YEMA

YEMA is a historic French watchmaking brand founded in 1948 by Henry Louis Belmont in Besançon, renowned for its precision engineering, professional sports watches and enduring contribution to French horology. Within only a few years of its creation, the brand became one of the leading names in the French watch industry and gained international recognition through timepieces developed specifically for diving, motorsport, sailing and space exploration. Today, YEMA continues to embody a unique combination of technical innovation, adventure and authentic French watchmaking expertise. A defining characteristic of YEMA is its commitment to purpose-built tool watches designed for demanding environments. Iconic collections such as the Superman, Rallygraf, Yachtingraf and Spationaute have become integral parts of the brand’s legacy and reflect its close relationship with professional sports and exploration. The Superman dive watch in particular emerged during the 1960s as one of the most recognised French diving watches and remains a defining symbol of the brand today. At the heart of YEMA lies a balance between historical expertise and modern innovation. The company continues to invest in the development of proprietary movements and advanced manufacturing capabilities while maintaining significant production in France. At the same time, the brand remains closely connected to its heritage shaped by expeditions, motorsport, sailing and space missions. YEMA made history when the Spationaute became the first French watch worn in space, reinforcing the brand’s reputation for creating timepieces engineered for exceptional challenges. Combining French watchmaking heritage, technical innovation and performance-driven design, YEMA represents a distinctive vision of modern luxury watchmaking. The brand embodies a spirit where precision, adventure and timeless aesthetics come together, continuing the legacy of French horology through contemporary and internationally recognised timepieces.