Yema Sous-Marine - Steel watch

FE 233-69A, circa 1970.

Produced around 1970, this Yema Sous-Marine perfectly embodies the style of French sports watches from that period. Its steel cushion case, patinated silver dial, and large applied hour markers give it a strong presence on the wrist.

The dial shows natural patina as well as more pronounced marks, particularly around 4:30. These traces of time fully contribute to the watch’s character and add real depth to its dial.

The case retains its original sunburst brushing, which is especially desirable on this type of case middle. It nevertheless shows significant scratches and several signs of wear, particularly on the lugs, clearly visible in the photographs.

It is powered by the France Ébauches FE 233-69A caliber, a hand-wound mechanical movement with 17 jewels and a date display. Simple and robust, this French caliber equipped several Yema models from the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The screw-down caseback, decorated with the Yema coat of arms, bears the reference 55.18.04 as well as the inscriptions “Stainless Steel,” “Antimagnetic,” and “Waterresistant.”

An authentic French watch whose patina and signs of use fully tell its story.

Technical details

• Brand: Yema
• Model: Sous-Marine
• Reference: 55.18.04
• Year: circa 1970
• Movement: France Ébauches FE 233-69A
• Jewels: 17
• Winding: manual
• Functions: hours, minutes, central seconds, and date
• Case: stainless steel
• Caseback: screw-down and branded Yema
• Crystal: plexiglass
• Crown: not branded

Dimensions

• Diameter excluding crown: 36 mm
• Diameter including crown: approximately 39.5 mm
• Lug to lug: 43.4 mm
• Lug width: 18 mm
• Thickness: 10.9 mm

Condition and warranty

• Original dial showing a lovely natural patina
• Pronounced marks on the dial, particularly around 4:30
• Patinated luminous material on the hands and hour markers
• Original sunburst brushing of the case preserved
• Significant scratches and signs of wear on the case, particularly on the lugs
• Movement fully serviced in May 2026
• Brown perforated leather strap
• Travel pouch included
• 12-month mechanical warranty
• Water resistance not guaranteed given the age of the watch