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The Yema Superman, I'm a huge fan. I'm the kind of person who wants several in my collection and keeps buying them… The precision of its design makes it unique. In terms of quality and history, it holds its own against some much more prestigious models.

I've been eyeing this watch, this particular configuration, since 2024. And for my 30th birthday, I finally gave in. It's become an important piece in my collection because it ticks so many boxes. It's bronze with a GMT function and a mesmerizing green dial. Plus, it features the Yema 3000 movement. For some, that's a drawback, but for me, it's a strength. The movement has superb finishing, and Yema only produced this movement for a very short time, which makes it special because it was one of the first in-house movements, and that's something the brand will remember.

I won't be objective about this watch; I think it's perfect. It's not the watch of my dreams, it's the right watch. When I look at it, I never tire of it.

Perfectly right

This small three-hand watch is simply one of the first waterproof watches from the Yema brand. The Sous Marine line, launched in 1953, marked a turning point in the history of the French manufacturer. It was among the first French waterproof watches.

It was at a time when Rolex's Oyster case was becoming the benchmark that Yema, a major player in French watchmaking, decided to take up the challenge of water resistance.

My example belongs to a later generation of the Sous Marine line, likely produced in the late 1960s, but it perpetuates the legacy of this foundational collection that would pave the way for the future Superman.

The latter is not yet here to eclipse the model presented today. It was, however, exhibited at the "Yema Museum," created by Mr. Louis-Éric Beckensteiner when he was president of the brand. Despite a non-screw-down crown, the brand advertised a water resistance of 200 meters. Obviously, I'm not going to check that information, I don't have enough breath.

Before the Superman, there was the Submarine

There are watches that impress with their prestige, complications, or rarity. And then there are those that simply captivate because they do everything well. This Seiko 5 belongs to the latter category.

I became interested in this model when Seiko re-released the Seiko 5 in the early 2020s. Seeing these new versions made me want to discover the original 1964 model. I then started searching on eBay, where I eventually found this example equipped with the 6619 caliber.

Its history is fascinating, as it represents a transitional watch in the history of watchmaking. It significantly contributed to competing with the Swiss watch industry and played a role in Seiko's rise to prominence, a few years before the quartz revolution.

At first glance, this small dress watch could almost go unnoticed. Its case is understated, its dimensions are modest, and its dial doesn't try to be flashy. Yet, behind this apparent simplicity lies a watch that occupies an important place in the history of watchmaking. It bears witness to a pivotal period when Seiko began to impose a new vision of the mechanical watch, more accessible and designed for the masses.

Seiko 5 Sportsmatic, the watch that changed the watchmaker

My Citizen Promaster is unique. I was looking for a pre-owned tool watch with simple criteria: an alternative to the Seiko SKX, offering similar features.

While browsing Vinted, I stumbled upon this rather unusual beauty. Indeed, as you can see in the photos, the hands, bezel, and dial differ from a classic NY0040. So I began my investigation.

The components come from the Citizen 2300, the previous model. Continuing my research, I learned that this watch was manufactured in September 1996, during a period of transition at Citizen.

I bought it primarily for its dial: it's textured because Citizen was testing several configurations before the model's official release. They ultimately opted for a lacquered dial, which makes this version all the more interesting and rare.

My adjective would be: Transitional
-industrial transition
-technical transition
-historical transition


Citizen Promaster NY0040 - Pre-Series

<p><strong>Yema</strong> is born in Besan&ccedil;on (France) in <strong>1948</strong> 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-Comt&eacute; industrial footprint and a design identity that is immediately recognizable.</p>
<h3>Superman and bezel-lock: a French take on the diver&rsquo;s tool</h3>
<p>The brand&rsquo;s emblem, the 1963 <em>Superman</em>, 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&mdash;a simple, legible solution that embodies the tool-watch brief while asserting angular casework and a very &ldquo;instrumental&rdquo; mid-case, resulting in <strong>confident wrist presence without sacrificing function</strong>.</p>
<p>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&mdash;often imitated in spirit but hard to reproduce in detail&mdash;anchors the Superman as the quintessential &ldquo;French diver,&rdquo; worn as much for its stance as for its endurance, with a <strong>technical signature instantly spotted by seasoned enthusiasts</strong>.</p>
<h3>Rallye, Rallygraf, Meangraf, Yachtingraf: racing and regatta chronographs</h3>
<p>In the 1960s&ndash;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&rsquo;s chronograph during the 1969 Indy 500, evidence that the brand accompanied real competitive use with simple, robust solutions <strong>built around readability in demanding conditions</strong>.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Yema Rallygraf</strong> &mdash; &ldquo;Racing&rdquo; spirit, contrasting sub-dials, clear markers.</li>
<li><strong>Yema Meangraf</strong> &mdash; Bold 1970s codes, immediate legibility, strong graphics.</li>
<li><strong>Yema Yachtingraf</strong> &mdash; Regatta timing features, nautical aesthetics.</li>
<li><strong>Yema Flygraf</strong> &mdash; Pilot-oriented, purposeful field readability.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Spationaute and CNES: Yema&rsquo;s journey into space</h3>
<p>On June 24, 1982, Jean-Loup Chr&eacute;tien, the first Frenchman in space, launched to Salyut 7 wearing a Yema Spationaute&mdash;recognized as the first Western European watch flown into orbit&mdash;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 <strong>pragmatic, durable and symbolic at once</strong>.</p>
<p>Beyond the space anecdote, the point is continuity: an &ldquo;instrument&rdquo; 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 <strong>technical memory serving modern-day use</strong>.</p>
<h3>&ldquo;in-house&rdquo; movement path: MBP1000, YEMA2000/3000 and CMM.20</h3>
<p>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 &ldquo;CMM.20&rdquo; micro-rotor of manufacture grade crowns the range&mdash;conceived, developed and assembled in French workshops&mdash;an offer meant to combine accessibility and independence through a <strong>measured progression rather than a speculative leap</strong>.</p>
<p>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&rsquo;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 <strong>credible technical match to the intended use</strong>.</p>
<h3>Relocalization, workshops and distribution: a Besan&ccedil;on&ndash;Morteau through-line</h3>
<p>Geographic anchoring remains a cue: between historic Besan&ccedil;on and today&rsquo;s development/assembly in Morteau, the brand structures a value chain re-centered on Franche-Comt&eacute; while keeping targeted external partners&mdash;an organization aiming to secure skills and lead times and to better control quality upstream, in a spirit of <strong>industrial proximity and traceability of key operations</strong>.</p>
<p>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 <strong>informed, personal and grounded in real use</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Positioning and pricing: a clear-identity French tool-watch</h3>
<p>Yema&rsquo;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 &ldquo;tools&rdquo; more than to seekers of <strong>overtly decorative luxury pieces</strong>.</p>
<p>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&mdash;swimming, driving, flying, sailing&mdash;while keeping its aesthetic signature, which calls for trying multiple diameters and thicknesses to validate <strong>stable, morphology-friendly wearing comfort</strong>.</p>
<h3>Choosing your Yema: sizing, context and care</h3>
<p>Start by defining dominant use: daily versatility (Navygraf, &ldquo;skin&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;in-house&rdquo; calibre and a proven third-party option according to your technical appetite and service constraints&mdash;the aim being <strong>long-term coherence among style, function and maintenance</strong>.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Yema Superman</strong> &mdash; Emblematic diver, bezel lock, strong identity.</li>
<li><strong>Yema Navygraf</strong> &mdash; High-contrast legibility, versatile marine spirit.</li>
<li><strong>Yema Rallygraf</strong> &mdash; Racing codes, readable chronographs.</li>
<li><strong>Yema Yachtingraf</strong> &mdash; Regatta indications, nautical styling.</li>
<li><strong>Yema Flygraf</strong> &mdash; Pilot orientation, clear functional cues.</li>
</ul>
<p>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&mdash;simple habits that underpin <strong>everyday performance over the long run</strong>.</p>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p><strong>Yema addresses enthusiasts who want expressive tool watches</strong> <strong>rooted in a French narrative </strong>and designed for use first&mdash;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. <strong>Finally, cross-check your pick with Dialicious customer reviews to validate long-term relevance.</strong></p>
<p>(Updated October 2025)</p>

For me this watch is the very essence of the iconic watch (reprise of the historical model from Yema) with its unique patina to each watch thanks to its Bronze case. The integration of the GMT is just perfect, as is the size of the watch (39mm) which makes it a watch that is both discreet and full of charm. The only flaw I found was the original bracelet, which I corrected by putting a superb custom bracelet made by Xamlam. Good performance in terms of precision for the in-house Yema 3000 movement (+-6 sec/day)

Iconic and unique thanks to its personal patina

My first Yema, bought on Kickstarter, without having seen it "in real life". Indeed, I had been intrigued by the brand's revival for a while, and the bronze tempted me... After a few months of waiting, I was not disappointed. Perfect operation, "smoked" dial, ideal format... many very good points. Only downsides: a leather strap not up to my expectations (quickly changed), and a slight difference in color between the hands and the indexes.

Yes Bronze GMT

The Yema Superman GMT Bronze Limited Edition automatic watch is a travel watch designed by the French company Yema, founded in 1948. This watch is equipped with an in-house Yema 3000 movement, a first for the brand. It is also a limited edition of 1,948 pieces, in reference to the year the brand was founded. The case of this watch is made of bronze, a material that naturally develops a patina over time, giving each watch a unique character. The watch is also equipped with a 120-click unidirectional bezel with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal insert and a signed, screw-down crown. It is water-resistant to 300 meters.

An elegant and robust diver

<p><strong>ZRC</strong> est une maison horlog&egrave;re fond&eacute;e en <strong>1904</strong> &agrave; Gen&egrave;ve (Suisse) par Edmond Zuccolo et Joseph Rochet. N&eacute;e dans l&rsquo;univers des cha&icirc;nes de gousset puis des bracelets m&eacute;talliques extensibles, la marque s&rsquo;adresse aujourd&rsquo;hui aux amateurs de plongeuses-outils iconiques, rendue c&eacute;l&egrave;bre par sa Grands Fonds d&eacute;velopp&eacute;e pour la Marine nationale &agrave; partir des ann&eacute;es 1960.</p>
<h3>Couronne &agrave; 6 h, bo&icirc;tier monobloc et esprit Marine nationale</h3>
<p>Con&ccedil;ue pour r&eacute;pondre aux contraintes op&eacute;rationnelles des plongeurs-d&eacute;mineurs fran&ccedil;ais, la Grands Fonds adopte la couronne &agrave; 6 h, un bo&icirc;tier monobloc et des solutions maison comme l&rsquo;ECS (Easy Clean System) et le CPS (Crown Protection System). <strong>Dans la pratique, la couronne &agrave; 6 h et le CPS emp&ecirc;chent de porter la montre si la couronne n&rsquo;est pas parfaitement viss&eacute;e</strong>, limitant ainsi les risques d&rsquo;erreur avant immersion ; l&rsquo;ECS facilite le rin&ccedil;age pour &eacute;viter la cristallisation du sel sous la lunette.</p>
<h3>Grands Fonds et d&eacute;clinaisons contemporaines</h3>
<p>La collection actuelle d&eacute;cline l&rsquo;ADN historique (lisibilit&eacute;, ergonomie de terrain, silhouette &laquo; outil &raquo;) en plusieurs tailles et niveaux de performance. <strong>Quel que soit le mod&egrave;le, l&rsquo;architecture et la signature &agrave; 6 h rendent la lecture imm&eacute;diate et l&rsquo;identit&eacute; instantan&eacute;ment reconnaissable</strong>.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>ZRC Grands Fonds MN64 </strong>&mdash; Hommage aux sp&eacute;cifications Marine nationale, codes historiques de cadran et de lunette.</li>
<li><strong>ZRC Grands Fonds Heritage</strong>&nbsp;&mdash; Gabarit plus contenu (38 mm) conservant la signature de couronne &agrave; 6 h pour les poignets fins.</li>
<li><strong>ZRC Securicode</strong> &mdash; R&eacute;interpr&eacute;tation d&rsquo;un th&egrave;me de la fin des ann&eacute;es 1950/1960, avec &eacute;l&eacute;ments de style historiques.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Positionnement : outil pro, prix et distribution</h3>
<p>La marque revendique un positionnement &laquo; instrument de plong&eacute;e &raquo; au sein de l&rsquo;horlogerie ind&eacute;pendante suisse, avec volumes de production <em>non communiqu&eacute;</em> et diffusion s&eacute;lective (d&eacute;taillants sp&eacute;cialis&eacute;s et vente directe). <strong>&Agrave; titre indicatif, de nombreuses r&eacute;f&eacute;rences acier se situent autour de 2 500&ndash;3 000 &euro;, tandis que des versions techniques en titane d&eacute;passent 4 000 &euro;</strong> ; certaines &eacute;ditions sp&eacute;ciales ou m&eacute;taux nobles s&rsquo;&eacute;tablissent nettement au-del&agrave;. Pr&eacute;sence confirm&eacute;e en France avec des &eacute;taillants comme <a href="https://www.bijouterie-clouzeau.fr/fr/marques/zrc-1904">Clouzeau</a> ou <a href="https://www.berenger.fr/fr/horlogerie-berenger/marques/zrc-1904">Berenger</a>, et sur quelques march&eacute;s Asie/Moyen-Orient via un r&eacute;seau resserr&eacute;.</p>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p><strong>ZRC s&rsquo;adresse aux amateurs de montres-outils au style imm&eacute;diatement identifiable</strong>, qui privil&eacute;gient la fonctionnalit&eacute;, la lisibilit&eacute; et une signature de design forte. Le choix se fera entre un usage polyvalent quotidien (Grands Fonds 300/38), une filiation historique appuy&eacute;e (MN64, Securicode) ou une approche plus technique et extr&ecirc;me (Grands Fonds 3000 Titanium). Les acheteurs sensibles &agrave; l&rsquo;ergonomie appr&eacute;cieront la couronne &agrave; 6 h et la s&eacute;curit&eacute; du CPS ; les puristes salueront la coh&eacute;rence d&rsquo;ensemble. Pour &eacute;clairer votre d&eacute;cision au-del&agrave; de la fiche technique, fiez-vous&nbsp;<strong>aux avis clients Dialicious</strong>, utiles pour comprendre confort, lisibilit&eacute; r&eacute;elle et ressenti au port&eacute;.</p>
<p>(Mise &agrave; jour Ao&ucirc;t 2025)</p>

<p><strong>ZRC</strong> is a watch brand founded in <strong>1904</strong> in Geneva, Switzerland, by Edmond Zuccolo and Joseph Rochet. Born in the field of pocket-watch chains and later expandable metal bracelets, the brand now caters to enthusiasts of iconic tool divers, made famous by its Grands Fonds developed for the French Navy from the 1960s onward.</p>
<h3>6 o&rsquo;clock crown, monobloc case and French Navy spirit</h3>
<p>Engineered to meet the operational demands of French Navy mine-clearance divers, the Grands Fonds features a 6 o&rsquo;clock crown, a monobloc case and in-house solutions such as ECS (Easy Clean System) and CPS (Crown Protection System). <strong>In practice, the 6 o&rsquo;clock crown and CPS prevent the watch from being worn unless the crown is fully screwed down</strong>, reducing user error prior to immersion; ECS helps flush out salt to prevent crystallization under the bezel.</p>
<h3>Grands Fonds and contemporary variants</h3>
<p>The current collection translates the historical DNA (legibility, field ergonomics, tool-watch silhouette) into multiple sizes and performance levels. <strong>Whichever the model, the 6 o&rsquo;clock signature ensures instant readability and an immediately recognisable identity</strong>.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>ZRC Grands Fonds MN64</strong> &mdash; Core diver inspired by 1964, 300 m, bold legibility for versatile daily wear.</li>
<li><strong>ZRC Grands Fonds Hertiage</strong> &mdash; Smaller 38 mm option retaining the 6 o&rsquo;clock crown signature for slimmer wrists.</li>
<li><strong>ZRC Securicode</strong> &mdash; Reinterpretation of a late-1950s/1960s theme with historical design elements.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Positioning: pro tool, pricing and distribution</h3>
<p>The brand&rsquo;s stance is that of an independent Swiss &ldquo;diving instrument,&rdquo; with production volumes <em>not disclosed</em> and selective distribution (specialist retailers and direct sales). <strong>As a guide, many steel references sit around &euro;2,500&ndash;3,000, while technical titanium pieces exceed &euro;4,000</strong>; special editions or precious-metal variants are significantly higher. Presence is established in Europe such as <a href="https://www.soprana.com/zrc-1904/?lang=en">Soprana</a> in Italy or <a href="https://junod-lausanne.ch/fr/collections/zrc">Junod</a> in Switzerland, and selected Asian/Middle-Eastern markets through a tight retail network.</p>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>ZRC speaks to those who value immediately recognisable tool-watch design with functional clarity and a strong signature. Your choice will likely fall between versatile daily wear (Grands Fonds 300/38), an emphatic historical link (MN64, Securicode), or a more technical, extreme approach (Grands Fonds 3000 Titanium). Ergonomics benefit from the 6 o&rsquo;clock crown and CPS safety; purists will appreciate the overall coherence. To refine your decision beyond the spec sheet, rely on <strong>Dialicious customer reviews</strong> to understand comfort, real-world legibility and on-wrist feel.</p>
<p>(Updated August 2025)</p>

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