Yema LED Watch Review - Cyberpunk On Your Wrist!
You see I’ve been having a lot of fun with this French LED watch that looks like something straight out of Cyberpunk 2077 or Blade Runner. And before you ask, yes it does work, you just have to give it a bit of juice.
So, how did this end up in my possession? Well, Yema reached out via email asking to send one my way. One look at the product shot and it was in the mail. You see, I’ve covered plenty of digital LCD watches before, but never an original LED one. Back in the early 70’s, before the advent of liquid crystal displays, there came these light-emitting diode watches. This often-forgotten technology requires an electrical charge to pass through a material like aluminium-gallium to become illuminated, hence the name. These LED watches are more power-hungry than their LCD successors, so typically require manual activation to display the time, to conserve energy; as is the case with this Yema Reissue.
The original model that this was based on seems to be very difficult to track down, aside from a couple of photos on Google images, though this new model appears to be a rather faithful recreation.
Watch Dimensions
These LED watches were often known to be somewhat larger than the LCD’s which followed them. This model comes in with a diameter of 37.5mm, a thickness of 10.5mm and a lug to lug size of 42.3mm. In reality, the barrel-shaped case results in the watch feeling larger on-wrist; akin to a typical 41mm watch.
On my small 15.5cm wrist, it doesn’t look bad though. It’s a touch large, though the standardised lugs don’t leave any overhang; meaning it should fit a range of wrist sizes, including those of you with much larger wrists.
Case
It’s a very simple yet striking design, which is fun though not the most versatile for day-to-day usage. The red crystal cuts straight through the middle of the brushed silver case, with a slim high-polish surround on either side. The flanks of the watch are also polished and the angular lugs fall off steeply, contributing further to that retro-futuristic vibe. Branding is very limited, with an etched Yema logo at the bottom centre.
You’ll find a more elaborate engraving on the case rear. This variant of the logo looks like some form of a late medieval crest and has been done so precisely that the edges are a little sharp to the touch. It doesn’t scratch your wrist or anything like that, but it does highlight the attention to detail.
The case-back itself is screw-on, aiding the solid 100m of water resistance, which is more than enough for most people. Additionally, you’ll be glad to know is that the case is stainless steel, unlike many of the cheap digitals that you may already be familiar with. This will ensure better durability and overall it just makes the piece feel like a decent quality item.
Watch Movement
Functionally, the proprietary LED-quartz movement is very basic. The top pusher activates the LED display, which automatically turns off after a couple of seconds. Repeatedly compressing it will cycle you through the different display modes, such as the date and second counter. Unlike LCD watches, this tech doesn’t accommodate the likes of timers or alarms, with the bottom button simply being used to edit the time or date.
This lack of features, combined with the requirement for a free hand every time you want to view the time, negatively impacts the raw practicality of the watch; resigning it to fashion accessory status, as opposed to something handy. In comparison, I’ve often found LCD watches to work better than this or a phone when you’re in a rush. You can just look at your wrist and bam, you instantly have the time.
Design
That being said, it does do a great job of serving that visual purpose. It’s unusual how a wristwatch can look like it’s from the 1970s and 2070s simultaneously, but I think that’s certainly the case here. Unlike some other reissues we’ve reviewed, I think the design is very tastefully done and the simplistic squared-off profile holds up better than some of the alternatives, such as the Bulova Computron reissue.
There’s something universally cool and punchy about the red glow of an LED that just can’t be captured with greyscale LCD technology. It looks like it belongs in a neon sea with bright lights and hoverbikes. You’d never think that almost 50 years after the original, that this would look so futuristic and as such, I have to credit Yema’s marketing department for conveying an accurate message.
I showed this one to my dad and it immediately lit up his face, a reaction that I think would be commonplace with this Yema. Before receiving the watch I was concerned that it may feel like a complete gimmick, given the obsolete technology, however, the careful execution just about elevates this into a higher bracket. There is also a gold version available, should that suit your preferences, personally I quite like the silver.
Bracelet
From above, the bracelet fits the theme very well, with a slick horizontally brushed finish that integrates well with that on the main body. It also features a clasp with a small lasered Yema logo that is light enough to not spoil the aesthetic.
While it looks great, unfortunately, the construction of it falls short. As you can see, it utilises folded links, which tend to rip out arm hairs if you’re not careful. While this wouldn’t be worth complaining about on a cheap watch, this Yema is currently retailing for $224 (or about £165) using the current 10% discount, so it’s difficult to pull that excuse. From what I can gather, this is either an attempt to match the look of the seventies watches or to cut costs. Perhaps a combination of both?
While this is easily the best feeling folded link bracelet I’ve come across and it is fully adjustable in a pinch, I still think it’s an inexcusable compromise at this price point. A solid link bracelet could surely be implemented here and be modelled to provide the same aesthetic with a better level of comfort.
Luckily, you can easily change this out for an alternative 20mm band, though I was still hoping for better, given how premium the watch looked in the stock images.
Final Thoughts
The real question is can a digital watch like this command such a high RRP? Compared to many digital watches that I’ve covered before, this by far the priciest, sitting at close to triple the cost of the steel Casio A1000 series, which received a mixed review themselves.
Well, here’s my take. It’s great that these are ‘made in France’ for starters. I’m sure there are some technicalities to that, but if it means fewer questionable labour practices along the production chain then that is a win in my books. The build feels solid, so I do think the watch will last well over time, though due to the nature of these watches, semi-regular battery changes will be required. It’s a bonus to have the water-resistance too, as it’s one less worry to have in day-to-day usage.
On the other hand, I’m not sure the finishing is sharp enough for me to consider buying one at retail price. While the case is rather angular, the transitions themselves aren’t as sharp as I had hoped for and the red crystal is also misaligned slightly, sitting a touch to the right.
That is also only a mineral crystal, meaning scratches could be an issue further down the line and when you step back to look at this watch on paper, it’s nothing particularly impressive.
If this package was closer to the £100 mark, it would be much more tempting, that’s for sure. It would also make for a more viable gift option, which would combine well with the decent leather case that the watch was delivered in. I think a lot of men would be thrilled to receive one of these unless they discovered their wife had just dropped nearly £200 on it.
It is much cheaper than the crazy expensive Hamilton LED, though I haven’t managed to obtain one for a proper comparison.
