Historic French watchmaker, Yema, ushers in an innovative chapter in horology with the unveiling of their latest masterpiece, the Navygraf Meteorite CMM.10. Shattering convention, Yema diversifies the series’ usual tool-watch format with distinctive materials like forged carbon and mother-of-pearl.
The latest innovation takes a phenomenal leap back in time by incorporating a slice of the Muonionalusta meteorite, a material believed to have formed some 4.5 billion years ago in the metallic core of a primitive planetoid, into the wristwatch. This bespoke series, limited to only 150 pieces, pairs the mesmerizing meteorite dial with a titanium case, a matching bracelet, and Yema’s proprietary automatic (central rotor) manufacture movement.
The case of the Navygraf CMM.10 is meticulously crafted with titanium and measures 39mm in diameter, 11mm thick and 46mm lug-to-lug. The bezel, designed with a black stainless-steel insert, features a 0–60 minute scale for accurate elapsed-time measurement.
The writer, initially indifferent towards Rolex, describes a transformative interaction with a second-hand Rolex Oysterdate Precision Ref. 6694 from 1974, which forced him to reconsider his stance on this iconic brand. His indifference, a result of a preference for less mainstream alternatives and the impact of collecting on a writer’s income, began to wane upon contact with the pristine Rolex Oysterdate Precision.
What caused this shift in opinion? To his surprise, the Rolex 6694’s stunning simplicity, lack of pretentiousness, and historical significance captivated him. This timepiece served as Rolex’s entry-level offering during its production years from the early 1960s to 1989. The Rolex 6694 holds a distinguished place in the brand’s history as the last manually-wound Rolex sold, outliving the last of the hand-wound Daytonas by a year.