AND SINCE WHEN YEMA???
Few people know that Yema is a French brand... And yes, if you ask a foreigner which French brands come to mind, they answer Lip and Yema. And for good reason, the Yema company began in 1948, it was Mr. Belmont who had the idea. Over the years, this French brand has built a solid reputation on the market for chronometers and diving watches. In 1965, thanks to the success of the American market, Yema was proclaimed the most exported French brand. In 1982 Yema equipped French astronauts and became an official supplier to the CNES. In 1982, Yema crossed the historic threshold of 2 million units produced. The brand then underwent several successive takeovers: Matra in 1982, CGH in 1988 and Yema SA in 1995.
Since 1948 Yema has cultivated its image as a multi-specialist and produces superb quality timepieces that are collectable today.
Yema's vocation remains sporting, there are three reference universes, this heritage is easy to decode: earth, air and sea. Motor racing: this is the motor racing chronograph. The sky: it’s the aviation clock. The nautical world: it’s the diving watch.
AS HIS NAME INDICATES: SUPERMAN
In 1963, Yema released the “Superman”, a watch water-resistant to 300 meters, dedicated to diving professionals. As its name suggests, this model pays homage to high-level athletes as evidenced by the advertising slogans of the time: “ Yema the time of heroes. Extraordinary watches for extraordinary men
», in English even on French advertisements.
This watch was chosen in particular for and by major French expeditions (Serge Debru, globetrotter; Lionel Terray and Robert Paragot, high-level mountaineers).
From now on, the brand bases its communication on the sporty nature of its watches. For the “Superman” for example, Yema is very explicit on the message, presenting this model as a real technological instrument, both precise and aesthetic: “ Why a professional diver's watch on a businessman's wrist? (…) Waterproof to a depth of 300 m, insensitive to shock, dust, heat or cold, “Superman” is not at all the kind of watch that we need to protect. Imperturbably faithful to the height of the action, your “Superman” will also play the small risks that you put him in… every day »
DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Dimensions : width excluding crown 38.5 mm, 48 mm at the end of the handles and 10.2 mm thickness including glass.
Glass : New, acrylic, ringed, curved.
Housing : With the classic lines of the divers that have made YEMA famous, an imposing diameter, massive handles, and a uni-directional rotating bezel with anti-return ratchet. Screwed winding crown which blocks the crown when diving thanks to its "stop brake". The horns are quite long and plunge at a slight angle, accentuating its elegance, the whole thing is topped with a curved plexi glass. It has a screw-down stainless steel back, all as you can see in the photos, in superb condition for a watch almost 50 years old.
Dial: Matte black, din exceptional condition, with geometric indexes. Observe its broad straight hands and its delicate railway around the circumference.
Movement: During the 80s, Hattori-Seiko gradually supplied its calibers to Matra. Formerly known as Suwa Seikosha, Seiko is located in the Matsumoto area of Nagano Prefecture, in the center of Honshu, Japan's main island. The small town of Shiojiri is home to the Seiko factory. The city's name literally means “salt butt” because it was historically located at the end of the salt route, which brought white gold to the mountainous towns from the Sea of Japan.
It is a very reliable caliber, like all the movements used by the brand since its beginnings, which is also the reason why Yema is a great brand... This one is a HATTORI VX42, new, I just replaced it to ensure a 2 year warranty, it will work for a long time. Very reliable, solid and precise, with stop seconds, date and quick corrector to the first position by pulling the winder. It will therefore be guaranteed and the battery new, knowing that in most cases you will not find this after-sales service on ebay.
strap: original, in stainless steel on folding buckle with safety flap, 19 mm wide on the watch side, the last link on the buckle side is 16 mm, in perfect working order, with the diving extension, it has all its links, the watch can accommodate a wrist of 20 cm.
Comments : This is the latest version of Superman 1, a collector's item!! With its brushed horns, straight hands and the metal triangle in the insert at 12 o'clock with a lume dot at its center. Thus replacing the usual triangle of lume which faded after a few months on the wrist.