French independent Yema have been pushing the boat out aesthetically with their recent watch releases, such as the Granvelle CMM.20 inspired by the architecture of the Palais Granvelle in Besançon. Their latest release is also inspired by architecture in a roundabout sort of way. It’s the Yema x seconde/seconde/ Yachtingraff, a collaboration with the disruptive artist Romaric André that combines the retro Yachtingraf with graffiti (hence Yachtingraff with two Fs).
The new watch is actually a revival of a 1960s regatta timer chronograph. A regatta timer is designed to assist in yacht racing with a countdown timer in five-minute increments that helps keep a crew on time to cross the start line at exactly the right time at the start of a race – most races using a flying start. On the Yachtingraff that’s present via the distinctive 30-minute subdial with five-minute wedges at 9 o’clock. It’s presented in the style of a graffiti tag with spray paint style highlights and vibrant colours in red, white and blue – plus the subdial itself is dripping. That graffiti style is also present on the 24-hour and small seconds subdials.
It makes for a very distinctive aesthetic but for me what really elevates it is the fact that Yema have taken the pains to actually alter the structure of the watch slightly to enhance the theme of the piece. The Yema x seconde/seconde/ Yachtingraff features custom chronograph pushers in the shapes of spray can nozzles, even with a ring of colour to show where the paint is coming from. It’s a fun detail that shows Yema are willing to lean into the quirkiness of the collaboration and shows that seconde/seconde/ has come a long way from putting Minecraft swords on vintage watches.
More broadly, the watch measures 38.5mm in diameter in stainless steel with 100m water resistance. Not a watch designed for constant immersion but it will survive repeated splashes on the wrists of a racing crew. Housed inside the case is the Seiko VK63 mechaquartz chronograph movement. Mechaquartz combines a quartz regulator with a mechanical chronograph complication, giving you the best of both worlds and an accessible price tag to boot.
Specifically, the Yema x seconde/seconde/ Yachtingraff is £405. It’s a fun watch perfectly timed for summer. Bright, colourful and ready to wear out on the water while enjoying the sun. It’s available for pre-order on Wednesday 25th of June at 3pm BST. Note that while this is not a limited-edition release, the first production run is reserved for Yema’s private members list.
Price and Specs:
More details at Yema.
