Yema extends their Urban Traveller collection with three new references priced below the limited launch edition called The Wristmaster which has been sold out.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: Yema Urban Traveller
All three references of the new Yema Urban Traveller is priced at USD 890, before taxes. First batch of 300 timepieces available for immediate shipping.
Commentary
The Yema Traveller collection began in November 2022 with just one model, a flagship no less, which they christened the Wristmaster Traveller. It was launched by Kickstarter, and featured an in-house, French assembled movement with a micro rotor. Our European colleagues (Fratello and Monochrome) have visited and documented the factory in Morteau, and attest to the claim of the movement being in-house.
The Yema micro-rotor Caliber Manufacture Morteau 20 is claimed to be 80% in-house and 20% outsourced. The balance wheel and the hairspring are sourced from Switzerland. The rest of the caliber is designed and built in France at Yema’s own workshop. From what we understand the movement is a ground up design by their watchmaker Olivier Mory. The movement was available in three colours to match the three dial colours available – black, blue and green with concentric arc pattern.
The watch case and bracelet bears resemblance to the likes of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and/or the Czapek Antarctique. And, of course, and perhaps more aptly, to the Tissot PRX.
It was a limited edition of 1948 pieces and though still listed at USD 2998 on the Yema website, we were told by Yema that the entire series has been sold out.
This novelty release is also comprised of 3 references. The case remains the same octagonal steel case with a round bezel with polished chamfers. This bezel design is said to be inspired by Yema’s Sous-Marine model from the 1980s. The dial is now presented as a honeycomb pattern, also in three colours – in white, salmon and blue.
The movement is not the same as the on the Wristmaster, but a full rotor version. Yema also claims that this new caliber YEMA2000 is also in-house. The new movement has a more modest power reserve of 42 hours instead of the Morteau 20’s 70 hours. The pricing reflects the simpler design of a full rotor movement, and the new Urban Traveller is priced at USD 890, available immediately.
From the release photographs, the Urban Traveller looks like a handsome watch, well suited for its intended use. The watch will probably be a provide some competition to the class leading Tissot PRX, rather than the other high end options mentioned earlier.
Release details
The iconic YEMA Traveller with integrated bracelet returns in a dressy collection featuring a honeycomb dial in soft summer colours and refined steel applied markers and hands. Equipped with our In-house Caliber YEMA2000, this new Urban Traveller collection has been designed as a comfortable and elegant everyday sports watch.
The Traveller features 3 distinct dial colors and will be available in immediate delivery.
The great level of detail and finishes overall is also found on the steel case-back. Satin-polished and circular brushed finishes elegantly surround YEMA’s historic crest, which is carefully forged into the case-back with a hydraulic press, ensuring a qualitative and refined finishing.
Yema Urban Traveller Specifications
DIAMETER / THICKNESS / LUGS
39 mm x 43.5 mm / 11.4 mm / 24 mm
CASE
Brushed / Polished 316L Stainless Steel
BEZEL
Brushed / Polished 316L Stainless Steel
CROWN
Pushed crown with YEMA logo embossed
CALIBER
YEMA2000 In-house Caliber “No-Date”
Maximum rate of +/- 25 seconds per day
Adjusted to +/- 10 seconds per day by our watchmakers before and after assembly
Automatic
29 Rubies
28 800 A/h
Hours, minutes, seconds
POWER RESERVE
42 Hours
CRYSTAL
2.20 mm sapphire double domed crystal
DIAL & HANDS
Dial with textured effects
Applied polished SS indexes
Polished Stainless steel hands
Super-LumiNova BGW9
WATER RESISTANCE
10 BAR / 330 feet / 100 m
BAND
Integrated 316L stainless steel bracelet
Brushed flat surfaces. Polished bevels on the sides
Double folding clasp
3 Comments
As an owner of more than one Yema, I feel like I can say this without prejudice: They need more transparency with their movements. In house, outsourced, designed, manufactured. They use simply too many calibers and have too many subtle descriptions to make me feel they’re being honest about what’s going on.
I agree, and this comment applies to all other watch brands. But here, it appears that they are being transparent. Of course, this is based on what we see from our European friends who have visited the manufactures. We hope that Yema will invite us so that we are able to see for ourselves and confirm the source of their movements.
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