Lumiram Chromalux Lights and Bulbs
Welcome to our light family!
Increasing awareness of light choices for ultimate health and well-being.
Now more than ever, the lighting we use in our homes, offices, businesses, and anywhere we spend our days should be of utmost importance.
Our story starts in Finland
Chromalux is the original light bulb for health and wellness and has been enhancing people's lives and the spaces they live in since it was first created in finland over 60 years ago
Extensive research and testing here resulted in the design of this unique light source, which closely simulates natural sunlight.
This lighting technology, brought to the U.S. by Lumiram and its founders in the 1970s, has allowed people to see brighter and more vibrant colors, enhancing spaces and well-being alike.
Upon discovering that Scandinavian doctors used a special lighting technology that enhanced color and contrast to detect skin abnormalities in their patients, inspiration struck our founders, Jacques and Corinne, to think about the wonders such a light bulb with color-enhancing and contrast-enhancing qualities could do in the home.
In 1978, when immigrating to the US from France, they brought along their fledgling company Lumiram, as well as their new lighting concept and glass technology for the Chromalux light bulb we now enjoy today, hoping to spread this beautiful light through the homes of their new fellow Americans.
Neodymium Glass
The Magic Element in Chromalux Full Specturum Light Bulbs
All Chromalux bulbs are made with our signature neodymium glass, neodymium being the element that gives our bulbs their beautiful lavender appearance and outputs a pure and beautifully crisp vivid light.
Chromalux is the original maker of neodymium (pronounced nee-oh-di-mee-um) glass full spectrum light bulbs, having brought this special lighting technology to the United States in 1978.
A natural element abundantly found in Earth's crust, neodymium has some fascinating color-enhancing and purification effects.
Acting as a sort of filter and magnifier, it filters a bit of the yellow/green wavelengths of the visible light spectrum (555 nm)—the dulling part of the visual light spectrum that our eyes are most sensitive to—while enhancing reds, blues, and increasing contrasts between colors and tones.
Since the human eye is overly sensitive to that yellow/green (555nm) color range and less so to red and blue, attenuating the yellow signal allows the blue and red signals to come through more strongly, naturally enhancing colors and textures in a way unlike any ordinary light bulb!
Whereas most light bulbs (whether LED, incandescent, or halogen) produce dull light and can muddle colors as compared to natural daylight, Chromalux and its special neodymium technology bring meaning to the phrase "seeing life in full color!"
Benefits of Chromalux Full Specturum Light Bulbs
Feel Better
Lighting to uplift your life.
You know the regenerative feeling of the sun beaming down on you? The way nature's colors and textures are colorfully vibrant and full of life? The Chromalux light bulb brings that environment—the beautifully enhanced colors, texture, and contrast inherently present under natural sunlight—back into the home.
The Chromalux bulb creates a soothing yet vibrant interior space that you'll love to live, work, and play under. Chromalux provides your body with the pure full spectrum light it was designed to receive by closely mimicking nature's sunlight, full of the beneficial wavelengths and color we're wired to thrive under.
See Better
A sigh of relief for tired, strained eyes.
Chromalux bulbs are naturally low in flicker, but the real magic lies in its ability to cut glare and create better contrast and definition between colors, tones, and textures. The light of Chromalux® has a crispening effect, so black text will seemingly "lift" off a white page, making it easier to read under, see under, and work under. Many first-time customers say they can feel their eyes sighing a literal breath of relief! Thanks to its inherent chromatic balance and color-discriminating qualities, Chromalux® has been a top recommendation for the low-vision population since the 1980s, also having been shown to enhance visual acuity.
Enhanced Environments
Chromalux is the original neodymium glass light bulb, which works by purifying the visible light spectrum, removing glare and dulling frequencies while strengthening red, blue, and green values. As a result, light is filtered, cutting glare and revealing the most beautiful crisp and vivid colors. Under Chromalux light, you'll notice colors, textures, and tones become more vibrant and your home more alive. We like to say Chromalux is like photoshop for real life!
Most people know that a lack of sunlight can affect health, but few stop to consider how much indoor lighting impacts us too. When we spend most of our time inside, the type of light we use matters greatly. Done right, indoor lighting can support well-being, energy, and even sleep. Done wrong, it can leave us feeling drained or overstimulated.
Not all light is created equal. Natural sunlight is always the gold standard—it helps us see clearly, feel balanced, and keep our circadian rhythms on track. Artificial light should aim to mimic this. Blue light, for example, often gets a bad reputation, but it's actually necessary during the daytime. It's what signals our body to be awake and alert. The problem comes when we're exposed to it at night, when it disrupts melatonin production and makes it harder to get deep rest.
So what are the best light bulbs for health?
Just like anything else concerning best health—think natural foods sans additives, preservatives, and other ingredients our biology doesn't understand or have use for—the best light bulb for your health is the analog type, the one that best mimics light from our natural source, the sun.
By definition, then, the absolute healthiest light bulb is incandescent (or halogen). Just as the sun radiates heat, producing the visible light spectrum we can see, an incandescent light bulb (and its brighter counterpart, the halogen incandescent) does much the same thing.
An electrical current heats the base of an incandescent light bulb, which produces heat and visible light when conducted through the filament housed inside. When we say incandescent bulbs are the closest thing to natural sunlight, we weren't kidding; the act of incandescence makes them one and very much the same and our body recognizes its light as such.
That's where Chromalux comes in. These unique full-spectrum incandescent bulbs not only replicate the healthy glow of the sun, but also filter out harsh yellow tones with neodymium glass—creating light that feels pure, uplifting, and easy on the eyes. Especially during the shorter fall and winter days, they can make a noticeable difference in mood, creativity, and overall well-being. With Chromalux, customers can enjoy natural, balanced light all year long.
What is Full Spectrum Light?
Full spectrum light is commonly defined as a light source with a color temperature between 5000K and 6500K and a CRI above 96.
However, since sunlight varies in color temperature throughout the day—warmer during dawn/dusk, cooler and whiter throughout the daytime—we find the above definition to be incomplete.
We owe this definition of full spectrum light to studies done in the 1960s, which showed how plants could grow as well under an artificial light source containing a fuller, more complete spectrum of visible light as they would under natural daylight. While many may like to define full spectrum light as one in the "cooler" daylight white color temperature range, all variations of sunlight are still full spectrum and beneficial—they just have different effects!
Full spectrum lighting can mean any bulb that either:
- Contains a full visible light spectrum and the non-visible light spectra of infrared and/or ultraviolet OR
- Contains a balanced and full visible light spectrum (regardless of color temperature).
Most full spectrum light bulbs go via the second definition, containing a balanced visible light spectrum, since the first definition is nearly impossible to achieve in an 'artificial' light source.
Incandescent and halogen light bulbs are the closest possible light sources to natural sunlight as they emit the full visible spectrum and infrared.
The Spectrums of Light
Even though "light" can technically refer to the larger electromagnetic spectrum (containing everything from gamma rays to radio waves), there are only three primary spectrums of light that are the focus of everything and anything discussing light or full spectrum light and health.
They are, in order of appearance on the spectrum:
- Ultraviolet Light (UV)
- Visible Light (white light and all the colors of the rainbow)
- Infrared Light
These three bands of invisible and visible light profoundly affect all plant, animal, and human life.
They affect our circadian sleep/wake schedule and all downstream effects, such as digestion, hormones, body temperature, the production of Vitamin D, and cellular energy production.
Guide to Color Temperature
Color temperature is a measure used to describe a light source's visual appearance and whiteness.
Just like natural sunlight appears in many shades throughout one day, "artificial" lighting or light bulbs also come in many shades of white. These are a light's color temperatures, represented as degrees Kelvin (°K).
Most light bulbs fall anywhere between 2700K and 6500K.
The lower the Kelvin temperature, the "warmer" or more red the light. The higher the Kelvin temperature, the "cooler" or more white and blue the light.
Of the above 2700K-6500K range, 2700K represents a warmer light, and 6500K a bright, bluish-white light.
Cooler color temperatures promote energy + alertness, while warmer color temperatures promote feelings of rest + coziness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between full spectrum bulbs and Chromalux full spectrum bulbs?
Standard daylight full spectrum light bulbs are a different bulb entirely from the Chromalux line of full spectrum bulbs, which use neodymium glass to filter out yellow and other dulling frequencies of the light spectrum, resulting in a beautifully pure and vivid light with enhanced colors and contrast.
Standard types of full spectrum light bulbs are typically LEDs that emit a full spectrum of daylight white light (between 5000-6500K color temperature). While these bulbs are beneficial in the morning and daytime to help with energy and alertness (thanks to the biologically necessary blue color wavelengths to activate our circadian rhythm), most of these bulbs don't necessarily replicate colors well and can cast a garish appearance to everything.
Many people also complain of glare and eye strain. Our bulbs will appear gentler and soothing in comparison, and colors will also be more vivid and true to life.
In a nutshell, our light technology allows you to see and feel better while enhancing your environment and inspiring you in a way standard full spectrum bulbs cannot! Ideally, you could use standard daylight color full spectrum bulbs and our unique Chromalux bulbs for the ultimate uplifting and natural lighting environment!
What is the difference between a regular incandescent bulb and a Chromalux incandescent bulb?
Other than superior bulb construction and quality, the main difference of a Chromalux bulb is of course its unique neodymium glass composition, neodymium being the element that gives our bulbs their beautiful lavender appearance and outputs a pure and beautifully crisp vivid light. The Chromalux bulbs gives off a uniquely purified light with a "rosy" feel. Colors appear more vivid, contrast is enhanced, and everything just looks and feels better!
Does Chromalux provide Vitamin D?
Chromalux bulbs do not contain UVB light, which is necessary for the production of Vitamin D, just a balanced visible spectrum of light, in addition to nourishing infrared. Apart from supplementation, we always recommend some quality time under the sun!
Can I use these for winter blues?
Yes, of course! Chromalux is a wellness light bulb and makes life more colorful and optimistic. Do keep in mind, however, that while full spectrum light bulbs definitely help those suffering from winter blues, they are not considered a standalone treatment for seasonal depression.
To qualify as light therapy for the treatment of winter blues, light must be at least 10,000 lux, and white in color temperature with plenty of blue light. Light therapy boxes provide a much stronger intensity of light and can be used only for about 30 minutes a day, while Chromalux full spectrum lighting can be used without restrictions (like a normal light bulb).
Why do we still love incandescent light?
Incandescent light remains the healthiest, most natural form of "artificial light" available. Even calling them artificial feels wrong; as you'll soon discover, the light of incandescent and even more so, the uniquely purified, colorful light of Chromalux incandescent bulbs is anything but artificial!
Incandescent (and halogen bulbs, their brighter cousin) emit a full, balanced spectrum of visible and infrared light—something no other full spectrum lighting technology can naturally replicate. Full spectrum LED bulbs emit only a full spectrum of visible light.
Unlike standard full spectrum LED bulbs, which can emit high levels of disruptive blue light and lack nourishing infrared, incandescent bulbs offer a gentle, soothing glow.
Chromalux full spectrum won't strain the eyes, they won't interfere with sleep, and they will support your well-being just like natural sunlight. In fact, infrared light—often dismissed as "wasteful light" or thermal waste by critics—comprises up to 44% of natural sunlight and plays a key role in cellular health and regeneration.
Remember, light is a tool, and while high quality full spectrum LED can be a good idea for certain applications, when it comes to the home, your ultimate health, and the purest light possible, nothing can beat the light of Chromalux incandescent!
