Chromalight – Rolex’s Blue-Glowing Luminescent Paint

Chromalight is Rolex’s own blue-glowing luminescence, a more effective way to make a watch legible in dim light. Its cool color makes it easier for human eyes to detect compared to the previous green hues of Super-Luminova.

The rotatable bezel is made of hard and corrosion-resistant Cerachrom, while the dial features platinum PVD graduations. There’s also a knurled zero marker that ensures easy grip in a wetsuit.

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Luminous paint (or lume) uses a chemical compound, usually strontium aluminate doped with europium and dysprosium, to soak up energy from ambient light. It then releases that energy slowly over time, emitting a soft glow. Different luminescent materials absorb different colors of light and release them at varying rates. Some produce greens, others blues, and a few (like Rolex’s Chromalight) even glow red.

The luminous effect in these materials happens because the phosphorescent molecules get excited when they receive photons. This causes them to change their quantum state from their normal “ground” energy states into a higher energy state.

This high-energy state allows them to emit photons for a long time without losing any energy. This is why luminescent paint can remain bright for hours. Early watches used radioactive tritium, but these were replaced with modern luminous paints such as Super-Luminova on the Reference 116610 Submariner (both Hulk and non-Hulk) in 2008. Rolex’s latest innovation is the Chromalight display, which produces a consistent blue glow that lasts more than eight hours.

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Rolex developed Chromalight, a proprietary luminescent material that gives its watches a distinctive blue glow. Its brightness and extended glow duration rival Super-Luminova, and it is a common feature on the brand’s diving models. The bezel of this model is made from hard, corrosion-resistant Cerachrom and features a 60-minute scale that helps divers monitor dive times and decompression stops. It also features a platinum PVD coating for a luxurious appearance.

The Submariner’s rotatable bezel is a key functionality for deep-water diving, and its luminous display allows the wearer to read time in the dark. The bezel’s knurled edge is designed to allow for easy gripping while wearing gloves. The tachymetric scale on the bezel is also enhanced by Chromalight, and its legibility is ensured by its platinum PVD coating.