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Post by carl on Feb 25, 2019 16:03:30 GMT -6
My search is over, and this is a first for me! To say that I am excited is an understatement. For the longest time, I have been looking for a diver or pilot type watch for under a grand, that is from a smaller and less-known brand. YEMA is a French brand that has been around for a long time. I won't go into much detail, as I am still finding out more about them. Anyway, the moment I saw this watch, I knew it was going to be the one. I read quite a few excellent reviews, and lots about the history. I was going to choose the regular Superman model over the Heritage, but the regular model has the YEMA in house movement, which is according to the rep at YEMA much like the ETA 2824-2, but I wanted to be 100% certain I could have the watch serviced locally if need be. Service from this company seems to be excellent. I had a very lengthy chat with one of the representatives online just before I ordered the watch. So far, I have never been so confident about ordering a watch such as this online. Hopefully, I will have it in about a week. I ordered mine with the vintage leather strap. Although they do have a beautiful looking stainless steel bracelet which is apparently close to the original. Links to YEMA website and a YouTube video: en.yema.com/collections/heritage/products/yema-superman-heritage-ysup2018aVery excited about this one! Cheers, Carl
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Baco Noir
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Post by Baco Noir on Feb 25, 2019 16:22:44 GMT -6
Cool looking diver! Love the vintage look which is really prevalent in the domed high rise crystal, the thin ligs, nice lugholes, big crown, and the funky second hand. Hope it's everything and more in person.
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akabw
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Post by akabw on Feb 25, 2019 17:41:11 GMT -6
That's a great looking watch, Carl! Congratulations!
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CHIP
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Post by CHIP on Feb 25, 2019 19:17:27 GMT -6
Congratulations, Carl!
A very cool looking watch, and I think you made the right decision by going with the strap.
The Rolex bracelet ruined me forever, I just can’t find anything else up to their price point that stands a chance. Even more expensive ones often don’t measure up.
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Post by carl on Feb 25, 2019 19:55:10 GMT -6
Congratulations, Carl! A very cool looking watch, and I think you made the right decision by going with the strap. The Rolex bracelet ruined me forever, I just can’t find anything else up to their price point that stands a chance. Even more expensive ones often don’t measure up. Thanks, Chip. I thought exactly the same, and even though the bracelet it just $100 more, I know I would have put a leather strap on anyway. Since about the middle of last year, when the watch was introduced, they seem to have fixed a few issues, mainly with lume on hands and markers not matching. This has all been resolved apparently. The bracelet, of course, is pretty true to the original and, having read a lot of posts on various threads, I am glad that I am getting the strap. Being modeled after the original, of course, it has push pins instead of screws. The Rolex bracelet does spoil me, too. Especially after wearing my Explorer 1 for three days. Just not crazy about that Easylink, with the 5mm gap it seems either too loose or too tight. But I end up just adjusting the bracelet, which I rarely need to do, by using the three micro adjustments. The Glidelock, on the other hand, I'm really looking forward to when I get my 114060. The other bracelets which I find outstanding are the Omega 60th Anniversary Trilogy, although I got both my Railmaster and Seamaster 300 on leather now. I'm not too much until I see this YEMA in real life, but I think it's gonna be a fun watch to have. Almost identical in size to my Seamaster 300 60th Anniversary, will be an interesting comparison. Cheers, Carl
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CHIP
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Post by CHIP on Feb 25, 2019 20:27:19 GMT -6
I hope it’s everything you’re hoping it will be, and that you’ll get lots of joy out of it.
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Post by carl on Mar 4, 2019 23:43:07 GMT -6
It arrived this afternoon! The moment I took it out of it's case, I strapped it on my wrist and have been wearing it ever since. This is one of the coolest watches in real life, and even far more than I hoped it would be. The service from YEMA is excellent. They have a chat service on the website, super friendly and helpful. I studied all about the company and the watch for 6+ hours, then decided to order it. It's only 39mm, and although 14mm thick, the highly domed crystal is 2.6mm, so it really is not that thick. It's an ETA 2824-2 movement, super convenient to have serviced. The domed bezel is more domed than any I have seen, and the dial distortion is great. It has a crown lock which takes a bit of getting used to. The bezel can only turn when the crown is unscrewed, then it locks when the crown is screwed in. The bezel has very precise clicks, although it is pretty stiff to turn. But the crown screws very assuredly into place, locking the bezel as it should, and the crown is tight so you never get the feeling it will loosen. Bit of history about the watch off their website: "Yema has achieved a faithful reissue of the 1970's Superman 53 00 16 by 3D modelling each individual component." "Designed to be an indestructible diving watch, it was subsequently chosen to equip France's Air Force pilots in the 1970s." Lots more info and history on the YEMA website: en.yema.com/collections/heri...tage-ysup2018aTook lots of pics this afternoon: Nicely engraved case back with YEMA logo: Comes in a neat, zippered leather travel pouch: Love the unique second hand, with shovel shaped tip: Not a lot else to say for now. Thanks for looking. Cheers, Carl
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CHIP
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Post by CHIP on Mar 5, 2019 0:21:11 GMT -6
I lost track of your incomings lol.
Congratulations, it looks like a well made watch. You have a brilliant collection and I honestly don’t want to be in your shoes, having to pick what watch to wear for the day.
I’d likely end up looking like an idiot, because I’d be wearing about half a dozen watches lol.
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Post by carl on Mar 5, 2019 0:30:27 GMT -6
I lost track of your incomings lol. Congratulations, it looks like a well made watch. You have a brilliant collection and I honestly don’t want to be in your shoes, having to pick what watch to wear for the day. I’d likely end up looking like an idiot, because I’d be wearing about half a dozen watches lol. Thanks, Chip. I have gone a bit overboard lately. Time, for sure, to sit back and enjoy what I have and definitely decide a few that I want to sell. This YEMA is a complete surprise, especially since ordering online is something I wouldn't normally do. Anyway, I am glad that I did! Cheers, Carl
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CHIP
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Post by CHIP on Mar 5, 2019 0:38:17 GMT -6
I lost track of your incomings lol. Congratulations, it looks like a well made watch. You have a brilliant collection and I honestly don’t want to be in your shoes, having to pick what watch to wear for the day. I’d likely end up looking like an idiot, because I’d be wearing about half a dozen watches lol. Thanks, Chip. I have gone a bit overboard lately. Time, for sure, to sit back and enjoy what I have and definitely decide a few that I want to sell. This YEMA is a complete surprise, especially since ordering online is something I wouldn't normally do. Anyway, I am glad that I did! Cheers, Carl We all need a time (or two or three or four) in our life to go overboard. Making “irrational” decisions is important, and I genuinely think it’s needed. To some it’s a car, a lavish home, designer clothes... none are wrong choices as long as they make one happy. To some, it’s watches. We need to live our life, and we need to feel alive. There are many ways in which that can be accomplished, and this is yours. I’m happy for you.
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Post by carl on Mar 5, 2019 0:45:46 GMT -6
Thanks, Chip. I have gone a bit overboard lately. Time, for sure, to sit back and enjoy what I have and definitely decide a few that I want to sell. This YEMA is a complete surprise, especially since ordering online is something I wouldn't normally do. Anyway, I am glad that I did! Cheers, Carl We all need a time (or two or three or four) in our life to go overboard. We need to live our life, and we need to feel alive. There are many ways in which that can be accomplished, and this is yours. I’m happy for you. Thanks, Chip. I knew that you would feel that way. And many people would feel jealous, or just think me plain nuts, but that's OK too. If I can live the way I like, with the priorities I have and not hurt anyone, then I am a happy guy. But I never take anything, or anyone for granted, and feel totally grateful for my life, health, and the people like you guys on the forums.
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CHIP
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Post by CHIP on Mar 5, 2019 0:52:05 GMT -6
Jealousy is a normal part of life, something I’ve experienced many times. And I’ll likely continue to do so. With that said, I long long time ago realised that I feel way better when my jealousy towards one is expressed as as a feeling of happiness towards that one . If that makes any sense at all.
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Post by carl on Mar 6, 2019 1:49:49 GMT -6
Jealousy is a normal part of life, something I’ve experienced many times. And I’ll likely continue to do so. With that said, I long long time ago realised that I feel way better when my jealousy towards one is expressed as as a feeling of happiness towards that one . If that makes any sense at all. Yes, I know exactly what you mean. We are all going to experience pangs of jealousy from time-to-time. But I have always believed that one can tun that negative energy into something positive and, as you say, express happiness towards someone. At the worst, it will then turn into envy. And I always try to turn it around when I occasionally feel that pang, and it goes away when I realize how badly I would feel if someone was jealous towards me. I remember quite recently, sitting outside my favorite Italian cafe. The most beautiful Bentley sedan drove up right in front of me. I was sitting outside on a warm summer day. I man about my age and someone who was probably his son got out, went inside and ordered a coffee, and came out and sat at the table next to mine. After I had experienced my short moment of jealousy, I looked at the two and how they interacted with each other, and just thought that there's a gentleman and his son out together to enjoy a coffee. What difference does it make what they are driving? As I got up to leave, I commented to them about the car, and that I thought it the most beautiful Bentley I had seen. We carried on a brief conversation about cars and life in general, they were two really delightful people, and I went on my way thinking how much better I felt conveying my appreciation of their car rather than harboring that sense of jealousy. It was the most beautiful Bentley I have seen! A four door sedan, kind of a sage green with a tan leather interior. Never seen one like it before! Sorry to ramble. Cheers, Carl
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Post by marinoc81 on Mar 6, 2019 13:35:43 GMT -6
Cool watch Carl! I like the graceful curve from edge of crown guards as it connects with case flank and the lugs. You capture it well in these photos.
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