May 19 2025

Yema Granvelle: Compact Elegance With An In-House Movement

MRSTATELESS NEW RELEASES, YEMA 2025, Small Seconds 0

French watchmaker Yema has unveiled a new collection that blends refined aesthetics with modern horological engineering: the Granvelle CMM.20. Named after the Renaissance-era Palais Granvelle in Besançon—now home to the Museum of Time—this release pays tribute to France’s watchmaking heritage through both design and technical execution.

A Contemporary Take on a Classic Form

The Granvelle CMM.20 features a distinctive cushion-shaped stainless steel case, measuring 39 mm in diameter and only 8.60 mm thick, offering a slim profile that lends itself well to dress-oriented styling. Vertical brushing on the case surface is complemented by polished bevels and a fluted mid-case, creating a mix of textures that catches the light in interesting ways. A flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating protects the dial, and the crown, subtly integrated into the shape of the case, is signed with Yema’s historic logo.

While the water resistance is rated to 50 meters, the Granvelle’s design focus is clearly on refined, everyday versatility rather than tool-watch ruggedness.

Textured Dials and Balanced Layout

Each dial in the Granvelle collection presents a guilloche-style texture with concentric lines that evoke both motion and depth. The surface is also enhanced with a sunray finish, giving the dial subtle dynamic shifts depending on lighting conditions. At 9 o’clock, a small seconds subdial that follows the shape of the case adds visual contrast and an elegant asymmetrical touch.

A white chapter ring frames the dial, with faceted hour markers offering a sleek and integrated aesthetic. The spear hands are polished to a high sheen, providing legibility and sophistication. The Granvelle comes in three color variants: forest green, deep blue, and charcoal grey—each lending a different mood while maintaining cohesion with the overall design language.

In-House Micro-Rotor Movement: CMM.20

At the heart of the Granvelle is the CMM.20 calibre, a self-winding micro-rotor movement developed in collaboration with Olivier Mory and assembled in Morteau, France. Visible through a sapphire exhibition caseback, the movement is finely finished with rhodium-plated bridges and a sunray-pattern Côtes de Genève decoration. It features 28,800 vibrations/hour, a power reserve of 70 hours and an accuracy of -3/+7 seconds per day.

Finishing Touches and Pricing

The Granvelle is paired with a tapered calfskin leather strap (20 mm at the lugs) featuring beige contrast stitching and secured with a deployant clasp for comfort and ease of use.

The Yema Granvelle CMM.20 is priced at € 1,990, positioning it competitively for those seeking a watch that balances heritage design with independent manufacturing and modern technical standards.