Yema was founded in 1948 by Henry Louis Belmont – a French watchmaker possessed by an entrepreneurial fervor. His aim was to create a well-built yet affordable watch, which forced him to find an efficient way to automate his production lines in order to keep costs down. The height of the French brand’s success came in the 60s and 70s, thanks in no small part to four specialized models: the Rallygraf racing chronograph, the Flygraf pilot’s chronograph, the Yachtingraf regatta timer, and, last but not least, the Superman diver. Sadly, the Quartz Crisis took its toll on Yema, eventually bankrupting the company in the 80s.
The watch on offer here – the ref. Y90016 is the original 1980s Serie 1 Superman, which was recently reissued to mark the iconic French watchmaker’s rise from the ashes! Having handled both the original and the reissue, we can confidently say that the former remains superior to the latter, even if the newer version is very true-to-form and demonstrates a profound respect for the model’s heritage. Why? Because the latter merely imitates history, while the former embodies it fully.
As we hope our photos will testify, this piece is in very good condition. The case is in original, unpolished condition with minimal scratching, the lugs are knife-edge sharp, and the bezel is slightly faded but nonetheless crisp. The cherry on top – the luminous indices and hands have taken on a pleasing peanut butter patina, which attests to the watch’s venerable age.
The watch comes outfitted with a brand-new black rubber tropic style strap.
Covered by a limited warranty of 6 months.
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| Complications/Functions | Central seconds, Date, Luminous hands, Luminous indices, Rotating bezel, Screw-down crown |