What Is MDV Lume? A Guide to Lum-Tec's Luminous Technology

Lum-Tec calls its luminous approach MDV® luminous technology. This guide explains, in plain terms, what MDV is, how it differs from an ordinary luminous dial, which Super-Luminova grades you will find across the current lineup, and what it means when you are choosing a watch. As an authorized Lum-Tec dealer, we sell these watches, but everything below is based on Lum-Tec's own published specifications.

Luminous paint 101: what Super-Luminova does

Modern watch lume is a photoluminescent pigment. It stores energy when it is exposed to light (sunlight, a lamp, a flashlight) and releases that energy as a visible glow in the dark. It is not radioactive and it does not need a battery. Super-Luminova, made in Switzerland by RC Tritec, is a widely used luminous pigment. It comes in different grades and colors. Some grades glow green, some glow blue, and some look nearly white in daylight.

So what is MDV?

MDV is Lum-Tec's name for its luminous technology. According to Lum-Tec, the dial is printed with more than 30 layers of top-grade Super-Luminova, applied over a chemically coated, reflective base. Two things happen as a result:

• Many layers. The luminous material is built up in more than 30 printed layers.
• Light goes forward. Lum-Tec says the reflective base underneath directs the glow out of the front of the watch instead of letting it get lost back into the dial.

Lum-Tec also states that its dials have been tested and verified by RC Tritec in Switzerland, the company that makes Super-Luminova, as top performers of the material. Lum-Tec's spec sheets also list Super-Luminova on the hands, including diamond-cut hands on many models.

The Super-Luminova grades you will see on Lum-Tec watches

Lum-Tec lists the exact grade on each model's spec sheet. On the watches we currently carry, you will find:

• X1 C3 (green glow): used on several of the models we carry. You'll find it on the Combat Field X4 Titanium, the Combat B69 Automatic, the Eclipse E6, the Combat B74 GMT and the RPM 3 Chronograph.
• X1 208LE (green glow): listed for the Eclipse E1.
• X1 C3 BL (blue glow): listed for the Combat B64 Chronograph.
• X1 dark orange: listed for the Combat B71.
• A-grade BGW9 (blue glow): used on the Solar Marine series and on Combat B models such as the Combat B70 and B73. BGW9 looks close to white in daylight.

Grade and color affect how the lume looks in daylight and what color it glows at night. If you have a preference, check the spec list on the product page.

Other design details that affect legibility

Lume is only part of legibility. Lum-Tec pairs MDV with other choices that help you read the time in low light:

• Inverse lume dials. The Combat B72 uses an inverse lume dial, where the whole dial surface is luminous and the numerals stand out against it.
• Floating 3D markers. The Eclipse series uses solid, raised luminous markers around the edge of the dial.
• Semi-transparent solar dials. On the Solar Marine divers, the dial lets light through to the solar movement while the luminous elements still use the MDV method. The bezel also carries a luminous pip.
• Anti-reflective sapphire. Lum-Tec lists sapphire crystals with military-grade anti-reflective coating on many models, which helps reduce glare.

How to get the most from your lume

Any photoluminescent lume, MDV included, is brightest right after it has been charged and fades gradually after that. A few simple habits help:

• Charge it with good light. Daylight and bright LED light charge lume quickly. A flashlight works too.
• Let your eyes adjust. Lume always looks stronger once your eyes adapt to the dark.
• Keep the crystal clean. Fingerprints and grime on the sapphire scatter light.

We don't quote glow times. Real-world results depend on how strongly the lume was charged, how long ago, and how dark the room is, so any single number would be misleading.

Who benefits most from MDV?

Strong lume isn't just a party trick. It matters if you check the time in a dark bedroom, on a night shift, at a campsite, in a cockpit, on a boat, or in a theater. Lum-Tec says its Combat B watches have been battle tested in real military applications, and that since 2007 it has produced watches for more than 100 brands around the world, the US government and SWAT teams. For everyday wearers, MDV simply means a watch you can read at a glance in poor light.

Where to see MDV in the current lineup

Every Lum-Tec watch we sell uses MDV luminous technology. Browse the full Lum-Tec collection, or start with these guides:

• Combat B: quartz vs. automatic vs. chronograph
• Solar Marine 5, 6, 7 and 8 compared
• Lum-Tec GMT buyer's guide

MDV lume FAQ

Is MDV lume radioactive?

No. MDV uses Super-Luminova, a photoluminescent pigment that charges from light. It is not tritium and contains no radioactive material.

Does MDV need a battery or power source?

No. The lume charges from any light source and then glows on its own. It works the same on automatic, quartz and solar models.

What does "30 layers" mean?

According to Lum-Tec, the dial is printed with more than 30 layers of Super-Luminova over a chemically coated, reflective base, which Lum-Tec says directs the glow forward.

Is the lume on the hands the same as on the dial?

Lum-Tec's spec sheets list the Super-Luminova grade used on each model's hands. Check the product page if you want the details for a specific watch.

Can lume be serviced or redone?

Service is provided by Lum-Tec, not The CGA Company, under Lum-Tec's own terms. For service questions, contact Lum-Tec at service@lum-tec.com. As an authorized dealer, we can point you in the right direction.