This is a good looking piece. Are Yema well regarded?
Think it’s CountZero who’s still rocking a vintage one. Yeah, I think they are, (though not owned one myself) and getting better as they’re now making in house movements. I know that’s no guarantee of quality, but needs a level of sophistication above cases, dials and hands.
A bit late catching up with this thread, I’m afraid! Yema had a very good reputation for quality up until around the 80’s; they got involved with Seiko, who ended up swallowing the brand and just used it for rather tacky fashion-styled watches. More recently they bought themselves out of the Seiko situation and became an independent French brand again, but tough trading conditions led to them becoming part of the Swatch group, IIRC.
It’s allowed them to develop their own in-house calibres, and re-introduce modern versions of their classic watches, like the NavyGraf and the Superman diver.
And yes, I’m the proud owner of a 1970 Rallygraf Super, which has a Valjoux 7734 movement with three complications. The often mentioned ’Mario Andretti’ Rallygraf is the cheaper standard version with just two complications.
Mine broke its mainspring a few years back, finding someone who could fix a proper mechanical hand-wind watch isn’t easy, especially if you’re not keen on entrusting something with great personal and emotional value, but Deacon & Son in Marlborough came to the rescue, albeit at a cost – £465!
Still worth it, they’re fetching upwards of £4-5000 now. Cost me £50… 😎
This is mine, on the strap I made for it, using a deployment clasp from a commercial strap that started to fall apart.
Just to add, you need to be aware of possible iffy ones – I came across this one that had sold for £1500. The first thing that struck me is the fact that the hands are very definitely NOT original! Mine absolutely are, so it makes me wonder about other aspects of it.
https://www.watch-auctions.co.uk/sale/22/168/Yema-Rallygraf-Super-chronograph-stainless-steel-gentlemans-wristwatch-ref-93012-circa-late-1960s-serial-no-130xxx-tachymeter-bezel-black-dial-with-chronograph-centre-seconds-luminous-markers-and-triple-subsidiary-seconds-Valjoux-7736-movement-red-leather-strap-39mm-diameter