RWG Technical Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Super Luminova production results in a small quantity of lume that is a higher grade than normal. To qualify for the higher grade rating, the lume must glow at least 25% brighter than normal lume, and it must remain visible for 700 minutes (vs 570 minutes for normal lume). With any lume photo's, it's hard to capture on the camera what you see with your eye. Here is an attempt, first up, charged: On the Left - normal C3, on the Right - Grade A 5 minutes later The difference in person is more apparent than in the photo's, but I think you can see the subtle brightness change between the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member X Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Cool, thanks for the informative post! How exactly does the production produce some 'better' than others? Just variability of the production process? Do you stock this is all colours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheaton26 Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 do they look the same when uncharged? also, any idea what the white dialed rubberclad should have (c3 or grade a)? mine will be on its way to you when the chief ar run is complete. thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 According to Tritec, production results in a small quantity of C3 which has brighter glow and is longer lasting than the rest, they separate this from the other stuff, add 50% to the price, and people like me buy it to test it out... I think it's just variability in production like you suggest. It only comes in C3 - Yellow/Green, and they look virtually identical uncharged. As for the Rubberclad type, I think this can replace any C3 lumed dial, it just depends on how important glow is to you and if you want to pay the extra cost. This is the first dial I have done, and the difference in person is quite noticeable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheaton26 Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 thankd for the quick reply r! i've still got lots of time to decide. all the best to you and j. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member X Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 According to Tritec, production results in a small quantity of C3 which has brighter glow and is longer lasting than the rest, they separate this from the other stuff, add 50% to the price, and people like me buy it to test it out... I think it's just variability in production like you suggest. How strange! I wonder if they are researching why this happens, and then working out how to apply it to all their lume! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Cool, thanks for the informative post! How exactly does the production produce some 'better' than others? Just variability of the production process? Do you stock this is all colours? It's called "binning" like Intel and AMD do with microprocessors. Normal manufacturing results in variability at the output... Kind of accidental, but they take the opportunity to collect the better stuff and sell it at a huge mark up. I'll stick with normal C3 myself... I've never been disappointed by it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Thanks for pics, is there any improvement on the application in daylight in terms of the lume marker heights etc. Does it make it easier for you to ensure those correct heights? Guess this is R's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hackR Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Looks great, Z!... can't wait to see it in person!!... great info and pix!... question - kinda off topic - some watches are said to have a large quantity of lume with multiple applications of superlume applied...does this increase luminosity or duration?... thanks!... R- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 A nice addition to your repertoire Ziggy :thumbsupsmileyanim: looking forward to the application in the future.. AC/Lani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 The Grade A is no different than the normal lume when it comes to application, it feels and looks and goes on the same... question - kinda off topic - some watches are said to have a large quantity of lume with multiple applications of superlume applied...does this increase luminosity or duration?... Short answer, No, call it marketing hype, or BS - which is what it really is...multiple layers make no difference to the glow, the final thickness makes the difference, all "layers" add is increase the time spend doing the job, and the chance of error. Lume glow depends on two things: 1. Thickness 2. Width The more lume you apply, the thicker or wider it is, the brighter the glow. If this thickness is achieved with 1 or 101 coats makes ZERO difference to the glow, given the same quantity of lume, you will have EXACTLY the same glow. A dial silkscreener would not apply lume in multiple layers, the chance of error goes up each time you place the screen on the dial, and there is no valid reason to do it, it will not increase the glow. Lume is translucent, so if you apply lume and then a reflective coat on top of it, you have just nullified the layer below. It needs to be one continuous layer of homogenous lume. Tritec literature spells and explains this out in detail, it is a known fact, but if your marketing a watch and want to make it stand out from the rest, you embellish the truth and people will buy into it hook, line and sinker... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSRep Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Interesting thread Zig. Not sure what im taking away from it though........ Are we saying that Grade-A is better than C3? Is there a major price difference between the two (and is it worth the difference?). In respect to the application of lume I think the Helson Shark Diver demonstrates this well. If you look at the dial the lume (C3 Superluminova) is applied quite thinly, but the markers are HUGE...and as a result this puppy GLOWS like a torch, catches ANY light it can, and glows for hourrrrsssssss on end.......Image is unedited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 It's called "binning" like Intel and AMD do with microprocessors. Normal manufacturing results in variability at the output... That's hilarious that you would use this example...I was going to use this EXACT same one for a reply. Ya scooped me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4GTR Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 So basically, if the dealers were to describe this lume, it would be... BEST EDITION ULTIMATE SUPER Luminova 1:1 made from making of lumefactory gen lume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 @ Osrep The specs on Grade A show 25% + improvement in glow, and a visible time of 700 minutes (normal C3 lasts 570 minutes). In person, the difference is noticeable between the Grade A and the normal lume. Is it worth it? I only picked up 1 gram to test and play with, costwise it's 50% more than normal lume. I guess if you want the brightest of all lume, and it's important to you, then it's probably worth it...but lume has always been a personal choice, some love it, others couldn't care. I bought it because I was curious about how it would compare to what I normall stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hackR Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Short answer, No, call it marketing hype, or BS - which is what it really is... Zig - thanks...as i figured... Once again, thanks for teaching us how to fish!... R- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThinkBachs Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 I was doing some research online and this thread came up- bump for those that might not have seen it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolfire Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 I was doing some research online and this thread came up- bump for those that might not have seen it yet. Thanks for bumping this awesome thread up, TB. I make it a point to always subscribe to all of The Zigmeister's threads since I became a member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hackR Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 i own this piece - old skool PAM 000...and it's everything Z says...his application of the lume on this sausage dial is a work of art...and the glow is definitely more intense than standard lume... Try it...you'll like it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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