Yesterday, YEMA announced the creation of a new line of dress watches with the proposed launch of their 60s-styled Wristmaster Adventurer. The Wristmaster name was applied to many watches from that era, with varying case shapes; however, this reissue most closely resembles those releases from the mid-sixties to early seventies, which used a similar bezeless skin-diver case and the 17-jewel Jeambrun 26DC calibre–some of which bore the name Réné Rochard.

This new reference certainly nails the vintage look. Its case will be brushed 316L stainless steel and measure 37mm in diameter and 48mm lug to lug. For a dress watch, it will be a rather chunky 12mm, but like its vintage counterparts, the new Wristmaster Adventurer keeps its hesalite dome, raised markers and baton-style dive hands. The funky dial font is also true to vintage specs. However, the timepiece will have an updated in house calibre, the YEMA2000–a second generation, 3-hand movement already used in their Navygraf line. There will be a choice of two colourways: a rich cream dial and a midnight blue. The watch will come standard on a vintage-styled leather band.

SPECS

Case	316L Brushed Stainless Steel 37mm Diameter 48mm Lug to Lug 12mm Thick
Dial & Crystal	Double-domed Hesalite (Plexi) Raised Indices Date Window @ 3
Movement	YEMA2000 28 800bph 29 Jewels 42-Hour Power Reserve
Strap	Vintage-styled Leather

---

Advertisement

---

• 

• 

Of Interest

While pricing for the Wristmaster Adventurer has yet to be released, early bird backers will receive a 30% discount. In addition to the price break, backers will also receive a special Kickstarter edition of the book Time For Heroes, by Marie-Pia. The book traces YEMA’s history from 1948 to the present and includes more than 1600 photographs, as well as interviews with astronauts, sportsmen, adventurers, and brand founders. In all, the pictorial will address more than 1200 models from the company archives. The launch date is set for November 15th.

Final Thoughts

The Wristmaster Adventurer marks a departure from YEMA’s sport-dominated contemporary lineup, but also a return to the watchmaking of their storied past. I feel like this one ticks a lot of boxes and will function well as a crossover piece. The choice of dial colours works well with the high polish of the raised indices, and the new crosshair motif on the dial adds just enough interest without detracting from its simple design. The baton hands, while vintage correct, also work well with the brushed dive-style case. In all, I get the impression that this is a dress watch for enthusiasts who don’t like dress watches. While you might be able to sneak one into the boardroom, it’s a piece that would be equally at home flipping burgers on the BBQ. The design, coupled with YEMA’s heritage, should make this a clear winner.

For more information, sign up through the brand’s Kickstarter page.

---

On Spec articles refer to upcoming projects and rely upon available information on Kickstarter, the brand website, and promotional materials provided by the watchmaker. An On Spec article does not preclude a future full-length review in our Off The Cuff section. If you would like your project to feature in On Spec, please contact us here.

Please understand that using any links to products on this site may result in us making money.