What is Lume?

Rado's newest 2009 addition, the Sintra Automatic watch is composed of extremely hard ceramic, a steel inner case and titanium screws and clasp. The watch is streamlined, gliding smoothly from watch face to bracelet, widening and narrowing insync with Rado's iconic style. The traditional dial is easy to read, by day and by night as the hands are coated with lume.

What is Lume?
Lume is the substance that allows the hands to glow in the dark. Lume is short for lumious phosphorescent.
What is phosphorescence? A type of photo luminescence.
What is photoluminescence? (abbreviated as PL) is a process in which a substance absorbs photons (electromagnetic radiation) and then re-radiates photons. (Wikipedia) The photo luminescence is produced when the electrons in a molecule are stimulated by an outside energy source. Either ultraviolet light ("black light"), biochemical reaction (glow-sticks) or radioactivity. Once the electrons are stimulated they quickly return to their original state by emitting radiation, sometimes in the form of visible light.

So we are interested to discover how our lume coated hands work. A phosphorescent substance does not immediately re-emit the radiation it absorbs. The answer is in the involved study of quantum mechanics which I am not an possibly not able to go into at this stage. It is suffice to say that the slower time scales are related to "forbidden energy" state transition in quantum mechanics. Simply put, energy absorbed by a substance is slowly released in the form of light.

What are the most common phosphorescent pigments used today? Zinc sulphide and strontium aluminate.

Most watch manufacturers use strontium aluminate, marketed by the brand name Super-Luminova. This substance is non-radioactive and non-toxic photo luminescence. This technology was developed after the zinc sulphide substance. Being that strontium aluminate is ten times brighter than zinc sulphide, the latter substance was zoned out and currently is something of a novelty.

Watchmakers were on a constant quest to find a substance that allowed time to be displayed in the dark. The problem was initially solved by the chime of a minute repeater or sonnerie, a candle or an open dial. As soldiers of World War One, huddled in dark trenches listening to the roar of the canons , unable to guess the passage of time, the quest to find a glow-in-the dark substance intensified. Watchmakers suddenly remembered Radium, a discovery made at the end of the 19th century. Radium was radioactive and had the property of luminescence. Radium was used in the watch industry for many years, but abandoned in favor of tritium as a result of its high levels of radioactivity; however, too late for hundreds of "Radium Girls in the 1920's". These young girls were employed by US watch companies to paint the Radium and zinc sulphide onto the dials using a small camel haired brush which they pointed with their lips in between paint applications. They had no inkling that this greenish white glow-in-the-dark paint was lethal. Each time they ingested a small amount of radium - an alpha-particle emitter, chemically similar to calcium and thus a bone-seeker, the Radium was accumulating in the bone-marrow and causing bone cancer and other genetic damages.

Tritium, on the other hand is radioactive but in much lower levels than radium, was used until the 1990's. Then came a breakthrough Super-luminova, all the photo luminescence qualities of tritium, but not radioactive and thus less hazardous and more environmental friendly.

There is a distinct difference though. Tritium is permanently stimulated by electrons (betarays) which it emits when it spontaneously transforms into helium. Thus tritium can glow for dozens of years even in total darkness. (see inset) On the other hand Superluminova requires to be stimulated by either violet or ultraviolet light which at first is very bright, but then gradually fades after a few hours in the dark.

As with Super-Luminova the energy emitted by the electrons is stored at quite a stable level, resulting in light being emitted over a several hour period.

Corum's Admiral's Cup Seafender 48 Deep Dive to 1000 Feet

Corum adds a watch to the long list of diver's watches which can dive far deeper than man can venture beneath the ocean.  However, venture or not, the new Corum's Admiral Cup Seafender 48 Deep Dive is a impressive Diver's watch equipped with all the necessary diving functions.
  In all serious diving watches I always look for a Helium Valve.  In this case the Corum has one.  A helium valve is crucial in scuba diving scenarios. A helium valve enables divers who operate at great depths and spend prolonged hours under extreme pressure breathing a mix like trimix containing gases such as helium (tiny molecules) or hydrogen (smallest molecules found in nature) to release the helium molecules that have worked their way through the o-rings or other seals. The helium and hydrogen molecules cause no damage when the watch is at great depths under pressure but as soon as the diver resurfaces, a pressure difference occurs between the trapped gas(es) inside the watch case and the surrounding air. This can cause the crystal to pop off damaging the watch thus the helium valve is a crucial edition to diving watches enabling the diver to release the gas build up and restore equilibrium.

Other properties of the Corum Admiral's Cup Seafender 48 deep Dive which makes it a hard core Diver's Watch.  The watch adheres to the strict ISO 6425  guidelines relating to Diver's Watches, which is defined as: "A watch designed to withstand diving in water at depths of at least 100 m and possessing a system to control the time"
The testing of Diving Watches occurs in still water under 125% of rated water pressure.  In other words, a watch claiming a 200 meter water resistance rating has been tested in still water at a depth of 250 meters.
Diving watches are tested in static or still water under 125% of the rated (water)pressure, thus a watch with a 200 meter rating will be water resistant if it is stationary and under 250 meters of static water.
Corum has met the criteria by crafting the watch with a Grade 5 titanium case.  Grade 5 titanium is considered an alloy as it consists of 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium, 0.25% iron, 0.2%  Oxygen and the remaining percentage titanium.  Titanium Grade 5 is utilized extensively in Aerospace, Medical, Marine, and Chemical Processing as it is stronger than commercially pure titanium while maintaining its stiffness and thermal properties. Titanium Grade 5 is heat treatable, strong & corrosion resistance.
Corum has crafted the 48mm case with a thickness of 18.9mm and a screw down crown. An automatic Caliber CO947 with a power reserve of 42 hours is a certified Chronometer as certified by the COSC.

Nautical Flags fly just below the unidirectional rotating bezel- a signature of all Admiral Cup Corum Watches.  Another crucial aspect of a Diver's Watch is the readout in murky conditions.  Depending on the version, this watch is available in two, the hands and hour markers are coated in either highly luminescent bi-light orange coating (watch image above) or black superluminova.  The dial read out is clear as a result of the bold markings.  Central hours and minutes as well as a small seconds at the 9'o'clock and day and date at the 3 'o'clock provide crucial time tracking.
The Corum Admiral's Cup Seafender 48 Deep Dive is available in two versions, the first which I have described above in bright orange is available in a limited edition of 200 and a PVD blackened version with a Grade 5 titanium case sports a 18 carat gold bezel, which is available in a limited edition of 100.
For a diver serious about diving, a Corum Admiral's Cup Seafender 48 Deep Dive, won't leave you high and dry.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona

No introduction necessary for Rolex. It is a watch brand synonymous with success particularly in the business and sporting arena.
A Rolex glinting below a starched cuff sleeve, hints at great achievements and a certain knowing that this man is the real deal. A Rolex is an image maker - no doubt about that - not to mention the infallible resale value. I once asked a business associate of mine the reason why he keeps buying Rolex's'. His answer was colored by the recent news of the terrible tornadoes and other natural disasters,
"Simple enough, " he said, "If anything happens, I will just strap the Rolex's all the way up each arm" I got his point. Quips aside, Rolex watches are definite security items, and I suppose one can say "One can never be too thin, too rich or own too many Rolexes."

Rolex heeds to the call of enthusiastic Rolex collectors by constantly unveiling newer more brilliant mouth watering models which sends the "I must have one" tingles up and down ones spine and ending in the tips of ones fingers. The most recent "I must have model" is the newest edition to Rolexes 1963 Cosmograph Daytona collection. The Cosmograph Daytona is closely linked to the exhilarating automobile racing sports and named after one of the most renowned speedway's in the world - the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach Florida. In fact Rolex sponsors the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which is a 24 hour race of endurance held every year around the last weekend of January.

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona evokes a passion for racing and a passion for precision in its measuring. The Chronograph movement can measure periods of time within an 1/8th of a second and a highly readable tachometer is forged into the bezel. The bezel itself is a culmination of intense research and development by Rolex creating a unique monobloc black Cerachrom comprised of an advanced ceramic compound which is highly resistant too scratches, corrosion and fading. The bezel numerals and symbols on the bezel are not simply engraved, but actually a complicated chemical process accomplished by depositing a fine layer of pink gold utilizing a magnetron sputtering PVD process.

Beneath a dial sporting perfectly placed sub dials, lies a precise chronograph, which has successfully undergone all the rigorous testing achieving the award of Chronometer by the COSC. The calibre 4130 movement, introduced in 2000, contains a Rolex designed column wheel and vertical clutch. The calibre 4130 has become increasingly reliable and precise over the last decade by reducing complexity and enabling a smoother function, The calibre 4130 harbors a Parachrom hairspring, which is crafted from a cutting edge alloy able to entirely resist magnetic fields and is ten times more shock absorbent than the regular hairspring materials. The hairspring is equipped with a Breguet overcoil.

The aesthetics of the watch is highly pleasing to say the least. The warm rich chocolate brown of the dial accentuates the Gold Arabic Numerals and 18ct pink gold hands. An American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) black leather strap fastened by an 18ct Everose gold Oysterlock folding clasp equipped with a sturdy safety catch ensures your Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona won't go astray. Large enough to be noticed, and small enough to maintain noticeable discretion, the 40mm 18ct Everose gold case is sporty yet elegant. A Screw down case back with Rolex fluting and screw-down, Triplock triple waterproofness system ensures 100 meters water resistancy.
The Calibre 4130 automatic movement is wound by a Bidirectional perpetual rotor on ball bearings.
Dependable phosphorescent material fills the hour markers and hands enabling read outs in dark conditions.
Functions include chronograph capable of measuring up to an 1/8th of a second, 30 minute and 12 hour totalizers, Tachymeter, small seconds at 6 'o'clock and stop seconds for precise time settings allow for maximum time tracking benefits wrapped up in a package of great worth and high regard.

Venture into a JeanRichard Highlands Sand

JeanRichard has delivered a rugged watch built for the toughest adventure. When endurance is a necessity and failure is not an option, a resilient precision timepiece is a worthy companion. The Highlands Sands depict the vast open spaces of Africa where nature is untouched and animals roam free. The hardy khaki fabric strap is fashioned from materials used to cover water canteens and other outdoor survival gear.

JeanRichard Highlands Sands is a reintroduction of its mid 1990's collection the "Highlands by JeanRichard" where Peter Beard captured the raw beauty of Africa's land.



A 44.55mm x 40mm sand blasted stainless steel tonneau case supports a round bidirectional rotating bezel. The ecru mat dial is the color of a desert dust storm with large Arabic numerals. Bold hands coated in luminescence enable time display even in dim conditions. A Scratch resistant anti-reflective sapphire crystal protects the dial and ensures maximum read out even under the brilliant African sun. A screw down crown and case back ensures water resistance to 100 meters, because you never know where your adventures may take you.

Via a scratch resistant sapphire crystal case back one can view a precise and durable JR21000 automatic movement. Equipped with a 48 hour power reserve and fastened with a folding safety buckle, this watch will never let you down.

Hublot La Clu De Temps Stokes A Passion for Watches

Not too sure if your wristwatch interest has reached the level of outright passion. This may add a little fuel to your fire. Check out the new Watch Machine - The Hublot La Cle Due Temps Watch or the "Key of Time."
Part of Hublot's extremely high end division "Hublot Confrerie" this watch has an incredible mastery of time. In fact the Hublot la Cle Due temps can actually speed up or slow down time, as if to say, "Time waits for no one, aside for myself". Of course it is all in the perception of the wearer made possible by a ingenious mechanical movement of the timepiece. Then again, increments of time are man made and can be divided in any which way. The actual watch look is quite bold and slightly evil looking. The dial reminds me of an industrial stove top fashioned from wrought iron and the luminescence glows as if radioactive. But it is the shape of the dial that really interests me. It is fashioned like the coronal view of the brain. A vertical tourbillon is mounted on the watch case like a submarine propeller. The time is displayed on the upper left corner of the dial. On the left is a selector, which enables one to manipulate the passage of time by either speeding it up or slowing it down. The selection is made via a specialized crown on the left of the watch. One can always switch back to the correct passage of time. Below the selector is a 5 day power reserve displayed as an enigmatic green glow.

I find this idea of playing with time quite intriguing, after all the speed at which time passes us by is within the confines of our own personal experiences. If one is under water holding ones breath, one can only imagine how achingly slow time nudges by; then again if one is on a weekend getaway basking under the Caribbean sun, time rushes by and very soon one is scrambling back to work.

No! I have not forgotten about the green stuff. I do not know the exact chemical composition exuding the bright green glow, but it sure has great luminescence capabilities. Futuristic looking watches seem to ask for a green glow as in Concords C1 QuantumGravity Tourbillon

The Hublot La Clu De Temps shall be revealed next month.