In 1966, 1967 and 1968 Yema becomes the leading exporter of French watches with more than 500,000 watches sold every year across 50 countries.
In 1982 Henry Louis Belmont's son sells the brand to Matra (Groupe Lagardère) which in partnership with Thomson takes control of Yema. At that time the brand produced 2 million watches per year.
Having been owned by Seiko Watch Corporation of Japan since 1988, Yema returns to French hands in 2004 through a buyout by Louis Eric Beckensteiner.
In 2009 Yema is acquired by the French watchmaker group Montres Ambre based in Morteau.
