks A.O., I actually stole your picture for my background. It looks great on my laptop.

 

this is my 8926 next to my TagHeuer Aquaracrer

 

Tag Aquaracers are simply one of the finest watches ever made. That is not opinion, that is fact.

 

I hope you are being facetious Mike cause I am close to another meltdown with this guy...:sneaky2: I will refrain and save myself from high blood pressure.

 

Oh, I am being Facetious. Just re-using some of his old lines.

 

I thought as much. Although we all realize that never in the history of mankind has a watch ever been constructed to the same level as Tag.

 

This is fact, not opinion.

 

Ok I'll jump on this bandwagon with some Invicta lume shots....

In daylight:

same watch in the dark:

now the quartz SAN III in the dark:

ok those are the only 2 Invicta lume shots I have

 

ecm3, those are some very cool lume shots!! Your vintage Elite looks great!

 

Can I show some pictures too?
My Invicta's don't normally excell in the lume dept.
BUT the new Aussie is bright, unless it's just that it's against that pearl dial?

dim lights a little more

Invicta Meteorite in the shade of sunlight - just so impressive to lil ole me

My FAVORITE non-Invicta lume is my Poljot Strela

just incredible

my Android can put on a show

 

FYI... Also the OTV SAN III with the carbon dials do not have the outer luminescent ring either

 

short of creating the steel, I was always under the same impression that Seiko did everything under the brand roof, I was under that impression anyway...:confused1: Seiko is pretty self sufficient, and I know the lume seems to last longer and glow brighter than even SuperLuminova. but I realize the size of marker/hands and the application are key to the success of a great lume...

I have one Invicta that the lume lights up quicker and seems to be brighter than the others and that really doesn't make a lot of sense:confused1:
but I love it:thumbup:

diver88

 

Both Seiko and the Orient Watch Company are indeed 100% in-house companies that make every part of their watches by themselves. NO part of any Seiko is outsourced.
Even minor items such as the oils used in lubricating the watches and the luminous compounds used on the hands and the dials are produced by the Seiko factories.:thumbup1:

 

Here is just one of hundreds of articles about Seiko:

Seiko Watches:
Written by admin Saturday, 03 February 2007-
Seiko watches are manufactured by the Seiko Corporation, a Japanese watch company that was started in1881 by Kintaro Hattori. Initially, Hattori owned a jewelry shop in the Ginza area of Tokyo, and used to make watches under the brand name Seikosha. Seiko produced its first watches under the Seiko brand in 1924 and it produced the world’s first quartz watch, called the ‘Astron’, in 1969. At that time, it used to cost as much as a medium-sized car.
The Seiko Group, of which Seiko is a division, consists of the Seiko Epson Corporation, Seiko Instruments, Incorporated and the Seiko Corporation. The Seiko Epson Corporation is known for its printers in North America. Seiko Instruments, Incorporated manufactures watch movements, while the Seiko Corporation markets Seiko Watches.
Seiko watches are recognized for their accuracy and have been used as the official timekeepers in the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. It is one of the few wristwatch manufacturers that produce all their movements and watches in-house. Even minor items like lubricating oils and luminous compounds are made in-house.
The Seiko Kinetic Collection is a line of quartz watches that is electrically charged by movement. It was introduced in 1992. The Kinetic Auto Relay puts the watch in suspended animation when it is not worn for three days. If it is shaken, it comes on and sets itself to the correct time.
The Seiko Perpetual Calendar Series automatically resets its date settings for the next 100 years. The Chronograph collection features dual stopwatches. The Le Grand Sport Series offers a combination of European styling and functionality. The ladies jewelry collection offers versatility with style.
Seiko produces watches that range in price from $50 to several thousand dollars. Many Seiko mechanical watches like the automatic Chronometer series, Bell-Matic, Credor, King Seiko and the Grand Seiko are prized by collectors. Seiko launched the Seiko Spring Drive globally in 2005. It provides 72 hours of power, as compared to 40 hours provided by automatic mechanical watches.
Seiko watches and clocks, along with Pulsar brand watches are distributed in the US, by Seiko Corporation of America. Of the full range of models that are produced in Japan, not all are available in the US. Many Seiko watches are meant for specific regions, like Asia. Collectors can obtain models through online retailers, who send watches overseas.