I use a UV torch to make my lume shout at me for a short period and I can recommend it to anyone. However, I have read that excessive use of a UV torch is actually bad for watch lume (I don't know if this is true or not but I didn't let it stop me)

 

I use a small cheap UV cat wee detector torch I got off the Bay for under $10 delivered. Works a treat. First time I've heard about the wearing the lume thing out. Reckon that would have to be a load of bullocks, otherwise yould have to keep the watch out of direct sunlight!


"Expecto Inopinatum"

 

I use a small cheap UV cat wee detector torch I got off the Bay for under $10 delivered. Works a treat. First time I've heard about the wearing the lume thing out. Reckon that would have to be a load of bullocks, otherwise yould have to keep the watch out of direct sunlight!

"Expecto Inopinatum"

Well there is some logic to it.....the more a watch is exposed to light, things do fade out and lume does wear out...take a look at any older watch....

Instagram - Dec1968watches

 

Count me among those who have a LED UV light that I use to power up my superluminova (among other things).

As to the question of causing your lume to fade too quickly by charging it, I wouldn't put a lot of stock in that. Lume - like anything else - has evolved quite a bit over the decades; the original luminova was replaced by the superluminova formulation which has been replaced by proprietary formulations of superluminova such as Lumibrite (Seiko) and Chromalite (Rolex). So the earlier versions of luminova simply are older formulations that do not glow as brightly as later formulations do.

Having said all that, luminova and all of its strontium-based children, is highly susceptible to moisture; exposing luminova to water will cause the lume to crumble and become unusable.

Regards,
Alysandir

 

I've actually been looking at flashlights earlier in the year with the intention of using the UV light to charge up the watch lume. I came down to these two models:
Nitecore CU6 - 3000mW UV light, 365nm wave
Nitecore MT1U - 900mW UV light, 365nm wave

I much prefer a simple dedicated one button action like the MT1U, but it only has 900mW power compared to the CU6. Does anyone have any experience with these particular lights?

 

I don't have first hand experience with those but Nitecore is a good brand. Personally I'd go for the MT1U, 900mW is plenty of power, the CU6 would be overkill. Also the form factor is more pocketable. I would use a rechargeable 18650 cell, it would run a long time on that.

 

How long do people think the UV light needs to be shone for the longest lume time?

Currently I only do it a few seconds

 

Same here, just a few seconds is all it takes. It seems to reach a point of saturation quickly and further exposure doesn't increase the effect appreciably.

 

Ya, from what I know UV light charges lume quickly. From what I remember there was a lume comparison video using UV light to charge (can't remember, but include Christopher ward, Oris, Hydroconquest and more), and indeed from the video I was so surprised how quickly the lume of the popular longines diver fade. Since then not interested to the longines at all.

 

From my unscientific waving of the UV light over the watch box the top performers are my Lum-tec combat, Omega PO, and Seikos (Monsters and new Turtle & baby Tuna). All are very good and to order them would take some controlled experiment. I have a vintage Breitling that will charge up but fade in seconds, likely an old formulation as well as aged. The good ones seem to stay charged for about 3 hrs, but that is very subjective and depends on your eyes and their adjustment to the dark.

 

Funny seing this post. After dinner, I adjourned to the sofa with my computer, 8 of my watches and my UV light. Killed the lights and I've been randomly playing with the lume & UV as I sift through WUS.

Earlier tonight, I gave each watch a 5 second blast. I just tried 1 second, 2 seconds and later, 3. You can see a difference between 1, 2 & 3 but four or five seconds doesn't do much that 3 didn't already do.

 

OK, try this experiment:

Lay your watch on the table and pick up something that will block light: a piece of cardboard, a sock, etc.

Hold your light blocker near your watch. Shine the UV light on your dial for 3 seconds and then (while you leave the light on still shining on the dial), slide a light blocker across 1/2 of the dial and then cut the light at 5 seconds, or 10 or whatever.

Sit back, watch and wait. I don't see any noticeable difference between 3 and 5 seconds after 2 or 3 mins.

 

Ticnderoga, your more scientific method agrees with the seat of my pants - 3 seconds is all it takes. I'll have to try it myself tonight when I get home.

 

I took the UV torch thing wearing lume out with a pinch of salt but it did seem a fairly popular theory. I figured that there was a lot of UV in the sun so the short time I shone a torch on a watch wasn't likely to be an issue even if UV torch use did cause lume to fade.
I found that a UV torch make lume shine like crazy but seems to fade fast. Ain't nothing like good ole daylight for charging lume up.

 

Thanks for sharing this. I find myself doing the sam on a few of my high lume atches.

 

I just put new batteries in my UV light. and after roaming around my house seeing how gross everything was I had a blast charging up the lume on my watches. if I'm not too lazy this weekend I'll do a proper photoshoot for the lume

 

Check your passport (especially the visas) & your ID cards; there's all sorts of hidden stuff in there.

 

365nm uv flashlight more pure,is better than 395nm，Here are TANK007 uv flashlights uses,As follows

detecting the anti-counterfeit laber of currency,bank card,invoice,stamp etc.

detecting the jade,anate,amber,and other jewelry articles

used in the outdoor activity such as,hunting,camping,fishing etc.

detecting the leak of oil and gas,and the safety of them

detecting the fingerprint,bloodstain,bones when police reconnoitre the case

detecting the leak of system of car and air condition etc.

detecting chemical and fluorescent agent of some things.

detecting insect,such scorpion,bug on the pet and pet uring etc.

I am using TANK007 365nm uv flashlight,that great.