BLACK FRIDAY SALE: UP TO 15% OFF

Sheffield Watches Sportlume QL1 Yellow Watch Review

June 17, 2024 Nick Lehner

I first learned about Sheffield watches through one of my favorite car podcasts, Spike's Car Radio. Besides making interesting watches, the brand has done a few charity releases. When I saw that Sheffield would be donating the entire purchase cost of its new QL1 Yellow watches to support Multiple Sclerosis, it was the perfect reason to buy one. If you've followed StrapHabit for a while, you know that I think it's critical for charity activities to be meaningful and transparent. I'm glad that I was quick because they sold out in a few days!

Sheffield QL1 Yellow First Impressions

Jay Turkbas, founder of Sheffield, was inspired by his 1970s Sheffield diver. He resurrected the brand starting with the Allsport Diver with the goal of having the same MSRP as the original (adjusted for inflation of course). He's continued growing the brand, and the result is multiple affordable models.

The QL1 is a GADA (go anywhere, do anything) field-type watch, but with a driving theme. The matte black finish contrasts the bright yellow dial and red seconds hand.

Sheffield QL1 Yellow Details

Large numerals printed on the yellow dial are easy to distinguish. The dial also has minimal text, which I appreciate.

The main hands are polished metal with luminous centers, while the second hand is lollipop-style. While I'd prefer larger hands for legibility, this is likely a restriction of its quartz movement. The crown is placed where 2 o'clock would normally be. This gets it out of the way, and since it's a quartz watch, you won't need to worry about winding it.

Wearing the Sheffield QL1 Yellow

The brand's website lists the thickness as 13mm, which is a bit thick for a 3-hand quartz watch. When I took my 38mm side version out of its envelope, however, it appeared much thinner. A set of calipers confirmed that it is in fact a very svelte 8.7mm thick.

The thin profile combined with a compact 44.5mm lug-to-lug distance, and a lightweight strap make the QL1 one of those watches that you can forget you're wearing...comfort-wise, that is...The bright yellow dial and shifted numerals make it hard to miss visually.

Telling the time on the QL1 did require a bit of a mental adjustment for me, as Sheffield adjusted the dial to make it a driving watch. Instead of refracting the time display vertically like the Break Watches Jump Hour, the QL1 has its dial rotated by two hours. The idea behind this is that 12 o'clock will be facing up when holding a steering wheel. It also reminds me of an aircooled Porsche with its tachometer rotated, putting the redline at the vertical. I've just started rotating my wrist a bit when reading the time while not driving.

At night, the hands have a bit of lume applied, making them easy to see. Some other variants of the QL1 also have lume dials, but the yellow version does not. This makes it tricky in darkness since the hours are rotated. If there is a bit of ambient light, however, the bright dial is still easy to see.

Strap and Replacement Straps for the Sheffield QL1 Yellow

All QL1 models feature two-piece nylon straps with edge stripes. The centers and/or stripes are in colors coordinating with the dial, and black hardware (including one fixed and one floating keeper) ties it all together. It has a soft, seatbelt feel and is comfortable and lightweight.

Since they have 20mm lugs, it means that there are also lots of great Replacement strap options for the Sheffield QL1. The yellow Ridge Rubber strap matches the dial quite well, and a black buckle ties everything together.

Below are a few recommended straps for the Sheffield QL1:

-Ridge Rubber
-Smooth Rubber
-Vented Rubber
-Slim Ridge Rubber
-Deployant Rubber
-Elastic
-Seatbelt

At the end of the article, you can view photos and purchase some of our favorite straps for this watch.

Sheffield QL1 Yellow Movement

All QL1 models are powered by a Miyota Quartz movement. Although nothing that will get watch collectors drooling, it helps keep the costs down and should be very reliable. In a watch that's this affordable, it's a great grab-and-go solution. The movement is protected by a solid, polished caseback which provides 50m of water resistance.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a field-style everyday watch with an automotive twist, the QL1 from Sheffield is an interesting option. It's lighter and thinner than many comparably priced watches, making it quite comfortable to wear. The offset dial also gives it character and makes it an interesting conversation piece.

Standard QL1 models are priced at only $50. This yellow version is $10 more, but as mentioned it's for a great reason reason. The brand is also putting its money where its mouth is by donating the entire purchase price. Plus it's a moot point since they sold out within a few days anyway.

You may missed out on the watch, but if you'd still like to support Sheffield's battle against MS, you can donate to Jays' Go-Fund-Me page here. To learn more about Sheffield, visit the brand's site here.

Sheffield QL1 Yellow Specifications:

Name: Sheffield Watches Sportlume QL1 Yellow
MSRP: $60 (standard models are $50)
Diameter: 38mm (42mm also available)
Height: 44.5mm
Thickness: 8.7mm
Lug Width: 20mm
Weight (Mass): 40g (with strap)
Movement: Miyota 2035 Quartz
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Water Resistance: 50m
Crystal: Hardened Mineral
Crown: Push-pull
Bezel: Fixed
Strap: Two-piece nylon