The Glow That Powers Metrical Watches

In luxury mechanical watchmaking, legibility in low light is both an art and a science—and Super-LumiNova sets the golden standard.

This Swiss made luminescent pigment is non-radioactive, environmentally responsible, and offers superior performance compared to earlier luminescent compounds. Its ability to absorb ambient light and emit a sustained glow transforms the watch from a daytime instrument into a captivating nocturnal display and allows Metrical Watch dials to shine in darkness with lasting brilliance.

In our Epiphany Origin model, we use the BGW9 Super-LumiNova variant to ensure crisp readability and celestial allure day or night.

What Is Super-LumiNova?

Super-LumiNova is an advanced strontium-aluminate-based pigment enhanced with rare-earth elements. It functions like a rechargeable light battery—absorbing ambient light from sunlight or artificial light sources and releasing it slowly as a steady glow.

Unlike vintage radium or tritium lume, Super-LumiNova is non-toxic, non-radioactive, and environmentally friendly. In contrast to tritium, Super-LumiNova does not degrade significantly over time.

From Tritium to Swiss Innovation

Before the 1990s, watchmakers relied on radioactive tritium for luminescence, but safety concerns prompted a shift. Super-LumiNova emerged as a safer, brighter, and longer-lasting solution.

While tritium lume fades after 10–20 years, Super-LumiNova maintains its full intensity for decades—making it the premier luminous material for luxury dive watches and high-end timepieces alike.

Grades, Colors, and Performance

SuperLumiNova is produced in several grades, distinguished primarily by afterglow duration rather than initial brightness:

• Standard: Reliable baseline performance.

• Grade A: Improved afterglow.

• Grades X1 and X2: Superior persistance, with X2 offering the longest afterglow.

While initial brightness remains similar across grades, A, X1, and X2 offer superior light retention over time.

Common lume colors include green (C3)—the brightest on the market—alongside blue, white, vintage beige tones, and more.

For Metrical’s Epiphany Origin, we selected BGW9 Super-LumiNova, a luminous blue-white variant for its clean, intense glow that complements the dial's celestial theme. 

Why Metrical Watch Chooses Super-LumiNova

For Epiphany, Super-LumiNova enhances both functionality and storytelling. The day-night cycle display is greatly enhanced: hands and indices glow vividly, evoking stars against the night sky. 

This interplay of light and shadow transforms a precision instrument into a poetic mechanical art —an embodiment of our philosophy: uniting innovation with timeless beauty.

Ready to experience the glow? Discover our models that glow in the dark.