Sponsored Post written for aBlogtoWatch by advertiser

French brand YEMA‘s latest project is currently live on Kickstarter. Funded just 40 minutes after the campaign launched, the YEMA Superman (ref. 53.00.16) is a modernized reissue of the brand’s classic dive watch. Now rendered in bronze for a new generation of watch lovers, the Superman maintains its distinctly vintage design and is available in two sizes (either 39mm or 41mm) to satisfy both old-school and contemporary tastes. Both diameters will be water resistant to 990 feet. This exclusive edition is limited to 1948 pieces to commemorate the year YEMA was founded.

Thanks to the brand’s policy of only using the finest materials in the construction of each model, these reliable and robust tool watches have both the styling and the stamina to be seen as generational timepieces.

One of YEMA’s key tenets is to manufacture as many components as possible in France. With the company based in the Jura Mountains, in Franche-Comté on the French side of the border, horological know-how is in plentiful supply.

Experienced French watchmakers handle the design, prototyping, and assembling in-house, not to mention the creation of the MBP1000 automatic caliber. Bringing the manufacture of the movement under the company roof was a long (and expensive) process. The task took two years of research and development and required an investment of €3 million.

The design of the MBP1000 uses a movement architecture familiar to most any watchmaker around the globe. This considerate design makes the servicing of such a model incredibly straightforward and the likelihood that the watch can be repaired years into the future very high, indeed. Caliber MBP1000 has 31 jewels, operates at 28,800vph, and boasts a solid 45-hour power reserve, along with time-keeping expectations of +/-6 seconds per day.

The most obvious update to the Superman Heritage dive watch is the case material. Brand ambassador Hugues Vitry, a world-renowned professional diver and marine conservationist, brought the suggestion to the table, arguing that bronze is more resistant to corrosion by salt water than steel, making it the perfect material to dive with.

Adding weight to Hugues’ suggestion was the fact that he had been personally involved with the company long before he joined the YEMA team in an official capacity. In fact, his very first diving watch was a YEMA Navygraf, which he stills owns to this day. It was Hugues who was, therefore, compelled to approach the brand in 2018 to design a watch for his upcoming scientific endeavor, Mission Maubydick. Due to commence in 2019, and dedicated to studying the resident population of sperm whales in the Indian Ocean, Mission Maubydick will undertake essential environmental and scientific research that will aid local fishers, marine operators, and communities in protecting and respecting these fascinating animals.

The YEMA Superman Heritage Bronze design is based around the principles of form following function. As all excellent tools are, this watch is designed with its intended field of use front and center. The legibility of the high-contrast dial, surrounded by the radially brushed, uni-directional timing bezel, is superb. The hands (hour, minute, and seconds) and hour markers are treated with Super-LumiNova, ensuring excellent readability in low-light conditions. The blue background of the dial is based on the color of the Indian Ocean and was suggested by Hugues Vitry himself.

To complete the vintage look of the watch, YEMA has fitted the Superman Heritage Bronze with a double-domed sapphire crystal. This material boasts excellent durability and clarity, but its distinctive shape recalls the styles of the sixties and seventies that saw this watch’s original run. The dome of the sapphire has a mild magnifying effect, improving the watch’s legibility.

Additionally, the Superman Heritage Bronze features YEMA’s iconic lock mechanism. First conceived and trademarked in 1963, the notable addition to the case at 3 o’clock prevents the wearer from accidentally turning the timing bezel clockwise.

The caseback of the YEMA Superman Heritage Bronze is slightly elevated, in comparison to the downward sloping tips of the lugs, to improve ergonomics. The caseback itself is decorated with YEMA’s coat of arms, which has been hydraulically stamped in the center. The raised portion of the crest is highly polished, providing a pleasing contrast to the brushed elements of the case that surround it.

And for those who like to dress up their timepiece with a variety of straps, the YEMA Superman Heritage Bronze watch comes with three high-quality options. The first is a brown vintage leather strap that has an aged finish to complement the watch head. For actual diving, a rubber option (decorated with a tropical pattern) has been issued. Finally, a navy blue NATO offers a more casual and youthful option. All straps are either 19- or 20mm-wide (depending on the case size chosen), with the leather and the rubber coming in at a total length of 200mm, and the NATO measuring 280mm from tip-to-tip.

Every YEMA Superman Heritage Bronze is delivered in a high-quality box made of fine leather. These boxes, along with a decorative bronze medal commemorating YEMA’s seven-plus decades of watchmaking tradition, are created by local artisans in keeping with company traditions. To learn more about the campaign, which will run until June 30th at 10am CEST, please check out the official Kickstarter page. Prices start at €624 (plus VAT) or $699 USD, which is just under 50% below the future retail value. You can find the official YEMA at yema.com.

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