Navygraf Marine Nationale 400th Anniversary Edition

Military timepieces have captured the interests of watch collectors worldwide for their rich heritage built throughout great world wars as an indispensable tool for military personnel. When it comes to steadfast military performance, the French Navy has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, being among the largest and most powerful naval forces in the world. In an effort to create a military-grade timepiece for French marine professionals that could handle the unforgiving seas, YEMA collaborated with the French Navy, or Marine Nationale in French, to design a collector's Navygraf dedicated to the French Navy.

While Swiss and Japanese manufactures dominate the global watch market, French horology carries a distinguished legacy of fine craftsmanship, innovative case architecture, and dependable tool watch engineering. Founded in 1948 by French watchmaker Henry Louis Belmont, YEMA stands as a primary symbol of independent French watchmaking, renown for building rugged functional instruments for military and professional use. Celebrating 400th years of the official French Navy, YEMA expands its maritime lineage with the release of the Navygraf Marine Nationale 400th Anniversary Edition. Encased in an universal 39mm warm IP bronze housing, this edition merges storied naval heritage with refined daily wearability.

Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale 400th Anniversary Edition

Drawing inspiration from 70s vintage Navygraf models, the YEMA Navygraf Marine Nationale retains the distinctive case architecture celebrated throughout the entire Navygraf lineup. The stainless steel case measures a unisex 39mm in diameter, paired with a 46mm lug to lug length and a slim height of 9.85mm. With these dimensions, the watch evokes an appealing retro character that sits extremely comfortable on most wrist. Case finishing is executed with remarkable precision, highlighting fine vertical brushing across the top surfaces alongside polished lug bevels. The entire housing is finished in a warm IP bronze coating, including the threaded screw down crown decorated with a polished YEMA logo to ensure a dependable 200 meters water resistance depth rating.

The unidirectional diving bezel serves as an immediate visual highlight, evoking the maritime naval heritage. Topped with a high gloss navy blue K1 mineral insert featuring a graduated 0 to 60 scale, the bezel displays a glossy depth similar to vintage bakelite or acrylic bezels widely favoured in historic mid-century dive watches. At the 12 o'clock position, a luminous triangle printed in crisp white over Superluminova BGW9 provides quick, clear orientation in low light settings, pairing nautical character with true functional dive watch legibility.

A distinct signature of the 1970's vintage Navygraf model

Standing apart from the familiar black dial of the classic YEMA Navygraf Heritage, this edition introduces a radial gradient pattern transitioning from a luminous light blue centre to a nearly midnight blue at the edge, evoking the vast depths of the sea. The layout proudly displays "MARINE NATIONALE SINCE 1626" script in crisp white beneath the YEMA Navygraf logo. The white hour markers, applied in the signature Navygraf II style, are complemented by a precise white minute track along the outer rim. Adding warmth and contrast, the indices and hands are framed in gleaming IP bronze.

When it comes to night time legibility, the Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale boasts exceptional readability even in the dark with generously coated BGW9 SuperLuminova lume lighting up the hands and markers emitting a bright blue glow. On top of that, the dial is protected with a scratch resistant domed K1 mineral glass which is twice as hard as normal mineral glass. 

Super-LumiNova offers perfect readability in low light conditions

Water resistance remains entirely uncompromised thanks to a solid screw down crown and screw in case back, beautifully embossed with the Marine Nationale's 400th Anniversary. The timepiece comes fitted on a supple 19mm parachute strap that was originally handmade by French Marine Nationale combat divers in the 1970's. Featuring a brushed IP-bronze buckle engraved with the Marine Nationale anchor, the YEMA signature engraved on the reverse. Powering the watch is the Japanese VH31 quartz calibre, a modern movement that beats at 4 ticks per second to drive a smooth, continuous sweeping seconds hand that emulates classic mechanical motion while preserving quartz accuracy.

Marking four centuries of naval history, the collaboration between YEMA and the Marine Nationale highlights authentic French watchmaking heritage backed by dependable modern engineering. The Navygraf Marine Nationale stands as a proud official instrument for the French Navy, blending 1970s military diver aesthetics with versatile daily wearability. To honor this historic occasion, each watch includes a special 400th Anniversary collector patch while stocks last, featuring the authentic emblem and signature palette of the French Fleet. It represents a memorable release that connects rich military tradition with contemporary horological craft.

Video is not available