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The Serious story

We were founded on a simple premise: to build a tool that fixes the daily frustration of eyestrain.

"My mother's eyes were failing. She couldn't read the paper. So I built a light that worked."
Alex Pratt OBE - Founder
The idea
1982

The idea

As a student our Founder Alex discovered that his studies were made easier when concentrating under better light and so, got interested in it.

The first customer
1986

The first customer

Our first big order came from Singer Industrial Sewing Machines to improve productivity on the Levi 501 Jeans manufacturing line. We went on to bring forward lights used by Bentley, Heathrow Air Traffic Control and FBI Forensic Science.

The first reading light
1988

The first reading light

Alex built the first High Definition home reading light to help his mum read and remain independent despite her Macular Degeneration.

The first masterpiece
2000

The first masterpiece

Serious halogen high definition light engines were first installed in the Van Gogh, Guggenheim, MoMA and Musee D'Orsay museums to bring out the true colour hues and finer details in the most famous artworks.

The first sighting
2002

The first sighting

Serious Lights made their first appearance in Q's Lab in James Bond Die Another Day before making later appearances in Casino Royal, The Bourne Identity, Die Hard and Batman films amongst many other cameo appearances.

The first HD LED Light
2009

The first HD LED Light

We pioneered the benefits of LED lights without suffering the normal productivity detriments from the quality of the light fidelity.

The first global ambition
2015

The first global ambition

A Serious light was needed on board the Virgin Balloon Global attempt, others supported the NASA Space Shuttle Programme, and customers in more than 90 countries around the globe learned to love the transformational benefits of better light.

The first HD Pro Light
2025

The first HD Pro Light

October 2025 sees the limited release of the first HD Pro light, built to be stronger, more stable, lighter, cordless and operable by remote control.

Our mission
2025+

Our mission - to boldly go...

We are working with Universities to develop innovative tailored spectra to personalise to the individual so they will be able to use light to combat the symptoms of conditions like tinnitus, migraines and macular degeneration.

When light matters, Serious is there

Chosen for the world's most demanding environments, where performance is the only metric that matters.

James Bond

Seen in Q's Lab, providing mission-critical light in Die Another Day.

RNLI Lifeboat

Trusted for navigational clarity on board RNLI Lifeboats.

Hubble

The essential tool for the zero-error assembly of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Endurance

On the deck of the Agulhas II that found Shackleton's Endeavour.

Heathrow

Maintaining the critical focus of air traffic controllers in the Heathrow Control Tower.

Choose your light

Both deliver the same pure, full-spectrum daylight. Choose based on your needs.

Our best light
HD Pro
HD Pro

More powerful beam, adjustable width, cordless upgrade available.

VIEW HD PRO
HD Essential
HD Essential

Wide even beam, simple dimming. Everything you need for comfortable reading.

VIEW HD ESSENTIAL
Only your verdict matters

We can show you the science. You can hear from the experts. We can wax lyrical about how better light will transform your view. But, in the end you need to try one yourself and make up your own mind.

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The Serious promise

30 day risk-free trial

If it doesn't transform how you see, we collect it for free.

5 year warranty

Built to be repaired, not thrown away.

Recommended by 500+ opticians

The professional's choice for relieving eyestrain.