Yema - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Yema is born in Besançon (France) in 1948 under the drive of Henry-Louis Belmont, the brand established itself with robust tool watches aimed at diving, motorsport, aviation and even spaceflight, keeping a Franche-Comté industrial footprint and a design identity that is immediately recognizable.

Superman and bezel-lock: a French take on the diver’s tool

The brand’s emblem, the 1963 Superman, introduced a bezel-locking device adjacent to the crown, designed to prevent accidental rotation underwater and turned into a signature detail of modern re-editions—a simple, legible solution that embodies the tool-watch brief while asserting angular casework and a very “instrumental” mid-case, resulting in confident wrist presence without sacrificing function.

Beyond the lock itself, alternating brushed and polished planes define crisp volumes, generous markers secure readability, and water-resistance targets real use, so the look flows from function; this coherence—often imitated in spirit but hard to reproduce in detail—anchors the Superman as the quintessential “French diver,” worn as much for its stance as for its endurance, with a technical signature instantly spotted by seasoned enthusiasts.

Rallye, Rallygraf, Meangraf, Yachtingraf: racing and regatta chronographs

In the 1960s–1970s, Yema produced graphic, highly legible chronographs linked to car racing (Rallye/Rallygraf, Meangraf) and sailing (Yachtingraf), with high-contrast dials and purposeful scales; the lineage lives on in current re-issues and in emblematic anecdotes, such as Mario Andretti’s chronograph during the 1969 Indy 500, evidence that the brand accompanied real competitive use with simple, robust solutions built around readability in demanding conditions.

• Yema Rallygraf — “Racing” spirit, contrasting sub-dials, clear markers.
• Yema Meangraf — Bold 1970s codes, immediate legibility, strong graphics.
• Yema Yachtingraf — Regatta timing features, nautical aesthetics.
• Yema Flygraf — Pilot-oriented, purposeful field readability.

Spationaute and CNES: Yema’s journey into space

On June 24, 1982, Jean-Loup Chrétien, the first Frenchman in space, launched to Salyut 7 wearing a Yema Spationaute—recognized as the first Western European watch flown into orbit—kicking off a series tied to CNES missions; the episode bolsters the image of a broadly accessible brand meeting exacting briefs while fueling a national narrative where a wrist-borne instrument serves as a mission companion that is pragmatic, durable and symbolic at once.

Beyond the space anecdote, the point is continuity: an “instrument” mindset, contrasted hands and bezel, robustness prioritized over ornament, and respectful nods to period graphics; it is less the one-off feat than the way it permeates the collections that matters, with editions that recall the lineage without caricature so as to cultivate a technical memory serving modern-day use.

“in-house” movement path: MBP1000, YEMA2000/3000 and CMM.20

Industrially, Yema communicates a gradual strengthening of its own calibres: after MBP1000 (announced in 2011), YEMA2000 (three-hand) and YEMA3000 (GMT) update the base with an emphasis on precision and durability, then a “CMM.20” micro-rotor of manufacture grade crowns the range—conceived, developed and assembled in French workshops—an offer meant to combine accessibility and independence through a measured progression rather than a speculative leap.

In practice, these evolutions coexist with references powered by other suppliers depending on era and use; coherence across the lineup relies as much on case architecture and perceived quality as on the movement spec itself, so the buyer’s key step is to define the need (three-hand, GMT, chrono) and weigh what each calibre brings in power reserve, accuracy and service, to secure a credible technical match to the intended use.

Relocalization, workshops and distribution: a Besançon–Morteau through-line

Geographic anchoring remains a cue: between historic Besançon and today’s development/assembly in Morteau, the brand structures a value chain re-centered on Franche-Comté while keeping targeted external partners—an organization aiming to secure skills and lead times and to better control quality upstream, in a spirit of industrial proximity and traceability of key operations.

On the distribution side, Yema blends direct sales with selected retailers and builds editorial context around re-issues (Superman 63, Navygraf, Rallygraf) and their updates; scarcity is not artificially staged but comes from reasonable volumes and production cycles, hence the value, for enthusiasts, of tracking availability windows and trying sizes at the right time to lock a choice that is informed, personal and grounded in real use. 

Positioning and pricing: a clear-identity French tool-watch

Yema’s stance is easy to read: tool watches with strong design at studied prices relative to spec (exact public ranges: not disclosed), options in steel, bronze, titanium or ceramic depending on the line, and stepping up via complications or in-house movements; the value equation lies in the balance of design/function and in the stated French industrial narrative, appealing to enthusiasts of characterful “tools” more than to seekers of overtly decorative luxury pieces.

Value in use, however, hinges on ownership fit: bracelet comfort, lug-to-lug, dial contrast, night legibility and water-resistance aligned with your activities; put differently, the right Yema is the one that disappears into the action—swimming, driving, flying, sailing—while keeping its aesthetic signature, which calls for trying multiple diameters and thicknesses to validate stable, morphology-friendly wearing comfort.

Choosing your Yema: sizing, context and care

Start by defining dominant use: daily versatility (Navygraf, “skin” Superman), nautical activity (Yachtingraf), automotive (Rallygraf/Meangraf), aviation (Flygraf); then confirm real-world size (diameter/thickness/lug-to-lug) and bracelet ergonomics, and arbitrate between a recent “in-house” calibre and a proven third-party option according to your technical appetite and service constraints—the aim being long-term coherence among style, function and maintenance.

• Yema Superman — Emblematic diver, bezel lock, strong identity.
• Yema Navygraf — High-contrast legibility, versatile marine spirit.
• Yema Rallygraf — Racing codes, readable chronographs.
• Yema Yachtingraf — Regatta indications, nautical styling.
• Yema Flygraf — Pilot orientation, clear functional cues.

For care, follow service intervals and have water-resistance checked after any shock or opening; clean bracelet and bezel recesses regularly, and remember that precise adjustment and appropriate lubrication extend timekeeping stability—simple habits that underpin everyday performance over the long run.

Conclusion

Yema addresses enthusiasts who want expressive tool watches rooted in a French narrative and designed for use first—diving, road, cockpit or deck. You recognize them by crisp dials, forthright cases and design details that prioritize function. To decide, start from your real practice, refine by size and readability, then choose between heritage re-editions and contemporary interpretations. Finally, cross-check your pick with Dialicious customer reviews to validate long-term relevance.

(Updated October 2025)