Henry Louis Belmont founded Yema in 1948, in Besançon in the Doubs, cradle of French watchmaking. The legend would like the name to Greek consonance of the brand was born from the imagination of a teenager, during a competition organized by the founder himself. The Manufacture quickly had great success on the international scene since in 1966, and for three consecutive years, Yema was the first French watch exporter: more than 500,000 models delivered in more than 50 countries! In the United States, it was under the name of "Lejour", an export brand, that Yema won on the bracelet watches market. Today, his workshops are located in Morteau in the heart of La Franche Comté.
Yema’s story is above all a story of technical advances. The brand's models are both markers in the history of watchmaking but also human adventure since they follow all the exploits of the second half of the XXe century. Indeed, these are watches intended for professionals: diving, pilot, astronaut, automotive runner watch .... Reliability and robustness are the key words that the brand claims.
Yema Rallygraf - Circa 1970
Yema Rallygraf "Brown Sugar" - Circa 1970
The conquest of the seas
In 1963, the Superman was born, a watch reputed to be "unbreakable" with an automatic movement (caliber ETA 2452), offering a seal of 300m and a "bezel block" in steel. An icon! Especially since she equipped the "ploufs" (helicopter rescuers) of the French Air Force.
Still at the service of diving professionals, in 1966, Yema produced the yachtingraf: a chronograph with a mechanical movement Valjoux 92, waterproof to 200 m, which indicates the regatta time. It is this model that was chosen at the beginning of 1970, by the French Yatching Sailing Federation, as a supplier of the French sailing team for the next four years. It was therefore a Yatchingraf on the wrist that the French team presented itself at the 1972 Olympic Games.
Conquest of circuits
The same year, in the middle of the Golden Sports Sports competitions, the rallygraf released. It was this model that Pilot Mario Andretti bore, a real legend in the history of the races. He won no less than 111 victories, including the 500 miles from Daytona, the 500 Miles of Indianapolis and finally the Formula 1 World Championship.
Yema 1st exporter of CETEHOR
Yema Rallygraf Super - Circa 1970
Mario Andretti
The conquest of heaven
In 1978, the Manufacture set out to conquer the sky by producing its "Patent Pending" flygraf. It is an automatic movement chronograph equipped with an ETA 7750. It is above all a tool for specialists. For example, his logarithmic telescope allowed pilots to make different calculations concerning altitude, speed, distances or even fuel consumption.
New challenge in the 1980s: Yema embarked on the realization of the Supageau 1 which left on June 24, 1982, at the wrist of the French astronaut, Jean-Loup Chrétien, for a 10-day trip to space.
Jean-Loup Chrétien (born in 1938)
French excellence
Finally, in May 1986, the North Pole was developed to accompany Jean-Louis Etienne who launched on the road to the North Pole. An odyssey of more than 800km where he wore this titanium watch, designed with a system avoiding the magnetic north and the four cardinal points.
2017, return to space. Yema in collaboration with the CNES (National Center for Spatial Studies) develops a model in honor of the Proxima mission. Proof that the excellence of French watchmaking still survives. Finally, ultimate legitimization for these professional watches, some of the greatest contemporary explorers are brand ambassadors: the pilot Pierre Sancinena, the photographer David Templier, and the navigator Michel Desjoyeaux.
Yema's little story
French time: a story of adventures
Henry Louis Belmont founded Yema in 1948, in Besançon in the Doubs, cradle of French watchmaking. The legend would like the name to Greek consonance of the brand was born from the imagination of a teenager, during a competition organized by the founder himself. The Manufacture quickly had great success on the international scene since in 1966, and for three consecutive years, Yema was the first French watch exporter: more than 500,000 models delivered in more than 50 countries! In the United States, it was under the name of "Lejour", an export brand, that Yema won on the bracelet watches market. Today, his workshops are located in Morteau in the heart of La Franche Comté.
Yema’s story is above all a story of technical advances. The brand's models are both markers in the history of watchmaking but also human adventure since they follow all the exploits of the second half of the XXe century. Indeed, these are watches intended for professionals: diving, pilot, astronaut, automotive runner watch .... Reliability and robustness are the key words that the brand claims.
The conquest of the seas
In 1963, the Superman was born, a watch reputed to be "unbreakable" with an automatic movement (caliber ETA 2452), offering a seal of 300m and a "bezel block" in steel. An icon! Especially since she equipped the "ploufs" (helicopter rescuers) of the French Air Force.
Still at the service of diving professionals, in 1966, Yema produced the yachtingraf: a chronograph with a mechanical movement Valjoux 92, waterproof to 200 m, which indicates the regatta time. It is this model that was chosen at the beginning of 1970, by the French Yatching Sailing Federation, as a supplier of the French sailing team for the next four years. It was therefore a Yatchingraf on the wrist that the French team presented itself at the 1972 Olympic Games.
Conquest of circuits
The same year, in the middle of the Golden Sports Sports competitions, the rallygraf released. It was this model that Pilot Mario Andretti bore, a real legend in the history of the races. He won no less than 111 victories, including the 500 miles from Daytona, the 500 Miles of Indianapolis and finally the Formula 1 World Championship.
The conquest of heaven
In 1978, the Manufacture set out to conquer the sky by producing its "Patent Pending" flygraf. It is an automatic movement chronograph equipped with an ETA 7750. It is above all a tool for specialists. For example, his logarithmic telescope allowed pilots to make different calculations concerning altitude, speed, distances or even fuel consumption.
New challenge in the 1980s: Yema embarked on the realization of the Supageau 1 which left on June 24, 1982, at the wrist of the French astronaut, Jean-Loup Chrétien, for a 10-day trip to space.
French excellence
Finally, in May 1986, the North Pole was developed to accompany Jean-Louis Etienne who launched on the road to the North Pole. An odyssey of more than 800km where he wore this titanium watch, designed with a system avoiding the magnetic north and the four cardinal points.
2017, return to space. Yema in collaboration with the CNES (National Center for Spatial Studies) develops a model in honor of the Proxima mission. Proof that the excellence of French watchmaking still survives. Finally, ultimate legitimization for these professional watches, some of the greatest contemporary explorers are brand ambassadors: the pilot Pierre Sancinena, the photographer David Templier, and the navigator Michel Desjoyeaux.