In short, it’s simply a polymer embedded with carbon fiber strands. It’s stronger, allowing watches to be made thinner, lighter, and more technologically advanced.

But why all the fuss?

Do you see the proud “Illuminator” inscription on your watch and think it guarantees perfect backlighting?

In fact, Casio’s marketers have long since turned this word into a generic brand name that could refer to anything from a cheap LED to that iconic neon display from the ’90s.

In this article, we cut through the marketing hype to examine the actual physics of watch lighting: from Neobrite phosphorescent material to powerful Super Illuminator projectors.