I’ve always wanted a vintage Yema Superman with the iconic locking bezel, but couldn’t find one for a long time. And when the opportunity suddenly arose to acquire a pre-1963 Yema Skin Diver 660 Feet, I jumped at it. I never expected this to happen, but ever since this watch came out, I no longer admire Superman.
I don’t really enjoy this time of year. The sun suddenly disappears, the temperature drops by 15 degrees, the blue skies turn gray, and the roads and hearts become wet. The moment I forget that the darkness of the night tried to suck all my energy, I wake up in the darkness of the morning trying to do the same. It comes every fall, always without asking.
change habits
It will take a week (or a month) to readjust. The time it takes for your body and mind to accept the gameplay set for the next few months is painful. You’ll have to search deep in your wardrobe for pants you’ll want to keep for a few more months. And that’s also when my choice of morning watch changes dramatically. The watch you’ve been enjoying for the past few months doesn’t suit your mood or environment. I often unconsciously follow a watch that I haven’t seen in a long time. I can’t reach for the thin, light and elegant 35mm three-hand or white dial chronograph.
Hello, this is before ’63!
So this week I came across the pre-1963 Yema Skin Diver 660 Feet. The dial is darker than the mood and does not induce rain. Now I don’t swim. I mean, I don’t swim in water, but with this Yema Skin Diver, I don’t mind swimming in the rain. Have you ever seen those big luminous markers? They look like the fog lights on a car I passed on the dimly lit highway this morning. If you read my writing, you’ll know how much I enjoy the patina of sand. This is different. The mint green luminous color, similar to Seiko’s Wabi Sabi, is perfect for a muddy day in late October.
practical tools
We all think about how cool the Yema Superman’s crown guard is (probably a little less cool after having to quickly set your watch in the morning). Naturally, I was benchmarking and comparing the Yema Skin Diver to the Superman. The skin diver looked a little naked in the photo. However, once the product arrived and I tried it on, I immediately understood its simplicity. Add a very high crown and drilled lug holes and you have a pure, unadorned design.
A dial you’ll want to death (or…)
This particular dial style needs no introduction. Everyone who knows the Oris Divers 65 has probably seen it at least once. The more I look at it, the more timeless it seems. At one point I realized it was supernatural and sci-fi-like. Well, it’s kind of 1960s science fiction, but the spirit is there. I can’t imagine a world with that stylized “9” on the dial, and yet here we are.
The date window is the only element that doesn’t belong there. It seems like a joke or a mistake. The numbers on that date look like small, pathetic humans being chased by a fleet of hostile spaceships. If you like, it’s a “time marker.” The shape of these indexes is very dynamic. I like that the butt spans exactly two minutes and tapers sharply towards the center of the dial. Now, to release all your troubles, we have to mention the minute hand. It’s been years since I bought this watch, but my mind still hasn’t processed the extra bar on the arrow needle. I know it’s a signature today, but it still feels a little weird. And also it adds a unique character.
Bezel quest
This watch is also full of wonderful memories. When it arrived, the bezel was wrong. All it takes is one post on Instagram and you’ve found the right post. A collector of vintage German dive watches sold it to me for the very reasonable price of 50 euros for the bezel with spare case. “I’ll divide the price by 3 and put it in the ‘Superbuxen’ for my three children,” he said, making me smile.
last thought
The pre-1963 Yema Skin Diver 660 Feet is approximately 38 mm in diameter, so it still fits snugly on your wrist. The automatic ETA 2452 inside isn’t flashy, but it’s reliable enough that you don’t need to worry about it. Although this watch is called “Skin Diver”, it feels quite sturdy. If you get one, make sure to put on the correct crystal so you can see the dial better. Also get a UV lamp if you don’t already have one. After getting this Yema Skin Diver, I found out its true purpose. It’s about lighting up any time of the night just for fun. Happy hunting!
