Every year more than one billion watches are produced in the world: hand-made, wall watches, souvenir watches. There are a great variety of design options and it would seem difficult to surprise a potential buyer, but...
The product range of the Factory for the production of luminous materials Acmelight includes luminous paint for various types original surfaces(metal, plastic, wood, glass, etc.), thanks to the use of which you can build profitable business or open a new direction in existing business. We will talk about transforming ordinary watches into luminous ones.
What can glow in a watch?
If this is a wall clock with hands, then the hands, dial numbers, background, and case can glow in the dark. A wall clock can have a pendulum; in this case, the option of a luminous pendulum is interesting, and if the clock is with a cuckoo, then a jumping luminous cuckoo will amuse anyone. Wrist watch will become exclusive and youthful thanks to the luminous strap, functional – thanks to the luminous dial.
How to make a glow on a watch
This article will not dwell on technological process production of wristwatch parts. For this purpose, there are special production facilities that are just beginning to successfully master the new nomenclature. You will soon be able to buy a watch with a luminous dial in many countries.
Let's consider the decor option for ready-made wall clock and production of designer exclusive watches. A variety of luminous paints for different types of surfaces, a palette of 8 colors and 2 glow options allows you to create unique masterpieces even from regular office hours.
Easiest to paint design options hours, because You can paint a workpiece without an installed mechanism using a spray gun, which greatly increases the intensity of the glow of the finished coating. The fact is that when painting with a spray gun, there is a uniform distribution of luminous particles, which is more difficult to do with a brush. Although small parts will still have to be painted with a brush.
It's easy to make luminous elements using Acmelight™ luminous self-adhesive film.
In general, we decide on our capabilities and desires.
How to sell luminous watches
On initial stage you need to understand which stores and retail outlets you will supply to. The options may be the following: stores selling office supplies, children's products, exclusive gift stores, electrical goods stores. It’s not by chance that I’m talking about an electrical goods store. The fact is that a watch that glows in complete darkness can be considered an excellent Alternative option electronic watch who buy to see the scoreboard in the dark. The luminous dial and hands are perfectly visible at night and do not require an electrical connection, which is very convenient to use.
After we have determined the directions for ourselves, we make samples of watches for demonstration. With these samples you can visit the city's shops, and the photographs taken with watch options daylight and in complete darkness we send out a proposal for cooperation to all potential customers and place advertisements on bulletin boards.
Opening of a watch painting workshop
The list of services may include the transformation of both new and old watches; branding with luminous paint; drawing children's pictures, youth slogans, etc. Of course, as an independent direction, such a business is unlikely to be profitable, but within the existing one it will attract new customers and increase sales in other directions (if they are “consonant”). For example, if you are engaged in branding of corporate paraphernalia, then offering luminous applications on watches will make your offer much more attractive. Watches are often considered as a branded gift option and can be ordered in large quantities. And with this approach there can be a good income.
An hourglass is also a clock, but more for decoration
Such watches can be made using as a luminous bulk material, which is also available from Acmelight. The stunning effect of such a watch in the dark will not leave anyone indifferent.
When choosing a watch, future owners will certainly look at the cost of the mechanism, what the case and glass are made of, and what kind of material the strap or bracelet is made of. The question of which watch backlight is better arises less often. Meanwhile, the performance of this function differs significantly in models of different watch brands. We will tell you which backlit watches are comfortable to wear every day in the city, which ones will light your way in tourist trip, and which ones will pierce the water column with their powerful light during scuba diving.
Fluorescent clock illumination
Back in the 19th century, Swiss craftsmen came up with a way to keep the dial of a pocket watch legible in the dark - the hands and indexes were treated with a luminous substance, barium sulfide. Today, luminescent watch lighting is found in the collections of TAG Heuer, Breitling, Corum and other leaders in the watch industry. Manufacturers treat indexes, hands and watch bezels with light-accumulating compounds.
Breitling Professional EVO Night Mission pilot's watch dial with luminescent markers
SuperLuminova
In 1993, the Japanese company Nemoto introduced a light-accumulating composition (luminophor) based on strontium aluminate. Prior to this, the basis for phosphors was mostly zinc sulfide. The new product shone ten times brighter and longer than its predecessors; in addition, it was non-toxic and economical - the pigment did not fade for years. The composition is called Luminova. The phosphor was “recharged” by contact with light waves with a length of 200-400 nm, the initial color was green. In 1998 it was established industrial production, and in 2000 an improved version of SuperLuminova was released - one of the most popular backlights for watches today.
Cozy green glow
SuperLuminova is twice as bright as the 1993 version; divers love watches with this backlight. Dial markers treated with phosphor are perfectly readable at any depth. A striking example is the TAG Heuer Aquaracer watch, which has already become a classic piece of equipment for diving enthusiasts. The model's faceted indices and hands are coated with white SuperLuminova. The glow time from the moment of contact with the light source is 6-12 hours. In this case, the clock will not go out at once - the brightness of the backlight will gradually decrease every hour. A watch with this backlight is suitable for both deep-sea diving and a long evening walk.
Clock with LED backlight
LED watches are popular due to their convenience and their bright light. It is enough to press one button on the case and small LEDs located along the entire diameter will evenly illuminate the entire dial. The famous G-Shock collection of the Japanese brand Casio includes many models with LED backlighting, which is activated intuitively - in poor lighting, just turn your hand and it will turn on itself.
Military-tough GA700 Camo Series with neoshaved backlight
Tritium (super-heavy hydrogen) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that is actively used in the production of nuclear weapons. Surely, such a characteristic sounds at least alarming, but the fears are in vain - the radioactive element is securely enclosed in sealed borosilicate glass containers. Even if the container is damaged, the substance is not capable of causing harm to health due to its small amount. It is only important to remember that under no circumstances should you swallow or inhale tritium!
Tritium flasks
If the LED backlight depends on a battery, and the accumulative backlight, although it lasts a long time, requires mandatory contact with the light source, the tritium backlight of the watch does not need external recharging and lasts about 25 years. This explains the frequent use of tritium in the creation of night vision devices for the army, aviation and navy.
Trigalight
Trigalight (GTLS, trigalight) is a technology of self-activated tritium backlight for wristwatches, developed by the Swiss company Mb-microtec. The concern has been developing tritium light sources since 1968. The first wristwatch with a trigalight of the Traser brand was released in 1991 by order of the US Department of Defense. The US Army ordered 60,000 watches for units participating in Operation Desert Storm. The debut model Traser P6500 Type 6 was released until 2003.
Classic milatari watch Traser with trigalight
Today, Traser watches with tritium backlight are worn by military personnel in 59 countries. The brand has also become a favorite among lovers of extreme tourism.
Luminox watches
When choosing a model whose dial is readable in any light, pay attention to water resistance.
Competent educational program on backlighting in watches
Friends, I present to your attention very intelligent thoughts in hearing about the backlight in watches from a person under the name Strong. Because they ask a lot of questions about different types highlights, I think this article will be a good educational source. Please ask any questions related to the article in the appropriate thread on the watch.ru forum. We also advise you to read about the types of backlight in watches.
1. In 1902, for the first time, a light composition activated by radium compounds was applied to a watch dial. About the dangers of radiation
Back then we didn’t worry too much, the main thing was that watches and military instruments were visible in the dark. But this phosphor from the alpha and beta radiation of radium degraded after a few years and stopped glowing, although the half-life of radium is 1600 years! But, nevertheless, watches and devices were covered with such light compositions right up to the 50s, then they began to look for a replacement and found tritium.
2. Light compositions with tritium activation are still used today, although to a lesser extent than before, since there is GTLS technology (tritium in tubes in the form of a gas, but more on that later). So, tritium, which is used in technology, is ALL produced artificially, by irradiating lithium with neutrons in reactors. And on Earth there is no more than 1 kg of natural tritium; it is active and quickly dissipates. Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen with a half-life of 12.3 years. Emits beta, which is blocked by a piece of paper, i.e. much less dangerous than radium and its compounds. I wondered how tritium is added to the light composition, since it is a gas! It turned out that in paraffin (candles are made from it) some of the hydrogen atoms are replaced with tritium atoms, and then added to the light composition that covers the dials and hands of watches (The most famous of the Soviet ones are the Vostok, Komandirskie and Amphibia watches, tritium was used there until the end of the 80s ).
3. GTLS technology or Trigalight is a development of the Swiss company Mb-microtec, a revolution in the field of backlighting (IMHO). These are borosilicate glass tubes into which tritium is pumped in the form of gas. The inner walls of the tubes are coated with a phosphor that glows from tritium beta radiation. Approximate time until the trigalight completely fades away - 25 years (not bad!) The most famous and inexpensive watches with this technology are Traser, then Luminox, Nite, and the very elite Ball (their numbers are laid out from trigalights different colors, in general, beautiful). If anyone is interested, go to the website www.traser.ru, everything is detailed there)
That's it for a review of the backlights permanent action I finish and move on to light-accumulating compositions
1. Zinc sulfide-based light composition is the worst light-accumulating light composition! The afterglow time is no more than one hour - this is a shame and it is used in watches that are sold in underground passages for 100 rubles (((
2. Light composition based on strontium aluminate - afterglow time up to 18 hours (very good!). Hands and numbers coated with this light composition are visible all night long without straining the eyes. An example is SuperLuminova.
Now the conclusion (this is my opinion, I do not impose my point of view on anyone):
When a person buys a watch, he reads the instructions, which indicate the type of watch mechanism, degree of water resistance, case material, etc. But NEVER IN ANY INSTRUCTION have I come across information about the afterglow time of the light composition! Why? Is this an optional clock parameter? In my opinion, reading information in the dark is VERY important. But manufacturers don’t bother with this in ANY way and this is not good (. I’m not delighted with the neobright used to cover the dials and hands on Casio watches - it’s average (lights up for about 6 hours). I solved the problem individually, I cover the dials myself with a good light composition and hands of my favorite watch. I use a composition based on Green GL phosphor (afterglow time is 12 hours) and INTERCOAT luminescent film (where it is impossible to carefully cover with the light composition in liquid form).
LED backlight, EL-ILLUMINATOR and any kind of automatic backlight do not interest me, because the watch should ALWAYS be visible, without pressing any buttons or other actions, such as turning the hand with the watch towards you. This is not mine...
*Casio does not use tritium.
Expect a continuation of the series of educational publications on the blog (including an article about all possible types of backlighting in Casio watches).
Throughout the history of watches, the dial has been illuminated using a large number of various compositions. Some of them were discontinued over time due to various reasons, which we will discuss in this article. So, let's start in order.
Radium
The idea of creating illumination was first thought about more than a century ago, in 1902. The primary goal was to produce watches for military purposes, the dial and hands of which could be easily seen in little or no light. In those days, no one cared about radiation safety (however, few people even knew about it). The main thing was that we managed to find a way to obtain a composition for illuminating the watch. But later it turned out that the compositions created on the basis of radium salts completely degraded after decades, and their glow stopped. And this was regardless of the fact that the half-life of radium is approximately more than 1500 years. Despite this, this element was used to create backlight in watches until the 60s of the last century. This light mass glows well under ultraviolet light. The composition itself has an orange tint. It is highly recommended not to disassemble such watches and devices. Over time, the composition crumbles and turns into dust; when opening the case, there is a high probability of inhaling this dust or contaminating the room. Then a new, more profitable, and, most importantly, safe solution was found.
Tritium
Watches that use light mass based on tritium salts have the designation T SWIS T.
This element has been used to create luminous compositions since the second half of the 20th century to this day. But it should be noted that the frequency of its use has decreased slightly over the years (due to the emergence of new methods of creating backlighting, but more on that a little later). An important detail is that absolutely all tritium used to create luminous compounds is produced artificially. It is found very rarely in nature (there is approximately 1 kg of tritium on the entire planet, since this element has extremely high activity, as a result of which it quickly dissipates). To produce artificial tritium, lithium placed in a special reactor is irradiated with neutrons. The resulting element will dissipate within 12 years. And throughout the entire period of its existence it will emit a greenish glow. Tritium beta radiation is easily blocked even by a sheet of paper, not to mention a watch case. This makes the composition created on its basis almost harmless to human health.
Trigalight technology
Also called “GTLS technology”. It was created by Swiss engineers at the Mb-microtec company. Currently the most popular technology based on gaseous tritium for the production of luminous compositions for illumination. Her device included tubes made of borosilicate glass into which tritium was pumped in gaseous state. A special phosphor is used to coat the inner surface of the tubes, which emits a bright glow when exposed to tritium beta radiation. The composition completely degrades in about 25 years (which is an extremely high indicator). Among the most famous watch models that use Trigalight technology to create backlighting, we can highlight “Traser”, “Luminox”, “Nite” and “Ball” (the backlight of the dial of these watches is made in different colors).
Luminova and SuperLumiNova
Luminova is a phosphor that was developed in 1993 by the Japanese company Nemoto. The basis for its creation was strontium aluminate. The new composition had a much brighter glow (about 10 times brighter) than phosphors created on the basis of zinc sulfide. The glow period of Luminova is approximately 18 hours. “Charging” of the composition occurs by contacting it with light waves of various lengths (from 200 to 400 nm). Luminova is an absolutely non-toxic phosphor, so there will be no harm to human health.
In 2000, after lengthy research, an improved phosphor was introduced to the world, which was called “SuperLumiNova”. The initial natural shade of the glow of this composition is light green, but it can be changed by introducing special pigments into the phosphor. True, in this case the intensity of the glow may decrease slightly. The most famous watch models that use Luminova and SuperLumiNova to illuminate the dial are Oris, Hamilton, Omega, Longines, and JeanRichard.
Conclusion
Rare watches with radium backlight can cause significant harm to your health (if they become infected with light particles). Therefore, it is recommended to carefully weigh the pros and cons before purchasing them. Models with more modern tritium backlighting are a safer option, since tritium beta radiation is easily blocked by the watch case and if the case or flasks with tritium are damaged, there is no danger of contamination with radioactive particles (tritium gas instantly evaporates). The composition will emit a stable glow for 12 years. Well, if you don’t like wearing a watch with a radioactive element inside (albeit in a small amount), purchase devices with Luminova or SuperLumiNova backlight technology. The composition “charges” during the daytime and shines brightly for more than 18 hours. And at the same time it is absolutely safe for health.
Some people believe that luminescent paints are hazardous to health and avoid watches whose dial markings and hands are coated with an impressive layer of glow-in-the-dark composition. Not everything is so menacing, assures Timur Baraev
In principle, any luminescent paint belongs to class IV of dangerous things, there are five such classes in total, and the most harmful is I. That is, luminescent powders, including those used in watches, are classified as “low-hazard”. But we must take into account that in in this case much depends on the amount of such paint.
If you decide to paint a gazebo in the garden with a luminous composition, it is better, of course, to wait for a light breeze so as not to inhale the fumes. The same is required by safety precautions when working with ordinary paints and varnishes. And an insignificant few grams of luminescent from the watch dial will not harm anything.
Rumors about the dangers of luminescent compounds were born thanks to the first special professional watches, the dials and hands of which were painted with radium-based paint.
For example, powder Radiomir based on radium, which was invented and patented in 1916 by Panerai founder Guido Panerai himself, gave the name to the iconic collection of Italian watches. The same luminescent composition was applied to instrument scales and sights, which, among other equipment, the company produced for the Italian Navy “Marina Militare”.
Application to a patent issued in France on March 23, 1916, in which the name Radiomir was documented. Source: Panerai press service
His recipe was top secret because other luminescent paints of the time were much dimmer. When, in the process of creating nuclear weapons, scientists discovered the harmful effects of radiation on the human body, Radiomir was banned, and most of the surviving wrist devices with this composition were walled up in a concrete cube, taken to the sea and flooded.
Panerai specialists have invented a new luminescent composition Luminor- This is a tritium-based paint. After this, Panerai models began to be called that way. Luminor was not as bright, but it was much safer.
Nevertheless, there were many fans of the good old Radiomir. And some customers continued to order watches painted with this particular composition. The company, without advertising this fact, met the wishes of its fans.
But the Egyptian Navy in 1956 officially demanded that the dials of the watches that Panerai would release for them in limited editions be painted with “radio world”. In order not to lose the order, the company had to agree. The first batch of Radiomir Egiziano watches was released in the amount of 30-40 pieces and later received the name Egiziano Piccolo from brand collectors, since the next batch of watches for the Egyptian Navy had a much more impressive case with a diameter of 47 mm.
Panerai Egiziano Grosso and Egiziano Piccolo wristwatches. Source: http://orologi.forumfree.it
“Little Egyptian” is one of the most sought-after watches on the secondary market, despite the fact that their dials have turned from black to whitish-brown over time as a result of radio-world radiation.
Tritium-based phosphors are good because they shine brightly and do not require regular irradiation with light. Tritium (or heavy hydrogen, designated H3 or T) emits electrons that attack a layer of luminescent compound, such as Super-LumiNova, allowing you to easily keep time even in complete darkness.
The dial of the Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech watch has a two-layer structure: a luminescent substance - Super-LumiNova - shines through the holes of the hour markers. Source: Panerai press service
The radiation from decaying tritium is effective only at a distance of 1-2 mm, that is, most of the rays disappear before reaching the dial. This means that tritium phosphors are generally safe. I can advise particularly suspicious people not to wear such a watch with the dial towards the wrist.
The disadvantage of tritium compounds is the half-life of tritium - about 12.5 years, after which the dial of such watches will fade
Watches with such a luminescent composition are easy to identify: by the letter “T”, which, as a rule, is applied at the 6 o’clock position. Manufacturers are required to apply this mark by law.
“T” mark on the dial of the IWC Aquatimer 2000 watch. Source: IWC press service
To work with tritium, the manufacturer needs to obtain special permission and train staff. Since the European Union regularly tightens environmental requirements for products, several years ago watch companies creating watches in unlimited quantities for ordinary customers were generally allowed to deal only with the completely harmless Super-LumiNova phosphor and its varieties. But tritium-based compounds can still be used in exceptional cases, for example, in the manufacture of limited editions of professional military or sports watches.
In addition to safety, the advantages of Super-LumiNova include low cost and ease of production, brightness for some time after irradiation with light. The electrons of this composition are activated only under the influence ultraviolet rays, but after a few hours they “calm down.” So, in order to maintain the functionality of your watch on high level, do not forget to regularly feed them with light energy.
Preview: Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award, Omega Press Office
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