The period between this purchase and the last is about three months. This has been a longest time I have not indulged in getting a watch for the collection. I suppose the current Covid-19 health pandemic has taken a toll on my hobby. Nonetheless, I opened 2021 with a purchase of an interesting design that represent a time when 'groovy' was a thing.
Futurism was chic during the 1970s. The space race and the rapid advancement of technology in everyday life made it 'cool' to be futuristic. Art and design embraced the modernity wholeheartedly and watch styling was no exception.
The YEMA Digidisc Black YDGD2020-AM has a time display using discs that rotate instead of moving hands like most contemporary watches. This styling is just so 1970s.
The Brand
In 1948, Henry Louis Belmont, a French watchmaker, created the YEMA watchmaking company. Mr Belmont graduated top of his class from the National Watchmaking School of Besançon in 1931 and is considered as one of France's best watchmakers. For more information, please visit https://en.yema.com/pages/our-story.
The Watch
The YEMA Digidisc Black is a modern reissue of a 1970s futuristic model by the brand that was typical of that era. Its squared angular design has a very 'robotic' element that is unique. Some of you may not find it appealing but I do.
In the sketch diagram above which I took from YEMA's website you can clearly see the sharp angles of the major surfaces as well as the dimensions of the watch. With a case diameter of 36 mm, a length distance of 43 mm and a thickness of 10.65 mm, the watch should sit nicely on my 6.75 inch circumference wrist.
Finishes on the 316L stainless steel case are properly done with mirror-like polishing around the case with contrasting horizontal satin brushing across the top of the watch. The combination of finishes allows the piece to flaunt elegance as it catches the light from various angles. The logo is the only symbol etched on the metal surface near the lower quadrant of the watch.
If you do a Google search on "YEMA Jumping Hour", you will find a number of spinning disc watches by the brand with futuristic case designs made during the 1970s. The YEMA Digidisc Black is a modern interpretation to one of the vintage models by YEMA.
The YEMA Digidisc Black reissue tells time using two turning number discs which indicates the hours and minutes. Instead of the hours, minutes and seconds hands placed one on top of another, the design calls for discs in place of hands. In this case, the seconds function has been discarded as the automatic movement may not have the necessary torque to spin three discs (due to the weight). Putting discs instead of hands does put a lot of stress on the main column.
The section of the watch displaying the time takes up a very small percentage of the watch's main surface. Protected by a small sapphire crystal window, beveled and protrudes slightly above watch casing surface, you can see six distinct features.
The first is the dial surface. The black dial has a stripped paint job which gives some depth and wave pattern to the otherwise small dial surface.
The second is the brand. Located on the right side is the white printed "YEMA" text.
The third is the origin. The word "FRANCE", also in white is located at the top part of the dial surface.
The fourth is the type of movement. The white print "AUTOMATIC" text can be found on the bottom part of the dial surface.
The fifth is the reference marker. The white triangle on the middle of the dial surface that provides the visual indicator point for the time.
The sixth and final feature is the unique dial cut-out to see the two black timing discs. The hours disc is on the left while the minutes disc is on the right. The hours disc has white digits while the minutes discs has a combination of digits and line markers in white.
The placement of the crown is rather conventional at 3 o'clock. The crown uses a typical push-in and pull-out mechanism to engage the operating gears in the movement. Fully seated, turning the crown will windup the springs which has a 42 hours power reserve limit. Although the watch does not display a date complication, the YEMA2000 Caliber (more about this later) does have a date complication (it is actually hidden behind the dial surface). Hence, pulling out the crown to the first position does not appear to do anything (behind the scene, the date function is being adjusted and operating quietly in the background). Only pulling the crown further to the second position will one be able to adjust the time. Meanwhile, the YEMA logo can also be found on the crown.
The placement of the crown is rather conventional at 3 o'clock. The crown uses a typical push-in and pull-out mechanism to engage the operating gears in the movement. Fully seated, turning the crown will windup the springs which has a 42 hours power reserve limit. Although the watch does not display a date complication, the YEMA2000 Caliber (more about this later) does have a date complication (it is actually hidden behind the dial surface). Hence, pulling out the crown to the first position does not appear to do anything (behind the scene, the date function is being adjusted and operating quietly in the background). Only pulling the crown further to the second position will one be able to adjust the time. Meanwhile, the YEMA logo can also be found on the crown.
The watch comes with a brushed steel bracelet with its adjustable sliding clasp to fit all wrists. Adjusting the sliding clasp is easy but do note that each time you move the sliding clasp to a new position, as you pinch back the locking latch, it will leave a mark on that part of the bracelet. This is one of the disadvantages of a friction lock system.
The bracelet starts at 24 mm at the hidden lugs and tapers down to 20 mm at the clasp. The links on the bracelet are not solid but folded sheet metal. This is a pity as I would prefer solid links instead. From the sides, one can clearly see the folds.
The watch comes with a screw-down caseback. The YEMA crest is beautifully etched on the middle of the caseback. The design and quality of manufacturing allows the watch to achieve a water resistance of 100 meters.
The YEMA2000 Automatic Movement
Underneath the caseback is the in-house Caliber YEMA2000 automatic movement. This is the second generation in-house caliber by the brand, a stepped-up variation of the MBP1000 Caliber (YEMA's first in-house movement). YEMA also have a slightly modified version the YEMA2000 which has the additional GMT function. Below is a brief comparison between similar calibers by different makers.
| Caliber | YEMA2000 | YEMA3000 | ETA2824-2 | Sellita SW200-1 | Miyota 9015 |
| First Version | 2011 | 2011 | 1982 | 1982 | 1988 |
| Frequency | 4 Hz | 4 Hz | 4 Hz | 4 Hz | 4 Hz |
| Jewels | 29 | 29 | 25 | 26 | 24 |
| Functions | H,M,S,D | H,M,S,D,GMT | H,M,S,D | H,M,S,D | H,M,S,D |
| Ave. Error | -/+ 10sd | -/+ 10sd | -/+ 12sd | -/+ 12sd | -10sd ~ +30sd |
| Max. Error | -/+ 25sd | -/+ 25sd | -/+ 30sd | -/+ 30sd | -10sd ~ +30sd |
| P.Reserve | 42Hrs | 42Hrs | 38Hrs | 38Hrs | 42Hrs |
| Origin | France | France | Switzerland | Switzerland | Japan |
The YEMA movement is more accurate with better power reserve levels compared to its direct competitors.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of seconds hand indicator, I am unable to do a simple accuracy test with this watch.
The Wearing Experience
If you are not used to the sliding clasp style bracelet, you need to be very mindful when you want to take off the watch. Releasing the clasp will immediately unhooked the two sections of the bracelet. If you do not have a handle of the watch, it will fall - it happened to me when I wore it for the first time; good thing I was doing it sitting down at my desk.
If you are not used to the sliding clasp style bracelet, you need to be very mindful when you want to take off the watch. Releasing the clasp will immediately unhooked the two sections of the bracelet. If you do not have a handle of the watch, it will fall - it happened to me when I wore it for the first time; good thing I was doing it sitting down at my desk.
The major disappointment about the watch is the bracelet design. The watch is nice and solid but using a folded steel to make the bracelet cheapens the overall feel. It should be solid and have a more traditional folding clasp. I know this style of bracelet is harder to adjust but at least the likelihood of dropping the watch on a hard surface is reduced substantially.
I would like to suggest that one replaces the standard bracelet with a nice leather strap. This would be more suited to the watch I think.
The large polished surface area of the watch is a real smudge magnet. It will irritate you immensely if you are particular to that sort of thing.
After handling the watch in person, I have this internal conflict of whether it was a good buy or otherwise. Visually it looks so cool and retro but on closer inspection, the design appears haphazard. It is as if no one was responsible for the overall design. One design team works on the watch casing (pass) while another works on the bracelet (fail). The output was just a merger of the two teams' products.
Despite the price I paid for the watch (RM2,346.67), I still keep it by virtue of the unique way it display the time as well as the first of the brand in the collection. Moreover, it is also the first of the brand's in-house movement in the collection.
Below is a short video of the watch on my wrist.
The Purchasing Experience
I bought the watch from Gnomon of Singapore. For the first time, I was slapped with an importation tax by customs. This was because for the first time I saw Gnomon declaring the actual value of the item in the manifest.
Apart from the watch, Gnomon also gave a signed polishing cloth.
The watch came in a nice earth coloured sieved pseudo-leather zippered rectangular watch-box. It is protected by a white cardboard box sleeve. Note the zipper tag which has the French tri-colour.
There are a number of slots to keep documents. In the watch-box, YEMA gave a guarantee card as well as a small booklet about the brand's collection.
The inner part of the box is nicely padded.
The Series
There are two members of the YEMA Digidisc. The left is the Black (ref: YDGD2020-AM) while the right is the Brown (ref: YDGD2020-UM). On YEMA's website, both have a listed price of USD590.
Specifications
Maker: Yema
Origin: France
Model: YDGD2020-AM
Movement: Automatic YEMA2000 (in-house caliber)
Jewels: 29
Beats: 28,800 BPH
Accuracy: Average +/- 10 seconds per day (maximum +/- 25 seconds per day)
Power Reserve: 42 hours
Dial: Stripped black dial
Display: Dual rotating disks; hours and minutes
Case: 316L Stainless steel, brushed-polished finishing
Crown: Screw-down crown, vintage "Y" YEMA logo engraved
Lugs: 24 mm
Crystal: Sapphire
Strap: Brushed 316L stainless steel, adjustable sliding clasp
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Dimensions: 36 mm in diameter, 10.65 mm thick, 43 mm length
Weight: 150 gm (approximately)
Warranty: Two (2) years
Purchase Date: 8 January 2021
Vendor: Gnomon of Singapore
Price: USD530 / RM2,184.12 + RM162.55 (taxes & administrative cost)
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