Method of coating a luminescent material

A luminescent material coated with a crystalline layer of a metal oxide M2O3 wherein a metal M is chosen from the group formed by Y and Al is shown. According to this method the luminescent material is first introduced into a solution of a salt of the metal M, then a compound of the metal M is deposited on the luminescent material through homogeneous precipitation, and subsequently the luminescent material is separated from the solution, dried, and heated. It is achieved thereby that the luminescent material will absorb mercury to a low degree only, and that accordingly the color point of a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp whose luminescent layer comprises a luminescent material coated in accordance with the invention only shows a small shift as the lamp ages.