A Double Podium Finish: The Yema x Alpine Cup Series Collection

In the high-octane world of motorsport, the bond between a racing team and its official timekeeper is a hallowed one. It’s a partnership built on a shared obsession with precision, performance, and pushing the limits of mechanical engineering.

It is this very spirit that French watchmaker YEMA, in its capacity as the Official Timekeeper of the Alpine Elf Cup Series championship, has masterfully distilled into its latest release.

The result is the spectacular new Yema x Alpine Cup Series Collection, a duo of special Rallygraf chronographs that do more than just tell the time; they channel the raw, visceral thrill of the track and stand as a handsome tribute to a legendary French racing heritage.

The collection is spearheaded by a striking new generation of the Rallygraf, which marks a significant and stylish evolution for the iconic design. In a masterstroke of refinement, Yema has done away with the external tachymeter bezel on the 39mm steel case.

This single decision immediately streamlines the watch’s profile, making the case a noticeable 0.8mm thinner and creating a sleek, fluid line from the crystal to the mid-case.

The aesthetic effect is profound, resulting in a cleaner, more elegant silhouette that shifts the visual focus squarely onto the dial. The 316L stainless steel case itself is a canvas of sophisticated finishing, featuring a dynamic interplay of fine-brushed surfaces and mirror-polished accents that catch the light beautifully. At the heart of this formidable machine, priced from a remarkably accessible €390, is the ever-reliable Seiko VK64 mecha-quartz calibre.

This hybrid movement is the perfect engine for a daily-driving sports watch, offering the unerring accuracy of quartz with the satisfying mechanical snap-back of a traditional chronograph.

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For the horological purist, however, Yema has crafted something truly exceptional. Headlining the collection is a magnificent Limited Edition Rallygraf Chronograph, a veritable grail piece of which only 100 will ever be made. This is a watch for the true connoisseur, powered by the revered Swiss Sellita SW510 manual-wind chronograph movement.

The act of manually winding the calibre, with its impressive 60-hour power reserve, creates a tangible connection between the wearer and the intricate mechanics within.

Its larger 41mm case is crowned with a 1.80mm double-domed sapphire crystal, and the tachymeter scale is elegantly integrated into the internal chapter ring, maintaining that clean external profile.

The pièce de résistance, however, is the stunning grained leather perforated strap, rendered in a vibrant Alpine blue that perfectly matches the dial. It’s a detail that captures the spirited essence of classic French racing and elevates this exclusive timepiece, priced at €2190, into the realm of instant classics.

With this extraordinary new collection, Yema has nailed the brief. They have successfully catered to two distinct enthusiasts: the style-conscious individual seeking a robust, handsome, and accessibly priced racing chronograph, and the serious collector demanding mechanical exclusivity and heightened finishing.

Both timepieces are a resounding success, channelling the speed, passion, and Gallic flair of their four-wheeled counterparts and offering a tangible piece of motorsport history for the wrist.

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