Yema
Yema is a French watch brand known for purpose-built diving, sailing, motorsport, and space watches.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Yema is a French watch brand founded in Besançon in 1948 by Henry Louis Belmont, a graduate of the National Watchmaking School of Besançon. The company developed within the historic watchmaking ecosystem of eastern France and became associated with technically oriented watches designed for specific activities rather than with a single general-purpose luxury style. Its principal fields have included diving, sailing, motor racing, polar exploration, and spaceflight. The brand expanded substantially during the 1960s and 1970s. During that period it was described as France's largest watch manufacturer and reportedly produced more than 500,000 watches annually. Its best-known professional and enthusiast lines emerged during these decades. The Superman, introduced in 1963, established Yema's identity in diving watches and subsequently appeared in numerous variations. In 1966, the company introduced both the Yachtingraf, aimed at sailors and regatta use, and the RallyGraf, a motorsport-oriented chronograph. One RallyGraf was worn by Formula One champion Mario Andretti, helping connect the brand with racing culture. Yema also developed a notable relationship with French maritime institutions. At the beginning of the 1970s it became an official supplier to the French Sailing Federation and supplied watches to the French national sailing team at the 1972 Olympic Games. The Yachtingraf family was produced in several versions and became an important historical reference for sailing watches. The brand's space association began in the early 1980s. On 24 June 1982, French astronaut Jean-Loup Chrétien wore a Yema Spationaute I during a ten-day mission launched from Baikonur, making it the first French watch to travel into space. Patrick Baudry wore a Yema Spationaute II during the Discovery shuttle's STS-51G mission in June 1985, the first Franco-American orbital flight. Chrétien later wore a Spationaute III during a 1988 mission to the Mir space station. In 2017, Yema worked with France's National Centre for Space Studies, CNES, on the Spacegraf, a watch associated with the Proxima mission and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet's expedition context. Yema's ownership changed several times. It was owned by Matra during the 1980s before being sold to the Hattori-Seiko group. In 2004, executive manager Louis-Eric Beckensteiner acquired the company. Montres Ambre, a French family-owned watchmaking and jewelry company, acquired Yema in 2009 and remains its owner. That same year, Yema developed the MBP 1000, a proprietary mechanical movement intended to improve winding efficiency and precision. The movement used a bidirectional oscillating mass on ball bearings, a 40-hour power reserve, a balance frequency of 28,800 alternations per hour, and 31 jewels. Today, Yema's identity rests on French watchmaking heritage, historically significant tool-watch families, and links with exploration and sport. Its portfolio is particularly associated with the Superman diver, Yachtingraf sailing chronographs, RallyGraf racing watches, and Spationaute and Spacegraf space-themed models. The brand is active under Montres Ambre, although detailed current corporate, retail, and executive information is not established in the supplied reference material.
History
Yema was established in 1948 in Besançon by Henry Louis Belmont, who had graduated from the city's National Watchmaking School. Besançon was one of France's principal watchmaking centers, and the company grew within that regional manufacturing tradition. Rather than limiting itself to dress watches, Yema increasingly built its reputation through watches intended for demanding activities and professional or sporting environments. The company's expansion was especially visible in the 1960s and 1970s. It became one of France's largest watch manufacturers and was reported to have produced more than 500,000 watches per year. In 1963, Yema introduced the Superman diver. The model was produced in many versions and became the brand's signature diving line. Three years later, the company introduced two other historically important families: the Yachtingraf, designed for sailors, and the RallyGraf, designed around the needs and aesthetics of motor racing. The RallyGraf's association with Formula One driver Mario Andretti gave Yema visibility beyond the French market. Yema developed an institutional relationship with French sailing. Around the start of the 1970s, it became an official supplier of the French Sailing Federation. It also equipped the French national sailing team at the 1972 Olympic Games. Several versions of the Yachtingraf were made over time, reinforcing the model's place in the history of regatta watches. The brand then developed a distinctive spaceflight identity. On 24 June 1982, Jean-Loup Chrétien flew from Baikonur wearing a Yema Spationaute I. His watch became the first French watch worn in space. Patrick Baudry used a Yema Spationaute II on the Discovery shuttle's STS-51G mission on 17 June 1985, a flight described as the first Franco-American orbital mission. On 26 November 1988, Chrétien wore a Spationaute III during a mission to the Mir space station. Yema also supported exploration outside orbit: in May 1986 it joined French physician and explorer Jean-Louis Etienne for a North Pole crossing. Ownership changed during the later twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. During the 1980s, Yema was owned by Matra, which later sold it to the Hattori-Seiko group. In 2004, Louis-Eric Beckensteiner, then the company's executive manager, acquired the business. Montres Ambre, a family-owned French watchmaking and jewelry company, purchased Yema in 2009 and became its continuing owner. Technical development under the later ownership included the MBP 1000 movement, introduced in 2009. The movement used a bidirectional oscillating mass mounted on ball bearings, a stated 40-hour power reserve, a regulator operating at 28,800 alternations per hour, and 31 jewels. In 2017, Yema collaborated with CNES on the Spacegraf, created to honor the Proxima mission and the participation of France's tenth astronaut in spaceflight. The brand remains active under Montres Ambre and continues to draw on its historical families of diving, sailing, racing, and space watches.
- 2017
Spacegraf developed with CNES
[1]Yema partnered with CNES on the Spacegraf in connection with the Proxima mission.
- 2009
Montres Ambre acquisition and MBP 1000
[1]Montres Ambre acquired Yema, while the brand developed its MBP 1000 mechanical movement.
- 1986
North Pole expedition partnership
[1]Yema joined Jean-Louis Etienne's North Pole expedition.
- 1982
First French watch in space
[1]Jean-Loup Chrétien wore a Yema Spationaute I during a space mission.
- 1972
French Olympic sailing team supplied
[1]Yema watches were supplied to the French national sailing team at the Olympic Games.
- 1966
Yachtingraf and RallyGraf introduced
[1]The company launched dedicated sailing and motorsport watch families.
- 1963
Superman diving collection launched
[1]Yema introduced the Superman line for divers, later producing many variants.
- 1948
Yema founded in Besançon
[1]Henry Louis Belmont founded the Yema watch company in Besançon, France.
Products and positioning
French heritage watchmaking focused on purpose-built sports, tool, and exploration watches, with historical credibility in diving, sailing, motorsport, and spaceflight.
Diving watch · 1963
Yema Superman
Introduced in 1963, the Superman is Yema's signature diving-watch family. It was created for underwater use and subsequently produced in numerous versions. Its long historical continuity makes it a central reference for the brand's identity as a French maker of specialist tool watches.
Sailing and regatta watch · 1966
Yema Yachtingraf
The Yachtingraf was introduced in 1966 as a watch designed for sailors. Its history is connected with Yema's role as an official supplier to the French Sailing Federation and with the French national sailing team at the 1972 Olympic Games. Six principal historical versions are noted in the supplied reference material.
Motorsport chronograph · 1966
Yema RallyGraf
Launched alongside the Yachtingraf in 1966, the RallyGraf was developed around motor racing. Its historical profile was strengthened by association with Formula One champion Mario Andretti, who wore one example. The line represents Yema's motorsport-oriented interpretation of the specialist chronograph.
Space watch · 1982
Yema Spationaute
The Spationaute family is Yema's principal spaceflight watch line. Spationaute I was worn by Jean-Loup Chrétien in 1982, Spationaute II by Patrick Baudry during STS-51G in 1985, and Spationaute III by Chrétien during a 1988 mission to Mir. These missions established the brand's strongest association with French human spaceflight.
Space-themed watch · 2017
Yema Spacegraf
The Spacegraf was created through a 2017 collaboration with France's National Centre for Space Studies. It was intended to commemorate the Proxima mission and continued Yema's longstanding practice of linking watch design with French space exploration.
Mechanical watch movement · 2009
MBP 1000
The MBP 1000 is a proprietary movement developed by Yema in 2009. Its design included a bidirectional oscillating mass mounted on ball bearings, a stated 40-hour power reserve, a balance frequency of 28,800 alternations per hour, and 31 jewels. The movement was presented as improving winding efficiency and precision.
Marketing campaigns
- 1986North Pole Mission
France · International expedition context
Yema partnered with French physician and explorer Jean-Louis Etienne for a North Pole crossing, extending the brand's exploration positioning beyond watches associated with sport and spaceflight.
Outcome. The expedition became part of Yema's historical association with exploration.
Brand decisions
2017
Spacegraf collaboration with CNESProduct launchBackground
Yema had a longstanding history of watches connected with French space missions.
Action taken
Yema partnered with CNES to create the Spacegraf in honor of the Proxima mission.
Aftermath
The collaboration renewed the brand's space-exploration positioning.
2009
Montres Ambre acquires YemaM&ABackground
Yema had previously passed through ownership by Matra, the Hattori-Seiko group, and Louis-Eric Beckensteiner.
Action taken
Montres Ambre, a French family-owned watchmaking and jewelry company, acquired the Yema brand.
Aftermath
Montres Ambre became Yema's continuing owner and corporate parent.
2009
Development of the MBP 1000 movementProduct launchBackground
Yema sought to support its mechanical-watch proposition with proprietary movement technology.
Action taken
The company developed the MBP 1000, incorporating bidirectional winding and a stated 40-hour power reserve.
Aftermath
The movement became a technical marker of Yema's later watchmaking activity.
Recent events
- 2017
Yema Spacegraf created with CNES[1]
Product launch · Other
Yema partnered with France's National Centre for Space Studies to create the Spacegraf in connection with the Proxima mission.
- 2009
Yema changes ownership[1]
M&A
Montres Ambre acquired Yema after earlier ownership periods involving Matra, the Hattori-Seiko group, and Louis-Eric Beckensteiner.
- 2009
Yema develops MBP 1000 movement[1]
Product launch
Yema introduced its proprietary MBP 1000 mechanical movement, designed around bidirectional winding and a stated 40-hour power reserve.
- 1985
Yema Spationaute II used on STS-51G[1]
Other
Astronaut Patrick Baudry wore the Yema Spationaute II during the Discovery shuttle's STS-51G mission.
- 1982
Yema Spationaute I worn on French space mission[1]
Other
Jean-Loup Chrétien wore a Yema Spationaute I during a ten-day space mission, making it the first French watch in space.
- 1970
Yema becomes French Sailing Federation supplier[1]
Other
The brand became an official supplier to the French Sailing Federation and later equipped the French national sailing team for the 1972 Olympic Games.
- 1966
Yachtingraf and RallyGraf collections launched[1]
Product launch
Yema introduced sailing-oriented Yachtingraf watches and motorsport-oriented RallyGraf watches.
- 1963
Yema Superman collection introduced[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Yema launched the Superman diving-watch collection, which became one of the brand's defining product families.
Sources1 sources
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