By Brent Robillard
From the archives, for the future
Before I even get into the watch itself, I should probably admit something: YEMA is one of those brands that sits right at the foundation of my own watch enthusiasm. Long before The Calibrated Wrist existed, before reviews and interviews and industry conversations, there was the YEMA Superman. Around 2017, when I really took my deep dive into watches (pun fully intended), that case shape, that bezel, and that unapologetically French dive-watch identity hooked me.
And in 2021, one of the earliest watches we ever reviewed on this site was the YEMA Superman Worldtime. I liked it so much I eventually bought one. So whenever YEMA releases something that leans into its skin diver heritage, I pay attention. Not out of nostalgia, but because they’re one of the few brands that can draw directly from their own archive without it feeling forced.
The new Skin Diver Slim Bronze CMM.20 is exactly that kind of watch.
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Two new iterations
Two versions of the Skin Diver Slim Bronze are being released. The first is a green dial variant that will join the brand’s permanent collection. This is the prototype we are featuring here. The second is a grey-dialed Limited Edition which will feature an engraved caseback, denoting the the exact model number out of 200. Both are priced similarly.
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Key Features of the YEMA Skin Diver Slim Bronze CMM.20
A Skin Diver That Grew Up
Skin divers were always meant to be slimmer, lighter, and more wearable than their professional saturation-diving cousins. They were tool watches, yes, but also lifestyle objects. Something you could dive with and then wear straight to dinner.
The Skin Diver Slim Bronze CMM.20 captures that spirit perfectly.
At 39mm in diameter and just 10mm thick (without the crystal), it wears flatter and more compact than most modern dive watches. The 47mm lug-to-lug keeps it planted, but the curved 20mm lugs make it sit naturally on the wrist. It feels vintage in proportion without feeling dated or fragile.
And then there’s the bronze.
Bronze is one of those materials that instantly adds character. It starts warm and golden, and then slowly becomes something uniquely yours. Patina isn’t a defect here; it’s the point. Over time, moisture, air, and wear will reshape the surface, giving the watch a life story written directly into the case. It’s tactile, organic, and deeply nautical in personality.
This isn’t “precious” bronze. It’s honest bronze.
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Dialed in
YEMA really nailed the dial layout here. It isn’t a grand departure from the other models in their Skin Diver Collection–the oversized, wedge-shaped hour markers maintain the watch’s bold skin diver identity, while the integrated Arabic numerals add structure and balance to the design without cluttering it. However, the use of a bronze case allows YEMA to run with gilt surrounds on all of the markers here. You have similar colouring on the big arrow-shaped minute hand, the a slimmer, pencil-style hour hand, and even in the lollipop seconds. The result is a touch of warmth and charm in an otherwise utilitarian tool watch design. Even the lume has a vintage-inspired tint, albeit modern and bright in performance. Against the deep green enamel of the dial, the display really pops.
The bezel is also worth mentioning. It’s entirely sapphire, with a unidirectional rotation, a 0–60 dive scale, and a luminous pip at 12. It feels smooth, precise, and visually integrated into the watch rather than sitting on top of it as an afterthought.
A slim package
What really separates this watch from most bronze divers is its profile. Thanks to the micro-rotor movement, YEMA has been able to keep the case remarkably slim while still maintaining a serious 30 BAR (300m) water resistance. That’s impressive. You also get a screw-down crown, box sapphire crystal and an exhibition sapphire caseback through which you can see the star of show: the CMM.20.
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The CMM.20
Flip the watch over and you’re greeted by something you almost never see in a dive watch: a micro-rotor manufacture movement on display.
The CMM.20 is developed in France, with bridges and mainplates manufactured in YEMA’s Morteau workshops. It’s slim (just 3.7mm thick), accurate (–3/+7 seconds per day), and offers a very healthy 70-hour power reserve thanks to its tungsten micro-rotor and large barrel.
It’s genuinely ambitious watchmaking for a brand at YEMA’s price point. And it makes the exhibition caseback feel completely justified.
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Wearability
The latest in the Skin Diver line comes on a matching FKM rubber strap that differentiates itself from run-of-the-mill waffles and tropic-style bands. It’s supple–tapering from 20mm at the lugs to about 16mm at the buckle–and features bronze hardware. Coupled with the restrained lug-to-lug, the watch sits nicely–and, as previously mentioned, slides easily enough beneath a cuff if necessary.
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Specs
| Case | Bronze 39mm Diameter 47mm Lug to Lug 10mm Thickness (w/out crystal) 20mm Lug Width Sapphire Caseback Screw Down Crown 300m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Boxed Sapphire Crystal Enamel Dial Gilt Surrounds Big Arrow and Pencil Handset Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | CMM.20 Micro Rotor -3/+7 Seconds/Day 33 Jewels 28 800vph 70-Hour Power reserve |
| Strap | FKM Rubber with Bronze Hardware |
YEMA Skin Diver Slim Bronze CMM.20
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Check out The Resurgence and Revival of Heritage Brands
Final Thoughts
This watch feels like a full-circle moment for YEMA. It takes the skin diver language that made them famous in the 1960s and pairs it with the most technically confident movement they’ve ever produced. It’s nostalgic without being stuck in the past. Technical without being cold. And rugged without losing elegance.
For me personally, it also feels like a reminder of why I fell in love with YEMA in the first place. Strong design. Strong identity. And a willingness to keep pushing forward instead of just replaying the hits.
That’s exactly the kind of watch that belongs in a modern tool watch conversation.
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Pricing & Availablity
Both the watches are priced the same at 2,249 € (approximately $3640 CAD), and both are available starting today, January 13th, from the brand website. For a bronze dive watch with a sapphire bezel, enamel dial, micro-rotor manufacture movement, exhibition caseback, and 5-year warranty, this is a strong value proposition in today’s market.
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About the Author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
Off The Cuff articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of the watch in question and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise. If you would like to have your watch reviewed on this site, contact us here.
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The skin diver silhouette is probably my all time favorite among watches. Love the gilt highlights here, especially on the markers.
Will you be making a YouTube video for this one? Would love to see more of it!
Hello, beautiful…
Yema makes an attractive watch, but that micro-rotor really intrigues me. I sometimes worry when independent brands move in house that service and QC will become issues down the road. But you have to hand it to them for taking the hard road. And it looks the business.
I like the Superman, too. It has a great history. But it’s so good to Yema branching out with other models and new tech. I hope they can make this microrotor a hacking movement in the near future. Super pics, btw.