New Release: Yema Superman Maxi Dial Full Lume 

French brand Yema releases a fully-lumed version of its classic Superman dive model, the Yema Superman Maxi Dial Full lume.

The Release

The Yema Superman Maxi Dial Full Lume comes in a 39 or 41mm case that’s 13mm thick and measures 48mm from lug to lug; the case is brushed in its entirety. The 3 o’clock screwdown crown is branded and ensures 300m water resistance. The watch is available on the tapering steel bracelet with a folding clasp or a FKM Viton™ rubber strap with a deployant buckle; both fit the 19mm lugs. The unidirectional bezel features an aluminum insert and a lumed pip at 0/60. The bezel can be locked in place with Yema’s signature bezel lock, located at 3 o’clock: when the crown is screwed in, a metal clamp closes down onto the bezel and holds it in place. A large, domed sapphire crystal sits over the dial.

As indicated in the name, the dial is fully lumed with Super-LumiNova BGW9, which is also on the handset, which features a large, bisected arrow on the minute hand. The stoplight seconds hand takes a shovel shape, which was found on classic Yema models. A minute track encircles the entire dial, with thicker 5-minute hashes. Cardinal hours are marked with capsule outlines and a triangle outline at 12; non-cardinals are marked with black circles. The Yema name and logo is at 12, while red dial text features at 6 o’clock.

Our Thoughts

Full lume is the new blue dial. Or green dial. Or bronze. Whatever is super hot right now, full lume is the new version of it. Doxa, Bell & Ross, and even TAG Heuer (plus a slew of microbrands) have all released fully-lumed models. There’s no arguing with the fun factor: people love lume (especially my 4-year-old-son), and while a lumed dial doesn’t really add functionally to a watch, it does add plenty of quirk and makes for something a bit different. I will always argue, thought, that fully-lumed dials should be paired with solid, unlumed hands.

I like how this watch looks, especially the dial design. The bezel lock of the Yema Superman appeals to me in its quirkiness, though perhaps not in its practicality—if at all, I tend to use my bezel for spur-of-the-moment things like timeouts and cooking. I also like how the bracelet, while not integrated, gives such an appearance and transitions seamlessly from the case. The clasp on these is stamped and it’s a weak point in most reviews of Yema watches; it’s also 19mm which is ridiculous and means I wouldn’t have any straps that fit. I can’t help but wonder, too, how great this watch would look without the lumed dial: straight black and white, with the pop of red.

Availability

The Yema Superman Maxi Dial Full Lume is limited to 500 pieces altogether and priced at $990 on the steel bracelet and $1,019 on the rubber strap. It will be available for preorder on May 12, directly from Yema.