The Flygraf CPA10, Answering the Call of Yema’s Military Duty

Yema, the French brand based in Morteau, is famous for its robust and reliable tool watches designed for all terrains. Yema produced its first military-issue watches in 1970, and in 2020, the French Air Force and French Navy nominated it as an official partner. The latest collaboration watch is the Flygraf CPA10, inspired by the legendary Type A Flieger watches. Designed for the parachutist commandos of the French Air Force (FAF), it is powered by Yema’s proprietary CMM.10 automatic movement.

Like other Yema models, the pilot watch created for members of the CPA10 is also available to the public. Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen several models for the French forces, including the Navygraf Marine Nationale GMT, the Superman for the French Search and Rescue Helicopter team and a Flygraf Flieger for the French Air Force.

The new Flygraf CPA10, gracing the wrists of the Commando Parachutiste de l’Air No.10 (CPA10), takes flight with its lightweight yet resilient 40mm grade 2 titanium case with a lean profile of 9.4mm (not including crystal) and a 46mm lug-to-lug span. Underscoring its military ties, the case has a matte brushed finish, and the oversized crown, embossed with the FAF logo, is a nod to vintage pilot watches. And since parachutists can end up in the water, the case can fathom depths of up to 100 metres.

Protected by a 2mm-thick double-domed sapphire crystal, the navy blue dial proudly flaunts Yema’s official FAF affiliations and is embossed with the silhouette of the CPA10 logo. It also features a silver appliqué at 6 o’clock with a winged parachute and a star surmounted by the colours of the French flag. As a Flieger-inspired watch, legibility is key, and the hour and minute hands and large Arabic numerals are printed in relief with a steel frame and treated with blue emission Super-LumiNova (blue emission). However, in honour of the parachutist commando’s number, the 10 o’clock marker is coated with white emission Super-LumiNova.

The sapphire exhibition caseback is printed with the insignia of the 602 GIA (Air Infantry Group), a predecessor of the CPA10. Released in 2023 on board the Superman Bronze, Yema’s proprietary manufacture calibre CMM.10 operates at 28,800vph and is regulated to chronometric precision of -3/+5 seconds per day. The ball-bearing, bidirectional, openworked rotor with a gunmetal finish winds the Nivaflex spring of the large barrel, which stores 70 hours of power reserve. The caseback reveals the movement’s galvanic-treated bridges and plates, which were micro-blasted before application.

The watch is paired with a navy blue canvas strap with white stitching and a brushed titanium pin buckle.  The watch retails for EUR 1,690. More information at yema.com.