Yema
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Yema
MiddleHistoric French tool-watch maker; in-house CMM movements; affordable French-made divers and field watches
Morteau, France · est. 1948
part of Independent
~$500–$2,500
My tier · 1
Yema was founded in Besançon, France's watchmaking capital, in 1948 by Henry Louis Belmont, growing into France's great sports watch producer. Its icons came quickly: the Yachtingraf regatta chronograph, the Rallygraf motorsport piece, and the Superman diver of 1963 with its distinctive bezel lock stirrup, worn by French naval divers and adopted for military contracts.
More about Yema
History
Space glory arrived in 1982 when the Spationaute I accompanied Jean-Loup Chrétien, the first French astronaut, aboard a Soyuz mission. After passing through Seiko's French operations in the 1980s and successive owners, Yema returned to French family hands, the Bôle family's Ambre group, and rebuilt around heritage reissues and, notably, in house calibers: the MBP1000 and the CMM.20 micro rotor developed in Morteau, rare achievements for an affordable French brand.
French Tool Watch Revival
Modern Yema sells the Superman 500, Navygraf, and Rallygraf heritage lines at accessible prices, with French military partnerships including official French Air and Space Force editions. The in house caliber program, especially the slim CMM.20 micro rotor at startling prices, aims to restore Besançon's manufacture credibility.
Prices run roughly 300 to 2,000 dollars.
Model Lineup
| Collection | Identity | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Superman | The bezel lock diver | 1963 icon, military editions |
| Navygraf | Naval chronograph heritage | Marine nationale lineage |
| Rallygraf | Motorsport classic | Meca-quartz and automatic versions |
| Spacegraf / Spationaute | Space program heritage | Soyuz flight legacy |
| Wristmaster | Micro rotor flagship | CMM.20 in house caliber |
Why It Stands Out
- Real French icons. The Superman and Yachtingraf are genuine 1960s tool watches.
- Military and space provenance. Naval divers and a Soyuz mission, documented.
- In house ambition. Micro rotor calibers from Morteau at accessible prices.
- Besançon continuity. French watchmaking's capital keeps a living flagship.
Weaknesses
- Ownership scars. Decades of brand transfers fractured continuity.
- QC growing pains. Rapid expansion brought consistency complaints.
- Crowded heritage market. Reissue competition is relentless.
- Soft resale. Secondary values remain modest outside rare vintage.
Summary
Yema is France's most credible sports watch heritage, from naval divers to Soyuz orbits, now backed by real in house calibers. The Superman remains the essential buy and the CMM.20 pieces the ambitious sleeper. French horology's revival runs through Besançon, and Yema leads it.