Yema’s Superman is definitely my favorite model in a large collection of French brands. I’ve tried many of the Superman versions released over the past few years. My absolute favorite is the Superman FAF Search and Rescue Limited Edition, which was released in 2022. Last year, the brand released another outstanding Superman in collaboration with French Watch Blog Le Petit Poussoir. The Superman Tropical CMM.10 Limited Edition is the first in Superman history to be an attractive take on brand divers that comes with a “tropical” dial. There are also some nice cream-colored touches and bezels with special fade effects, this is another Yemma Superman I’ve come to love very quickly.
As soon as the Yema Superman Tropical CMM.10 limited edition landed on my desk, I liked it. The vintage-inspired Yemma Superman and the colour combination that works very well is something very appealing. We had a watch for two weeks, I had plenty of time to try it. After all, I quickly fell in love with the retro style. I made another Yema favorite next to Superman FAF Search and Rescue Limited Edition in Superman Tropical. Can it beat that longtime favorite? Let’s look into it.
The story of Yema Superman Tropical CMM.10 limited edition
This tropical version of Yema’s Superman is a collaboration with Le Petit Poussoir from the French Watch Blog. Working with French brand Yema on watches has made a dream come true for blog founder Ludovic Barrois. I have to say that the designers and Barova from Yema came up with the idea of being the stars of the lineup. The concept and execution are well thought out, bringing you a watch that offers something completely different to the usual Superman model. The tropical-style dial, fade bezel and in-house caliber make for a special watch.
Let’s take a look at the details of this version. The watch has a 39mm stainless steel case with a 13.2mm profile containing 47mm lug-to-lug and crystal. As most of you know, Yema’s Superman appears and feels very slim. Despite the steel case components totaling 10.5mm thick without crystals, they have a water resistant rating of 300m. Domed Sapphire Glass adds a lot of retro charm as well as extra thickness. The mostly brushed case also features sophisticated chamfers, giving it a great visual impact.
Additionally, the one-way cry bezel has a gray ceramic insert with a nicely-looking fade effect. In addition to that, numbers and markings are treated with a light gray Super Luminova. As you know from Yema Superman, the bezel features a 3 o’clock signature lock mechanism.
The true star of the show
The bezel is nice, but I think the best aesthetic component of Supermantropical is the dial. Fade softly from the light brown tint in the center to the dark brown surrounding it. I love it because it is a very soft fade and gives a natural feel to the lacquer finish. The dial features an open white minute track that surrounds a sandy Super Luminova time marker. The hand of the time and moments filled with the room is accompanied by the brand’s signature spade-shaped second hand. It was first introduced in 1963 and used in my favorite Superman FAF Search and Rescue Limited Edition.
The sand-colored version of the integrated tropical style straps finishes the look. It matches the color of the Lume on the dial and is that extra element that makes this limited edition an absolute shock. I’ve always been a bit skeptical about mimicking patina with dials and bezels, but Yema and Le Petit Poussoir have done a great job with this special version of Superman.
Customized In-house YEMA CMM.10
When you swing the watch around, you can see the Morteau 10 (cmmm.10), a caliber manufacturing machine that moves the watch. It’s a familiar move, but some things are performed differently. The bridge and base plate are dark gray galvanic colours that match the subtle shades of the bezel while preserving the microblob frust finish. Additionally, the rotors have been redesigned to fit the vintage-inspired visual style of the watch, featuring a gold brush finish for visual impact. Finally, the rotor also displays the Yema “Y” logo, which symbolizes the brand’s heritage.
The automatic caliber operates at 28,800VPH, has 27 gems and offers a 70-hour power reserve. It consists of 208 parts including Inca Block impact resistance and Glucidur balance wheel. The accuracy of this movement is +5/-3 seconds per day, giving it a chronometer-like accuracy. Overall, I would like to thank Yema for taking further distance to customize the movements to suit the overall style of the watch. The story is getting much better.
Wearing Yema Superman Tropical CMM.10 Limited Edition
The wrist is where the watch influenced it. But say that the perfect end for the elastic strap case means that it will first burn out to the outside before tilting your wrist. As a result, the watch is not comfortable on small wrists. My colleague Dern has a 17cm (6.7 inches) wrist, and the shape of the strap means there is a gap between it and his wrist. Luckily I didn’t have that problem and the watch fits like my 18.5cm (7.3 inch) gloves.
From the moment I wrapped the strap around my wrist, I was impressed by the comfort and looks. Despite being extremely flexible, the sand-colored strap balances the wrist watch. Plus, the watch looks great. Certainly you have to be a fan of vintage-inspired aesthetics, but if you are there, you will be greatly appreciated for the supermantropical look.
Final Thoughts on Yema Superman Tropical CMM.10 Limited Edition
During my hands-on experience, I switched between Superman and several other watches on the bracelet I had for reviews. I usually have to admit that I’m making a big effort on my bracelet, but for the last two weeks I continued to go back to Yema’s Superman Tropical. The overall style is very nice and attractive. Plus, what’s not doing this well is the appearance.
If there’s one thing I didn’t like, it’s the signature bezel lock. Part of the fun of wearing a diving watch is rotating the bezel several times a day to listen to the crisp bezel action. But in Yema’s Superman, it must be removed from the wrist and the crown removed. You can then turn the bezel. Plus, the lock is a rather thin metal piece that doesn’t match the overall feel of the watch. But if that’s my only complaint with the watch, it still makes a great release without a doubt.
I quickly began to love the look of my wrist watch. Plus, it’s an absolute joy to wear. So we must send a great tribute to Yemma and Lupucipe Soir for creating a surprisingly fresh take on watches that we have already seen in many forms. It was a huge achievement and following the Superman FAF Search and Rescue Limited Edition, I made the Yema Superman Tropical CMM.10 Limited Edition my second favorite, Yema. This 99-piece limited edition is available from the Le Petit Poussoir Online Store for 1,749 euros. Honestly, it’s one of the best surprises I’ve had recently had the chance to wear.
