Yema Yachtingraff x seconde/seconde
When Heritage Meets Rebellion
The force is strong when two brands collide—especially when one of them is seconde/seconde/. The Frenchman, now with more collabs under his belt than Studio Underd0g has fruit-themed chronos, has teamed up once again with a brand close to my heart: YEMA.
The result? A cheeky, clever twist on their Yachtingraf, a visual play that turns vintage regatta timing into something altogether more mischievous. It’s classic YEMA DNA with a distinctly seconde/seconde/ accent: part nostalgia, part satire, and entirely irresistible.
The Yema Yachtingraf, dates back to the 1960’s, now recently revived in 2024. It was specially designed with sailing regattas in mind, the YEMA Yachtingraf Croisière is a distinctive timepiece that stands out the moment you glance at it—thanks to those playful, asymmetrical sub-registers in vibrant hues, a clear nod to the iconic 1960s chronograph that inspired it.
This latest iteration is a more refined affair, housed in an elegant 38.5mm stainless steel case complete with twisted lyre lugs that give it just the right touch of vintage charm. Inside ticks the Seiko VK63 meca-quartz tricompax caliber, blending mechanical tactility with quartz precision—perfect for timing races, or just racing to brunch.
Yachtingraff (with two F’s)
All in all, it’s a charming blend of nautical nostalgia and modern practicality, designed for the high seas… or high style.
But, pass this over to “Le disrupteur seconde/seconde” and the outcome has a more comical vibe. The dial is, without question, the star of the Yachtingraf Croisière show—an eye-catching fusion of bold colours and YEMA’s unmistakable neo-vintage charm, blended with seconde/seconde’s twist. The primary dial surface sports a matte finish, providing a subtle backdrop that lets the polished, facetted steel hour markers shine. These pair seamlessly with the equally sharp hour and minute hands, maintaining a sense of elegance amidst the playful chaos.
But it’s in the sub-dials where YEMA really flexes its creative muscle. At 9 o’clock, you’ll find an oversized regatta countdown timer—bright, bold, and impossible to miss, but dripping, as if freshly painted. At 6 o’clock sits the sweep seconds sub-dial, printed in an almost hand wriiten font, keeping things ticking in motion. And at 3 o’clock, the 24-hour counter takes on a unique form: an inverted Swiss-cross layout that adds just the right amount of quirky asymmetry, again with the the dripping white paint.
Altogether, it’s a dial that balances function, flair, and a hint of maritime mischief, topped off with seconde/seconde/’s unmistakable stamp of irreverence. It’s distinctly YEMA through and through, and all the better for it. Even the stop/start/reset pushers at 2 and 4 get in on the fun, marked with corresponding red and blue indicators—a playful nod to regatta colours that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Flip the watch over and you’ll find the caseback engraved with the phrase “La Croisière ma muse”, “The Cruise, my muse.” A fitting poetic touch, and perhaps a glimpse into seconde/seconde/’s muse for the collaboration: a whimsical voyage where heritage meets humour, and timekeeping becomes just a little less serious. At only £405.00, the demand for this will be strong. The order window opens Wednesday 25th June 2025, at 4pm CET. This will also become a core model, so no Limited Edition issues, which is a great choice from Yema, as getting a seconde/seconde watch, had definitely caused issies in the past. It should also stop those pesky flippers, from grabbing them up too.
Romaric André has become something of a horological nomad, wandering from brand to brand, waving his sartorial humour wand and leaving behind a trail of brilliantly offbeat creations. With seconde/seconde/, he’s proven time and again that wit and whimsy don’t dilute watchmaking, they elevate it. He shows the industry that you don’t need to be deadly serious to be seriously good. In fact, a little laughter might just be the secret ingredient.