YEMA’s Racing-Inspired Collection Makes Its Way to the WEC Grid with New Alpine Endurance Team Partnership

Watches have been a significant part of the endurance racing culture since the moment each of the teams’ tires hit the grid for the very first time. Still to this day, time keeping plays an intricate role with strategy and making in-race adjustments. From tracking lap times to driver stints, these decisions based on time ultimately decide whether a team finishes at the top of the podium, or dead last. Once Hollywood got a hold of endurance racing’s crown jewel, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, arguably one of the most iconic and dangerous races known to man, popularity both within the sport and racing chronograph watches, exploded. Built on the foundation of the Tag Heuer Monaco and Rolex Daytona, a wide array of watch brand partnerships are currently found throughout the grid evidenced by brand names on body panels, team shirts and occasionally, a watch on a driver’s wrist. The latest to join this prestigious group of endurance racing watch sponsors is YEMA after inking a deal with the Alpine Endurance Team, making them Alpine’s official timekeeper for the next three World Endurance Championship (WEC) seasons.

For those unfamiliar with the FIA WEC, here’s a quick primer. In a span of a 9 month long season, 24 teams will compete in 7 (8 races next season) grueling, high-intensity races on some of the most world renowned tracks around the globe including Spa, Monza and of course, Le Mans. The Alpine Endurance Team has found success in the past several years with their A470 hypercar, reaching the podium at least 16 times, winning 3 races and capturing the world title during the 2018-2019 season. Alpine’s A470 is the inspiration for YEMA’s new collection that celebrates the fresh partnership between both brands and will be worn by the entire Alpine Endurance Team next season.

The new collection comprises five watches including the limited edition Rallygraf A470. Confined to only 470 pieces, the Rallygraf A470 features a couple of refinements to the Rallygraf case and an assortment of Alpine Racing accents throughout. The stainless steel case retains its modern 39mm width and 48mm lug to lug proportions, but with a more streamlined case design. The case angles and bevels are crispier, the radially brushed tachymeter bezel contrasts against the polished finish and the lower-profile pusher design is a welcomed touch.

The blue dial is an ode to Alpine Racing’s signature ‘Alpine Blue’ and sports a distinct dashboard display that stretches across, distinguishing the dial from any ordinary Rallygraf. Alpine Racing continues to be represented throughout the case and dial with an Alpine ‘A’ acting as the counterweight for the seconds hand, a signed crown and an embossed caseback. Powering the Rallygraf A470 is the ETA Valjoux 7753 which leads the pack amongst the movements within the YEMA x Alpine Endurance Team collection in terms of power reserve at 48 hours.

The other three chronographs in the YEMA x Alpine Endurance Team collection return to Rallygraf form sporting a more traditional dial with individual sub-registers, an aluminum bezel insert, larger chronograph pushers and a boxy profile around the case edges. With different dial color variations, each of the three still sport the similar Alpine Endurance Team design accents and have at least a hint of ‘Alpine Blue’. The Alpine Endurance Team Rallygraf uses a Seiko VK64 meca-quartz movement which features a sweeping seconds hand and instant chronograph reset packaged into a slightly thinner case at 11mm.

Rounding out the collection is a single crown, retro-styled case harkening back to YEMA in the 80’s. The racing inspiration is not lost despite the fact this variation isn’t a chronograph. The final watch in the collection is equipped with a bi-directional bezel and a kilometer display scale on an aluminum insert. In combination with the additional time-elapsed scale displayed on the rehaut, the user, whether they be a race driver or lead engineer, can calculate average speed. The smooth polished bezel edge with dispersed notches paired with the vertically brushed case face and the very vintage nine-link 1980 steel bracelet punctuate the watch’s retro charm. YEMA has opted to go with their very own in-house YEMA2000 built with 29 jewels, 28,800 A/h and a self winding ball bearing rotor.

The Rallygraf A470 limited edition retails for $2,190 with each of the 470 pieces available numbered on the caseback. The YEMA x ALPINE Endurance Team meca-quartz chronographs retail for $399 and the YEMA2000 equipped variation retails for $990. The entire collection is available for pre-order directly through YEMA with shipping scheduled for September. YEMA