Founded in France in 1948 by Henry Louis Belmont, Yema established itself as a watchmaker with a particularly broad range, from practical everyday timepieces to professional sports watches.

Although the brand is perhaps best known today for its Superman diving watches and motorsport-inspired chronographs, its catalogue also included an extensive selection of automatic dress watches.

By the late 1960s and early 1970s, automatic winding and date displays had become increasingly desirable features for everyday wristwatches. Yema embraced these developments while experimenting with distinctive case shapes, dial finishes and applied hour markers.

This example captures that period particularly well. Its sculpted gold-tone case, silver dial and contrasting geometric hour markers offer a more understated expression of 1970s styling, while the automatic movement provides the mechanical appeal that makes vintage watches so enjoyable to collect.

What's on Offer

Here we have a very attractive Yema Automatic Date, dating to approximately 1970, presented in very good vintage condition.

The first thing that catches the eye is the beautifully balanced silver dial. Its subtle vertical brushing catches the light without becoming overly reflective, while a contrasting grey chapter ring adds depth and definition. Applied gold-tone hour markers sit prominently around the dial, complemented by matching baton hands with luminous inserts.

At 3 o'clock, a framed date window provides a practical addition to an otherwise wonderfully uncluttered design. The Yema signature and distinctive emblem sit beneath 12, with 'Automatic' below, while 'Incabloc' appears above 6, referring to the movement's shock-protection system.

The gold-tone case measures 34.5mm across, with a lug-to-lug measurement of 41.5mm and a 19mm lug width. Its most distinctive feature is undoubtedly the sculpted lugs, which curve elegantly away from the case and give the watch a more substantial appearance than its dimensions might suggest.

The case displays the expected marks of wear for a watch of this age, particularly around the lugs and case edges, but retains plenty of its attractive vintage character. The stainless steel caseback features Yema's decorative crest, along with markings identifying its water-resistant construction.

Protecting the dial is a domed Plexiglass crystal, which complements the watch's period styling beautifully.

Inside beats the 17-jewel FE 3611 automatic movement, offering an approximate 38-hour power reserve. The movement has been serviced and is performing particularly well, with a timegrapher reading of 0 seconds per day and an amplitude of 311° at the time of testing.

The watch is paired with a black textured leather strap, providing a pleasing contrast against the warm gold-tone case.

An attractive and characterful vintage Yema that offers all the charm of early 1970s watchmaking without the oversized proportions often associated with the decade.

Condition Report:

Crystal: Very Good

Dial: Excellent

Bezel: Good

Case: Good

Movement: Serviced 0s/d 311°

Overall: Very Good