Navygraf Marine Nationale Quartz

Military timepieces have captured the interests of watch collectors worldwide for their rich heritage built throughout great world wars as an indispensable tool for military personnel. When it comes to steadfast military performance, the French Navy has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, being among the largest and most powerful naval forces in the world. In an effort to create a military-grade timepiece for French marine professionals that could handle the unforgiving seas, YEMA collaborated with the French Navy, or Marine Nationale in French, to design a collector's Navygraf dedicated to the French Navy.
 
We all are familiar with countless exceptional watches made by the Swiss and Japanese that are dominating the market. Nonetheless, the French also displayed excellence in the fine art of watchmaking with the creation of many beautifully decorated haute horlogerie pieces and complex movements. While YEMA may not be a name that the masses are entirely familiar with, it is a brand synonymous with the production of fine French-made timepieces and an incredibly rich heritage. Founded in 1948 by French watchmaker Henry Louis Belmont, YEMA has demonstrated remarkable mastery in watchmaking with the creative integration of innovative designs to their ever-dependable tool watches. Today, YEMA expands the iconic Marine Nationale collection with the introduction of the Navygraf Marine Nationale Quartz, adding a fresh chapter to its storied legacy.

Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale Quartz

Drawing inspiration from 70s vintage Navygraf models, the Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale Quartz retains its distinctive case design seen throughout the Navygraf line up. The stainless steel case measures in with a diameter of 39mm, a lug to lug distance of 47mm and a thickness of 11mm. With these dimensions, the watch evokes an appealing retro character that sits extremely comfortable on most wrist. Finishing is immaculately executed to a high level of precision, presenting fine satin brushing throughout the case. The excellent brushing blends harmoniously with the refined case size that makes for an overall sporty and elegant look ready for any occasion.
 
The blue hue unidirectional diving bezel has got to be the highlight of the watch, staying true to the Marine Nationale colorway. The scratch-resistant mineral glass bezel the blue insert and matt white plating catches the light beautifully, exhibiting a charming appearance similar to bakelite resin bezels popularly used in the past.

A distinct signature of the 1970's vintage Navygraf model

Standing apart from the familiar black dial of the classic YEMA Navygraf Heritage, the matte blue dial of the Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale Quartz proudly showcases the official colours of the Marine Nationale alongside with the 'Navygraf' script font printed contrastingly in yellow alongside the sweeping second hand. The white hour markers are printed in the iconic exclamation mark shape, a distinct signature of the vintage 1970s Navygraf. At the 6 o'clock position lies the distinguished logo of the Marine Nationale, an honorable mark of this astonishing collaborative timepiece.
 
When it comes to night time legibility, the Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale Quartz boasts exceptional readability even in the dark with generously coated BGW9 SuperLuminova lume lighting up the hands and markers emitting a bright blue glow. On top of that, the dial is protected with a scratch resistant K1 mineral glass which is twice as hard as normal mineral glass. This piece is good for everyday use with a water resistance of 200 meters.

Super-LumiNova offers perfect readability in low light conditions

Water resistance is uncompromised as a result of its screw-down crown and screw-in case back which are beautifully embossed with the French Navy's vintage anchor and the crest of the Marine Nationale. The Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale Quartz is powered by the VH31 quartz caliber beating at 4 beats per second.
 
This incredible watch is supplied with a 19mm steel mesh bracelet made in Milanese mesh for greater flexibility and comfort. For a sportier look, there is also an alternative Marine Nationale Parachute strap which is originally handmade by the French Marine Nationale combat divers in the 1970's. This type of strap remained purely military for years which nowadays become a popular alternative to fabric straps, adding a unique historical touch to the timepiece.
 
This sensational partnership between YEMA and the Marine Nationale has demonstrated both the beauty and performance of the Navygraf with strong vintage inspiration, impeccable French watchmaking and robust modern mechanics. Being the new official timepiece for the Marine Nationale, the Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale Quartz forges a connection between two performance-driven organizations to create a solid traveller's dive watch offering that will go down in history.

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