THE VERSATILITY OF VINTAGE BULBS

Vintage bulbs have a unique aesthetic that sets them apart from other light bulbs because they have a distinctly nostaltic appeal that is becoming much sought after.  Their warm glow and attractive filaments  produce a cosy, inviting atmosphere that is perfect for creating a relaxing ambience in any room in your home, while their unique shapes will add character to any space.

From industrial to bohemian, vintage bulbs can fit into a variety of design styles and look equally good used on their own, without a shade, or in addition to a fabric or glass shade depending look you want to achieve.
   

• They can be used as statement pieces in chandeliers or pendant lights.
• They create subtle accents in table lamps or exposed no-shade wall lights.  
• With the availability of energy-efficient LED options, vintage bulbs can now be enjoyed without sacrificing energy efficiency.  

ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF VINTAGE BULBS

Vintage bulbs are charming, but they are not always the most energy-efficient option if you choose an incandescent type. Old fashioned incandescent bulbs are known for their high energy consumption and short lifespan.

However, if you choose a bulb with energy-efficient LED technology, it will mimic the look of a vintage bulb while using significantly less energy. LEDs are now hailed as the future of home lighting as they are an energy efficient, longer lasting replacement for the old traditional incandescent light bulbs.

LEDs light to full strength straight away, emit the same brightness as traditional bulbs and only use a fraction of the power – around 90% less than traditional light bulbs. They therefore last 10-20 times longer and, unlike energy saving CFLs, can be recycled.

According to studies by Which magazine:
LEDs have an annual running cost of £1.71
CFLs annual running cost of £2.04
Halogens annual running cost of £8.42

Lumens is a measure of how much light you are getting from a bulb. More lumens means it’s a brighter light; fewer lumens means it’s a dimmer light.

• Our collection of vintage bulbs has a lumens of 150-330, roughly the equivalent to a 25-30W old style bulb.

Watts vs Lumens
When shopping for bulbs, remember the wattage doesn’t denote brightness. In the past, when we filled our homes with incandescent bulbs, brightness was measured in watts - which is actually a measure of power i.e. how much energy the light consumes to produce its light.

Since the introduction of energy-saving bulbs, it is a less useful measure of brightness, as new bulbs use a lot less power to produce the same amount of light. So, instead, light output is measured in lumens. The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light.

WHAT COLOUR IS MY VINTAGE BULB?

Our vintage bulb range features amber glass coating and soft coil filaments that produce a soft, amber glow that is ideal for mood lighting.

The colour temperature of the range is from 1,800K to 2,000K so produce a yellow/amber low level of light.

The colour of light is measured in Kelvin, which is actually a measure of temperature.

• The lower the light temperature, the 'warmer' and redder the light appears to the eye. 
• The lower the temperature, the 'cooler' and bluer the light is.

HOW WELL DOES A VINTAGE BULB REFLECT COLOUR?

The Colour Rendering Index (CRI) is the measurement of how colours looks to the human eye under a light source when compared with sunlight.

The index is measured from 0-100 with natural sunlight having a perfect score of 100. The higher the CRI the better the colour rendering ability.

Any light scoring 80-100 means that the colours illuminated by it appear the same, or nearly the same as they would under natural sunlight.

The rating is used by the lighting industry to help discern the colour accuracy of lights. Lights with a CRI of 80 or more are considered to be more than acceptable for most applications.

Our vintage bulbs have a CRI rating of 85 which means they are considered acceptable for most general lighting applications.

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