YEMA, French Watchmaker founded in 1948, is pleased to announce the launch of the new collection designed and developed in collaboration with the French Air Force on yema.com: Flygraf Flieger French Air Force & Flygraf Bi-Compax French Air Force. The collection is available on March 15 on pre orders with shipping in May 2024.
The French Air Force and YEMA collaborate in crafting professional tool watches specifically designed for the military. This historic collaboration dates back to the early 1970s with the supply of YEMA Superman dive watches to Helicopter Rescue Divers special forces. Subsequently, other Superman models were supplied to French Air Force pilots, making of the Superman a unique military tool watch with multiple uses.
Inspired by Flieger Type A watches, the Flygraf Flieger French Air Force is a reinterpretation of the legendary military aviation watch model. Featuring a titanium case that is extremely lightweight and durable, this military model is equipped with our in-house caliber, the YEMA 2000.
The Flygraf Bi-Compax French Air Force is equipped with Seiko’s VK61 hybrid calibre featuring a vertical bi-compax chronograph and French Air Force’s logo and roundel stamped in the dial.
YEMA Flygraf Flieger French Air Force
The case is made of lightweight Grade 2 titanium, providing better resistance to shocks than traditional steel. The darker hue of titanium, combined with the case’s satin matte finish enhance the overall military look and feel.
The 316L stainless steel caseback features the French Air Force logo embossed with a hydraulic press.
The slightly oversized crown allows fighter pilots to easily manipulate their watch even when wearing gloves, making this model a true flight instrument.
For easy reading, this military-inspired dial includes a triangular marker at 12 o’clock, a 60-unit track around the periphery, and luminescent centre hands painted with Grade A Super-LumiNova. A date window in matching colours is discretely integrated at 6 o’clock, blending into the dial.
The hands, hour indexes and the triangular marker at 12 o’clock are treated with Grade A Super-LumiNova BGW9, providing perfect visibility in low-light conditions.
The second-generation In-house Caliber YEMA2000 is powered by optimised components yielding slightly better performance than similar Standard Grade calibres, offering a Daily Rate of +/- 10 s/d and a power reserve of 42h.
Manufactured in the manufacturer’s region (Franche-Comté), the canvas (fabric) strap has been specially designed for this military timepiece. It features French Air Force logo on its leather coating underside, providing an enhanced wearing comfort.
YEMA Flygraf Bi-Compax French Air Force
The 40mm case, crown and pushers feature a matte satin finish. The French Air Force logo is embossed in the crown in an elegant glossy finish.
The slightly oversized crown allows fighter pilots to easily manipulate their watch even when wearing gloves, making this model a true flight instrument.
The 316L stainless steel caseback features French Air Force logo embossed with a hydraulic press.
This chronograph features two vertical sub-registers. The aviation-style hour and minute hands and the hour markers use the same beige colour in order to enhance readability.
The hands and hour markers are coated with a layer of Super-LumiNova offering perfect readability in the darkness.
Seiko’s VK61 calibre time functions are driven by a quartz heart, while the chronograph’s function is controlled by a mechanical module, which makes the central chrono hand to sweep fluidly. The sub-register at 12 o’clock holds the chronograph’s 60-minutes timer while the 6 o’clock sub-register serves as a small seconds hand.
Manufactured in the YEMA‘s surrounding region (Franche-Comté), the canvas (fabric) strap has been specially designed for this military timepiece. It features French Air Force logo on its leather coating underside, providing an enhanced wearing comfort.
YEMA Flygraf Flieger French Air Force Technical Specifications
References
Movement
- YEMA2000 In-house caliber
- Automatic
- 29 rubies
- 28,800 A/h
- Date at 6 o’clock
- Maximum rate of +/- 25 seconds per day
- Adjusted to +/- 10 seconds per day by our watchmakers before and after assembly
- 42 hours power reserve
Case
- Material: Grade 2 titanium satin finish
- Diameter: 40mm
- Thickness: 9.40mm
- Lugs: 20mm
- 2.00 mm double dome sapphire crystal
- Push-down crown with French Air Force logo embossed
- 10 BAR / 330 feet / 100 m
Dial
- Matte finish dial
- Printed and slightly raised hour markers treated with Super-LumiNova BGW 9 Grade A
- Steel hands in brushed finish treated with Super-LumiNova BGW9 Grade A
Strap
- Canvas strap with brushed titanium buckle
YEMA Flygraf Bi-Compax French Air Force Technical Specifications
References
Movement
- Seiko VK61
- Hybrid mechanical-quartz
- 32,768 Hz frequency
- Chronograph 60 seconds
- Chronograph 60 minutes
- Bi-compax chronograph, minutes and seconds
Case
- Material: 316L stainless steel with satin finish
- Diameter: 40mm
- Thickness: 9.50mm
- Lugs: 20mm
- 2,00 mm hesalite double dome crystal
- 10 BAR / 330 feet / 100 m
Dial
- Matte finish dial
- Printed markers and hands treated with Super-LumiNova 7499 C/LE
- Chronograph’s hands in matte white
Strap
- French Air Force canvas strap
Since 1948 YEMA designs sports watches specifically for Diving, Car Racing, Aviation and Sailing. Our workshops are based in the town of Morteau at the heart of France’s watch craftsmanship region, in a secluded valley in the Jura mountains just a few miles away from Switzerland’s La ChauxdeFonds. YEMA is run by a third generation watchmakers‘ family with a team averaging +30 years of service. Design, prototyping and assembling is manually and precisely taken care of at our workshops by highly experienced French watchmakers.
YEMA’s signature #TimeofHeroes dates from 1970. It reflects the history and values of the brand and what it stands for. It tells the adventures of remarkable sportsmen, explorers and military who have achieved the extraordinary under the most extreme conditions, with a YEMA watch on their wrists.