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Rolex Yacht-Master 42 226659 Watch & The Message It Sends To Other Timepiece Fans
At least once a year Rolex introduces a product which is a high-end, albeit extremely understated luxury watch product. I’ve edited this article a bit from how it was originally published because I used the term “F-You watch” without properly explaining the term to all members of the aBlogtoWatch audience. This term is used often by certain watch collectors and it isn’t an insult to anyone that made or wears the watch (not at all). It is a playful way of explaining the psychology at play when someone chooses a high-end product that isn’t noticeable as a high-end product to all but a select few who can identify it for what it is. For 2019, that type of product from Rolex is the 18k white gold and 42mm-wide new ref. 226659 Yacht-Master 42 , that I also like to call the “Yacht-Master Noir.”
The F-You watch, in general, serves a very specific value for wealthy watch enthusiasts. F-You watches are always expensive but are meant to look as though they aren’t nearly as expensive as they are. Not that F-You watches look cheap, rather, they are designed to not look very expensive when viewed from afar. The perfect F-You watch looks ordinary or unremarkable (perhaps generic) to an ordinary onlooker, but can quickly be identified as being expensive to the trained eye (i.e., someone so trained in watch prices they would know its value and also be cognizant that other non-watch enthusiasts might likely mistake its value).
Other people who know watches will recognize an F-You watch as not an ordinary watch, but as a high-luxury watch. That will make many of the people who view and recognize the F-You watch frustrated or even angry. Why angry? Because F-You watches are a really aggressive message to other people (those who can identify what you are wearing) who also openly wear more expensive products. The F-You watch is a taunt at other rich folk. F-You watches say “I have so much money to spend, I can even spend money on expensive things that don’t really increase my sense of social prestige when I wear them out and about.”
In that respect, F-You watches are a particular flavor of conspicuous consumption, though merely for a niche audience of other people rich in nuanced watch knowledge. For those who recognize the F-You watch, the message is that you conspicuously spent money on a humble-looking product… and perhaps that you are somewhat proud of that fact. Rolex, when it wishes to, makes very effective F-You watches. Let’s look at their latest one for 2019 as Rolex has a wonderful modern history in producing select products which send very specific messages to other watch lovers.
How would anyone think this handsome, elegant sports watch, in military-style silver and matte black on a rubber-style strap, is an almost $30,000 luxury item? As stated above, only other watch people. Aside from the F-You watch status of the Rolex 226659, what is really new is the 2mm enlarged Yacht-Master 42 case. The broad lugs actually make this watch a bit too large for my wrist, even though I really admire the slightly expanded overall proportions over the standard Yacht-Master 40. Rolex actually updated the entire Yacht-Master 40 collection for 2019, in addition to coming out with the Yacht-Master 42. The entire lineup gets the brand’s latest-generation case-making and finishing processes, and the modern-generation in-house-made caliber 3235 automatic movement. Again, that includes the 40 and 42mm Yacht-Master. Consider this solid 18k white gold Yacht-Master 42 an experiment to test sales of a 42mm-wide case on the Oysterflex bracelet.
Rolex almost always introduces new cases and movements in high-end watches first, in order to trickle them into the market and test them out. It is very (very) possible that Rolex will eventually produce a steel version of the Yacht-Master 42 case somewhere down the road. That really all depends on the success of the model. Rolex has already done pretty well breathing new life into the Yacht-Master by selling the 40mm-wide and 37mm-wide (gold) Yacht-Master pieces available on an elastomer Oysterflex strap. The Rolex Daytona on the Oysterflex strap was also a hit, and again, all of these watches are in gold. It is sort of amazing that in a time of so much variety in the market of high-end sports watches on colorful high-tech straps, Rolex continues to kill it by putting really fancy gold watches on black rubber straps.
Mind you that Rolex quality is enviously impeccable. The Oysterflex strap is no slouch and is among the most comfortable and well-made sport watch straps available anywhere. What people say is that once you start wearing it, the comfort can be so convenient it is hard to go back to anything else (especially if you are coming from wearing a previous watch with an ill-fitting bracelet). Perhaps the most important thing to say about the Oysterflex bracelet is that, on the Yacht-Master 42, Rolex finally added its Glide-Lock micro-adjustment system to the deployant clasp. So, this is really good news for those who have been wearing for that (and can afford it in gold).
My nickname for the Yacht-Master 42 in white gold and black ceramic is the “Yacht-Master Noir” because it reminds me of the stylized moodiness of film noir . Visually speaking, this silver and black watch could easily be mistaken for a Submariner at a glance — save for the different bezel and case shape. The Yacht-Master continues to be Rolex’s only sport watch with a swoopy case shape. The bezel also has markers in relief, but the insert is also black ceramic. It is worth pointing out that, unlike the uni-directional rotating bezel of the Submariner or other Rolex dive watches, the Yacht-Master 42 has a bi-directional rotating bezel (not really sure why). Note that even though the Yacht-Master and Submariner look very similar, the Yacht-Master is water-resistant to 100 meters, while the Submariner is water-resistant to 300 meters.
Rolex has enough customers out there for discussions like, “Doesn’t the 42mm Yacht-Master dwell a bit close into 43mm Sea-Dweller territory?” The answer is no. Rolex understands its customers well enough to know that the market for a 43mm-wide steel watch on a bracelet is different from the market for a 42mm-wide 18k white gold watch on a strap — despite the fact that they have virtually identical dials. In fact, the 226659 Yacht-Master 42 watch will probably be hard to get, not because it is sold out everywhere, but rather because Rolex simply won’t make a ton of them.
Inside the Yacht-Master 42 is Rolex’s newer-generation workhorse movement, the caliber 3235. Accurate to about 2 seconds or better a day, this 4Hz frequency movement offers 70 hours of power reserve. Too bad you can’t see it through the caseback of the watch. It would have been really cool to see the movement through the sapphire crystal with a black-colored automatic rotor. No, Rolex will not likely ever do that (at least not any time soon).
Put the Yacht-Master 42 Noir on your wrist, and you’ll likely agree it is a very nice watch. How could it not be? This is Rolex’s most successful dial design formula and now in a flavor for weekend poolside warriors who smirk at the idea of wearing an F-You watch to the club for the guys to see. Or perhaps you want something low-key to wear while off-roading 40 feet away from the main road in that Land Rover Defender you spend far too much money maintaining merely for on-road use. There is no shortage of applicable scenarios when you want a toy on your wrist that doesn’t glaringly remind you of how expensive your hobbies are when you just want to act a little childish. Price for the ref. 226659 Rolex Yacht-Master 42 watch in 18k white gold on the Oysterflex strap is $27,800 USD . Learn more at the Rolex website here .
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There is big news, and there is Rolex big news, and in some ways, ne'er the twain shall meet. At Baselworld this year, Rolex debuted a first for the company: the very first, ever, Rolex delivered on a rubber strap. Now, for most companies this would have little effect on watch enthusiasts other than to evoke (very) tepid interest at best, and boredom at worst – but this is not an ordinary rubber strap, this is an official, designed-and-tested-and-thoroughly-obsessed-over-by-Rolex rubber strap. And thereby hangs a tale.
The Yachtmaster, as we have mentioned in some of our previous coverage , occupies a somewhat particular place in Rolex’s lineup of sports watches; it shares water-resistance and a turning bezel with the Submariner (the latter is water resistant to 300 m while the Yachtmaster standard model is water resistant to 100 m). It is certainly not a tool watch; the Yachtmaster is offered in either platinum and steel, or gold and steel (that’s Rolesium and Rolesor, lest we forget) and is either quietly or unequivocally luxurious depending on what size and metal you go for (Rolex makes the Yachtmaster in both 35 mm and 40 mm sizes).
The Yachtmaster’s history goes back to the first introduction of the watch in 1992, although the name, interestingly enough, appears on the dial of a prototype Yachtmaster Chronograph from the late 1960s (a watch so legendary I am actually forced to use the word; one of three known is in the collection of Mr. John Goldberger; we covered it – and a host of other remarkable ultra-rare watches from his collection – in a very memorable episode of Talking Watches ).
The term “Yachtmaster” is also, incidentally, used for a certificate of competency in yachting which is issued by the Royal Yachting Association, although we’re unaware of any specific association between the RYA and the Yachtmaster watch.
Now, this newest version of the Yachtmaster does take a few pages from the existing Yachtmaster playbook: 100-meter water resistance, a bidirectional turning bezel, and a dial and hands that echo the Submariner. There are also a couple of features that may make vintage Sub enthusiasts wonder if Rolex mightn’t have an exceedingly subtle sense of humor; the gilt coronet and “Rolex,” and the red lettering, both features which according to HODINKEE founder Ben Clymer would have, had they appeared on a Rolex dive watch, made it instantly the single most popular watch in the modern Rolex inventory. The case is rose gold – Rolex famously makes their own, called Everose, in their own foundry, with a bit of platinum mixed in to prevent discoloration – and the bezel, rather than being some other precious metal (as is the case in the “standard” Yachtmasters) is in black Cerachrom – a very technical-looking matte black that contrasts sharply with the gold case. Somehow, between the rose gold, the Cerachrom bezel, and the new Oysterflex bracelet this manages to be the most luxurious and at the same time most technical Yachtmaster yet (leaving aside the Yachtmaster II, which we recently reviewed right here , but that is a watch that marches to the beat of a different drummer entirely).
The two different versions of the Everose Yachtmaster (40 mm and 37 mm) sport different movements; the larger uses the caliber 3135 and the smaller, the newer 2236, which sports the “Syloxi” silicon balance spring (first used by Rolex in 2014).
The Oysterflex bracelet is, in a nutshell, quite a piece of work. One of the most endearing traits of Rolex as a company is that it tends to demonstrate what we can only describe as a laudable degree of corporate obsessive-compulsive disorder when it comes to research and development, and it does so, often, without making any sort of fanfare about it at all. In this case we do know a little bit about the Oysterflex, however – it is basically designed to have the hypoallergenic and comfort properties of a rubber strap and the durability and shape-retention properties of a bracelet.
At the core of the Oysterflex bracelet are metal inserts made of titanium and nickel, which are used to affix the bracelet to the clasp and watch case; over those is a sheathing of “high-performance black elastomer.” “Elastomer” is a portmanteau word, formed from “elastic” and “polymer” and is a general term for natural and synthetic rubbers. In addition to the materials complexity of the Oysterflex bracelet, it is also shaped in a rather unusual fashion – there are ridges molded into the the wristward face of the bracelet, which are intended to allow the bracelet when worn to better approximate the natural curvature of the wrist.
They might look a bit odd but in practice, the design works out quite wonderfully; this is easily the most downright comfortable and organic-feeling rubber strap I have ever worn, and like the entire watch manages to be both extremely technical in feel, and very luxurious at the same time; I doubt whether any company has ever taken so much trouble over the design of a strap (for all that Rolex prefers the term “bracelet” in describing the Oysterflex, habit dies hard and you’ll probably find yourself calling it a strap, just as we did). On the wrist, the two stabilizing ridges do exactly what they are supposed to: keep the watch from shifting, as heavier watches on rubber straps are wont to do, without requiring you to have the strap uncomfortably tight. The Everose Oysterlock clasp does a superb job mechanically and also looks fabulous into the bargain; the quality of finish on the clasp and case may not seem terribly elaborate at first, but it is as technically flawless as anything I have ever seen at any price, on any watch.
What we have here, in other words, is a very Rolex interpretation of luxury. Yes, this is a gold watch, and a gold Rolex, and wearing a gold Rolex always carries with it, shall we say, certain semiotic complexities. However there is also another side to the watch, and to the Rolex approach to luxury in general: the taking of such pains to produce technical perfection that technical perfection becomes a luxury in itself.
The Everose Rolex Yachtmaster, in Rolex Everose, with Everose Oysterclasp and Oysterflex bracelet, as shown, $22,000 in 37 mm, and $24,950 in 40 mm. For more info, check out Rolex.com.
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OYSTER PERPETUAL YACHT-MASTER 42
MASTERING LIGHTNESS
Light and robust, the new Yacht-Master 42, in RLX titanium, is the ally of those who revel in freedom. Especially suited to the demands and pressures of competitive sailing, it delivers exceptional performance.
Rolex is presenting a new version of the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42. This nautical watch is introduced for the first time in RLX titanium – a particularly strong but lightweight alloy – and is fitted on an Oyster bracelet. The new version stands out for its technical satin finish – a satin finish with a visible grain, a feature of Rolex watches in RLX titanium – which extends to the middle case sides, the edges of the bracelet links and the sides of the clasp cover. The chamfered top edges of the middle case lugs have a high-sheen finish, while the crown guard is polished. With its bidirectional rotatable bezel fitted with a Cerachrom insert in matt black ceramic featuring raised and polished numerals and graduations, the Yacht-Master 42 in RLX titanium remains faithful to the aesthetics of the original model, unveiled in 2019. It is graced with an intense black dial in a fine satin finish, and its Oyster bracelet is equipped with the Easylink comfort extension link. The new version of the Yacht-Master 42 is equipped with calibre 3235, a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology, enabling it to display the date as well as the hours, minutes and seconds. Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.
THE CALL OF THE OPEN SEAS Launched in 1992, the Yacht-Master was designed specifically for navigators and skippers. Embodying the rich heritage that has bound Rolex and the world of sailing since the 1950s, this Professional-category watch provides a perfect blend of functionality and nautical style, making it equally at home on and off the water. An emblematic nautical timepiece, it is easily recognized by its bidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated bezel made entirely from precious metal or fitted with a Cerachrom insert in high-technology ceramic.
RLX TITANIUM RLX titanium is a grade 5 titanium alloy specially selected by Rolex. Like all titanium alloys, it is especially lightweight and is noted for its mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. Another characteristic of RLX titanium is the possibility of working it to give a polished or satin finish according to the brand’s specifications. Its high mechanical strength makes it complex to work with, and the decision to use it has required the introduction of special production processes.
HIGH-TECHNOLOGY CERAMIC Rolex played a pioneering role in the development of special ceramics for creating monobloc bezels and bezel inserts. Not only are these materials virtually scratchproof, their colours are also of a rare intensity and are resistant to environmental effects. In addition, thanks to its chemical composition, the high-tech ceramic is inert and cannot corrode. Rolex has developed exclusive expertise and innovative manufacturing methods that grant it complete independence in the production of these ceramic components. On the new version of the Yacht-Master 42, the bidirectional rotatable bezel is fitted with a 60-minute graduated Cerachrom insert in matt black ceramic. Its raised graduations and numerals are first moulded into the ceramic and then polished. The first 15 minutes are graduated minute-by-minute to allow time intervals to be read with great precision. The bezel can also be turned with ease thanks to its knurled edge, which offers excellent grip.
OYSTER CASE, SYMBOL OF WATERPROOFNESS A paragon of robustness and reliability, the 42 mm Oyster case of the new Yacht-Master 42 is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet). The middle case is crafted from a solid block of RLX titanium. Its case back, edged with fine fluting, is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement. The Triplock winding crown, fitted with a triple waterproofness system and protected by an integral crown guard, screws down securely against the case. The crystal, which features a Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock for easy reading of the date, is made of virtually scratchproof sapphire and benefits from an anti-reflective coating. The waterproof Oyster case provides optimal protection for the movement it houses.
PERPETUAL CALIBRE 3235 The new version of the Yacht-Master 42 is equipped with calibre 3235, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex that was released in 2015 and has been fitted on this model since its launch in 2019. A distillation of technology, this self-winding mechanical movement delivers outstanding performance in terms of precision, power reserve, convenience and reliability. Calibre 3235 incorporates the patented Chronergy escapement, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel-phosphorus, this escapement is resistant to strong magnetic fields. The movement is fitted with a blue Parachrom hairspring, manufactured by Rolex in a paramagnetic alloy. The hairspring offers great stability in the face of temperature variations as well as high resistance to shocks. It is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring the calibre’s regularity in any position. The oscillator is mounted on the Rolex-designed, patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, increasing the movement’s shock resistance. The oscillating weight is now fitted with an optimized ball bearing. Calibre 3235 is equipped with a self-winding system via a Perpetual rotor. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of calibre 3235 extends to approximately 70 hours.
OYSTER BRACELET AND OYSTERLOCK SAFETY CLASP The new version of the Yacht-Master 42, made from RLX titanium, is fitted on an Oyster bracelet. Developed at the end of the 1930s, this three-piece link bracelet remains the most universal in the Oyster Perpetual collection and is known for its robustness. The Oyster bracelet of this new version of the Yacht-Master 42 features the Oysterlock folding safety clasp, which prevents accidental opening. It is also equipped with the Easylink comfort extension link, developed by Rolex, which allows the wearer to easily adjust the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm. The Oyster bracelet in RLX titanium also includes patented ceramic inserts – designed by the brand – inside the links to enhance its flexibility on the wrist and its longevity.
SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER CERTIFICATION Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This designation testifies that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, following the official certification of the movements by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The in-house certification tests apply to the fully assembled watch, after casing the movement, guaranteeing superlative performance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve, waterproofness and self-winding. The precision of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer is of the order of −2 /+2 seconds per day – the rate deviation tolerated by the brand for a finished watch is significantly smaller than that accepted by COSC for official certification of the movement alone. The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.
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Why the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 Is the Perfect Poster Boy for a New Age
The watch industry is always changing, always evolving, always reacting to the conditions of the world. But some things seem eternal. Through good times and bad, one brand has, since its foundation in 1905, seemed immune to weakness. A history of constant innovation and textbook PR has resulted in a Rolex watch becoming one of the most desirable products in the world, and the brand name that is easily one of the most recognizable.
To establish the kind of reputation Rolex has, you have to do things differently. You also have to be ahead of the curve. Rolex has done that with aplomb in the past, and by carefully controlling the supply of steel watches, while moving the brand forward in a slightly different direction through the release of some headline-grabbing pieces at this year’s Baselworld (including the new Rolex Yacht-Master 42), Rolex is continuing to map its own destiny.
It didn’t begin with the renaissance of Tudor, but that event in 2007 now looks in retrospect to be the beginning of a transformation that elevated Rolex from a brand to some kind of looming deity. Simply put, Tudor is the new Rolex, and Rolex is a new thing entirely. When I speak to brand managers the world over (many of whom are trembling and sleep-deprived as the struggle to conceive strategies to lever attention away from the Crown) they all say the same thing in one way or another.
Rolex is no longer a brand; Rolex is a phenomenon. Trying to go toe-to-toe with Rolex is like boxing with your reflection, or shooting at smoke. It’s a fight you can’t win. It isn’t about the fact your opponent is stronger than you, it’s about the fact that your opponent is fighting on a different plane of existence entirely.
For three years I managed the sales accounts of a well-known German brand across 17 countries. Despite the vastly differing cultures, tastes, and consumer motivations, the presence and adulation of Rolex were ever-present. The power of the Crown is never more felt than when trying to negotiate space in a retail environment for the product of another brand.
For example, I once asked a retailer if I could commandeer thirty centimeters of unused counter space in his store. His face screwed up instantly as if suddenly overtaken by a crippling bout of indigestion. “Well,” he said through gritted teeth, “I’ll have to check with Rolex.”
Duly, he made the call. The answer came back as predicted.
“No,” he said, unable to make eye-contact with me. “Rolex wants that space now.”
I had offered him a full collection of watches with an extended payment terms so he could get the models into his store and test the water before making a significant financial investment. In contrast, Rolex had offered him one GMT Master II “Batman” (on the professional bracelet, not the Jubilee). The choice, for him, was simple. The “Batman” was already sold. It was money in the bank. And his relationship with Rolex – the lifeblood of his livelihood – was intact.
Trying to build a brand next to Rolex is like growing a tree in the shadow of a mountain. It’s not impossible, but there isn’t much light left to go around.
That kind of power is hard to contend with. Rolex has cultivated it over generations. One way in which they’ve managed this is to have been a tireless inventor. The brand’s watches have always been innovative and eminently practical. With every stone turned over in search of incremental gains, Rolex even changed the type of steel it uses in the production of its watches because it could.
Rolex uses 904L, while most of the industry uses 316L stainless steel. Most notable is 904L’s higher molybdenum content, which reduces the chance that the steel will pit or corrode. Although this kind of benefit is the sort of thing you might imagine other brands trying to cash in on, it isn’t that simple. 904L stainless steel is notoriously difficult to work with. Not only do you need special tools to cut it, you also need to be patient as it has an annoying tendency to overheat while being machined. This means manufacturers using 904L must be patient to avoid it blowing up (almost literally) in their faces.
Despite its foibles, Rolex’s first use of 904L steel was in a 1988 Sea-Dweller, and its collection-wide adoption of it in 2003 has been one of the brand’s calling cards. It makes perfect sense for a rugged sports watch brand that is hell-bent on improving the performance of its products. But the thing is, Rolex is changing. Rolex, for all its insistence that it is still a brand built around endeavor and adventure, is transitioning into something else, and its special steel (Oystersteel as they’ve started calling it since 2018) is no longer as central to the brand’s image as it once was.
Around the time of the Tudor rebrand (2007), you could still buy a Rolex no-date Submariner for around four and a half grand. Today the price is double that. Even adjusting for inflation won’t make you feel much better about not loading up on Submariners when you had the chance to get them for a relative song.
But crazier than the current retail prices is the current availability. In 2007, you could walk into a store and buy a green dial, green bezel Rolex Submariner “Hulk” out of the cabinet. If you had the money, you could get the watch. Waiting lists, enforced scarcity, and secondary market prices double the ticket just didn’t exist like they do today. Now, finding a retailer that has a professional model in stock is harder than finding a hen with teeth.
Tudor, meanwhile, has remained very fairly priced. With all the benefits of Rolex’s know-how and freedom to reinvent the brand, Tudor has carved its own niche with its own audience. It is, almost without a doubt, the Rolex of its generation.
Its savvy marketing campaign, excellent build quality, and never-overstated connection to the industry’s Big Brother has made it a hit with the customers discovering the industry for the first time. The Pelagos and Black Bay watches of today will likely be future classics in the way the Submariners and the Datejusts of old are today.
But since Rolex became an industry super-power, removed from the regular concerns of watch companies, it needed a new champion, a poster boy for a new age, a darling that is at once everything Rolex was and everything it is going to be…
The Rolex Yacht-Master 42
The stage could not have been more perfectly set for the release of the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 ref. 226659 at this year’s Baselworld. With its white gold case, simple black dial, matte black Cerachrom bezel, and black Oysterflex rubber strap, it is the epitome of stealth luxury. It also happens to be just about the most hypnotic black/black diver on a rubber band that anyone could imagine.
Why is the Yacht-Master 42 so perfect for this new age? Well, its a barrel load of contradictions packed into a 42mm case. But those contradictions are what make Rolex the brand it is these days. They are what makes it so hard to copy what the brand does. Because, on paper, it just doesn’t add up.
For all intents and purposes, the Yacht-Master 42 is a sports watch. And yet it’s not. Not really – its white gold case puts paid to that idea before the conversation even begins. It is instead, perhaps the most luxurious, desirable, deliciously devil-may-care thing the brand has ever produced.
Within the 18k white gold case of the Yacht-Master 42 is the Rolex Caliber 3235. The recipient of 14 patents, it includes the new Chronergy escapement, which is highly efficient and dependable. It contains all the hallmarks of a Rolex Perpetual movement suited to an active lifestyle, such as the Blue Parachrom hairspring (highly resistant to magnetic fields and temperature interference) and the Paraflex shock absorption system.
When you think of crazily luxurious watches made by Rolex, you’d be forgiven for thinking of a diamond-encrusted case, or even a rainbow bezel. But this trumps them all. The Yacht-Master 42 is the kind of luxury that only people in the know understand. For your investment, you don’t get anything that will scream your wealth across a room. Instead, you get something that is deliberately pared back. Something that is designed to catch the corner of an onlooker’s eye, but not their full attention. The Yacht-Master 42 is a watch that demands awareness to be appreciated. This is something for the wearer themselves to enjoy. Something deeply personal. Something deeply Rolex.
There are many stories as to where the five-pronged logo of Rolex comes from, and even more about what it represents. But if we take it for what it simply appears to be, it could not be more fitting. This brand is king. It may not have the finest movement finishing, the most mind-boggling complications, or price tags on a level with mansions or private jets, but Rolex has a heritage, a character, and a reputation that cannot be usurped. With this new direction with the Yacht-Master 42 carving out an evermore inaccessible niche, the brand next to whom any other would be happy to sit continues to stride further and further away from the pack.
About Rob Nudds
Rob Nudds is a WOSTEP-trained watchmaker, who graduated from the British School of Watchmaking. After working at the bench with brands such as Omega, Longines, Blancpain, and Bremont, he began working for NOMOS Glashütte, managing a retail network covering 17 countries, most notably the UK and USA.
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.css-1c7en8u{font-size:clamp(1.375rem, 1.25rem + 0.3125vw, 3.125rem);line-height:1.1;margin-bottom:1rem;} Yacht-Master 37 .css-1g7r01k{font-weight:300;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.9375rem + 0.1563vw, 1.25rem);line-height:1.2;text-wrap:balance;}.css-1g7r01k span{display:block;} Oyster, 37 mm, Oystersteel and platinum Reference 268622
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Discover in 360°
Staying on course
The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 37 in Oystersteel and platinum with an Oyster bracelet.
Bidirectional rotatable bezel, timing the distance.
The Yacht-Master’s bidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated bezel is made entirely from precious metals or fitted with a Cerachrom insert in high-tech ceramic. The raised polished numerals and graduations stand out clearly against a matt, sand-blasted background.
This functional bezel – which allows the wearer to calculate, for example, the sailing time between two buoys – is also a key component in the model’s distinctive visual identity.
Exceptional legibility
Like all Rolex Professional watches, the Yacht-Master 37 offers exceptional legibility in all circumstances, and especially in the dark, thanks to its Chromalight display.
The broad hands and hour markers in simple shapes – triangles, circles, rectangles – are filled with a luminescent material emitting a long-lasting glow.
A legendary combination
Many Rolex watches are available with the now-legendary combination of yellow, white or Everose gold and steel known as Rolesor, but Rolesium is a creation specific to the Yacht-Master.
While the case and bracelet are in rugged Oystersteel, the bezel of the Rolesium versions is made of platinum, imparting a silvery whiteness and vibrant luminosity for an unmistakable sense of luxury.
The Oyster bracelet
Alchemy of form and function.
The Oyster bracelet is a perfect alchemy of form and function, aesthetics and technology, designed to be both robust and comfortable. It is equipped with an Oysterlock folding clasp, which prevents accidental opening and the Easylink comfort extension link, also exclusive to Rolex.
This ingenious system allows the wearer to increase the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm, providing additional comfort in any circumstance.
More Yacht-Master technical details
Reference 268622
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Oyster, 37 mm, Oystersteel and platinum
Oyster architecture
Monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown
Rolesium - combination of Oystersteel and platinum
Platinum bidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated with raised numerals
Winding crown
Screw-down, Triplock triple waterproofness system
Scratch-resistant sapphire, Cyclops lens over the date
Water resistance
Waterproof to 100 metres / 330 feet
Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding
2236, Manufacture Rolex
-2/+2 sec/day, after casing
Centre hour, minute and seconds hands. Instantaneous date with rapid setting. Stop-seconds for precise time setting
Syloxi hairspring in silicon with patented geometry. High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers
Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor
Power reserve
Approximately 55 hours
Oyster, three-piece solid links
Oystersteel
Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link
Highly legible Chromalight display with long-lasting blue luminescence
Certification
Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casing)
Learn how to set the time and other functions of your Rolex watch by consulting our user guides.
Yacht-Master 37
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The Yacht-Master is a watch designed for sailors, with a bidirectional bezel for calculating and reading time at sea. It comes in various versions, including a new RLX titanium model tested by Sir Ben Ainslie.
Find new and used Rolex Yacht-Master watches for sale on Chrono24.com, the global marketplace for luxury watches. Compare prices, models, materials, dials, and more of the Yacht-Master collection.
Learn everything you need to know about buying Rolex Yacht-Master and Yacht-Master II watches, from their history, features, and pricing. The Yacht-Master 42 is a luxury sports watch with a 42mm case size and a bi-directional bezel.
Discover the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42, a watch for sailing enthusiasts, with a bidirectional rotatable bezel, an intense black dial and an Oyster bracelet. Made from RLX titanium, a grade 5 titanium alloy, it is lightweight, resistant and elegant.
Find your Rolex Yacht-Master II watch among 677 listings on Chrono24.com, the global marketplace for luxury watches. Compare prices, models, materials, and features of new and used Yacht-Master II watches.
The Yacht-Master is a technical and elegant watch with a graduated bidirectional bezel for precise time measurement. It is available in various precious metals, ceramic, titanium and bracelet options, and features Rolex calibres 3235 and 2236.
The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 is the newest and largest addition to the collection, featuring a 42mm white gold case, a black ceramic bezel, and a black Oysterflex bracelet. Learn about its history, design, features, and value in this ultimate buying guide.
A detailed analysis of the new Rolex Yacht-Master 42 226659, a 18k white gold sports watch with a black ceramic bezel and a rubber strap. Learn about its design, features, price, and the message it sends to other watch fans.
THE CASE: If you've been around Rolex circles for any serious amount of time, you'll likely have heard that the Yacht-Master II is simply too large of a watch for Rolex to have made - And to be fair, it's very big by Rolex standards. The watch is the only Rolex produced that measures in at 44mm with a significant 14mm thickness and is made of 904L Stainless Steel.
Rolex introduces a new version of the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 in 18 ct yellow gold, with a luminescent display and a Cerachrom bezel. The watch features calibre 3235, a self-winding movement with a power reserve of 70 hours and a Superlative Chronometer certification.
Find new and used Rolex Yacht-Master 40 126655 watches on Chrono24, the global marketplace for luxury watches. Compare prices, features and conditions of different models and sellers.
Yacht-Master 37. Oyster, 37 mm, Oystersteel and Everose gold. Yacht-Master 40. Oyster, 40 mm, Oystersteel and Everose gold. Reset
A detailed review of the first Rolex watch on a rubber strap, the Oysterflex, which is a metal-reinforced elastomer bracelet with ridges for comfort and stability. The review covers the history, design, and performance of the Everose gold Yachtmaster with black Cerachrom bezel and Syloxi movement.
The new RLX titanium Yacht-Master 42 is a sporty and stealthy watch with a Cerachrom bezel insert. Read our hands-on impressions of the lightweight and legible timepiece and compare its price with other Rolex models.
The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 is a nautical watch with a bidirectional rotatable bezel and a Cerachrom insert in matt black ceramic. It is made from RLX titanium, a lightweight and robust alloy, and is fitted with calibre 3235, a self-winding movement with a 70-hour power reserve.
Learn about the history, design and features of the Rolex Yacht-Master ref. 16623, a luxurious watch inspired by nautical themes. Compare it with the Submariner and see the different dial and bezel options.
The Yacht-Master 40 is a luxury watch for sailing enthusiasts, with a bidirectional rotatable bezel, a slate dial and a Rolesium combination of Oystersteel and platinum. It features a self-winding movement, a Chromalight display and an Oyster bracelet with a folding clasp and a comfort extension link.
Rolex Yacht-Master 40. Grey Rhodium Dial 116622 Box + Papers. $ 12,984. + $89 for shipping. US. Rolex Yacht-Master. RSC Rolex Yacht-Master Two-Tone 18K Yellow Gold BLUE 35mm Watch 168623 BOX. $ 7,793. + $175 for shipping.
Exclusive materials. Robust, accurate and perfectly waterproof, the Yacht-Master is one of the only Rolex Professional watches offered in several diameters (37, 40 and 42 mm). The Yacht-Master 37 and Yacht-Master 40 are available in a Rolesium version (combining Oystersteel and platinum, exclusive to the Yacht-Master range) and in an Everose ...
The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 is a luxury sports watch with a ceramic bezel, a blue dial, and a new Oysterflex bracelet. It is part of Rolex's evolution from a brand to a phenomenon, with innovation, scarcity, and exclusivity as its hallmarks.
A luxury watch with a black dial, a bidirectional rotatable bezel and an Oysterflex bracelet. Learn more about its features, functions, movement and certification on the official Rolex website.
Rolex GMT-Master II "Batman" | 116710BLNR | Box & Papers | 2013 Blue Noir. Gebraucht (Sehr gut) | Herstellungsjahr 2013 | Mit Original-Box | Mit Original-Papieren. 13. ... Rolex Yacht-Master 37. Box & Papers | Slate Dial | Tiffany Blue Second Hand | 2021.
Learn how the Rolex Yacht-Master II works as a regatta chronograph with a mechanical memory and a countdown function. Discover the caliber 4161, the patent, and the challenges of this complex and controversial model.
Like all Rolex Professional watches, the Yacht-Master 37 offers exceptional legibility in all circumstances, and especially in the dark, thanks to its Chromalight display. The broad hands and hour markers in simple shapes - triangles, circles, rectangles - are filled with a luminescent material emitting a long-lasting glow.