Meangraf Sous-Marine Y60

The Bôle family has been prolific in their watchmaking pursuits for the past couple of decades. And as the family’s horological finesse runs in its blood, a third generation Bôle (Christopher) who is YEMA’s Managing Director and Head of Design is now in charge of producing acclaimed timepieces for YEMA.

In 2022, Christopher reinterpreted the legendary 1960s Meangraf model by adding contemporary features while ensuring that vintage themes still feature prominently in the latest rendition-the YEMA Meangraf Sous Marine Y60, that is a result of Christopher’s painstaking innovation.

Yema Meangraf Sous-Marine Y60

Made of vertically brushed 316L stainless steel with a helium escape valve, the case measures 39mm in diameter and only 20mm lug to lug. All of the elements on the busy matte gray/black dial of the Y60 are consistent and subtly enhance one another. Admire the aesthetically pleasing Meangraf inscription at 12 o'clock aesthetically and watch out for the YEMA logo that occupies a spot left to the 9-o’clock position, nestling in the thick central black stripe. From a distance, gaze at the dial and concentrate on its yellow elements. Hence, you should be able to behold the logo swaying like it is hanging on a yo-yo with the yellow-boxed date. Additionally, printed on a black background and perching high are the white numerals on the date disc. Hour markers and hands are coated with Super-LumiNova BGW9 for enhanced readability.

Original Neo-Vintage dial

Having said that, the minute-calibrated flange of the Y60, or rehaut, appears to steal the show by looking stunning on the overall scheme of visuals. This rehaut blends in seamlessly with the bezel’s minute graduation. With a bird’s eye view, it looks like there are no barriers on the Y60, with the indexes ebbing and flowing from the depth of the dial to the edge of the case. The special bezel gives the impression that you have indexes as long as 5-7mm. Moreover, the minute hashes are not printed on top of it but are buried deep underneath on an aluminum insert with luminous markings. There is a scratch-resistant sapphire insert above the watch, so it really creates an illusion of the dial indexes extending even further. Furthermore, the sapphire bezel lends a welcoming sense of nostalgia to this vintage timepiece. Bi-directional, this bezel provides an easy rotation with clicks. You can also turn the bezel at random because it is fascinatingly incorporated into the case.

Complex case construction with helium escape valve

Along with its astounding sapphire dome, YEMA collectors can easily identify the trademark crown in YEMA “Daytona” style. The crown is wide and flat with a thin groove around the edge. The familiar majestic Yema emblem is emblazoned on the case back as well. In addition, the in-house, automatic second-generation YEMA2000 movement powers the Y60. This 29-jewel caliber offers hacking seconds, a solid 42-hour power reserve, beats away at a frequency of 28,800vph and is regulated to ±10 seconds daily.

To boot, the Y60 is accompanied with a classic leather strap or the new rubber FKM Viton strap. The deployant clasp is nice and modern and emits a sharp and angular vibe for a defined look. Notably, the strap is very comfortable on the wrist and repels dust.

Exact re-issue hour lame plots and handset

Buying this helium-escape-valve diver with a sturdy water resistance of 300m depth rating, an in-house movement, and a unique case with a sunken aluminum/sapphire bezel at an affordable price almost seems surreal. Yet you get the price you see without any quality compromises with YEMA. Again, we see that YEMA delivers as it had promised, that is, producing premium quality and affordable watches like the Y60.