Hands-On Introduction: The New Yema Superman Bronze CMM.10

I have said it before, and I’ll say it again: Yema is on a roll with one new release after another. It’s been barely a month since Mike wrote about the unexpected Yachtingraf Tourbillon Mareographe. Not long before that, we saw the introduction of the Sous Marine collection and three new Urban Traveller models. Today, the brand from Morteau releases two Superman Bronze CMM.10 models powered by a new in-house-developed movement. This marks a big step for Yema as this caliber will undoubtedly power more watches in the not-so-distant future.

The new CMM.10 caliber

Let’s start with the biggest news of today’s Yema Superman Bronze CMM.10 releases — the new Calibre Manufacture Morteau 10 (CMM.10). This automatic movement was developed at Yema’s home base in Morteau, France. The components for the caliber are produced in-house by Yema, including the bridges and mainplates. Only the regulating organs are sourced in Switzerland within a 72-mile radius of Morteau. Lastly, the movements are assembled, regulated, and tested in Morteau at the Yema headquarters. Yema is proud of the small ecosystem of watchmaking companies concentrated along the Jura mountains to help create its new manufacture movements.

The new automatic CMM.10 is modern in both specs and architecture, making for an interesting new Yema engine. It comprises 208 components, operates at 28,800vph, has 27 jewels, and features a 70-hour power reserve. It comes equipped with a Glucydur balance wheel, Incabloc shock protection, and a bidirectional rotor. The CMM.10 also exceeds chronometer-standard accuracy and is regulated to perform within +5/-3 seconds per day. Overall, this new caliber has a solid set of modern specs.

The CMM.10 movement in more detail

Yema opted for a transversal bridge over the balance wheel to provide stability. Thanks to a circular cut-out in the mainplate, you can see the balance wheel in action through the large sapphire crystal on the case back. The mainplate features a symmetrical architecture, allowing a percent vertical alignment of the balance wheel and the barrel. Additionally, the movement design combines the barrel bridge, center wheel bridge, and winding stem cock into one large single bridge that serves as the central pillar of the movement.

Keeping most of the gear train within this structure reduces the number of bridges and reinforces the mainplate. As a result of this architecture, the movement is stronger, more durable, and has greater shock resistance. When it comes to the visual aspect, most of the components receive a black galvanic treatment, emphasizing the modern architecture perfectly. These prototypes that Yema shared with us did not feature the final galvanic treatment, so the production versions will be significantly darker. The rotor, however, will be the same as in the pictures you see.

The two versions of the Superman Bronze CMM.10

Now that we know all about the new caliber, this brings us to the two watches at hand. The first of the Yema Superman Bronze CMM.10 models combines a bronze case with a blue gradient dial and a blue rubber strap. It’s a lively combination that certainly looks nice, but when my eyes hit the black and bronze version, I was seriously impressed. The lacquered black dial in combination with the retro-inspired bronze case and black rubber strap is a joy to behold.

As always with the Yema Superman models, you have the choice of a 39mm or 41mm case. We had both colorways in the 39mm size, which would be my pick. This case is 10.7mm thick without the highly domed 2.2mm sapphire crystal (12.9mm total). From lug tip to tip, it measures 48mm long, and the watch takes a 19mm-wide strap. The 41mm version has the same thickness but increases the length to 49.5mm, the lug spacing to 20mm, and the dial opening is 3mm wider.

The finishing and details are taken to the next level

My initial impression of the black/bronze color combination was more than enough reason to get excited. However, when I had a closer look, some very nice details revealed themselves. To start, the finishing of the bronze case is a definite step up from the previous Superman models. The bronze bezel features a very nice radially brushed finish. On top of that, the bezel-locking mechanism is visually integrated nicely. The case itself features a predominantly brushed finish that looks awesome in bronze.

But what stood out immediately were the polished bevels, which provide a super nice contrast with the brushed parts. These bevels are not present on the other Superman models, so they were a pleasant surprise for me. They show that Yema is kicking things up a notch in the detail department, and I kept coming back to them when admiring the watch.

The dials of the Superman Bronze CMM.10

The same also applies to the dials and handset. While the overall design looks very familiar, there are some nice details that have changed. First, the hands and indices are treated with Grade A Super-LumiNova that matches the case color nicely.

Second, Yema updated the handset slightly for better balance. The previous “shovel” seconds hand has been replaced by one with a circular lume plot that matches the hour and minute hands nicely.

A nice detail comes in the form of the text “Manufacture Française” at 6 o’clock, emphasizing the watch’s French roots. As you can see, the blue dial features white text and a white minute scale. The black dial features all text and details in a bronze color, which only ups the level of style and class. This easily makes the black version my pick of the two.

Wearing the new Superman Bronze CMM.10

Both watches come on a Tropic-style FKM Viton strap with curved ends and a bronze buckle that finishes the look impressively. Once on the wrist, the flexible straps balance out the bronze watch perfectly.

The slim profile of the 39mm models and the great vintage looks make the Yema Superman very visually attractive and incredibly easy to wear. Obviously, the bronze will develop a patina over time, making every watch unique. That’s also where my issues with the material come in as I am not a big fan of the patinated look. As most of you will know, you can obviously reverse the patina to maintain the impressive pristine looks. But it’s a thing to keep in mind when wearing a bronze watch.

However, I understand that Yema chose bronze cases for these new timepieces as the material is directly connected to the world of diving. They join a small number of impressive bronze diver and GMT models that show the material works incredibly well with the Superman design. And with these two new colors, the brand might just have created the most visually stunning versions of the Superman Bronze.

Yema Superman Bronze CMM.10 — Pricing and final thoughts

But the big story of these two new releases is the new CMM.10 movement. It’s the third in the new series of modern in-house-developed movements after the ultra-thin CMM.20 in the Wristmaster Traveller Micro-Rotor and the high-end tourbillon CMM.30 in the Yachtingraf Tourbillon Mareographe. It is one more impressive step in Yema’s development, making the brand hard to ignore in the segment of affordable timepieces.

Speaking of which, these two new models will go on pre-sale in a Kickstarter campaign for €999 before taxes. With taxes included, the pre-sale price for European customers will be €1,199. After the pre-sale, the regular price will go up to €1,790.

Referencing the brand’s birth year, Yema will produce 1,948 pieces in each color, and I have a feeling that fans will jump on them quickly. These two watches offer all the vintage charm that makes Yema timepieces so attractive. Combined with a brand-new proprietary movement and an affordable price, Yema has two more hits on its hands.

For more information, visit the dedicated pre-sale page on the Yema website. Also, don’t forget to let us know what you think of the new Yema Superman Bronze CMM.10 in the comments section.