From our Morteau workshops, the historic cradle of watchmaking in the Jura mountains, experienced French watchmakers manufacture professional watches to equip the military, astronauts, sportsmen and explorers who achieve the extraordinary under the most extreme conditions with a YEMA tool watch on their wrist.
Henry Louis Belmont, graduated at the top of his class at the National Watchmaking School of Besançon in 1931, and created his own watchmaking company under the name Yema in 1948.
Henry Louis Belmont, French watchmaker and founder of Yema, 1948
In 1963, the company launched Yema Superman for divers. Many variations were produced by the company for this model of watch.
In 1966, the first Yema Yachtingraf was launched, a watch especially designed for sailors. At the same time, the first Yema RallyGraf was launched. One Yema RallyGraf was even worn by Formula One champion Mario Andretti.
At the start of 1970, Yema became an official supplier of the French Sailing Federation (Fédération Française de Yachting à Voile) and equipped the French National Sailing Team in the 1972 Olympic Games.
Six different versions of Yema Yachtingraf model were crafted over the years.
On 24 June 1982, French astronaut, Jean-Loup Chrétien, flew from the Baikonour base for a 10-day trip into space, wearing a Yema Spationaute I, making it the first French watch in space.
On 17 June 1985, the Discovery shuttle took off with Patrick Baudry and his Yema Spationaute II on mission STS-51G (First Franco-American Orbital Flight).
On 26 November 1988, Jean Loup Chrétien went on a mission to MIR Space Station wearing a Yema Spationaute III.
In May 1986, Yema joined forces with French physician and explorer Jean-Louis Etienne to cross the North Pole.
In 2009, Yema was acquired by the French watchmaker group Montres Ambre de Morteau, located in Morteau, France. This is the current owner.
