THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: YEMA
MODEL: 93012
YEAR: 1971
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 37mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: LEATHER
MOVEMENT: MANUAL WIND

The 1960s and ’70s were truly a golden era for sports chronographs, with numerous iconic models emerging from historic manufacturers such as Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Universal Genève, and Heuer. However, in the shadows of these big names, many smaller brands—such as Certina, Enicar, Eterna, and Yema—also produced exceptional sports chronographs during this time. These watches were built to the same high standards and often featured even bolder, more daring designs. In many cases, they are even rarer today and have gained a cult following among collectors.

Yema was a relatively young brand at the time, founded in 1948 by Henry Louis Belmont, a graduate of the Besançon National Watchmaking School. The brand quickly became a pioneer in French watchmaking. Interestingly, the name “Yema” was chosen from a student competition and has no particular meaning—just a clean, modern-sounding name for a new era.

In the 1960s, Yema released the Rallygraf, powered by Valjoux movements and featuring what is arguably one of the most striking dial designs ever seen on a chronograph. The two-register version was famously worn by the legendary Mario Andretti, who wore it regularly after receiving it as a gift from a fan. The current example is the ever-rarer Rallygraf Super, featuring an additional 24-hour subdial, specially designed for endurance races.

This particular watch is in fantastic condition. The dial is mint (a rarity for this model), and the tritium lume has aged to a rich, deep patina. The case proudly bears the marks it has earned over the years—just how we like them. The movement was serviced within the last year and runs perfectly at +4 s/d, 255 amplitude, with a 0.3 ms beat error. We've paired the watch with a set of Corfam straps to complete the look.