This Affordable Retro Racing Chronograph Makes a Couple of Big Moves

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Yema was a notable watch brand in the European auto racing scene.

While contemporaries like TAG Heuer and Rolex secured legendary status in that space, the French watchmaker fell victim to the Quartz Crisis. However, since coming under new ownership in 2009, the brand has worked hard to restore that reputation.

Yema

Along with reviving the original 1966 Speedgraf, Yema introduced the retro-inspired Rallygraf in 2019. It’s an affordable alternative to the former watch, replacing the automatic movement with a cheaper meca-quartz engine from Seiko.

While both watches look similar, the Rallygraf leans more toward 1970s design language with trapezoidal sub-dials. However, the most significant difference is that the Speedgraf had a tachymeter track on the dial and a 60-minute countdown track on the bezel, while the Rallygraf only has a tachymeter bezel.

Yema

The newest addition to the Rallygraf family, created in collaboration with the Alpine Cup Series, splits the difference by moving the tachymeter back underneath the domed mineral crystal and removing the external bezel.

For retro racing watch purists with deeper pockets, this collaboration also comes in a limited-edition mechanical Rallygraf sporting Alpine’s signature light blue color on the dial and strap.

The French connection

The Alpine Elf Cup Series is a one-make auto racing competition, meaning racers all drive the same car with tight restrictions on modifications. In this case, it is the Alpine A110 Cup, a sleek French sports car.

Yema

Founded in 2018, the Alpine Elf Cup Series consists of six events featuring two races over the course of a weekend. It runs from April through October and takes place in various European countries.

Yema is the Official Timekeeper of the racing series, and the Rallygraf perfectly complements the Alpine A110 Cup. The original Alpine A110 was produced from 1967 to 1977, aligning with the era this French racing chronograph represents.

Yema

The collaboration is relatively subtle, featuring a double-signed dial with Yema’s logo at 12 o’clock and the Alpine Cup Series logo at six o’clock. Alpine’s stylized “A” logo is the counterbalance on the chronograph seconds hand, and the French automaker’s signature blue is used on the seconds hand tip and the tachymeter track.

A bolder indication of the collaboration is on the reverse side, with Alpine’s logo stamped into the caseback.

Its your move(ment)

My only gripe with this otherwise well-executed retro chronograph is pointed more at Seiko for creating the movement Yema chose to power the entire Rallygraf collection to this point.

Yema

It uses an SII (Seiko) Caliber VK64 mec-quartz movement, which blends reliable quartz timekeeping with a mechanical stopwatch, providing a smooth sweeping central seconds hand. The problem is that, for some odd reason, one sub-dial is a useless synchronized 24-hour clock, and the other is a 60-minute totalizer.

This gives the appearance of a proper bicompax chronograph, which should have a totalizer on one side and a running seconds on the other, but pulls a fast one with no running seconds hand at all.

The good news for anyone with deeper pockets is that Yema’s Alpine Cup Series collection also includes the first fully mechanical Rallygraf. The design is almost identical to the panda dial, except that the black detailing is replaced with Alpine’s signature blue.

Yema

It is powered by a Sellita Caliber SW510 M BH b hand-wound movement with a 60-hour power reserve, a small seconds subdial at nine o’clock and a 30-minute totalizer at three o’clock. The only catch is that this upgraded version is limited to 100 pieces.

If you can get past the nonsensical subdial arrangement, Yema’s newest Rallygraf is the brand’s best affordable chronograph. The panda and reverse panda dials look even better with a chapter ring tachymeter under the domed crystal.

Meanwhile, the mechanical version faithfully reproduces the types of watches that made Yema a cult favorite of 1960s European motorsports.

Availability and price

The Yema Rallygraf Alpine Cup Series is available now from Yema for $550 on a rallye steel bracelet and $450 on a leather rallye strap with a steel pin-buckle strap.

The mechanical Rallygraf Alpine Cup Series is only available on a matching Alpine blue leather rallye strap for $2,390. It is limited to 100 pieces.

Yema

Yema Rallygraf Alpine Cup Series

Specs

Case Size	39mm
Movement	SII (Seiko) caliber VK64 meca-quartz
Water Resistance	100m

• $550 at Yema

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