{"product_id":"rallygraf-alpine-cup-series-mkii-ltd-ed-150pcs","title":"Rallygraf Alpine Cup Series MKII - Ltd Ed 150pcs","description":"\u003csection id=\"shopify-section-template--27302976160130__a84bf426-5b41-4021-a726-456ed02841e4\" class=\"shopify-section shopify-section--rich-text\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"section   section-full bg-custom text-custom\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rich-text justify-center\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rich-text__wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"prose justify-items-center text-center\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYema, a name coined by Henry Louis Belmont during a school contest in his teenage years, has grown into a celebrated watchmaker over its 72-year history. Graduating at the top of his class from the National Watchmaking School of Besançon, Belmont went on to create exceptional timepieces, including the historic Yema Spationaute, worn by astronaut Jean-Loup Chrétien in space. At this Geneva Watch Week, the brand's second act among its five novelties is the Rallygraf Alpine Cup Series MKII Limited Edition—a watch that looks to consolidate the brand's long-standing connection to both motorsport and its own historical design language.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSince its debut in 1955, Alpine has occupied a unique space in motorsport, balancing high-performance engineering with a distinctively French design language. The A110 remains the anchor of this identity, a car as revered for its aesthetics as its prowess on the track. This racing heritage finds its modern expression in the Alpine Elf Cup Series, a competitive environment that serves as both a proving ground for new talent and a spectacle of technical precision. As the Official Timekeeper for the series, YEMA has long integrated this automotive DNA into its Rallygraf line, and the latest iteration, unveiled during the Geneva Watch Week Five Act release, marks a refined continuation of that partnership. It is a watch that trades on the shared history of two French institutions, aiming to capture the essence of a racing spirit that is as much about mechanical integrity as it is about the adrenaline of the circuit.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Rallygraf MKII shifts its proportions to a 41 mm case with a 47 mm lug to lug distance, though the real story is in how it manages its 12.5 mm thickness. By ditching the traditional tachymeter bezel (adapted on previous iteration), the design achieves a cleaner and more unified silhouette where the mid case flows directly into the crystal. It is a move that will undoubtedly trigger some debates among the purist crowd, but it is a clever bit of geometry because without that external bezel to break up the lines, the watch feels less like a bolted together instrument and more like a singular fluid object. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 316L steel is finished with a familiar mix of brushing and polished chamfers which catches the light in ways that make the watch feel less like a budget racer and more like a thoughtful design. To round out the update, the crown and pushers have been overhauled, giving the whole package a tactile maturity that suggests the brand is finally moving away from its more utilitarian roots and toward something that takes its own ergonomics and the end user experience a bit more seriously.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBy relocating the traditional tachymeter from the external bezel to an internal chapter ring, the dial opening appears noticeably larger, creating a more expansive and immersive view. This design improves legibility while giving the Rallygraf a refined and elegant presence, naturally drawing attention to the dial's details and layout. The black and white tachymeter is accented with a subtle touch of Alpine blue, adding a modern and dynamic flair.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe iconic Rallygraf continues to lean on its double domed sapphire crystal, a choice that softens the case lines while creating those delightful, slightly warped distortions at the edges that we watch nerds secretly love. From certain angles, the internal tachymeter chapter ring appears subtly magnified, which adds a layer of depth and visual mischief that elevates the watch beyond a mere dashboard clone and into the realm of proper instrument grade gear.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs for the main event, this Alpine Cup edition leans heavily into the dashboard aesthetic of 1960s and 70s race cars, pulling clear inspiration from the original A110. The white trapezoidal sub registers sit against a circular brushed dark gray dial, a sophisticated evolution that manages to avoid looking like a gimmicky homage. It is the kind of dial layout that makes you want to hunt for a winding road just to have an excuse to time something.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe details are where the collaboration really earns its keep. The 3 o'clock minute counter is dipped in that unmistakable Alpine Blue, and the central chronograph hand sports a matching blue tip, making it actually usable against the tachymeter scale instead of just eye candy. You will also find the Alpine A logo serving as the counterweight on the second hand, a clever nod for those who appreciate brand integration done with a light touch. With the date window tucked neatly at 6 o'clock to balance the Alpine Cup logo at 12, the symmetry is satisfyingly rigid. Naturally, the indices and hand coated in SuperLumiNova BGW9, ensuring that even if you find yourself stuck in a pitch black paddock at 3 AM, you will still know exactly how far behind your lap time you are.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStaying true to the retro theme, YEMA has opted for the Sellita SW510 M BH b rather than their in-house movement this time around, and frankly, it is the right call for a watch of this character. This manual wind, bi-compax chronograph caliber draws its lineage from the legendary Valjoux 7750, making it a reliable workhorse with a pedigree that collectors genuinely respect. For those who claim they want a deeper connection to their watch, the hand wound nature of this movement provides that daily ritual of interaction that an automatic rotor simply cannot replicate. Beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a healthy 60 hour power reserve, the movement is further elevated in this BH b execution with elegant circular graining and blued screws. Flip the watch over, and you are greeted by the iconic Alpine emblem, which has been brought to life with a high-pressure hydraulic press rather than a lazy laser etch.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 20mm Rally leather strap in black is crafted by a local French manufacturer. Featuring a grained, perforated Rallye-style design, it is specially tailored to complement the Rallygraf's colour scheme.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis exclusive, 150-piece limited edition manages that rare trick of introducing a cleaner, more modern aesthetic without diluting the DNA that has defined the Rallygraf for over half a century. By opting for a manual-winding caliber, YEMA has made a deliberate choice that transforms the watch from a simple accessory into a mechanical partner; it is a brilliant fit for a rally-inspired chronograph, reinforcing the idea that this is a tool meant to be actively operated and appreciated, rather than just strapped on and forgotten. Standing as the second act in YEMA's ambitious five-part performance at Geneva Watch Week, the Rallygraf Alpine Cup Series MKII is a statement of intent. It proves that the brand is not merely participating in the current horological conversation, but is instead curating a diverse, manufacture-led future that finally demands the full attention of the enthusiast community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Yema","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40971266097216,"sku":"YRAL26ALP-CH-AAS\/YM","price":2425.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0213\/7833\/4784\/files\/YemaRallygrafAlpineCupSeriesMKIILE.png?v=1776327380","url":"https:\/\/www.gnomonwatches.com\/products\/rallygraf-alpine-cup-series-mkii-ltd-ed-150pcs","provider":"Gnomon Watches","version":"1.0","type":"link"}