Man, diving watches always looked cool to me, but figuring out which one actually works well? That’s tough. Saw this Yema Skin Diver popping up online and got curious. How’s it work? What’s the deal? Figured, heck, why not grab one and see for myself.
Getting My Hands On It
First step was actually buying the thing. Checked out a few different online sellers – prices seemed okay but not super cheap. Took a few days for it to finally land on my doorstep. Tore the packaging open like a kid at Christmas. First look? Honestly, kinda impressed. Felt solid. Like, thunk solid when I put it down. Screwed in the crown nice and tight – felt secure, you know? Strapped it on. Felt surprisingly good, not too heavy, not too light.
Putting It Through Its Paces
Right, how does this diver actually work? Here’s what I tried:
- Just Telling Time: Sounds simple, right? But basic first! Hands moved nice and smooth. Lumed up pretty bright after charging it with a flashlight. Could actually see it in my dim hallway at night. Win.
- That Rotating Bezel: This is the key diver bit! Clicked it around. Nice, firm clicks. Went clockwise only, like it should. Tried timing my morning coffee brew – spun it to the minute hand. Worked exactly as expected. Easy to grip too.
- Date Window: Tiny little window at 3 o’clock. Honestly? You gotta squint sometimes. Cyclops lens wasn’t huge, so it felt… small. But it changed cleanly right around midnight.
- Water Test: I wasn’t diving 200 meters down! But I dunked it in a sink full of water for a good while. Rinsed it under the tap hard. Held up fine. Seemed pretty darn waterproof for everyday stuff and swimming.
- Wearing It Daily: For a week, I wore it everywhere. Work, grocery runs, even while fixing a leaky pipe (don’t judge the mess). It just kept ticking. Didn’t lose much time, maybe a few seconds over days? Pretty good for the price.
The Good Bits I Found (Pros)
Alright, here’s what won me over:
- Built Like a Tank: Seriously. This thing feels like it can take a knock. Screwed-down crown makes you feel safe.
- Bezel is Awesome: Best feature! Snappy clicks, grippy, works perfectly for timing stuff. Real diver vibe.
- Looks the Part: Gets the “diver watch” look spot on without being huge. Classic style.
- Keeps Time Well: For what it costs? Kept time way better than I thought it might. Doesn’t crap out on you.
- Waterproof? Seems So: Handled everything I threw at it. Unless you’re deep-sea diving, you’re probably golden.
The Not-So-Great Bits (Cons)
But hey, nothing’s perfect, right?
- Strap Needs Help: The bracelet it came with? Meh. Felt kinda cheap, rattled a bit. Swapped it for a NATO day one. Much better.
- Date Window is TINY: Seriously, why so small? Unless you’ve got eagle eyes, it’s a squinter for sure.
- Lume Could Be Brighter/Longer: It glows, yeah, but it doesn’t stay super bright for hours on end like some super expensive ones.
- Not Exactly “Set it and Forget it”: Gotta wind it if you don’t wear it for a day or two. Just how automatics roll.
So… Would I Use It?
Honestly? Yeah, I dig it. Looks cool, feels tough, the bezel rocks for timing things, and it keeps decent time without breaking the bank. Sure, the date is annoying and the stock strap stinks, but for a solid, decent-looking diver you can grab without spending a fortune? This Yema works. It’s not fancy tech, just a simple, robust watch that gets the job done like it should. Happy with my purchase.
