Yema
Yema Navigraf II Patent Pending Vintage - Steel bracelet

“Some watches tell the great history of watchmaking. Others tell the story of an era when innovation seemed capable of reinventing everything. The Navygraf II belongs to both worlds: one of the last great French dive watches of the late seventies and one of the symbols of the electronic revolution that permanently transformed the watch industry.”

Yema Navygraf II Quartz “Patent Pending”, reference 961.122, produced around 1980, stainless-steel case measuring approximately 38 mm excluding the crown, distinctive monobloc Navygraf II architecture with screwed bezel retaining plates, bidirectional captive rotating bezel with 20 sec/12-hour scale, brushed anthracite dial bearing the “990 FEET”, red “QUARTZ” and “PATENT PENDING” inscriptions, luminous round hour markers, professional hands, central seconds, quick-set date at 3 o’clock, mineral crystal, protected screw-down crown, screw-down Yema caseback, original integrated steel bracelet, France Ébauches FE 7221 quartz movement, 1-jewel construction, 32,768 Hz electronic oscillator, central seconds and quick-set date, battery-powered operation, pre-owned watch inspected, authenticated and covered by Mostra’s 3-year warranty.

There are watches purchased for prestige and others for aesthetics. The Yema Navygraf II Patent Pending attracts collectors for a completely different reason: it fascinates. More than four decades after its creation, its design remains as radical as ever. Its angular case, captive bezel held by two screwed plates, almost industrial architecture and uncompromising dial still give the impression of a true professional instrument rather than a conventional wristwatch.During the late 1970s, Yema experienced one of the most creative periods in its history. The French manufacture expanded rapidly and sought to demonstrate that it could compete with the finest international watchmakers in diving, motorsport, aviation, space exploration and emerging electronic technologies. The Navygraf II became the embodiment of that ambition. It was not merely a successor to the original Navygraf but an entirely new technical concept in which every external component served a precise mechanical purpose.

The eye is immediately drawn to the unique captive bezel construction. Unlike conventional dive watches where the bezel is simply clipped onto the case, the Navygraf II uses two screwed retaining plates holding the bezel while allowing smooth rotation. The system relies on a self-lubricating PTFE ring designed to reduce wear and improve operation. This patented construction explains the famous “Patent Pending” inscription printed on the earliest dials, now regarded as one of the defining characteristics of the first-generation Navygraf II.   Today this engineering solution remains one of the model’s greatest attractions. Few dive watches of the period display such a distinctive architecture. The four visible screws are not decorative elements but constant reminders that the watch was conceived as a professional instrument. This strong identity explains why original Patent Pending examples have become increasingly desirable among collectors.

The brushed anthracite dial contributes greatly to that character. Depending on the light, it changes from deep black to metallic grey. Large luminous markers, professional hands and the slender central seconds hand provide excellent legibility. The red “QUARTZ” and “PATENT PENDING” inscriptions discreetly recall that this watch belongs to the pioneering years of electronic watchmaking.Beneath the hands appears the small propeller emblem visible on your example. This remains one of the rarest dial variants within the Navygraf II family. Its precise meaning has never been officially documented by Yema, adding further mystery to these early production watches. For experienced collectors, it represents another fascinating identifying feature.

Unlike automatic Navygraf II models fitted with the France Ébauches FE 4611 or examples documented with Swiss ESA movements, this watch is powered by a France Ébauches FE 7221 quartz movement. Historically this is particularly significant. At the beginning of the 1980s, France Ébauches developed an entire family of electronic calibres to demonstrate that French watchmaking could master quartz technology. The FE 7221 belongs to that generation of reliable and rational movements, designed to deliver outstanding precision while remaining easy to service.  The France Ébauches FE 7221 operates with a 32,768 Hz electronic quartz oscillator, the frequency that would become the worldwide standard for analogue quartz watches. It drives a stepping motor delivering one impulse per second to the gear train. Its 1-jewel construction reduces friction on the most heavily loaded wheel, while the quick-set date provides practical daily use. Unlike a mechanical movement, it requires neither manual winding nor a power reserve, relying instead on battery operation while delivering accuracy far superior to most contemporary mechanical watches.

At the time, this technology represented the very forefront of watchmaking. Purchasing a Navygraf II Quartz in 1980 did not mean choosing a simplified model; it meant acquiring one of the most advanced French wristwatches available. Professional users often preferred quartz for its remarkable accuracy and reliability.The appeal of this Navygraf II now extends well beyond its movement. It belongs to a decisive period when Yema combined genuine technical innovation with a distinctive French identity. Collectors particularly appreciate these early Patent Pending examples because they represent the very beginning of this remarkable case architecture before later developments appeared. Their relatively limited production and unmistakable styling explain why they have become significantly more difficult to find than contemporary Superman models.

The 961.122 reference therefore occupies a special place within Yema collecting. Long overshadowed by the Superman, it is now being rediscovered by enthusiasts who appreciate precisely what makes it different: a unique design, documented patented engineering, a genuine French movement and a personality unlike any other vintage dive watch.This example retains that authenticity through its original dial, Patent Pending bezel, integrated steel bracelet and France Ébauches FE 7221 movement. Normal signs of use reflect a watch that has lived without losing either its character or its historical coherence.

Choosing this Yema Navygraf II Quartz Patent Pending from Mostra means acquiring far more than a vintage dive watch. It means owning one of the most original creations of French watchmaking at the dawn of the quartz era. For more than forty years, Mostra has specialised in selecting, authenticating and preparing collectible timepieces with the highest standards. Every watch is carefully inspected in our workshop before sale and delivered with a 3-year Mostra warranty, ensuring complete confidence when acquiring a genuine collector’s piece.