Vintage Yema France Mechanical Watch - Caliber FE 233-68E

For your consideration is a classic vintage wristwatch from the renowned French brand Yema. This timepiece features a sophisticated rectangular "Tank" style case and a stunning burgundy/deep brown dial with silver-tone indices. It is powered by a high-quality 17-jewel manual-wind movement, France Ebauches S.A. FE 233-68E, known for its durability. A perfect example of French mid-century horology, this watch comes fitted on a new brown leather strap with a crocodile texture.

OVERALL CONDITION: 8/10

CASE Condition: 8/10 (Chrome plated, minor surface wear consistent with age)

DIAL Condition: 9/10 (Beautiful burgundy color, excellent preservation)

GLASS Material: Acrylic

GLASS Condition: 9/10 (Clear and polished)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: France

BRAND: Yema

MOVEMENT

Movement Type: Mechanical (Manual winding)

Caliber: FE 233-68E (France Ebauches)

https://ranfft.org/caliber/11499-FE-233-68E

Jewels: 17 Seventeen Jewels

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT

HISTORY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yema_(watch)

Since its inception, Yema brand has designed watches specifically for diving, motor racing, space exploration and sailing. Since 2009, the brand has belonged to the French watchmaking company Montres Ambre de Morteau.

Henry Louis Belmont, the year 1931 graduate of the National Watchmaking School of Besançon founded his watching company under the name Yema in 1948. In few decades, by the 1960s (and 1970s), Yema became the largest French watch manufacturer, producing over 500,000 watched annually.

1963 - Yema Superman collection

In 1963, the company launched Yema Superman for divers. Many variations were produced by the company for this model of watch.

1966 - Yema Yachtingraf collection and Yema RallyGraf collection

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.

1982 - First French Watch in Space

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.

1986 - North Pole Mission

In May 1986, Yema joined forces with French physician and explorer Jean-Louis Etienne to cross the North Pole.

2009 - MBP 1000 watch movement

Yema designed a new proprietary watch movement: the MBP 1000. Equipped with a bidirectional oscillating mass mounted on ball bearings, they allowed a fast reassembly and a power reserve of 40 hours. This resulted in a gain of efficiency but also precision, provided by a regulator whose balance beats at a frequency of 28,800 alternations per hour. Stacking a total of 31 rubies including 2 located at the ends of the axis of the barrel, this technical design effectively reduced the friction generally observed at this element following the mechanical movements.

2017 - Proxima Mission

In 2017, Yema partnered with CNES (the National Centre for Space Studies) to create a new model of watch, the Yema Spacegraf. This model was to honor of the Proxima mission, which sent the 10th French astronaut to space.

Ownership

Over the course of its history, Yema changed several owners. In the 1980s, it was owned by Matra, which sold it to Hattori-Seiko group. In 2004, the company was acquired by Louis-Eric Beckensteiner, its executive manager. In 2009, it was acquired by its current owner, Montres Ambre, a family-owned French watchmaking and jewelry company.

All Antique watches are mechanical. Many repairs will not be cheap, as most likely they will require replacement of non-standard parts (unlike most late model watches).

• Antique watches should not be beaten or dropped - because repairs may be expensive.
• Antique watches are generally NOT waterproof. This is because waterproofing was not in general production until the middle of the 20th century for most watches. Therefore you should protect your antique watch from exposure to moisture.
• If your watch becomes wet it should be dried off quickly. Carefully open all covers and use a hair drier to blow dry the movement, dial, covers, crown. This will reduce the amount of rust.
• If your watch becomes wet with any kind of salt water you should immediately immerse or spray your watch with fresh (no-salt) water to remove all the salt from the works before drying the watch completely. Any salt left in the watch will combine with moisture in the air to rust metal components of the movement, case etc.
• Winding any mechanical watch tight may break the mainspring. If you can avoid it do not wind the watch hard.
• When adjusting the hands of your watch, move them in a clockwise direction only. Counter-clockwise adjustments may damage the movement. It is desirable to adjust the hands of your watch at the same time every day. An automatic or self-winding watch should be worn for at least 8 hours a day. It is a mechanical watch in which the mainspring is wound automatically as a result of natural motion of the wearer's arm, to provide energy to run the watch, making manual winding unnecessary.
• If you must adjust counter-clockwise make it for small adjustments only (i.e. for minutes, NOT hours).
• Be careful and gentle when adjusting the movement speed (faster or slower). Don't make sharp movements, and don't touch other components in the movement especially the pendulum mechanism.
• Every 2-3 years it is necessary to service and oil vintage watches. If the course of your watches is worsening and the accuracy of the reduction in the duration of the clock (autonomy) from one fully wound spring - it need a service.
• IF the watch is dirty - allow the watch to run down, don't wind it again until you have it serviced by a qualified watch repair expert. Dust will absorb and remove important lubricants and cause the movement pieces to wear down.
• To clean the case, dial and crystal you should use a cloth that does NOT leave fibers as these may get caught up in the movement. Check with your Watch repair expert to get an appropriate cloth.
• Keep your antiques watch away from magnets. Strong magnetic fields may affect the accuracy of your watch since some vintage watches were made with iron based components in the movement.
• Most Cases and Covers are fine components and will not handle abuse well. The watch should not be shaken, beaten, or stressed.
• Antique watches generally experience an error of up to 5-7 minutes a day. Any accuracy of +- 5 minutes is very good.
• Mechanical watch is not recommended to use for engage in extreme sports, and expose them to excessive vibration loads. Recoil force, which take on the clock, affect their reliability and precision. No matter how perfect was not anti-shock mechanism, there is always the chance of excessive load that details of the mechanism can not survive.
• Watch with calendar. It is not recommended to adjust, the date between 20.00 and 06.00, because at this time involved a mechanism for automatic adjustment date. Translation pointers calendars manually in this position arrows may damage the mechanism. Date changes should be made, relegating pre-clockwise to lower sector of the dial (for example, to position 6 (18.00) hours).
• Chronograph watches. In most cases, these watches contain the "start/stop" button and "reset" button. It is strongly recommended not to press the "reset" if the chronograph is running. Before you use the "Reset" button need to stop the chronograph by button "start/stop". Using the "reset" when running chronograph can damage the mechanism of most models of watches.

1. Total amount due includes the final auction price plus Shipping.
2. Shipping will be determined based upon the SHIP TO address. PLEASE NOTE: Shipping does not include duties, local taxes or any other importation fees.

We ship to any country. This item will be shipped to you from Europe (Ukraine) via registered airmail with tracking number and insurance within 7-14 days (except for the weekends and holidays) after the payment is fully received.

Typical Delivery Time

• European Countries: about 7-10 days;
• USA, Japan & other: about 10-14 days.

NOTE: Delivery time may increase because of postal services and/or customs. Please, don't worry and check location of your parcel using provided tracking number. In spite of delays all our previous lots have been successfully delivered!

The item will be packed very carefully!

1. You have 3 days to contact us and 5 days to return it from the date it was received. If this item is in your possession more than 3 days, it is considered used and we will not issue you a refund or replacement. There are no exceptions!
2. All returned items must be in the original packaging and you must provide us with the shipping tracking number, specific reason for the return, and your eBay ID.
3. We will refund your full winning bid amount, upon receipt of the item in its original condition and packaging with all components and accessories included, after both Buyer and Seller cancel the transaction from eBay or you may choose to have a replacement.
4. Return shipping is to be paid by the Buyer.

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