Yema LED Kavinsky: A Retro-Futuristic Watch
French watchmaker Yema is treating us this year by reinventing its iconic watch released in the 1970s: the Yema LED.
And as good news never comes alone, Yema has teamed up with DJ/producer Kavinsky to satisfy the appetite of retro-futurism fans. Some collaborations just make sense—this one is an obvious fit.
Kavinsky—the name may not ring a bell for everyone, but his work has definitely already caught your ear. Think back to the superb soundtrack of the excellent film Drive starring Ryan Gosling. One of the most iconic tracks is clearly Nightcall. That raspy, robotic voice, that powerful synth… That’s Kavinsky!
Kavinsky is a French DJ who has worked with the biggest names in the French Touch scene: Mr. Oizo, Pedro Winter (Busy P), SebastiAn, Daft Punk, etc.
His first album told the story of a man who died at the wheel of a Ferrari Testarossa in 1986 and reappeared 20 years later as a zombie music producer. It’s this avatar we find in Kavinsky’s latest video, and the Yema watch neatly completes the look.
The Yema LED Kavinsky watch
Back in the 1970s, Yema launched a watch that has since been reissued: the Yema LED, which you can see below.
The Kavinsky edition—a retro-futuristic watch—brilliantly brings us back to the aesthetic codes of the 1980s.
The case is very well executed and a sensible size at 42 mm x 35.5 mm—dimensions that will suit both slim and larger wrists.
Case and bracelet are in 316L steel with a brushed-and-polished finish. The watch is available in two versions: Black and Silver.
The treatment used for the black version isn’t specified, but I hope a solid layer of PVD has been applied to prevent the knocks and scratches of time from revealing the steel’s grey beneath. That said, it could give the watch an interesting patina.
The case is water-resistant to 5 ATM (50 metres), so you could keep it on your wrist for a swim—but personally, I’d avoid pressing the buttons underwater.
Weight: on the scales, the Yema Kavinsky comes in at 120 grams.
The LED display is entirely at the owner’s discretion. That’s right: you have to press the button at “3 o’clock” to light up the watch and display the time for around 3 seconds. A second press shows the date, and a final press shows the seconds.
The red light is instantly recognisable and striking. Paired with the watch’s superb design, it immediately transports you to the 1980s—steeped in the aesthetic codes of KITT’s scanner in Knight Rider, the V logo from the series Les Visiteurs, or that old clock radio that always crackled in the morning even though you’d tuned the station perfectly the night before and taped the antenna wire in just the right spot on the bedside table.
The functions are simple: hours, minutes, seconds, date, month and year. It’s a watch from the past of the future, after all—you know what I mean?
A nod to the watch that appears in the Renegade video at 1 minute and 6 seconds.
One last flourish: the watch will launch on Kickstarter on 18 March. Some packages include the watch and a collector’s vinyl signed by Kavinsky.
In conclusion
The Yema LED Kavinsky is a success! It’s a pleasure to see the Morteau-based watchmaking house release a watch like this. It’s true to its history, and the collaboration with Kavinsky makes perfect sense.
I’ve been wearing it for a few days now, and it’s clear that it sparks the curiosity of the people I meet. Its design turns heads.
It’s comfortable, different, and has a real identity… No doubt it should be a nice success.
The watch will be available in June for around €200; more info on this site.
