Once a year, Rolex presents new models and announces which models are discontinued. It’s safe to say that the day of Rolex’s release is one of the most anticipated in the watch industry. Furthermore, Rolex is the single most hyped and anticipated brand when it comes to presenting new releases.

Finally, the time has come for Rolex to present its new watches for 2023 and one of the watches that Rolex has released is the Yacht-Master in titanium.

Rolex is a company that is known for evolution, not revolution. This is why many of Rolex’s ”new” watches that are released have only received minimal tweaks, adjustments, and improvements. And although the Yacht-Master is an existing model, this new titanium Yacht-Master is certainly one of the highlights of 2023 considering the fact that it is so different from the other Yacht-Master models in Rolex’s collection.

In this article, we are digging deeper into this unique and important release from Rolex – the brand’s very first standard-production Yacht-Master in titanium.

Background and history to Yacht-Master

We have talked about Rolex and titanium in-depth in the article ”What is RLX titanium” which you can read if you are curious about the background in detail.

What we can say about the new Yacht-Master titanium is the fact that it has been years in the making which has led to this.

Titanium in watches is nothing new. Rolex’s competitors have been making watches in titanium for decades. So from that perspective, it’s not something special. But considering the fact that Rolex is just now starting to release watches in titanium, it’s quite a big deal.

As you may or may not be familiar with, the professional sailor Ben Ainslie was spotted in a photo back in 2021 wearing a 42mm Yacht-Master titanium without a date. The watch was presented on a fabric strap.

As a matter of fact, the watch that Mr. Ainslie wore was a prototype created by Rolex in late 2020. He was interviewed about the watch in October 2020 and said the following:

”The team at Rolex has been incredibly thoughtful by giving me a titanium Yacht-Master 42,” he says. “I’m extremely honoured to have it, plus, from a performance perspective, every little bit of weight that we can save, helps us to go faster with the boat.”

Already at this point, we understood that Rolex was researching and developing the use of titanium for its watches. With its prototype, Rolex would be able to better understand the characteristics of the material and how it performed out in the wild.

Of course, this proved to be a perfectly accurate prediction as Rolex released its first commercial watch made in titanium, the Deepsea Challenge RLX titanium reference 126067. The watch was launched on November 1st, 2022.

Since the research and development of a new material requires a ton of research, it was only a matter of time that Rolex would present more watches made of titanium. It doesn’t make sense to only make one watch. For that reason, it was only a matter of time. And now that has finally all been revealed with the first officially produced Yacht-Master in titanium.

Let’s have a closer look at this watch in detail.

Presenting the new Rolex Yacht-Master titanium 226627

When we first saw the prototype Yacht-Master worn by Ben Ainslie, we were fairly sure that it was only a matter of time before Rolex would launch a commercial Yacht-Master in titanium. After all, it makes complete sense. Professional Yachters and sailors need a light and durable watch. And in many other areas, lightness is a rather great characteristic to have.  

The Yacht-Master is made of so-called ”RLX titanium” which is a grade 5 titanium alloy that Rolex uses due to its resistance to deformation and corrosion, and weightlessness. The great thing about RLX titanium is that it is about 40% lighter, and has more mechanical resistance than stainless steel. Its lightness obviously has tremendous benefits in certain areas and yachting and water sports are definitely just that.

It’s March 27th and the first-ever commercial Rolex Yacht-Master in titanium reference 226627 has been released. So, what is this watch all about?

Well, first off, despite the fact that the watch is made of a new material, the watch will feel rather familiar overall. It has the same design and characteristics as all the other Yacht-Master models. However, due to the use of titanium, it will both look and wear quite differently.

The new Yacht-Master 42 reference 226627 has a 42mm case made in RLX titanium and is presented on a titanium Oyster bracelet.

Case

The case of the new titanium Yacht-Master is different for several reasons. Firstly, the case is made of titanium. Secondly, and this is a first for the Yacht-Master – the case has bevels on the lugs as well as brushed sides. The case is brushed all throughout which, together with the use of titanium, gives it a more rugged and sporty look. Normally, we’re used to to the Yacht-Master being essentially all-polished but this goes the opposite direction which is an interesting step from Rolex in making it much more tool-like.

Moving on to the bezel, the watch has the traditional bidirectional rotating bezel that the Yacht-Master is known for. What is new, however, is the fact that Rolex has opted for a black Cerachrom bezel insert with raised numerals. Previously, Rolex has only used platinum bezel inserts for watches in other materials than gold. The black Cerachrom bezel provides a nice contrast against the matte titanium finish and adds a touch of sportiness.

Bracelet

Those who were familiar with the Yacht-Master prototype worn by Ben Ainslie may have gotten surprised by the fact that the new Yacht-Master was presented with an Oyster bracelet in titanium and not a fabric strap.

Being titanium, the bracelet is satin-finished all throughout and is equipped with an Oysterlock safety clasp – also satin-finished. It features the Easylink comfort extension system allowing the user to adjust the length of the bracelet by 5mm. The links feature ceramic inserts which increases the durability and longevity of the bracelet.

Movement

When it comes to the movement, there are no surprises here. The 226627 is powered by the tried and true caliber 3235 date movement which we are all familiar with. It has been around for some time and prevent that it is a robust and capable workhorse that can perform really well.

Yacht-Master 226627 Specifications

• Diameter: 42mm
• Case: RLX titanium
• Movement: caliber 3235
• Power reserve: 70 hours
• Accuracy: -2/+2 sec/day
• Water resistance: 100m/330 feet

The post News! Rolex Releases Yacht-Master 42 226627 in Titanium appeared first on Millenary Watches.

Before we dig into this article, do note that this is not the reference 116622 but rather the reference 126622. But if you are interested in the 116622, this article will be helpful still.

The Rolex Yacht-Master reference was released a Baselworld 2016. The Yacht-Master model has always established itself as a luxury sports watch in Rolex’s range, which is a bit more elegant than a Submariner, but a little more sporty than a Datejust.

It is a great combination of elegance and sportiness – a combination which a lot of people really enjoy.

The two-sided personality Yacht-Master 116622 is meant for yacht-owners, and thereby its name. In this article, we’ll go into detail about the Rolex Yacht-Master 126622.

Rolex Yacht-Master 126622

As mentioned a new Yacht-Master version was released in 2016, but at Baselworld 2019, Rolex found that the model needed to be updated once again. This time, no major visual differences were done, as in 2016 when Rolex introduced a new dial, among other things. This time, the change was simply a step into the direction of moving to Rolex’s new generation movements. This year, it was the Yacht-Master 116622’s time for an update.

And since we have already gotten started talking about movements, let’s begin with that.

Rolex Yacht-Master movement

The previous generation Yacht-Master 116622 is powered by the Rolex caliber 3135. This is considered Rolex’s workhorse and has been used by the brand since 1988. While this caliber has proven the test of time, there is always room for improvements, and this time, Rolex gave Yacht-Master to the new movement, which is the Caliber 3235. Remember, Rolex is about evolution, not revolution, and while this change of movement can’t be seen as a huge update to the model, it does improve its reliability and quality. And this is what Rolex is all about.

The previous caliber 3135 provides a power reserve of around 48 hours and as of 2015—a year before the launch of the Yacht-Master ref. 116622—Rolex redefined its “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” designation to guarantee an impressive accuracy rating of -2/+2 seconds per day. The self-winding caliber also boasts the paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring for improved resistance to magnetic fields and daily knocks.

Now, with the new caliber 3235 and Yacht-Master 126622, things have been updated. And therefore, thanks to a new barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of calibre 3255 extends to three days. This is an increase of 1 day of power reserve.

The 3255 is a new-generation mechanical movement with 14 patents, which sets new standards of performance for the core characteristics of a watch movement: precision, power reserve, reliability, resistance to shocks and magnetism, as well as the ease and convenience of its adjustment.

The Chronergy escapement’s efficiency has been improved by 15%, it is 2x more precise than an official chronometer. Like the previous 3135, it has a Parachrom hairspring which is insensitive to magnetic fields and temperature variations, and up to 10 times more resilient to shocks than traditional hairsprings.

As you have noticed, the reference has changed to start with 12 instead of 11 for this new model, and this is to demonstrate the use of the new generation caliber.

For some, these slight improvements in the movement of the Yacht-Master may not seem like a lot. But the fact of the matter is that it is because of improvements like these that Rolex is what it is today.

As you would expect, the 126622 features a quickset date function where the date us adjusted independently from the center timekeeping hands in order to make adjusting the date quick and effortless. It is also equipped with hacking seconds which means the seconds hand stops when the crown is pulled out in order to allow for precise time-setting.

Now, the Yacht-Master 126622 is not a full-blooded dive watch, but it does have a water-resistance of 100-meters (330 feet). Think of the Submariner as a robust tool watch and the Yacht-Master as the yacht-owners watch who may just satisfy with a relaxing morning swim from the yacht.

To keep dust and water out from the case, the watch features a Triplock screw-down winding crown and a robust casebook.

Yacht-Master case

Most people have heard of Rolesor – Rolex’s own combination of gold and steel. But not equally many people know what Rolesium is. The Yacht-Master uses Rolesium, and this is when rugged stainless steel and ultra-precious platinum meet on a Rolex watch. The case and bracelet are made of 904L stainless steel, but the bezel of the watch is actually made completely in platinum. While both are white metals, platinum gets a completely unique sheen compared to steel and thus creates a discreet contrast. The use of platinum is also proof of the fact that this model is positioned more as a luxury sports watch.

Because of the fact that both the bezel and steel case is made in white metals, the watch tends to look monochromatic. But this is contrasted by the stunning rich blue dial. If you decide to opt for the rhodium dial, the contrast is not that great as it is with blue.

The case is 40mm in diameter. It has a thickness of 11.5 mm and Lug Width: 20 mm. In comparison, the Rolex Submariner 116610 is 12.5 mm in thickness. So the Yacht-Master is slimmer, which thus also allows it to better slip under a cuff.

This brings us to the bezel:

The bezel of the Yacht-Master 126622 has high-polished raised numerals set against a sandblasted background to the polished center links on the bracelet flanked by the brushed-finish outer links. The Yacht-Master 126622 is the only sports watch from Rolex which features this many polished elements. But this is of course in line with the way Rolex positions this watch as an elegant sports watch – not robust sports watch.

The bezel is bi-directional and has 120 clicks in both directions. As Rolex suggests, ”This functional bezel allows the wearer to calculate, for example, the sailing time between two buoys”.

When it comes to the dials, you currently have two dial combinations to choose from. Either a rich blue sunburst dial which catches the light beautifully and completely changes its appearance depending on how the light hits it. Or, you can choose a rhodium dial which has a not-so-Rolex-like baby blue/Miami blue seconds hand that creates a nice contrast against the dial. You also have the Yacht-Master text printed in the same color.

The only way you will be able to tell the 116622 from the 126622 apart is by looking at 6 o’clock on the dial. On the 116622, it will say ”Swiss made”. But on the new reference, it will say ”Swiss (Rolex crown) Made”. This is to show that it has a new generation movement. Apart from this, it will be impossible to tell them apart (unless you open them up or look at the engraved reference number on the case.

The 126622 has a strong lume which allows for good readability. As mentioned briefly, it features a date function, with the date window placed at 3 o’clock and the Cyclops magnification lens on the sapphire crystal.

Bracelet

Being a sporty watch, it features the iconic and robust Oyster bracelet.

To enhance its elegance, it has polished middle links. The clasp has Rolex’s clever Easlylink comfort extension link which allows the wearer to increase the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm, providing additional comfort in any circumstance.

116622 is now replaced with the 126622: New dial and Movement

The update from 116622 is obviously not huge from a visual perspective. But the fact of the matter is, that’s not what Rolex about. Evolution, not revolution. At the end of the day, the update of the movement was due because of the many years it has been used. Ultimately, this will lead to a more reliable and qualitative timepiece that will last through generations.

What are your thoughts on the Rolex Yacht-Master 126622? Do you think they should have made more major updates to the model?

The post Rolex Yacht-Master 126622 Review & Complete Guide appeared first on Millenary Watches.

Finally, the time has come.

Basel world 2019 is finally here. Not only is Basel world watch fair the world’s most anticipated event for horology in the world, but it is also an event where some of the top watch brands in the world release their new models. As a result, a lot of people follow Basel carefully, whether from a distance or directly, to get a first glimpse of the new watches that are released.

Probably the most hyped and anticipated brand at Basel World is Rolex.

And it is especially interesting to see what Rolex releases because Rolex is generally very good at keeping their new releases a secret until the point when they are released. Rolex may release one or two teasers before the actual launch, but these teasers normally just get a quick glimpse of the new release.

But finally, the time is here, Rolex Basel world watch release 2019. Rolex has just released a number of new watches, but one of the stars of the show for many is the Rolex Yacht-Master 226659.

“Rolex is extending its Yacht‑Master range with a new 42 mm model: the Oyster Perpetual Yacht‑Master 42.”

In 2018, Rolex released the 126710BLRO, which was the star of the show. And in true Rolex fashion, few people expected it. And this is what contributes to the mystery of Rolex’s Basel world releases. 

Just like every year, far from everyone thought that Rolex would release a Rolex Yacht-Master 226659 with a 42mm 18K white gold case.

Rolex shared a teaser video of the watches that would be released, including the Yacht-Master.

Now, as with Rolex teasers, this did not reveal a lot, however, it did reveal some things.

In the video, Rolex hints at the Yacht-Master with the flat lugs, and devoted watch enthusiasts could draw the conclusion that Rolex would either release a new Yacht-Master or a Daytona, as these are the watches in Rolex’s lineup that have flat lugs. Furthermore, in the first few seconds, Rolex shows the dial of the Yacht-Master, however, since a lot of Rolex watches have the text “Oyster Perpetual Date”, including the Submariner, GMT-Master II, and several others, it was not necessarily given that Rolex would release a new Yacht-Master. However, when you put together two and two and combine the flat lugs with the “Oyster Perpetual Date”, you could assume that a new Yacht-Master was coming.

“On the Yacht-Master 42, the bidirectional rotatable bezel is fitted with a 60-minute graduated Cerachrom bezel insert in matt black ceramic.

Its raised graduations and numerals are first moulded into the ceramic and then polished.”

Rolex Yacht-Master 226659

In 2016, Rolex released the first version Yacht-Master with the Oysterflex bracelet. This was also the year when Rolex introduced its Oysterflex rubber strap for the first time. Since then, Rolex has released a number of watches with the Oysterflex bracelet, but something that is interesting to point out is that all watches in Rolex’s lineup that are equipped with the Oysterflex bracelet are made in full 18K gold. This means either white gold, yellow gold, or Everose gold.

An interesting aspect of the Rolex Yacht-Master 226659 is that it has a 42mm case. It is very interesting that Rolex decided to make the case of the new Yacht-Master 42 mm as it is a first for the model. The largest Yacht-Master case prior to this is 40 mm. Another first for this model is the use of white gold. Prior to this, no Yacht-Master was available in white gold. The options were either rose gold, Everose Rolesor (two-tone), or Oyster steel and platinum.

Furthermore, the Rolex Yacht-Master 226659 is also the first non-Everose Yacht-Master to come with an Oysterflex bracelet. There are several reasons that Rolex decided to use the Oysterflex bracelet. Not only does it look extremely good, but it also aligns perfectly with the model as it is a nautical watch. Also, since the case is white gold, if Rolex would put this on a bracelet, it would mean that they would have to make the bracelet in 18K white gold. Not only would this make the watch considerably more expensive (and thus much less popular and obtainable), but it would also make the watch heavier and clumsier. Now with the Oysterflex bracelet, the result is an elegant white gold sports watch that is both comfortable to wear but also quite durable.

The case is a monobloc middle case that features a screw-down case back and a Triplock screw-down winding crown that improves the watch’s water resistance.

Let’s have a look at the specifications of the Rolex Yacht-Master 226659.

Rolex Yacht-Master 226659 Specifications

The dial of the watch is matte black and has a texture to it, just like some of the other existing Yacht-Master models. The indices of the watch are made in 18K white gold to prevent tarnishing – in true Rolex fashion.

Oysterflex bracelet

Rolex describes its Oyster bracelet the following way, “The Yacht-Master’s new Oysterflex bracelet, developed and patented by Rolex, offers a sporty alternative to metal bracelets. The bracelet attaches to the watch case and the Oysterlock safety clasp by a flexible titanium and nickel alloy metal blade. The blade is overmoulded with high-performance black elastomer which is particularly resistant to environmental effects, very durable, and perfectly inert for the wearer of the watch. For enhanced comfort, the inside of the Oysterflex bracelet is equipped with a patented longitudinal cushion system that stabilizes the watch on the wrist and fitted with an 18 ct Everose gold Oysterlock safety clasp that prevents accidental opening.”

The Oysterflex bracelet has, like all Oysterflex bracelets, a Patented Oysterlock folding safety clasp. For the Yacht-Master, this clasp has been made in 18K white gold. This clasp also features the Rolex Glidelock extension system which allows fine adjustment of the bracelet length by 15 mm in increments of approximately 2.5 mm without the need for any tools.

3235 Caliber

The Yacht-Master is equipped with Rolex’s new generation caliber 3235. This movement is, of course, entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. It is a self-winding mechanical movement that has 14 patents. The movement uses Rolex’s new Chronergy escapement patented by Rolex. The result is a combination of high energy efficiency with great dependability. Thanks to the material nickel-phosphorus, it is also insensitive to magnetic interference.

Something interesting to add is that with the introduction of the new 3235 caliber (second generation) for the Rolex Yacht-Master 226659, Rolex stopped the use of the 3135 caliber in all Yach-Master models and replaced it with the new 3235 caliber.

The previous generation caliber was the caliber 3135.

Bidirectional rotating bezel

The Rolex Yacht-Master has an all-black sporty bezel inlay with raised numerals. The inlay is made of black Cerachrom (ceramic). The raised polished numerals are contrasted against a matt, sand-blasted background. The unidirectional rotating bezel allows the wearer to, in Rolex’s own words, “calculate, for example, the sailing time between two buoys”.

The watch has a scratch-resistant sapphire and a cyclops lens over the date to improve its readability. The watch offers a water resistance of  100 meters / 330 feet

The post Rolex Yacht-Master 226659 White Gold [Complete Guide] appeared first on Millenary Watches.

The Rolex Yacht-Master is a model that has long been overshadowed by other models such as the Daytona and the Submariner. It is also one of Rolex’s youngest models with the shortest history. Still, the Yacht-Master fills a hole in Rolex’s lineup of watches as the most dressy and elegant professional sports watch that Rolex offers.

The Yacht-Master is a sports watch, but it is designed to be more elegant and less tool-inspired than, for example, the Submariner or the Sea-Dweller. This makes it a perfect choice for those who enjoy Rolex’s professional models but also want something a bit more elegant and versatile that can work on many different occasions.

Due to the relatively young age of the Yacht-Master range, this model is sometimes forgotten and doesn’t get the same recognition as the other models in Rolex’s collection. But in this article, we are highlighting the Yacht-Master and taking a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about the Yacht-Master.

Top most interesting facts about the Yacht-Master

1. The Yacht-Master was introduced in 1992, making it one of the youngest Rolex models

Rolex is not a brand that frequently releases new models. They release new watches frequently, but they’re usually often just iterations and updates to existing models. A new bracelet, a new dial, a refined case, and so on. And so when Rolex releases a completely new model, it’s quite a big deal. Since Rolex doesn’t often release new models, the Yacht-Master, despite being introduced in 1992, is one of Rolex’s youngest Rolex models.

Only two models have since been released – the Yacht-master II and the Sky-Dweller. In other words, every time Rolex releases a brand-new model, it’s quite a big deal.

2. The Yacht-Master focuses more on luxury and elegance than the other professional models

As its name suggests, this watch is developed for Yachters. And this is naturally much less demanding than diving in demanding waters with a Submariner, for example.

Whilst the Yacht-Master is in many ways based on the Submariner, its design has been tweaked, refined, and changed to better suit a different target audience – jet-setting yachters. Therefore, the design was tweaked to get a more elegant and luxurious feel.

3. The first Yacht-Master was made in full yellow gold

As discussed, the Yacht-Master targeted a different clientele and a different purpose than what the rest of the professional watches did. It represented a much more elegant and stylish alternative. As such, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the first Yacht-Master was made in full 18ct gold. Today, the model line has been expanded to include all kinds of different materials, from steel to solid gold as its popularity grew. Plus, today, most people who wear a Yacht-Master are not yachters.

Rolex made the first Yacht-Master in yellow gold to prove a point, or more correctly to highlight the type of watch it was intended to be. It wasn’t intended as a tool watch made for the most extreme environments like all of its other steel professional watches. It was a watch made for the open seas and an ultra-luxury sports watch.

4. The first Yacht-Master was the reference 16628

The first Yacht-Master reference launched in 1992 was the 16628. As discussed earlier, it was made in full 18ct gold with a solid yellow gold oyster bracelet and a 40mm case. One of the biggest differences from the Submariner is that the bezel is bidirectional and not unidirectional.

5. The Yacht-Master range was expanded with new sizes

Originally, the Yacht-Master was only released in one size, 40mm, but in the coming years, Rolex expanded the collection with more sizes and new iterations. Today, the Yacht-Master is available in three sizes, 37mm, 40mm, and 42mm. But back in the day, Rolex also made Yacht-Masters in 29m and 35mm which have since been discontinued.

The 29mm and 35mm sizes were discontinued in 2019 and replaced by the Yacht-Master 37.

6. The bezel of the Yacht-Master is bi-directional

We touched on this earlier but it’s easy to believe that a 60-minute bezel is unidirectional as most people associate them with dive watches but this is not the case for the yacht-Master. The bezel on the Yacht-Master is bi-directional, meaning that it can rotate in both directions. The fact that a bezel on a dive watch only rotates one direction is crucial for a dive watch when diving, but the Yacht-Master isn’t a dive watch. Instead, the purpose of the bezel is, in Rolex’s own words:

“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.”

7. The Yacht-Master has a water resistance of 100m – and always has

The water resistance of the Yacht-Master is and has always been 100m/330 feet. Whilst is capable of increasing the water resistance, the depth rating is more so a way to position its models differently. 100m is well enough to go swimming and even diving (except for deep diving), but it’s a way to highlight the fact that this model isn’t a professional diver’s watch. It’s more so a watch that you are meant to wear on the yacht with a drink in your hand, not on top of the wetsuit 100 meters below the surface.

8. The Yacht-Master was the first watch to have an Oysterflex bracelet

Today, the Oysterflex bracelet can be seen on several different watches, including the Sky-Dweller, Daytona, and of course Yacht-Master.

But did you know that the Yacht-Master is the first model to debut this bracelet?

The first Rolex watch to feature the Oysterflex bracelet was the Yacht-Master 40 reference 116655 in rose gold. Whilst you may say that this is not a big deal, Rolex very rarely releases new bracelet designs and mostly relies on its classics, predominantly the Oyster and Jubilee bracelets. With the launch of the 116655, Rolex was testing the waters with a new rubber strap and it’s safe to say that it was a huge success, seeing that it has since been introduced to several additional models.

Important to point out is that the Oysterflex is not just your average rubber strap. Unsurprisingly, Rolex went above and beyond in developing a new rubber strap. In fact, Rolex calls it a bracelet because it has metal blades inside the rubber for better shape retention. Moreover, the Oysterflex has “cushions” on the inside to allow the wrist to create and sit more comfortably on the wrist.

9. Rolex created Rolesium specifically for the Yacht-Master

Rolesium is a new combination of metals that Rolex developed specifically for the Yacht-Master. Most people are familiar with the term “Rolesor” which refers to a two-tone watch made with yellow gold and stainless steel.

But Rolesium is actually a combination of stainless steel and platinum components.

Specifically, the bezel on the Yacht-Master in stainless steel is made in platinum and therefore gets a special bright and luminous look. Rolex says this about the Rolesium on the Yacht-Master:

“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.”

10. Rolex introduced a ceramic bezel for the Yacht-Master for the first time in 2015

2015 saw the launch of the Yacht-Master 116655 and its 37mm counterpart. They are made in 18ct Everose gold and fitted with black ceramic bezels.

But unlike the rest of Rolex’s ceramic bezels, the bezel on the Yacht-Master has raised numerals instead of recessed. Moreover, the bezel is not polished except for the raised minute markings.

11. The launch of the Yacht-Master was the first new model Rolex released in 25 years

As discussed, Rolex doesn’t introduce new models frequently so when it does happen, it’s quite a big deal. When the Yacht-Master was launched in 1992, Rolex hadn’t released a new model in 25 years. The last model Rolex released was the Sea-Dweller, released in 1967. After the Yacht-Master, it took another 20 years for a new model to be released, the Sky-Dweller.

12. Rolex has a close relation with yachting

Rolex has a strong relationship with the yachting sport and had so even before the launch of the Yacht-Master. The creation of the Yacht-Master was a way for Rolex to strengthen its presence within this particular sport but also likely something that the yachting community requested from Rolex during various events.

Whilst it took until 1992 for Rolex to create a yachting-dedicated timepiece,  Rolex’s history with Yachting goes back to 1958. That year, Rolex partnered with the New York Yacht Club. At the time, it was Rolex’s reputation for making reliable and durable waterproof timepieces that made them particularly appreciated in the yachting world. 

Rolex continued to strengthen its relationship with the yachting community in many ways over the coming years and decades. In 1966, for example, Rolex was a part of the historical event when Francis Chichester became the first person to sail around the world on his yacht. On his wrist throughout the voyage was of course a Rolex. The journey started in August 1966 and finished in May 1976.

13. Rolex created a Yacht-Master prototype based on the Daytona in the 1960s

As discussed, it took a long time for Rolex to finally create a model dedicated to yachting. However, already in the 1960s, it seems that Rolex was playing with the idea of a watch made for yachting. This didn’t come in the form of a new model but rather a prototype version of the Cosmograph Daytona (with the only difference being the dial). These prototypes had the Yacht-Master name on the dial so it is very interesting to see that Rolex, some 30 years later came back and used its prototype name for the official model.

It’s unknown how many Cosmograph Yacht-Master prototypes Rolex made, but today, only 2 are known, with one of them belonging to Eric Clapton and sold at auction in 2003 for $125,100.

14. The Yacht-Master is one of Rolex’s most diverse model

Whilst most of Rolex’s models are usually only made in a few select iterations, the Yacht-Master is available in a wide selection of materials, dials, and sizes.

The Yacht-Master is available in virtually all materials that Rolex makes, except for solid platinum.

The Yacht-Master is available in rose gold, Steel & Rose gold, Steel and platinum, and white gold. The collection was been furthered widened when Rolex introduced the Yacht-Master II, an upgraded version of the Yacht-Master with more functional features and a much more complicated movement, giving the wearer truly useful functions during a yacht 

The post Top 14 Facts About Rolex Yacht-Master – Interesting Things to Know appeared first on Millenary Watches.

Like every year, there has been a lot of speculation about which new watches would release in 2022 at Watches & Wonders. A lot of theories have been discussed, but one model that people have not paid attention a lot of attention to is the Yacht-Master.

Now, all focus is put on this model once more with the release of a first-ever model.

Rolex has officially released the Yacht-Master reference 226658 in 18ct yellow gold with an Oysterflex bracelet in 42mm. This is the first time that the  Oysterflex Yacht-Master is made in yellow gold. The first Yacht-Master to be presented on the Oysterflex bracelet was the reference 116655 in rose gold that was presented in 2015. Rolex later expanded the Yacht-Master Oysterflex family by adding a 42mm Yacht-Master in white gold with an Oysterflex bracelet in 2019.

With this said, it would only be natural that Rolex would eventually add a yellow gold model to complete the family, and now, Rolex has done just that.

Enter the Yacht-Master 226658 in 18ct yellow gold!

Presenting the new Yacht-Master 226658

Rolex unveiled a sneak peek of the new Yacht-Master with a teaser video released on March 2022 which showcased the iconic profile of the  Yacht-Master, made in 18ct yellow gold:

After this teaser, it didn’t exactly come as a surprise that the watch that Rolex was teasing about was in fact the yellow gold Yacht-Master 226658 with Oysterflex bracelet.

The new Yacht-Master 226658 will feel very familiar if you have already encountered the white gold version reference 226659.

At their core, they are identical watches with the exact same dimensions and design. The only difference is that the white gold has been exchanged for yellow gold. This goes for the case, the clasp, and the metal used for the hour markers and hands.

Yacht-Master 226658 specifications

• Diameter: 42mm
• Caliber: 3235
• Bracelet: Oysterflex

The post NEWS! Rolex Releases Yacht-Master 226658 2022 appeared first on Millenary Watches.