Mario Andretti and the Story of His Yema Rallye

You don’t need to be a racing fan to know the name Mario Andretti. Arguably one of the most accomplished and iconic American race car drivers of all time, Mario Andretti has had a long and storied career, taking the checkered flag 111 times over the course of five exciting decades. 

Mario’s story begins in 1940 in Montona, Italy (modern day Croatia), where Mario and his twin brother Aldo were born. The Andretti family left in ’48 as refugees after Montona’s annexation, and in 1955 the Andrettis made their way to America, where they settled in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

Mario and Aldo’s fascination with cars and racing first developed in Italy, but it was in Nazareth that their early childhood love for motorsports really had a chance to blossom. After discovering a nearby dirt track, the twins, along with a group of friends, fixed up and took turns racing a 1948 Hudson Hornet Sportsman. Much of this was done in secret because the boys’ parents didn’t approve of racing, and an early injury sustained by Aldo nearly put the kibosh on the whole thing. Nevertheless, Mario drove in his first official race in 1959, and in just two seasons he won 20 races behind the wheel of a stock car.

Based in France, Yema may not be a household name like some of the bigger players in the industry, but it does have a cult following in vintage collector circles. The brand was started in 1948 by French watchmaker Louis Belmont, and in the time since Yema has existed in one form or another, even being owned by Seiko for 20 or so years. Today, Yema is back under French ownership, producing both new and vintage-inspired watches that have piqued interests of enthusiasts all over.

The original Yema Rallye is an unabashedly racing-inspired watch, with a distinctive case and dial design that looks as cool today as it did back in the ’60s. Measuring just 39mm wide, it’s a great size for contemporary wear, and the Valjoux hand-wind 7730 chronograph caliber inside is top-notch.

This year, Yema has re-released the “Andretti” Rallye with a near one-for-one recreation. The new watch is largely faithful to its historical counterpart. The biggest differences come in the form of the updated sapphire crystal, a Valjoux 7753 caliber, and a commemorative case back.

Mario Andretti and Yema have teamed up for this project, which celebrates both the watch and Andretti’s legendary Indy 500 win. When asked why this reissue was something he wanted to be a part of, Mario answered simply and honestly: “It’s an emotional thing, you know, and that’s what this is . . . there’s a real story behind it. It’s part of something really positive and that’s what I love about it.”

To learn more about the watch, which is limited to just 1969 pieces, visit Yema.