At times, we, like moths are drawn to bright lights in the dark. Possibly due to our interest in light or the safety it can bring us.
Telling the time is difficult in low light, unless you’re fortunate to have a watch that glows in the dark. Have you ever wondered what this strange glowing material is, or how it works? Plenty has already been written on this marvel, that is luminescence, so I’m not going into that for now. (But you can read about it here)
In this article, we delve into my Top 5 Lume watches and why they appeal to me.
Bell & Ross BRX5 Green Lum
Bell & Ross BRX5 Green Lum - Credit Bell & Ross
This new kid on the block really had my head turning, when it was recently launched. I’ve been aware of the Bell & Ross Lum line up for a few years now. This one in particular, really caught my attention as it’s the first to feature LM3D (a groundbreaking composite material) Lume plates that are attached to the case.
The dial’s indications – hours, minutes, seconds, date, and power reserve – shine very brightly in the dark. The dial on its own is really striking, but partnered with the lumed case, this is on another level of Lume.
Featuring a 41mm DLC coated titanium case. Housing the BR-CAL.323 caliber designed by Kenissi, with a power reserve of around 70 hours.
This comes with a black open work rubber strap with a DLC buckle to match the case. Covered up with a Sapphire glass with an anti reflective coating. Limited to only 500 pieces and at £12000.00 is way to rich for me, however, this Bell & Ross BRX5 Green Lum, gets my pole position.
Elliott Brown BEACHMASTER AUTO: 0H0-A01-B07
Beachmaster Lume - Credit Elliot Brown
I had the pleasure of getting hands on this watch recently and learn a lot about the brand. Elliott Brown’s mantra is, “to build the most wearable, affordable, toughest watches on the planet”. They test their watches like no other brand. In fact, the Holton was tested several times with PE8 plastic explosives, with almost no damage.
My second option goes to the Beachmaster. Conceived in response to a request during a Royal Marines event, the Beachmaster watch has evolved into the pinnacle of craftsmanship. Its name, fittingly chosen for its inherent connection to the D-Day landings, reflects its unparalleled mission timing capabilities.
The Lume on this dial, is definitely something different, as it features two different Lume colours. Denoting Timekeeping in Green and Mission Timing in Blue. The 40mm Satin brushed case houses the automatic Sellita SW330-2 movement, with a 56 hour power reserve. This model, also sports a 24hr/GMT function. It has a black matt wave pattern in the centre of the dial with applied indexes.
It’s waterproof down to 300m and every piece is individual tested. S2 white Super LumiNova for the Mission Timing (glows blue) and the hours, minutes and seconds have the X1 C3 green Super LumiNova (glows green)
The matte black ceramic 120 click unidirectional bezel also has X1 BWG9 white Super LumiNova. The crystal is both domed and scratch resistant and as tough as it gets. It’s amazing value at £2375.00 and one to seek out.
Vertex M100A
Vertex M100 Review on WatchGecko
Vertex, a historic British watch brand with a rich heritage. The M100 is part of the brand’s revival collection, paying tribute to the military roots and classic designs of Vertex watches from the past.
The Vertex M100 draws inspiration from the iconic Dirty Dozen watches, which were commissioned by the British military during World War II. These watches were designed to meet strict military specifications and were produced by twelve different watch manufacturers, including the original Vertex company.
What’s not to like about the M100A. It has an Automatic Sellita SW260-1 movement and showcases a clean and understated aesthetic. With a focus on legibility and functionality. The watch features a 40mm stainless steel case, which is a versatile and comfortable size suitable for various wrist sizes. The case is carefully crafted to withstand the demands of military use and everyday wear.
The dial of the M100 is minimalist and easy to read, featuring Arabic numerals carved from Super LumiNova. Syringe-style hands that are coated with the same for enhanced visibility in low-light conditions. The lume is a sight to behold and is a stand out feature of this superb watch. The numbers on the dial are made from X1 Moulded Super LumiNova and really glow like mad in low light. The dial design stays true to the military-inspired heritage of Vertex watches.
On the wrist, this really does wear well, as the curved lugs make it hug your wrist.
This will set you back £2500.00, however, historically this is such an iconic piece.
Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Laser Tag Edition (Ultraviolet)
This next offering by Zodiac has a very distinct nostalgic look to it. Not shying away from colour, this will definitely get heads turning.
With a colour combination of Purple, Green and Pink at low light, it definitely looks like a video game from yesteryear. There is so much colour and fun happening all this watch, it’s a night clubbers dream.
The 40mm PVD stainless steel case is pretty standard, with a 49mm lug to lug. Water resistance for the Super Sea Wolf is 200m. It has a STP 1-21 automatic movement with a 40 hour power reserve. The 80’s vibe is kept alive by the Laser Tag design and look. There is a mix of photoreactive materials under the sapphire glass. They call it the “dark stage” when this is at its best. The lumed hands, hour markers, bezel pip, all glow in a shade of green and bright blue. There are even lines around the edge of the case that also light up, almost Tron style. This Ultravilot version, has a background of dark purple on both the dial and bezel. The cool mint inner ring that surrounds the dial just pulls all the colours together, to make a very extraordinary watch.
Boldr Venture Field - Blue Moon
Boldr Venture Field - Credit Boldr
My last offering is the Venture Field - Blue Moon from Boldr. No top 5 would be complete without a full Lume dial. This definitely ticks that box. The 38mm full Titanium Black PVD case is protected by a flat AR-coated sapphire crystal. It driven by the Seiko SII NH35A Automatic Movement and is waterproof all the way down to 200m and with a 42 hour power reserve, will be good for almost 2 days. It has a unidirectional bezel, and the dial has Super LumiNova BGW9 which comes to life when in low light.
It really is a sight to behold, especially when it pops out from under your cuff. For the price, you’d be hard pushed to find a better value for money titanium piece. The black polyester strap comes with custom titanium PVD buckles doesn’t look too bad and you could also try swapping the strap, as it would look great on one of the Zuludiver straps too. The Blue Moon dial is so clear and legible during the day and by night, is simply remarkable. Its named after the the natural occurrence of two full moon’s occurrence during a single calendar month. Make sure you check this one out as for value for money, it will be hard to beat at around £299.00.
To see the lume on your watch at its best, grab yourself a UV lume torch. The UV light will charge the lume and show it off to it’s best.
