What YEMA Watches does

YEMA is an independent French watchmaker founded in 1948 in Morteau, France, and currently held by the Bôle family through Ambre France. The company designs, manufactures, and sells mechanical timepieces organized around seven heritage collections (Superman, Navygraf, Wristmaster, Flygraf, Rallygraf, Granvelle, Yachtingraf) targeting diving, military, aviation, motorsport, and lifestyle watch segments. Approximately 80% of production occurs in-house at the Morteau manufacture, with capacity of roughly 40,000 watches per year and components sourced from a 72km-radius network of Swiss suppliers.

The company's technical core is the Calibre Manufacture Morteau (CMM) family of proprietary in-house movements: the CMM.10 chronometric caliber (-3/+5 sec/day, 70-hour reserve), the CMM.20 micro-rotor (first French micro-rotor in history, 3.70mm thickness, designed by Olivier Mory), and the CMM.30/CMM.31 tourbillon calibers (105-hour reserve, anti-magnetic to 2,000 Gauss). These are complemented by Sellita-equipped entry pieces. Patents include the 1966 Yachtingraf countdown timer and the 1967 Superman bezel-lock mechanism.

YEMA operates a direct-to-consumer model via owned e-commerce (yema.com, yema.us) and the YEMA Lounge Paris flagship opened in April 2026, with prices spanning $420 to $13,000 across quartz, Sellita, and in-house caliber tiers. Distribution is supplemented by participation in international watch fairs (Rétromobile, Windup Watch Fair series, Time to Watches Geneva, Inhorgenta Munich). Key institutional partnerships include official supplier status with the French Navy (since 2021) and the French Air & Space Force (since the 1970s), plus a recent motorsport partnership with Alpine (Renault Group). The brand markets through the #TimeofHeroes campaign featuring historical figures including Mario Andretti and Jean-Loup Chrétien.

Name

YEMA Watches

Legal name

YEMA Watches Official Store

Website

https://yema.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

YEMA is an independent French watchmaker founded in 1948 in Morteau, designing and producing mechanical timepieces — primarily dive, military, aviation, motorsport, and dress watches — sold direct-to-consumer globally, with proprietary in-house CMM movements and official supplier status to the French armed forces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Mechanical Watches

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221), Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Prefabricated Wood Bldgs & Components (2452), Glass Products, Made Of Purchased Glass (3231), Flat Glass (3211), Glass & Glassware, Pressed Or Blown (3220), Glass Containers (3221)

akta.pro primary industry

Watch Manufacturing (Movements, Cases, Dials, Assembly) (CRAKADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports/Dive/Aviation Tool Watches (CRAKADAE), Independent/Microbrand Watches (CRAKADAH), Complications & Haute Horlogerie (CRAKADAG)

Keywords

• Mechanical watches
• Dive watches
• Chronograph watches
• Pilot watches
• Watch manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Morteau

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Watch Sales: Direct sales of mechanical watches ranging from entry-level models ($420) to high-end tourbillon pieces ($13,000). Revenue generated through owned e-commerce platforms and flagship retail locations.
2. Limited Edition Releases: Special edition timepieces with premium pricing and collector appeal, including collaborations and commemorative models sold at higher price points.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

YEMA Watches is an independent French watchmaker that designs, manufactures, and sells mechanical timepieces, including professional dive watches, aviation watches, motorsport chronographs, and dress watches. The company produces proprietary in-house calibers (CMM.10, CMM.20, CMM.30 tourbillon) at its Morteau manufacture, with about 80% of production handled in-house and the rest sourced from Swiss partners within a 72km radius.

Product overview

YEMA Watches is an independent French watchmaker offering a diverse portfolio of mechanical timepieces, primarily focused on professional tool watches. The product lineup centers on iconic dive watches (Superman, Navygraf, Skin Diver), aviation watches (Flygraf), motorsport chronographs (Rallygraf), and elegant dress watches (Granvelle, Wristmaster). The collection includes both core production models and limited editions, with many featuring proprietary in-house manufacture calibers (CMM.10, CMM.20, CMM.30 tourbillon) produced at the Morteau workshop. Strategic collaborations include the Rallygraf Alpine Cup with Alpine automotive and the Marine Limited Edition with designer Alain Silberstein. The brand emphasizes French manufacture heritage with movements designed, machined, and assembled in France, complemented by regional Swiss components within a 72km radius.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Superman: Iconic French dive watch collection, first introduced in the 1960s, featuring the signature patented bezel-lock mechanism and 300m water resistance
• Navygraf
• Wristmaster
• Flygraf
• Rallygraf
• Granvelle
• Yachtingraf

Products and services

• Superman Collection Iconic French dive watch line introduced in the 1960s, featuring a signature patented bezel-lock mechanism and 300m water resistance. Includes sub-lines such as Bronze, Skin Diver, Titanium, Tourbillon, and Slim variants, equipped with in-house CMM calibers or Swiss Sellita movements, targeted at professional divers and French armed forces.
• Navygraf Collection Historic 1970s military-grade dive watch collection designed for extreme durability and precision. Includes Phantom (stealth), Pearl (mother-of-pearl), Heritage, and Marine Nationale editions, many equipped with in-house CMM calibers, targeted at military professionals and diving enthusiasts.
• Flygraf Collection Aviation-inspired pilot watch collection originally designed for professional aviators and now the official timepiece of France's Air Force. Includes CPA10 (military specification), Pilot, Bi-Compax chronograph, and Navigator models, targeted at military pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
• Rallygraf Collection Motorsport chronograph collection inspired by vintage Rallygraf models from mid-1960s. Includes Alpine Cup Series (collaboration with Alpine), Classic, Mark II, and Meca-Quartz variants with panda and reverse panda dial options, targeted at motorsport enthusiasts and collectors.
• Granvelle Collection Elegant dress watch collection inspired by 16th-century Granvelle Palace architecture in Besançon. Features cushion-shaped cases with Renaissance proportions and depth, equipped with slim manufacture micro-rotor calibers, targeted at urban and lifestyle watch buyers.
• Wristmaster Collection Iconic integrated bracelet watch collection featuring complex case geometry with alternating brushed-polished finishes. Includes Slim, Slim Small Seconds, and Urban Traveller variants, many equipped with proprietary micro-rotor CMM.20 or CMM.29 calibers.
• CMM.10 Caliber (In-House Movement) Proprietary in-house automatic movement featuring chronometric precision (-3/+5 seconds per day), 70-hour power reserve, 208 components, 27 jewels. Features non-magnetic alloys, Incabloc shock resistance, and Glucydur balance wheel. Used across Superman, Navygraf, and other collections.
• CMM.20 Caliber (In-House Micro-Rotor Movement) Proprietary micro-rotor automatic movement with ultra-thin 3.70mm thickness, tungsten micro-rotor, 70-hour power reserve, -3/+7 seconds accuracy, 190 components. First French micro-rotor movement in history, used in slim dress and dive watches.
• CMM.30 Caliber (Tourbillon Movement) High-end tourbillon movement designed by Olivier Mory featuring 105-hour power reserve, free-sprung balance wheel, 2,000 Gauss magnetic resistance, 5,000 G shock resistance, LiGa anchor escapement and tidal cycles complication. Used in flagship tourbillon timepieces.
• Superman Bronze CMM.10 Professional dive watch with 39mm bronze case developing unique patina, powered by in-house CMM.10 manufacture caliber with 70-hour power reserve. Available in glossy lacquered dial variations including brown, green, and white with gilt finishes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-year international warranty on all mechanical YEMA Manufacture movements
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alpine (Renault Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Partnership to honor Alpine's historic racing achievements. Created the Rallygraf Alpine Cup Series as tribute to Alpine car brand's motorsport heritage. YEMA serves as official timekeeper of the Alpine Cup Series, timing every race with the same accuracy and reliability as their watches.
• seconde/seconde/minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Collaboration with graffiti artist Romaric André (seconde/seconde/) to create the Yema Yachtingraff with hand-painted sub-dials and spray-can-style pushers, fusing 1960s style with modern graffiti art.
• Alain SilbersteinminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Designer collaboration with Alain Silberstein creating limited edition Marine dive watches featuring unique modernist design with primary colors, titanium case, and CMM.20 micro-rotor movement. 500 pieces produced at $3,900 each.
• Générale RessortscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Supplier of mainspring components for CMM caliber movements, specifically manufacturing the large barrel springs for the 70-hour power reserve calibers.
• Olivier MorycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Partnership with Master Watchmaker Olivier Mory for development of in-house calibers including the CMM.20 micro-rotor movement designed in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
• Marine Nationale (French Navy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Official partner of the French Navy since 2021. YEMA creates tool-watches designed for maritime professionals built to military specifications, with the first official collection available to both military personnel and the general public. The partnership commemorates French military heritage and provides watches for the 39,000-strong navy.
• French Air & Space ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Historic collaboration since early 1970s equipping national fighter pilots and rescue divers with military-grade watches designed to military specifications. YEMA is considered the ultimate all-round tool watch meeting specific requirements for precision, resistance, reliability, and legibility.
• Swiss Component Suppliers (within 72km of Morteau)coreTechnology or IntegrationNetwork of Swiss watchmaking partners within 72km radius of Morteau workshops providing balance wheels, mainsprings, and other precision components for in-house caliber production.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Baltic: Baltic is a French-oriented microbrand built around heritage-inspired mechanical watches, limited editions, and direct online sales. It is highly comparable to YEMA's design-led, digitally distributed microbrand model.
• Oris: Oris is an established Swiss producer specializing in mechanical dive, aviation, and other professional tool watches, including models with proprietary movements. It directly overlaps YEMA's core use cases and enthusiast positioning.
• Christopher Ward: Christopher Ward is an independent watchmaker selling mechanical watches directly and through retailers, with its own in-house calibers. It closely matches YEMA's independent, premium, direct-to-consumer proposition.
• Farer: Farer is an independent British microbrand offering design-led mechanical watches, limited editions, and direct-to-consumer distribution. It overlaps with YEMA in enthusiast marketing, accessible premium pricing, and heritage-inspired collections.
• Norqain: Norqain is a Swiss independent watchmaker offering mechanical sport and tool watches, including proprietary calibers. It competes with YEMA for collector-led, adventure-oriented premium-watch customers.
• Monta Watches: Monta is a direct-to-consumer microbrand focused on Swiss-made mechanical watches at accessible premium prices. It is comparable through a similar online customer-acquisition model and target buyer.

Broad incumbents

• Zodiac Watches: Zodiac is a Swiss brand with dive, field, and motorsport heritage and an accessible mechanical-watch range. It overlaps with YEMA's iconic tool-watch story, sporty designs, and enthusiast customer base.
• Hamilton Watch: Hamilton is a broad incumbent with military, aviation, dive, and field-watch heritage plus a substantial mechanical collection. It compares through similar accessible-premium pricing and professional-use storytelling.
• Mido: Mido is a broad Swiss watch incumbent offering mechanical sport and dive watches at accessible premium prices. Its larger portfolio overlaps YEMA's target customers and professional-use positioning.

Emerging players

• Louis Erard: Louis Erard is a Swiss heritage watch brand known for mechanical regulators, complications, and limited editions. It is relevant to YEMA's accessible haute-horlogerie and collector-oriented tier, although its product mix is less dive-tool focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Yemawatches
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yema-watches

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YEMA Watches