Luminous Watch Paint How To?

[Altair]

I got a new watch over the holidays. Its just a ESQ brand by Movado. I like how it looks but Ive noticed that the dials luminosity leaves much to be desired. My daily watch is a Hamilton which has an awesome dial luminosity.

I think I will try to hack it my self and paint the dial my self. Anyone know what kind of paint to use and wheres the best source for it is? Thanks!

BTW I found this stuff but dont know if its any good.
http://www.esslinger.com/yellowluminoushandpaint.aspx



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[professorchaos]

Depends if you want to it to glow when charged by being exposed to light or glow without such charging. If the former, some phosphors are more persistent, which is to say they glow longer, than others. You might want to do some research to see what is in that brew.

If the latter, a mixture of tritium and phosphors creates the permanent glow. The tritium's slow decay - it is radioactive - keeps the phosphors' energized. As the excited electrons fall back into their normal orbits, they emit light.

 

[nole1]

I say this with complete seriousness, thanks for the chemistry lesson Henry!!

 

[little Big feather]

Tritium is illegal for you to place on a watch. Esslinger is the best that you can do. A pro. could do it better than you and all warranty will be voided
by your modifications.

 

[djh]

Tritium is illegal for you to place on a watch. Esslinger is the best that you can do. A pro. could do it better than you and all warranty will be voided
by your modifications.

This.

Superluminova is probably what you are looking for, but unless you have experience taking a watch movement out of the case, removing the hands and then replacing same, I would give it a big miss.

 

[Altair]

I think Ive found a new obsession err.. I mean hobby.

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

This is my one complaint about my Orient. It does not glow in the least UNLESS you hold it to a bulb for a time and then it is good for a while. It just seems it ought to pick up enough light during the day to glow at night. An email to the company went unanswered.

 

[Sal]

I bought a kit from here about a year ago.

http://www.noctilumina.com/

Relumed a few of my watches. Not really that difficult but you need a steady hand and patience because it is tedious work and will take a lot more time than you expect it too. If you look there a videos and tutorials to be found.

 

[cb91710]

I dug out my old Luminox the other day.
I bought it back in 2001, and now after 12 years, the tritium is pretty much depleted.
It still glows, but barely enough to read in a pitch-black room, and the glow is not apparent at all if there is enough ambient light to make out the edges of the case.

When it was new, it would leave a green reflection off of a wall 5 feet away.

 

[Altair]

I found a site that sells the same type of glow powder (Strontium aluminate based afterglow pigments) as the more expensive brands. Here http://glowinc.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=11 I also found some pretty good videos on youtube before I try to relume my aviator watch I think Ill get some old watches from ebay and practice.

 

[jhe888]

If you don't know how or have the tools to properly take a watch apart, don't do it.

 

[cb91710]

If you don't know how or have the tools to properly take a watch apart, don't do it.

+1

Definitely falls under the classification "If you have to ask, you should not be doing it"