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Owner review: rolex yacht-master 40 126622.

Before we get to my Rolex Yacht-Master 40 126622 review, we need some background. In 1992 Rolex introduced a watch that shared the silhouette of their beloved Submariner but in solid 18k yellow gold, embossed YG bezel insert soldered to the bezel, funky white dial, and the unusual name “Yacht-Master” written where “Submariner” would normally live. People then and now still wonder.. “Why?”.

Rumor has it Rolex wanted to drastically update the Submariner but were scared that the changes were too extreme. The Submariner was essentially their poster child and arguably their most iconic watch. Fearing backlash, they created a whole new line. Rolex rarely creates completely new watches, the last time they made a new watch before the Rolex Yacht-Master was in 1964 when the Daytona was introduced. Luckily it paid off as the Yacht-Master was pretty well received!

Even though the Rolex Yacht-Master 40 at first glance looks very similar to the Submariner it’s a totally different wearing experience. The case shape is completely different from the Sub. Its case profile is composed of compound curves with the lugs swooping downwards very similar to a Daytona, the case is also fully polished. My particular Rolex Yacht-Master 40 126622 being Roleisum (Rolex’s term for the combination of Platinum and Steel which was first introduced in 1999 with the ref. 16622), in combination with the blue sunburst dial and red accents, gives it such a unique aesthetic it sets it apart in Rolex’s catalog. Rolex I think perfected their blue dials, it’s absolutely gorgeous! Pictures do not do it justice whatsoever. In person, it appears much darker, almost black however in direct light that’s when the striking blue hue pops. The date function is also very convenient!

What is it like to wear a Rolex Yacht-Master? I would describe it as the most comfortable and stressful watch I have ever worn and owned. What most people don’t realize is that it’s a thin watch and I mean THIN. At 11.5mm it’s just as thin or even thinner than a 34mm 114200 Air-King! Like what? The case hugs your wrist amazingly while the oyster bracelet seems to caress you. It makes you want to wear it every single day, I mean how could you not? Thin, sporty, beautiful, comfortable and low key a strap monster. Until you see a scratch or nick on the solid Platinum bezel insert, call up Rolex Service Center to see how much it would be to replace it and they slap you in the face with a $2500 (before taxes) quote for JUST the bezel/bezel insert assembly (they’re soldered together remember?). Then you think “Okay, okay which Seiko ’s do I sell to cover the cost of a freaking bezel”. Did I mention the case is fully polished?

Has this ever happened to me? No, because I’m extremely OCD, however I was curious and called RSC, I also used to own the 16622 and was trained to wear long sleeves only, only wear it sparingly, cover my wrist when walking through doorways, never let it touch denim (yes, denim will scratch it apparently), and for all I know never sneeze near it or even look at it too long because for all I know that could probably scratch it too. To top it all off, of COURSE the bracelet and clasp has Polished Center Links! While I am exaggerating the fragility of the Rolex Yacht-Master, the stress of potentially scuffing it is real.

The Rolex Yacht-Master 40 126622 is arguably one of my favorite watches ever made. I never thought I’d ever get to own one. It’s beautiful, ridiculously comfortable, relatively uncommon, however so stressful to wear. I have owned it for almost exactly one year and I personally try to enjoy every second I wear it; I even strap changed it with zero scuffs! I have and I do but my OCD and extreme caution lends itself to be a difficult one to fully appreciate without worry. I’ve debated if this watch was right for me all the time. However, I would recommend this watch to anyone minutely interested. I have no regrets having owned two of them like an insane person, but who in the watch collecting world isn’t insane?

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Would Lil Yachty rock this Rolex Yacht-Master 40? Who knows, but it’s cool

Editor’s note: If you ever want to flex down at the NBAYOUNGBOAT Club, you want to have the appropriate attire — jacket, loafers, watch. And when it comes to the latter, we suggest the Yacht-Master. Surely, Lil Yachty would approve. 

This cool, calm and collected new Yacht-Master almost slipped past me. I was too busy falling in love (again) with the gold and chocolate Rolesor Yacht-Master, which was distracting me and dazzling my senses. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a flash of almost-iridescent blue, and my curiosity was piqued.

I’m so glad it was, because this steel and platinum Yacht-Master, with its dark rhodium dial and blue highlights, is an absolute stunner, even though it’s a much more restrained affair than its Everose-embellished siblings (in both Rolesor and Oysterflex variants). This is partly down to the dark dial, but it’s also the bi-directional platinum bezel, which might sound weird given the material, but with a predominantly sand-blasted finish, it’s actually far less in-your-face than ceramic. Not that it’s plain, by any stretch. The shimmering dial, polished bezel elements and centre bracelet links means it pops where it counts, and the overall effect of metallic grey on metallic grey adds up to a truly luxurious watch on the wrist.

Then there’s the blue. It’s funny how that single line of text and sweeping second hand — a comparatively small amount of real estate — can have such massive impact on the general feel of the watch. This bright slash of colour adds energy to the Yacht-Master, once again proving Rolex’s mastery of the minuscule.

Aside from that, it’s business as usual. You have the 40mm case, rated to 100m, robust 3135 calibre, with 49 hours of power reserve, and Parachrom hairspring, all backed by the Superlative Chronometer standard, which guarantees -2/+2 seconds of accuracy per day, after casing.

Rolex has spoiled us for choice this year, with the attention-grabbing Daytona, the youthful Air-King and numerous two-tone options. But if you prefer your Rolex to be more stealth than statement, you can’t go wrong with this excellent new steel and platinum Yacht-Master 40.

Rolex Yacht-Master 40 with dark rhodium dial (ref. 116622) Australian pricing

Rolex Yacht-Master 40 in steel and platinum, reference 116622, $14,600

Images by Jason Reekie. 

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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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Rolex Yacht-Master

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• Yacht-Master

Launched in 1992, the Yacht-Master was designed specifically for navigators and skippers. This Professional-category watch provides a perfect blend of functionality and nautical style, making it equally at home on and off the water.

The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master embodies the privileged ties between Rolex and the world of sailing that stretch back to the 1950s. Specially designed to meet the needs of sailors, it is a technical, elegant and sporty watch that is above all a useful and reliable nautical instrument.

An immediately recognizable bezel

The Yacht-Master is easily recognizable for its bidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated bezel made entirely from precious metal (Everose gold or platinum) or fitted with a black Cerachrom insert in high-technology ceramic. The raised polished graduations and numerals stand out clearly against a matte background. This characteristic and functional bezel – which enables the wearer to read time intervals, for example, the sailing time between two buoys – plays a full part in creating the unique visual identity of the watch.

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 Rolesor version (combining Oystersteel and Everose gold) with a bezel in precious metal and fitted with an Oyster bracelet. Both models are also offered in 18 kt Everose gold featuring a Cerachrom bezel insert in black ceramic and an Oysterflex bracelet.

The Yacht-Master 42 is available in 18 kt yellow or white gold with an Oysterflex bracelet and in RLX titanium – a particularly lightweight alloy with excellent corrosion-resistance properties and high mechanical strength – with an Oyster bracelet. This version, unveiled in 2023, stands out for its technical satin finish, a finish with a visible grain.

Perpetual calibers 2236 and 3235

Yacht-Master models are equipped with caliber 2236 (Yacht-Master 37) or caliber 3235 (Yacht-Master 40 and Yacht-Master 42), self-winding mechanical movements entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. They offer outstanding performance, particularly in terms of precision, power reserve, convenience and reliability. Both movements’ power reserve extends to approximately 70 hours.

Superlative Chronometer certification

Like all Rolex timepieces, the Yacht-Master is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification. 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. The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by a green seal and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

Rolex Yacht-Master A selection of models

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Rolex Yacht-Master 42 Ultimate Buying Guide

First released at Baselworld 2019, the Yacht-Master 42 is the newest and largest addition to the Rolex Yacht-Master lineup. Historically, the Yacht Master collection has been the only Rolex sports model available in multiple sizes; however, until the release of the Yacht-Master 42 ref. 226659, 40mm was the largest case size available. Despite the fact that the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 introduced a new and larger 42mm case to the collection, at the time of writing, the model is only offered in a single configuration: a 42mm white gold case fitted with a black dial, black ceramic bezel, and matching black Oysterflex bracelet.

At first glance, the Rolex Yacht Master 42 reference 226659 appears very similar to the 40mm Everose gold model that is also fitted with an Oysterflex bracelet. Both watches feature black dials, matte black ceramic bezels with raised polished numerals, black Oysterflex bracelets, and Rolex’s in-house Caliber 3235 movement. However, while the core design of the Yacht-Master 42 is shared with the other Oysterflex Yacht-Master watches, the larger case paired with its toned-down monochromatic color profile makes it immediately distinct, and these small changes come together to make the Yacht-Master 42 ref. 226659 the perfect poster child for the modern Rolex brand.

Rolex Yacht-Master 42 Reference 226659

Yacht-Master 226659 Key Features:

– Reference Number: 226659

– Production Years: 2019 – Present

– Case Size: 42mm

– Materials: 18k White Gold

– Functions: Time w/ Running Seconds; Date Display

– Dial: Black w/ Luminous Hour Markers

– Luminescence: Chromalight

– Bezel: Bidirectional, Black Ceramic Insert w/ 60-Minute Scale

– Crystal: Sapphire (Flat w/ Cyclops Lens)

– Movement: Rolex Caliber 3235

– Water Resistance: 100 Meters / 330 Feet

– Strap/Bracelet: Oysterflex Bracelet

– Clasp: Oysterlock Safety Clasp w/ Glidelock Extension System

– Approx. Price: $28,900 (Retail); $33,500 (Pre-Owned)

Click here for our Ultimate Buying Guide on the Rolex Yacht-Master.

The History of the Rolex Yacht Master 42

Compared to many of Rolex’s other lines of watches, the Yacht-Master is a fairly young collection, having only just joined the brand’s catalog in 1992. While Rolex originally built much of its reputation by producing tough-as-nails tool watches, the brand had already started to make its transition towards becoming an all-out luxury manufacturer by the 1980s, and the Yacht-Master was created as an unapologetically luxurious take on the brand’s classic sports watch.

The Rolex Yacht-Master largely follows the same overall design as the Submariner, but leans more towards the opulent and luxurious side of things, rather than being a purpose-built underwater timing tool. Both the Submariner and the Yacht-Master feature rotating timing bezels, but while the Submariner’s bezel rotates unidirectionally and features a luminous dot at the zero-marker, the Yacht-Master’s moves bi-directionally and omits the luminous dot in favor of an insert crafted from either solid gold, platinum, or black ceramic. Similarly, all Rolex Yacht-Master watches feature precious metals somewhere in their construction. Even the most humble models that are largely crafted from stainless steel feature solid platinum bezels, and while the bezel insert on the reference 226659 is built from black ceramic, the watch itself is crafted from solid 18k white gold.

Initially, the Rolex Yacht-Master was exclusively offered in solid yellow gold and with a 40mm case. However, over the years, the collection expanded to include other case sizes and materials including both two-tone and Rolesium (a combination of stainless steel and platinum) references. Both a 29mm Lady Yacht-Master and 35mm Midsize Yacht-Master were previously offered alongside the standard 40mm model, but these two smaller versions were ultimately discontinued in favor of the Midsize Yacht-Master 37.

With that in mind, Baselworld 2019 marked the arrival of both an all-new Yacht-Master size and a new material option for the collection. With the launch of the reference 226659, not only was the Rolex Yacht-Master now available with a 42mm case diameter for the first time in its history but it was also offered with a solid 18k white gold case – something that was previously not an option within the standard Yacht-Master collection. While the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 marked a major step forward for the collection, the new 42mm case size is exclusively available for the ref. 226659, and the watch is only available in one single configuration. Given that the Yacht-Master 42 has only been on the market for a couple of years, many collectors speculate that the solid 18k white gold ref. 226659 is just the first of many 42mm Rolex Yacht-Master watches.

Rolex Yacht Master 42 Defining Elements

For the most part, the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 reference 226659 is a larger, white gold version of the Everose Yacht-Master 40 that is also on an Oysterflex bracelet. However, the ref. 226659 does possess a number of unique traits that make it immediately identifiable and separate it from all other Rolex watches.

42mm White Gold Case

Probably the single most defining feature of the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 reference 226659 is its 42mm case crafted from solid 18k white gold. Not only is this unique because the ref. 226659 is the only 42mm Yacht-Master model, but it also holds the distinction of being the only one that has ever been constructed from white gold. Over the course of the Yacht-Master’s history, it has been created in full 18k yellow gold, Yellow Rolesor (stainless steel and yellow gold), Rolesium (stainless steel and platinum), full 18k Everose gold, and Everose Rolesor (stainless steel and Everose gold). Additionally, there is even a version of the 44mm Yacht-Master II regatta timer that is built from white gold with a platinum bezel, but the reference 226659 is the only iteration of the classic Yacht-Master to be offered in full 18k white gold.

Black Cerachrom Bezel

Just like the 37mm and 40mm Everose gold Rolex Yacht-Master models that are also fitted with Oysterflex bracelets, the Yacht-Master 42 ref. 226659 receives a bidirectional timing bezel with an insert that is crafted from Rolex’s proprietary Cerachrom ceramic material. The black ceramic insert is given a matte-sandblasted texture, with raised graduations that feature a high-polish finish for improved contrast. Despite having both a different case size and being made from different materials, the matte black ceramic insert on the Yacht-Master 42 instantly unites it with the rest of the Oysterflex bracelets Yacht-Master watches in Rolex’s portfolio.

Oysterflex Bracelet

The Rolex Oysterflex bracelet is quite possibly the most over-engineered rubber strap in the world – however, to call it a “rubber strap” is a bit misleading. Rolex specifically refers to it as a bracelet within its catalog because the elastomer strap features a flexible metal core for optimum durability and longevity. Additionally, the underside of the strap features a comfort pad that elevates the strap slightly off the wrist, better distributing the weight of the watch and promoting airflow and breathability.

One of the more interesting details about how Rolex has chosen to structure its catalog is that the Oysterflex bracelet (seemingly the most sporty and least formal option) is exclusively equipped to the brand’s solid gold models. Whether fitted to a Daytona, Sky-Dweller, or Yacht-Master watch, all of the Oysterflex-equipped models are crafted from solid 18k gold (either yellow, white, or Everose). At the time of writing, the Oysterflex bracelet is only found on the full 18k Everose gold Yachtmaster 40 and Yacht-Master 37 watches, along with the 18k white gold Yacht-Master 42.

Rolex Caliber 3235 Movement

Despite being 2mm larger than the current Yacht-Master 40, the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 is powered by the exact same Caliber 3235 movement. Designed and manufactured entirely in-house by Rolex, the Cal. 3235 represents the brand’s latest generation of date-displaying mechanical movements and can be found in a number of other date-displaying Rolex watches, including all-time classics like the Datejust and the Submariner.

The Caliber 3235 movement is based around Rolex’s new Chronergy escapement, which features a skeletonized structure for improved efficiency. When combined with Rolex’s proprietary blue Parachrom hairspring and a redesigned gear train and mainspring barrel, the Caliber 3235 offers users an increased power reserve of 70 hours, which represents a significant step up from the 48-hour reserve offered by its predecessor. Additionally, despite its improved efficiency, the Rolex Cal. 3235 movement adheres to the same incredibly stringent ‘Superlative Chronometer’ precision standards, which permit a maximum timekeeping deviation of -2/+2 seconds per day.

Rolex Yacht-Master 42 Price and Availability

The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 reference 226659 has only been around for a couple of years, so it is still in production and available for purchase from retailers and boutiques. However, as anyone who is familiar with Rolex watches will tell you, finding the model you want brand-new and available for immediate sale is virtually impossible and for many highly popular references, there is no way to buy a brand-new Rolex without spending a significant amount of time on a waiting list. As a result of this lack of availability on a retail level, many buyers turn to the secondary market, where they can add a Rolex Yachtmaster 42 ref. 226659 to their collections without the wait.

How Much is a Rolex Yacht-Master 42?

As of 2021, the retail price for a brand-new Rolex Yacht-Master 42 reference 226659 is $28,900, which represents a $1,600 premium compared to its 40mm Everose gold counterpart. However, due to the fact that the white gold Yacht-Master 42 cannot be purchased at a retail level without being on a waiting list, pre-owned prices exceed their brand-new values and you can expect to pay a premium of several thousand dollars if you wish to skip the line and add one to your collection today.

Where to Buy a Rolex Yacht-Master 42

Since the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 ref. 226659 is still in production, you can technically still buy it brand-new from Rolex retailers and boutiques – just as long as you are willing to wait out the cue. A similar story exists for most of the popular modern Rolex models; however, compared to the steep premiums that many of the brand’s stainless steel sports watches trade hands for on the open market (which can frequently reach values in excess of 100% above their brand-new retail prices), the comparatively reasonable premium of a few thousand dollars to skip the line for a reference 226659 Yachtmaster 42 means that buyers often opt for a pre-owned example, where availability is immediate and guaranteed.

Rolex Yacht-Master 42: A Modern Luxury Sports Watch

Rolex may have originally built much of its legendary reputation by building tough and reliable sport and tool watches, but the brand’s days as a manufacturer of utilitarian timekeeping devices have long since passed. These days, Rolex is an all-out luxury brand and it is arguably the single most famous luxury label in the entire world. The thought of a military branch supplying its troops with Rolex Submariner watches has become almost comical given that countless people all around the globe are unable to buy a Submariner, despite being more than willing to pay full retail price for one. In fact, the Rolex Submariner is so in-demand that most people are willing to pay far more than the brand-new retail price, just to skip the multi-year waiting list and add one to their collections.

Despite Rolex’s transition towards becoming a luxury manufacturer, it has never stopped producing reliable and finely crafted sports watches. However, the nature of its sports watches has certainly evolved to take on a more luxury-oriented approach, just like the brand’s positioning within the greater watch market. Rolex was producing sports watches back in the 1950s and 1960s and although its products were always considered to be premium timepieces, they were hardly regarded as luxury items, let alone status symbols.

These days, Rolex sports watches are some of the most iconic and desirable luxury timepieces in existence, and wearing one has become a universally recognized symbol of success and personal accomplishment. As a result of the implicit connotations that they carry, modern Rolex sports watches need to do more than just be tough and reliable; they also need to offer a bit of flash and match the opulent and exclusive image of Rolex itself.

The Yacht-Master 42 reference 226659 is the perfect poster-child for the modern Rolex brand. Its monochromatic color profile paired with its matte black ceramic bezel and black Oysterflex bracelet makes the watch inherently casual and sporty, and at first glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this was a humble stainless steel model. However, at its core, the Yacht-Master 42 ref. 226659 is a $30k solid gold Rolex. Wearing a Rolex watch has become a universally recognized status symbol, but Rolex is not a brand known for making over-the-top, statement pieces. The white gold Yacht-Master 42 is the perfect statement piece for those that do not want to make a statement, and that is precisely why the reference 226659 is the perfect poster-child for the modern Rolex brand.

About Paul Altieri

Paul Altieri is a vintage and pre-owned Rolex specialist, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of BobsWatches.com. - the largest and most trusted name in luxury watches. He is widely considered a pioneer in the industry for bringing transparency and innovation to a once-considered stagnant industry. His experience spans over 35 years and he has been published in numerous publications including Forbes, The NY Times, WatchPro, and Fortune Magazine. Paul is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the watch industry and e-commerce, and regularly engages with other professionals in the industry. He is a member of the IWJG, the AWCI and a graduate of the GIA. Alongside running the premier retailer of pre-owned Rolex watches, Paul is a prominent Rolex watch collector himself amassing one of the largest private collections of rare timepieces. In an interview with the WSJ lifestyle/fashion editor Christina Binkley, Paul opened his vault to display his extensive collection of vintage Rolex Submariners and Daytonas. Paul Altieri is a trusted and recognized authority in the watch industry with a proven track record of expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.

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• Rolex Yacht-Master

Rolex Yacht-Master I – Maritim & sportlich

Hissen Sie die Segel und legen Sie die Rolex Yacht-Master I an – schon kann die nächste Regatta beginnen. Die elegante Sportuhr begeistert sowohl Männer als auch Frauen dank des stilvollen und zeitlosen Designs. Modelle der Kollektion sind der optimale Begleiter für Tage an Deck sowie Nächten im Hafen. Bei CHRONEXT können Sie eine große Auswahl an Yacht-Master I Modellen online kaufen – zu attraktiven Preisen und mit 24-monatiger CHRONEXT-Garantie.

Ein eleganter Zeitmesser der Meisterklasse

Mit der legendären Rolex Yacht-Master setzt Rolex ein klares Statement und bringt den Markennamen noch enger mit dem Segelsport in Verbindung. Das Schweizer Unternehmen ist schließlich ein renommierter Sponsor von zahlreichen Regatten. Jährlich nehmen die abenteuerlustigen Regattenfahrer an diesen international renommierten Wettkämpfen teil – der Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup ist einer der berühmtesten davon.

Bei Wind und Wellen präsentiert sich die Yacht-Master I, das Schwestermodell der großen Yacht-Master II , mit einer Wasserdichtigkeit von 100 Metern als eine stetig treue Gefährtin der Abenteurer und gehört zu einer optimalen Ausrüstung der Segelsportler. Neben ihrer beeindruckenden Performance auf offener See kann sie aber auch auf dem Festland in einer entspannten Yachtclub-Lounge bezaubern. Die Modelle der Kollektion, welche über ein blaues Zifferblatt verfügen (Ref. 116622), deuten dezent und edel auf die maritime Einsatzfähigkeit dieser Uhren hin. Die Modelle mit dem platinfarbenen Zifferblatt (Ref. 116622) bestechen durch ihre klare Eleganz und sind als Herrenuhren sowie als Damenuhren gleichermaßen beliebt.

Was kostet eine Rolex Yacht-Master?

Die Wertentwicklung der Yacht-Master ist wie bei allen Rolex-Modellen beeindruckend. Auch der Rolex Yacht-Master Preis ist in den letzten Jahren stark gestiegen – nicht zuletzt aufgrund der immer weiter steigenden Beliebtheit dieses Modells. Da die Yacht-Master und die Yacht-Master 2 praktisch nicht zu Listenpreisen erhältlich sind, sind die Marktpreise entscheidend. Während die klassische fünfstellige Rolex 16622 für 11.000 bis 14.000 Euro erhältlich ist, kostet die aktuelle Rolex Yacht-Master Rhodium oder die Rolex Yacht-Master Blau (beide Rolex 126622) über 16.000 Euro. Die Rolex Yacht-Master Bicolor liegt bei ungefähr 20.000 Euro. Für Vollgold-Modelle am Oysterflex-Band beträgt der Marktpreis je nach Modell zwischen 30.000 Euro und 40.000 Euro. Rolex Yacht-Master Damen Modelle ab 29 mm sind ab 6.000 Euro erhältlich.

Die Rolex Yacht-Master 2 aus Edelstahl kostet mindestens 20.000 Euro, die Rolex Yacht-Master 2 Gold ist in der Regel nicht unter 40.000 Euro verfügbar.

Die noble Welt der Rolex Yacht-Master

1992 präsentierte die Manufaktur aus Genf eine neue Uhr aus der Familie Oyster Perpetual: Die Rolex Yacht-Master (Ref. 16628). Die Branchenkenner erkannten sofort die Ähnlichkeit zum ewigen Klassike: der Submariner . Im Gegensatz zu diesem Dauer-Bestseller bewegte sich die Rolex Yacht-Master von Beginn an in höheren Preis-Klassen und wurde zunächst ausschließlich mit einem Goldgehäuse gefertigt.

Die beiden Armbanduhren ergänzen sich vorzüglich, denn während sich die Submariner sicher in der Unterwasserwelt zurechtfindet, weiß die Rolex Yacht-Master (Ref. 116622) an Deck einer Regatta und an Land zu überzeugen. Gegensätzlich zu der klassischen Taucheruhr lässt sich die Lünette in beide Richtungen drehen, wodurch eine exakte Fahrtzeitbestimmung auf offener See möglich wird. Teils aus Materialien wie 18 Karat Gelbgold oder Platin 950 gefertigt und mit einer 60-Minuten-Graduierung im Relief, besticht die Lünette durch pure Eleganz und hohe Funktionalität. Des Weiteren begeistern die großen Indizes und Zeiger, die sich auf dem strahlend blauen oder perlmuttfarbenen Zifferblatt präsentieren, mit einer zuverlässigen Ablesbarkeit in allen Einsatzbedingungen. Hergestellt aus demselben kratzfesten Saphirglas, aus dem auch das Uhrglas besteht, garantiert die Zykloplupe mit einer doppelten Antireflexbeschichtung ein noch komfortableres Ablesen des Datums.

Sport und Luxus in einer Uhr

Zuverlässig und präzise: Das aktuelle 40 Millimeter große Modell der Rolex Yacht-Master (Ref. 116622) ist mit dem Manufakturkaliber 3135 ausgestattet, während das kleinere Modell mit dem 35-Millimeter-Gehäuse das Kaliber 2235 enthält. Diese von Rolex entwickelten Automatik-Uhrwerke wurden von der offiziellen schweizerischen Chronometerprüfstelle COSC zertifiziert, sodass sie Ihnen besondere Präzision und Zuverlässigkeit gewährleisten.

Robust und fest wie eine Auster: Wie alle Oyster-Uhren verfügt auch die Yacht-Master über ein verschraubtes, wasserdichtes Gehäuse. Die aus paramagnetischem Stahl gefertigte Parachrom-Breguetspirale im Werkinneren bleibt unbeeinflusst von Magnetfeldern und hält Erschütterungen bis zu zehnmal besser stand als herkömmliche Spiralfedern. Auch das Oyster-Band, ein Produkt aus Funktion, Schönheit und Technik, begeistert durch extreme Widerstandsfähigkeit und Tragekomfort. In der Oyster Kollektion ist das dreireihige Metallarmband mit seinen breiten flachen Elementen am weitesten verbreitet.

Edle Materialien und luxuriöse Verarbeitung

Ein erster Prototyp der Rolex Yacht-Master wurde bereits in den 60er Jahren entwickelt. Doch erst im Jahre 1992 erblickte die erste Version (Ref. 16628) aus 18 Karat Gold und mit einem weißen Zifferblatt das Licht der Welt.

Schließlich wurden im Jahr 1994 auch kleinere Modelle mit einem Gehäusedurchmesser von 35 Millimeter (Ref. 68628) oder Modell mit 29-Millimeter-Durchmesser (Ref. 69628) für Damen oder Herren mit schmaleren Handgelenken lanciert.

Im Jahre 1999 brachte Rolex dann die neue Yacht-Master (Ref. 16622) mit einem luxuriösen Mix aus makellosem Edelstahl und Platin hervor. Bei diesem Modell sind Lünette und Zifferblatt aus bestechendem Platin gefertigt. Seitdem hat sich das von Rolex erfundene Kunstwort „Rolesium“ eingebürgert, das diese außergewöhnliche Kombination aus Edelstahl und Platin bezeichnet.

Das Jahr 2005 brachte das neue Modell der Rolex Yacht-Master (Ref. 16623) mit einem Rolesor-Gehäuse, einem Material-Mix von Gold und Edelstahl. Somit erfreut die Auswahl an neuen und gebrauchten Yacht-Master Modellen mit einer breiten Vielfalt an Gehäusegrößen, Materialien und Zifferblattfarben, was für die Genfer Marke eher ungewöhnlich ist. Ob Damenuhr oder Herrenuhr – die Modelle schmiegen sich erhaben um jedes Handgelenk.

Meister der Materialien

Kaum ein anderes Rolex-Modell ist für eine so große Vielfalt an Materialien bekannt wie die Rolex Yacht-Master. Nachdem der Zeitmesser zunächst als luxuriöse Gelbgold-Uhr (Ref. 16628) im Jahr 1992 auf den Markt kam, stellte die Genfer Manufaktur im Jahr 1999 mit der Rolex 16622 die Weichen für die enorme Vielseitigkeit, die die Yacht-Master im Laufe der Zeit auszeichnen sollte: Diese Referenz verfügte erstmals in der Geschichte von Rolex über einen luxuriösen Material-Mix aus Edelstahl und Platin namens Rolesium. Während das Gehäuse und das Armband dieser Rolex Yacht-Master aus Edelstahl gefertigt waren, verwendete Rolex für die Lünette Platin 950. Seit jeher ist im Zusammenhang mit der Rolex Yacht-Master Platin das bekannteste und charakteristischste Material. Das feine Material kommt auch in der aktuellen Rolex 126622 zu Anwendung – zum Beispiel in der Rolex Yacht-Master Rhodium oder der Rolex Yacht-Master Blau – und verleiht der Lünette einen unverwechselbar lebhaften Glanz.

Rolesium, Gelbgold, Weißgold und Everose-Gold

Ein Highlight der Yacht-Master-Kollektion ist die Verfügbarkeit sämtlicher Gold-Legierungen: Während Professional-Modelle wie die Rolex Submariner oder die Rolex GMT-Master nur in ausgewählten Goldlegierungen erhältlich sind, verwendet Rolex für die Yacht-Master alle Goldlegierungen der Manufaktur: - Rolex Yacht-Master Gelbgold - Rolex Yacht-Master Rosé Gold (Everose-Gold) - Rolex Yacht-Master Weißgold

Gold trifft auf Kautschuk

Auch bei der Wahl der Armbänder gibt sich Rolex als Meister der Materialien: Das sportliche Kautschuk-Armband hört auf den Namen „Oysterflex“ und besteht aus einem elastischen Metallmantel, der von hochwertigen Kautschuk überzogen wird. Die innovative Kombination beider Werkstoffe sorgt für ein unvergleichlichen Tragekomfort und eine hohe Lebensdauer.

Das Oysterflex-Armband wurde im Jahr 2015 präsentiert und zunächst ausschließlich für die Rolex Yacht-Master 37 und die gleichzeitig lancierte Rolex Yacht-Master 40 angeboten. Inzwischen wurden die Rolex Yacht-Master Kautschuk Modelle um die Rolex Yacht-Master 42 erweitert. Bis heute ist das Oysterflex-Armband exklusiv für Vollgold-Modelle erhältlich. Damit bietet Rolex eine avantgardistische Material-Kombination an, die 1980 erstmals von Hublot präsentiert wurde und dem luxuriösen Gold-Look einen sportlich-legeren Akzent verleiht.

Luxuriös und wandelbar

Vielseitig in der Verwendbarkeit, richten sich die aktuellen Modelle der Yacht-Master I bedingt durch das mannigfaltige Angebot an Damen und Herren gleichermaßen. Für Damen eignen sich besonders die Modelle mit einer Größe von 35 Millimetern. Dabei begeistert das Modell mit dem weißen Zifferblatt und der edlen Fertigung aus Edelstahl und Platin (Ref. 168622) oder auch das Modell mit dem goldfarbenen Zifferblatt und den luxuriösen Materialien Edelstahl und Gelbgold (Ref. 168623).

Für Herren sind die Modelle mit einem Gehäusedurchmesser von 40 mm ansprechender. Auch sie überzeugen mit einem wunderschönen weißen oder blauen Zifferblatt und erfreuen entweder mit Edelstahl und Platin (Ref. 116622) oder dem beliebten Mix aus Edelstahl und Gelbgold (Ref. 16623). Aufgrund der Verwendung hochwertiger Materialien wie Platin oder Gold, fällt der Preis der Rolex Yacht-Master höher aus. Solch eine wertvolle Uhr eignet sich auch als Geldanlage und erzielt noch im Wiederverkauf gute Preise. Um in den preiswerteren Genuss einer Yacht-Master zu gelangen, erweist sich der Kauf einer gebrauchten Uhr als vielversprechend. Vintage-Modelle haben meist spannende Geschichten zu erzählen und überzeugen durch ihre nachgewiesene Zeitlosigkeit.

Modellauswahl bei CHRONEXT

• Yacht-Master 37
• Yacht-Master 40
• Yacht-Master 42
• Yacht-Master in Platin

Rolex Yacht-Master I kaufen und verkaufen

Bei CHRONEXT können Sie nicht nur einfach und sicher Luxusuhren kaufen, sondern auch online verkaufen. Wir stehen Ihnen mit unserer langjährigen Erfahrung beratend zur Seite und verhelfen Ihnen zum bestmöglichen Verkaufspreis. Ob Inzahlungnahme, Kommission oder Direktverkauf – kontaktieren Sie uns und wir beraten Sie hinsichtlich Ihrer Optionen. Alternativ können Sie einfach unser kurzes Online-Formular ausfüllen. Wir freuen uns, von Ihnen zu hören und Sie beim Verkauf Ihrer Rolex Yacht-Master I zu unterstützen.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

1) wer trägt eine rolex yacht-master.

Legendäre Sportler weltweit setzen auf die robuste Rolex Yacht-Master. Sowohl David Beckham als auch Cristiano Ronaldo sind große Liebhaber der Kollektion und besitzen beide Modelle aus der II-Kollektion. Bruce Willis trägt ein schönes Yacht-Master 40 Modell aus Rolesium mit rhodiniertem Zifferblatt, während Moderatorin Ellen DeGeneres die 40-Millimeter-Variante der Rolex Yacht-Master aus 18-karätigem Everose Gold und schwarzer Cerachrom-Lünette bevorzugt.

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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 42 .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, 42 mm, RLX titanium Reference 226627

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Staying on course

The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 in RLX titanium with an intense black dial and 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.

Intense black dial

Exceptional legibility.

Like all Rolex Professional watches, the Yacht-Master 42 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.

RLX titanium

Ultralight resistance

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.

The Oyster bracelet

Alchemy of form and function.

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.

More Yacht-Master technical details

Reference   226627

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Oyster, 42 mm, RLX titanium

Oyster architecture

Monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown

Bidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated bezel with matt black Cerachrom insert in ceramic, polished raised numerals and graduations

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

3235, 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

Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring. High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers

Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor

Power reserve

Approximately 70 hours

Oyster, three-piece solid links

Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link

Intense black

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 42

Contact an Official Rolex Retailer

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