Feldmar’s Top Luminescent Watches of 2022
Love Seiko? Check out the all-new limited edition SLA066 and SLA065!
Watch luminescence came about for a very utilitarian reason—soldiers needed the ability to read their watches in the dark without using a lighter or flashlight. From those important but humble beginnings, watchmakers have strived to create new technologies in luminescence, innovating for brighter, longer-lasting glow-in-the-dark properties. Here are our favorites for 2022:
Tag Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300
The Aquaracer Professional 300 is as superbly functional as it is unforgettably stylish, crafted for divers, with water resistance to 300 meters. The black DLC coated stainless steel case, unidirectional ceramic bezel, and sapphire crystal caseback integrate perfectly with the black rubber strap with push button folding clasp. The white Super-LumiNova dial is fully luminescent, and features black gold-plated hands and hour markers with white Super-LumiNova, and a date indicator. Whether you’re a professional diver, or just a man who appreciates a world-class timepiece, the Aquaracer Professional 300 is for you.
Bell & Ross Vintage BR V2-94 Full Lum
Joining the TAG as our list’s other full-lume dial watch is the Bell & Ross Vintage V2-94 Full Lum. The watches of the Bell & Ross Vintage collection pay homage to the first timepieces worn by pilots during WW1 and WW2, taking as inspiration the evolving designs of civil aviation and military watches. The BR V2-94 Full Lum exemplifies that aesthetic. This watch is fully loaded—polished and satin-finished stainless steel case, fixed bezel with anodised black aluminum ring and 60-minute scale, screw-down crown and pushers for water resistance to 100 meters, and steel and sapphire caseback. The fully luminescent Super-LumiNova pale green and pale yellow dial features chronograph counters, a date indicator, metal skeleton Super-LumiNova-filled hands, and Super-LumiNova coated hour markers. The timepieces are finished with a black rubber strap.
Ball Engineer III Marvelight Chronometer-Caring Edition
The Ball Engineer III collection reimagines the justly celebrated Engineer series, bringing sport-elegance to the next level. The revolutionary Marvelight Chronometer-Caring Edition features 27 multicolor micro tritium gas tubes on hands and dial for night reading capability, and those gas tubes never need to be recharged with solar—they give off their own light. A stainless steel case with screw-in crown and anti-reflective sapphire crystal, is paired with a stainless steel strap. The rich black dial also has a magnified date indicator. This model is limited to just 1,000 pieces.
Seiko Prospex SPB185 “Baby Marine Master”
Seiko is world-renowned for technical innovation and breathtaking design working perfectly in concert together, and the Prospex Baby Marine Master is a prime example of that. This is a timepiece that fits beneath the cuff at a black tie event or strapped to a diver’s wrist. The black dial is home to luminescent Lumibrite hands and hour markers and a date indicator. The stainless steel case with super hard coating features a screwed caseback and screw-down crown, for water resistance to 200 meters, plus a unidirectional rotating bezel and anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The stainless steel strap is the perfect accompaniment.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Chronographe Flyback Quantieme Complete
First things first, as we’re talking about luminescence—the Chronographe Flyback Quantieme Complete is the brightest of all the watches mentioned here, with even the subdial hands lumed. The Fifty Fathoms collection was introduced to the world in 1953 as the very first modern diver’s watch. Decades, and many extraordinary technical achievements, later, this is the archetypal diver’s watch. The stunning blue dial includes a date pointer, flyback chronograph functions, a month and day window display, a moon phase display, and a small seconds subdial. The blue sail canvas strap is just the right finishing touch.
Tudor Black Bay 36 Steel
Sixty years of diving history in one iconic timepiece, but that’s just the start with the Tudor Black Bay 36 Steel. This is absolutely a sportsman’s watch, but it’s equally at home for that next business meeting. The 36 Steel features the domed dial and crystal, prominent winding crown, big crown, and angular snowflake hands common to all the Black Bay models. The steel case is polished and satin-finished with a screw-down crown and sapphire crystal. The dazzling silver dial features luminescent hands and hour markers. As watch geeks trend toward smaller pieces, we’ve seen Tudor’s 36mm models explode in popularity.
OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M Ceramic White Dial “Polar”
OMEGA debuted the Seamaster collection to celebrate their 100th anniversary in 1948, taking their design cues from the waterproof watches of the British military. The stainless steel case features a white enamel diving scale, screw-in crown, transparent caseback, and unidirectional rotating bezel, with domed anti-reflective scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The white ceramic dial boasts blackened skeleton hands, a laser-engraved waves pattern, a date indicator, and luminescent white Super-LumiNova. A luxury diving watch that truly must be seen to be appreciated.
Discover the glorious glow of these and many other watches with luminescent features from Feldmar. Browse our online store or stop into our flagship location.
About The Author: Tom Roth
Born in Washington state, Tom developed an interest in photography during college at University of San Diego. There, he got started in music journalism, interviewing artists and taking photos at concerts. A life-long tinkerer and collector, it wasn’t long before Tom became fascinated with fountain pens and watches.
Those interests collided in November 2020 when Tom started at Feldmar Watch Company where he lives out every watch geek’s dream: photographing and writing about timepieces. When he’s not tinkering with his watch collection, Tom can be found traveling, biting his nails while watching PNW sports teams, and taking flying lessons.
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