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The History and Development of the Rolex Yacht Master II

Published on Saturday 6th of November 2021 Rolex Watch History

 The Rolex Yacht-Master sits well in the Rolex Professional Watch line up. A watch with all the capabilities as the truly rugged working watches like the Rolex Submariner , or the Rolex Sea-Dweller , but with more of a luxury feel, and a more affluent target market than some of the other watches in the range.

In 2007, 15 years after the birth of the Rolex Yacht-Master, Rolex announced it would be making a new watch that would share the Yacht-Master name, the Yacht-Master II. At first glance it looked like this watch would be the missing link between the luxurious Yacht-Master, and the bulkier function orientated watches that it shares a catalogue with.

Three years after the announcement of the Rolex Yacht-Master II, the first watches were released. To begin with, the Rolex Yacht-Master II was available exclusively in 18kt yellow gold (ref 116688) or 18kt white gold (ref 116689). The Yacht-Master II has one of the largest case sizes ever made by the Swiss power house, at 44mm. It dwarfs its Yacht-Master sibling, and the large case is equipped with a large numbered bezel, several brightly coloured hands and dial details, and two chronograph-like pushers at the 2 and 4 o’clock position, indicating the increased functionality of the new Yacht-Master II.

Behind the unapologetically extravert design of the Yacht-Master II, there is unsurprisingly some superbly complicated and high quality watch making. For the first time on a Rolex watch the Yacht-Master II uses what Rolex call a ‘Command Bezel’. This bezel puts the watch into different setting modes depending on what position the bezel is turned to. Turning the bezel 90 degrees to the left allows you to use the crown to set the other impressive complications built into the Rolex calibre 4130 movement contained within the Yacht-Master II. The main complication of the watch is a programmable ‘fly-back regatta timer’, which is essentially a countdown timer that used to show the remaining time in the starting period of a yacht race. Once the bezel is in its times-setting position, the crown can be used to set how many minutes the count down time will run for. Once this has been set, the bezel can be turned back to its normal position, and the pushers on the side of the case can be used to start, stop, and reset the timer.

The regatta timer complication also has another feature that, although minor, shows the amount of horological problem solving that went into the design of this watch. When the timer is running, the bottom pusher can be pushed so that the seconds hand will fly back to the zero mark, and crucially the hour hand will fly back to the nearest minute, and both begin running again immediately. This small but extremely complicated detail allows you to resync your countdown with the official countdown time.

In keeping with the largely extroverted styling, the Rolex Yacht-Master II has a bright blue ceramic bezel, matched with a white dial, a blue ringed sub dial at 6 for the running seconds hand, and a horseshoe shaped scale across the top three quarters of the dial counting down from 10 to 0, with an arrow shaped pointer hand to indicate minutes remaining. The hour and minute hand match the white and blue colour scheme with a blue sword shape, and the fly back timer seconds hand contrasts the blue with bright red colouring. The large oyster bracelet like the smaller Yacht-Master has polished centre links, and a flip lock clasp.

In 2011, Rolex added a rose gold and steel version of the Yacht-Master II to the range (ref 116681). Keeping the blue white and red colour scheme to the watch but adding rose gold details to match the rose gold added to the case and bracelet. It wasn't until Baselworld 2013 that Rolex completed the collection by finally releasing an all steel version of the Yacht-Master II (ref 116680).

It was announced that 2017 (10 years after the first Rolex Yacht-Master II was launched), would be the year the Rolex Yacht-Master II range would see its first, and so far only change to its design. All reference numbers would remain the same, but Rolex gave post 2017 watches an update. Up until this point the watch had square luminous hour markers around the edge of the dial, framed in a metallic blue to match the hands, but the change saw the blue surround replaced with white gold, and the 12 o'clock marker changed to an inverted triangle like many other Rolex watches, with a taller rectangle at 6 o’clock. The hands were also changed from the blue sword shaped hour and minute hands, to a more traditional white gold Rolex ‘Mercedes’ hands. It is thought this was done to improve legibility, especially in low light.

Today the Rolex Yacht-Master II, like all other watches in the Rolex Professional Watches range are getting harder to obtain from Rolex authorised dealers, with demand vastly outweighing the supply, and pushing the prices of pre-owned models higher. Creating an opportunity of investment within the watch collecting world, only helped by the unusual overstated colours and instantly recognisable design, is what makes the Rolex Yacht-Master II so popular.

Author: C Lawson

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The Watch Of The Open Seas: History Of The Rolex Yacht-Master

Instagram: @rolex

In the year 1992, Swiss watchmaker Rolex would debut a new model line at the Baselworld show that was strikingly similar to the already-popular Submariner. It featured the same 40mm Oyster case with a rotating bezel, the same chronometer-certified caliber, and the same Oyster bracelet.

Seemingly the only difference between the two was the white dial of that first Yacht-Master, a style which has never been an option on a Sub, and the inferior depth rating of 100m when compared to the Sub’s 300m.

Yet, the Yacht-Master was well-received upon launch, and with the passing of time, the yachting-inspired model has evolved and pioneered its own path within Rolex’s catalog.

Read on with us as we go back to the beginning and track the catalysts that paved the way for the most recent Yacht-Master release, the Yacht-Master 42 (226659), to become one of the hottest sports timepieces of the year.

History Of The Rolex Yacht-Master

We’ve broken down our overview of the Yacht-Master into the following segments:

• Release Of The Yacht-Master

The Submariner/Yacht-Master Theory

• Mid-Size & Ladies’ Yacht-Master
• Platinum (Rolesium) Yacht-Master

The Maxi Dial Yacht-Master

• Two-Tone Rolesor Yacht-Master

The Yacht-Master II

• Six-Digit Yacht-Master

The Oysterflex Yacht-Master

Keep scrolling to read this guide from its beginning, or use the links above to jump down to a specific point.

Browse Bob’s Watches Rolex Catalogue

The Release Of The Yacht-Master

The first Yacht-Master watch was launched in 1992 under reference number 16628. It featured a yellow gold case, a bidirectional graduated bezel, and a matching full-gold Oyster bracelet. Its dial was white with black hour indices, while at center were gold Mercedes hands, and beating inside was the 3135 movement.

Rolex ref. 16628. Instagram: @m_j_watches

Previous to the Yacht-Master’s introduction, Rolex had not released a new model line in a quarter century. So, why did they go with the Yacht-Master, a design that risked being a detractor from their existing Submariner? Let’s take a look at the inspiration.

The sport of yachting is one which demands precise timing and extreme coordination of the entire crew for optimal performance, particularly in offshore competitions.

Prototype Daytona Yacht-Master ref. 6239. Image: Christies.com

Rolex believed their waterproof and chronometer-grade timepieces to be more than qualified to handle the knocks of a regatta and keep ticking accurately. The brand is also notorious for their marketing prowess, which led them to act quickly in establishing an association with the sport.

Beginning in 1958 with their first sponsorship of a race, the relationship has endured until today, when the brand sponsors over a dozen international yachting events.

Nevertheless, it’s hard to deny that there exists a large gap between first contact in 1958 and the release of the yacht-inspired timepiece in the early ’90s. Why wasn’t the Yacht-Master released earlier on?

Well, Rolex played around with the idea of yachting chronograph early on, though it never materialized. All that’s left of these trials are an extremely limited number of Daytona ref. 6239 chronograph prototypes with a 39mm case (vs standard 36mm) and modified regatta dials.

Unfortunately, the Yacht-Master concept was scrapped and would not reappear until decades later.

When it did return, none of the previous Yacht-Master’s DNA was there. Furthermore, the 1992 Yacht-Master was bizarrely similar to the 16610 Sub of the time.

Interestingly enough, Rolex folklore tells of a time in the ’80s when the brand sought to update their Submariner . What resulted was less of an update and more of an overhaul, manifested as what we know now as the first Yacht-Master.

Apprehensive of the repercussions that making such aggressive design changes to their staple offering could bring, the brand chose instead to release the watch intended to be a new Submariner as the reborn Yacht-Master instead.

The move worked, and the new Yacht-Masters started flying off the shelves. The Yacht-Master was perceived as a more luxurious Sub, though its bidirectional bezel proved useful for on-the-fly countdowns which are critical in sailing competitions. The waterproof nature of the Oyster case further cemented the Yacht-Master as the ideal first mate.

Mid-Size & Ladies’ Yacht-Master

In 1994, just two years after the debut of the 16628, Rolex would introduce the same design but in smaller case sizes. These were:

• Ref. 68628: Yacht-Master “Mid-Size” in 35mm
• Ref. 69628: Yacht-Master Ladies’ in 29mm

This marked the first time that Rolex ever offered one of their sports models in a smaller case size; all previous instances of case size changes were increases as opposed to reductions. It has been speculated that the smaller cases were intended for the Asian market.

Yacht-Master ref. 16628. Instagram: @thewatchcentre

In the same year, Rolex also offered the same 16628 but this time with a deep blue dial. Blue dials tend to make for broadly-liked watches, and coupled with the gold case and bracelet, the new version was once again a hit.

The Platinum (Rolesium) Yacht-Master

The next update to the model line would come in 1999 with yet another home-run: the Rolesium Yacht-Master. The new watch featured a stainless steel case and bracelet with a platinum dial and platinum-insert bezel. Rolesium, a term registered by Rolex back in the ’30s for a combination of steel and platinum in a watch, was finally put to use.

The new platinum Yacht-Master ref. 16622 was not only more accessible than the previous all-gold varieties, it was also more versatile. This would lead the 16622 variety to become the face of the Yacht-Master line.

In fact, many online resources erroneously label it the first Yacht-Master ever; this should offer an idea of how emblematic it is in the watch industry.

The 16622 also presented a new dial and hand style that would mark Rolex as a whole through to the modern day. The new Yacht-Master boasted what is now recognized as the “maxi dial”.

Rolex Yacht-Master 16628 w/ maxi dial. Instagram: @kellokonttori

The maxi dial is characterized by oversized hour indices as well as larger hands at center. To the untrained eye, the difference may be difficult to spot, though experienced collectors will note the change instantly.

The maxi dial became the style of choice for all modern Rolex sports watches, though it got its start in the 1999 platinum Yacht-Master. A Submariner would first feature a maxi dial in 2003, with the release of the 50th anniversary Rolex Submariner “Kermit” (16610LV).

All versions of the Yacht-Master produced after the introduction of the maxi dial would also feature the new dial design. This included the blue, gold, and white dial versions from years past.

The Two-Tone (Rolesor) Yacht-Master

Six years after the Rolesium Yacht-Master came to be, Rolex would once more put on display their mixed-metal Rolesor style in the two-tone Yacht-Master 16623.

Yacht-Master ref. 16623. Instagram: @v.davidofftimepieces

The 2005 debuts possessed a 40mm steel case, a yellow gold bidirectional bezel, and a two-tone Oyster bracelet. As far as dials, many of the previous styles were also available like the black-on-white, though mother of pearl version were also introduced.

It was during Baselworld 2007 when Rolex would introduce the Yacht-Master’s younger and much larger sibling, the Yacht-Master II. Whereas the original Yacht-Master was very close functionally to the Sub, the Yacht-Master II was completely the opposite.

It can be said that the only overlap between the YM and the YMII is be the name, as the second iteration looks like a whole new watch. This time, though, it’s clear that the watch has been designed with the needs of yachting professionals in mind.

The first Yacht-Master II were marked by a 44mm Oyster case, an Oyster bracelet, a white dial,  and a blue Cerachrom (ceramic) Ring Command bezel. The first two references, 116688 and 116689, were made of yellow gold and white gold, respectively.

Powering the YMII was another innovation – Rolex’s in-house calibre 4161. It features the COSC-chronometer certification and 72-hour power reserve that are today’s standard, though they were industry-leading at the time. Most notable, though, was the 4161 movement’s functions.

The new caliber boasted a “ programmable countdown with mechanical memory and on-the-fly synchronization. ” Naturally, the programming of the movement required the use of the Ring Command bezel, a feature which had also never been encountered on a Rolex watch before.

In later years, Rolex would go on to release Rolesor and full-steel versions of the Yacht-Master II, both of which have been relatively successful. The Yacht-Master II has certainly earned a spot in the brand’s catalog, and is sure to stick around for next couple of decades.

The Six-Digit Yacht-Master

Yacht-Master 116622

Twenty years after it debuted as the 16628, the Yacht-Master would see in 2012 the modernization that had been sweeping Rolex’s other model families.

Aside from receiving a new six-digit reference number (116622), subtle aesthetic changes were also present, as was an outstanding new dial option – the Cobalt Blue dial.

The case was now a “super case”, which retained the 40mm diameter but was styled differently. The bezel was now completely platinum, where previous versions were made of steel with a platinum insert. The Oyster bracelet had likewise been upgraded.

A platinum bezel / platinum dial option was still part of the collection and therefore received the same upgrades. Unfortunately, this iconic “albino” look would be completely discontinued in 2017.

The subsequent and most recent significant change to the Yacht-Master family took place in 2015, when Rolex first introduced the Everose Yacht-Master 40 ref. 116655.

Rolex Everose Yacht-Master on Oysterflex bracelet

The newest iteration of the YM possessed some new features. The case was made of Everose, and the bezel now boasted a black Cerachrom insert. Securing the watch to the wrist was another Rolex first – the Oysterflex rubber ‘bracelet’.

Before the 116655, no Rolex watch had ever sported a rubber band. The brand still refers to it as a bracelet given the metal elements within the band, but these are not obvious even with the watch in the hand.

This same style of Yacht-Master would receive the next update in 2019, when Rolex introduced the Yacht-Master 42 in white gold.

What’s Next?

With the recent changes that the Yacht-Master line has had, it is clear that Rolex intends to keep this model family alive and well for years to come. Consumers are likewise responding to each new release, offering plenty of feedback with their pocketbooks.

If you’d like to read up on any of Rolex’s other model families, make sure to check out some of our extensive watch guides below:

• History Of The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
• Overview Of The Most Luxurious Pilot’s Watch: The GMT-Master
• How Did The Day-Date Become The President’s Watch?
• Review Of Rolex’s Longest Running Watch Model
• Rolex Watches That Could Become The Investment Of A Lifetime

"I have always been a fan of the Yacht-Master, but I had no idea that it didn't exist until the 1990s. Thanks for the information, and thanks for keeping it entertaining. Well done!"

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Hands-On The Rolex Yachtmaster II Regatta Timer, Ref. 116680

The rolex yacht-master ii: for those who consider themselves rolex enthusiasts, it's one of the most polarizing watches the crown produces. and yet there is more – much more – to this relative behemoth than meets the eye. we wanted to see what would happen if we met this technically unique, programmable flyback yacht timer chronograph on its own terms – read on to join us in our journey into one of the most idiosyncratically styled and mechanically sophisticated rolexes ever made..

I’m going to be completely honest: I was thoroughly prepared to have a negative reaction to this watch. Let’s face it; it’s a head-scratcher for the average Rolex/Submariner/GMT Master/Day-Date lover. First of all it’s pretty damned big. This is a 44 mm watch; it was born a 44 mm watch and it’ll die a 44 mm watch and that is nothing you or anybody else can do about it. You can have it in four different metals, and therefore, weights, ranging from steel (heavy) to gold/steel (heavier) to solid yellow gold (even heavier) to  platinum and white gold combined (Schwarzeneggerian). It has a Cerachrom bezel in an absolutely screaming shade of blue, and it says YACHT-MASTER in giant letters right across the bottom third or so just to remove any lingering shade of doubt in the minds of any small-craft skipper for leagues around that they are in the presence of, well, the Master of a Yacht; it is not an introverted watch by any stretch of the imagination.

On top of everything else, the Yacht-Master II has a complication that pretty much no watch guy or gal ever can remember what do with, or has a perceived need for: it is a regatta timer, which is about as niche a complication as you can imagine. If you get a bunch of watch nuts together there is an excellent chance that you can get a more lucid explanation out of somebody for the Equation of Time than you can for a regatta timer (which is saying something) and it says something about the relative obscurity of the complication in general, and the relative niche-ness of the Yacht-Master II in particular, that when we got it into the office we had five people who live and breathe watches sitting around scratching our heads because no one could quite remember how the darned thing works. You put all those things together and you should have a watch that a dyed-in-the-wool horological classicist should thoroughly disdain. Right?

Actually, wrong. But let’s back up a bit.

First of all this is technically a very interesting watch and it’s worth your attention just on the level of interesting horological problem solving alone. A regatta timer is used by the skipper of a yacht to determine when their vessel is allowed to cross the starting line. Sailboats can’t just hover at the starting line of a yacht race, so what happens is that the racing committee establishes a countdown period during which the boats have to tack back and forth at the starting line without actually crossing; if you cross early, there is a penalty and if you are too cautious and cross late you will probably cross the finish line behind the boats that made it over the start line ahead of you. The countdown can be anywhere from five to ten minutes depending on the rules and race.

The Yacht-Master II is a programmable, flyback regatta timer that allows you to select a countdown interval of anything from one to ten minutes; in addition if you have started the countdown early or late, you can synchronize your watch “on the fly” when you hear the second of the two audible signals which are usually given at the start of a race (the signal to start the countdown comes first, and is usually followed by a warning signal closer to the start). Here’s how it works.

To set the countdown timer, you turn the bezel (Rolex calls it the "Command Bezel") a quarter turn to the left. This locks the lower chrono pusher and engages the setting mechanism for the triangular red countdown hand. You then unscrew the crown to its first position, and set the countdown hand – setting is one-way only but at 10 minutes, if you continue to turn the crown, the countdown hand will fly back to 1 and you can continue until you reach the desired number of minutes. When you’re done, you screw the crown back down, and turn the bezel back to its starting position, and you’re ready to regatta.

When the first gun (or other audible signal) is heard, you start the countdown . . . and that’s it. Now a really neat trick here is that you may, for some reason, have started your countdown too early, or too late. If that’s the case, all you have to do is wait for the second gun/signal, and hit the re-set button – the seconds hand will fly back to the zero mark and begin running again immediately; and the minute countdown hand will fly back to the nearest minute and likewise start counting down again. It’s the fact that the flyback is to the nearest minute, not to zero, that allows you to re-synch your countdown with the official countdown time, that gives the Yacht-Master II much of its utility, and much of its technical interest.

Okay, sure it’s technically interesting – but what about the aesthetics? All I can tell you is that, much to my very pleasant surprise, it was colossally fun to wear in every sense of the word. The fact that it is so unapologetically extroverted is actually the secret to its appeal.  The weight isn't a problem (at least, not for me, and not in steel) and I found I could wear it all day without discomfort despite the overall size – partly thanks to the downward curvature of the lugs, which ensured a comfortable fit on my 7 inch wrist.  The sharply contrasting deep blued hands, white dial, and red countdown hand – and, yes, that bright blue bezel – give the whole watch a suitably jaunty, nautical feel and make it a pleasure to look at (and at night visibility is very good; the lume on the hands and dial is almost startlingly bright).

Yes, this is an extroverted watch, but the quality of execution is very clean and very high (as is usually the case with Rolex) and it’s so much the opposite of what I’d ordinarily wear that having it on gave a feeling almost like a Walter Mitty fantasy coming to life. I felt like a guy who’s worn a blue suit and rep tie and driven a four door Merc his whole life, who somehow one day finds himself in a pair of ripped jeans and a beat up flight jacket, cruising down some winding secondary road on an old shovelhead Harley, and suddenly catches himself thinking, My god, all the wasted years. Ultimately I started to feel that objecting to the over-the-top-ness  of the Yacht-Master II was silly, even narcissistic – if you go into a Joss Whedon actioner expecting a Lars Von Trier art-house tearjerker to unspool, you probably have only yourself to blame.

It is a rationally appealing uitlitarian tool watch? I'm not the one to ask. There is no way for me to evaluate what someone who actually owns a ’36 Herreshoff classic yacht and takes it on the regatta circuit would actually think of the Yacht-Master II, or whether they would find it useful. But I can tell you that it is actually a ton of fun to wear, and a big part of the reason is the very thing many object to at first – that this is a watch that pulls no punches when it comes to being larger than life.

It has that one most essential element for something to be a successful style exercise: the courage of its convictions, and if you think of yourself resolutely as a smaller-than-forty millimeter, tasteful restraint kinda guy, get one on your wrist for a surprisingly refreshing change of pace, and you can feel larger than life too.

The Rolex Yacht-Master II 116680 as shown, $18,750, 44 mm diameter case in 904L stainless steel. Bidirectional rotatable "Command Bezel" with blue Cerachrom insert; water resistance 100 meters/10 bar.

Movement, Rolex 4161 self-winding programmable flyback regatta timer with mechanical memory and "on-the-fly" synchronization; Parachrom blue antimagnetic balance spring.  

Bracelet, Oyster, flat three piece links with Oysterlock safety clasp.

More info, of course, on Rolex.com .

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Top 10 Facts About Rolex Yacht-Master II – Interesting Things to Know

The Yacht-Master II, also called Yacht-Master 2 is one of Rolex’s most complicated watches. Together with the Sky-Dweller, the Yacht-Master II makes up what are the two most complicated watches in Rolex’s collection.

We have already looked at the most interesting facts about the Yacht-Master in this article, but this time, we’re taking a closer look at the Yacht-Master II.

The fact is that the Yacht-Master II is far from Rolex’s most popular or well-known model. It’s a rather niche watch that is built for a specific purpose, is quite large, and doesn’t appeal to everyone. Technically, it’s a very impressive watch, but its niche:d design makes it a watch that is often forgotten and neglected in favor of other, more recognized models.

But still, this model deserves recognition due to its great complexity and innovative characteristics. And that’s exactly what we’re doing in this article. Below, we take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about the Yacht-Master II.

Top most interesting facts about the Rolex Yacht-Master II

1. the yacht-master ii has been made in several metal configurations.

Despite being a watch that has been in the backseat and often neglected, Rolex has consistently released new versions in the form of different materials. The Yacht-Master II has been made in full white gold, stainless steel, yellow gold, and steel, rose gold and steel, and yellow gold. The only executions it has not been made in is full rose gold ( Everose ) and full platinum.

So despite it not being a very popular model (relatively speaking), Rolex has still continued to release new versions and variants to keep and boost the public’s interest in it.

2. The Yacht-Master II is one of Rolex’s largest watches

The Yacht-Master II is at the top of Rolex’s watches when we talk about size. It is a rather hefty timepiece that makes a bold statement on the wrist, measuring 44mm in diameter. Only the Deepsea Sea-Dweller has the same diameter of 44mm.

Moreover, in terms of design, the Yacht-Master is a very eye-catching model that stands out and grabs people’s attention. Combine this with its large size and you have a  very bold timepiece.

3. The Yacht-Master II is a spin-off of the Yacht-Master

Rolex has long had a closer relationship with yachting. But for a long time, they didn’t have a watch that was dedicated to the sport. And so in 1992, Rolex released its first yachting-dedicated watch, the Yacht-Master. The thing is that the Yacht-Master didn’t have a lot of truly useful functions for yachters. It has a bi-directional rotating bezel that can be used to time different things. But apart from that, it doesn’t do much except for telling the time.

The Yacht-Master II, on the other hand, is a completely different story. This watch is developed to be truly useful by yachters and features multiple functions such as a regatta timer.

So whilst the Yacht-Master and the Yacht-Master II don’t look similar to each other, they are both built for the same purpose. And the yacht-Master II is based on the concept and idea of the Yacht-Master, just developed to be more practical as a useful tool rather than solely a stylish accessory.

4. The Yacht-Master II was first launched in 2007

The Yacht-Master was launched in 1992 but the upgraded version, the Yacht-Master II was launched in 2007. 

The watch became the world’s first watch with a programmable countdown timer and a mechanical memory. As already discussed, the watch was developed specifically for sportsmen to use while regatta racing. This meant incorporating functions that were truly useful for these athletes.

5. The Yacht-Master II is only available in one size

Unlike the Yacht-Master which is available in two sizes (and has been available in multiple sizes further back in history), the Yacht-Master is only made in one size, 44mm. There are several reasons for this. But most importantly, it has to do with the complexity of all the functions. It’s a complex watch with a complex mechanism that cannot be cramped into a smaller case just by taking the movement and putting it into a different case.

Moreover, since this watch is intended as a tool, one size is considered sufficient.

6. The Yacht-Master II is one of Rolex’s most complex watches

The Yacht-Master II is packed with functions and features and therefore has a very complex mechanical movement.

The Yacht-Master II has a programmable countdown timer which is used to measure how much time is left until the start of the race. The regatta programmable countdown chronograph can be selected between one and ten minutes. When the chronograph starts, the countdown is accurately timed.

Moreover, it has a flyback and fly-forward function that allows for easier synchronization if they have to restart the race sequence.

Simply put, the Yacht-Master II is the world’s first watch that is equipped with a programmable countdown timer and a mechanical memory.

4. The Yacht-Master II is one of Rolex’s youngest models

It’s not often that Rolex releases a new model so when they do, it’s quite a big deal. Rolex frequently upgrades and revises its existing models but these changes are often just minor changes. Releasing a completely new model only happens every tenth year or so at a maximum.

Being released in 2007, although it may sound like a long time ago, it’s not very long if we are talking in Rolex terms. The only model that Rolex released after that is the Sky-Dweller in 2012 .

5. Rolex updated the movement of the Yacht-Master II in 2013

Whilst Rolex doesn’t frequently release new models, they do relatively frequently revise and improve its existing models. One such event for the Yacht-Master was in 2013 when Rolex changed the movement of the Yacht-Master II from caliber 4160 to caliber 4161 . This was an upgraded and improved movement with better performance.

6. The Yacht-Master II features a Ring Command bezel

Ring Command means that the bezel is “integrated” into the movement. In other words, when the bezel rotates, it puts the movement into different positions. The 10 minutes countdown can be set solely by rotating the bezel counterclockwise. The bezel is so cleverly developed is developed so the countdown feature can be locked and unlocked by rotating the bezel 90 degrees. The fact of the matter is that the Ring Command bezel is one of the first watches in the world to have a bezel that worked together with the movement. Only the Sky-Dweller has the same functionality, which was released several years later.

In other words, the bezel is an integrated part of the movement which makes the watch easier and more practical to use.

7. It took many years before the Yacht-Master II was made in steel

Originally, the Yacht-Master was exclusively available in solid gold, making it both expensive and uncommon. Rolex wanted to profit off of this movement as much as possible and it was likely therefore that Rolex exclusively launched the model in full gold, both yellow and white gold with references 116688 and 116689. Most likely, this was due to the huge costs associated with developing such a complicated movement.

But in 2011, Rolex released a bi-color version in Everose gold and steel, and in 2013, for the first time ever, in full stainless steel.

8. The movement of the Yacht-Master II took nearly four years to complete

This is one of the reasons why Rolex doesn’t release new models very frequently. At least not with completely new movements. The fact is that the Yacht-Master II movement took nearly four years to develop, approximately 35,000 hours. Being one of the most complicated movements Rolex has ever created, it’s not surprising that the research and development behind it are extensive.

9. The movement consists of 360 parts

This goes to show the great complexity of this movement, both to develop but also to assemble. It explains why it took nearly four years to create it and is also part of the explanation of why it is so expensive.

10. The Yacht-Master has clever functions

We have already talked about the functionality of the Yacht-Master but one particularly clever feature that the yacht-Master has is the Regatta synchronization. If the wearer has started the countdown too early or too late, it is possible to synchronize it by pressuring the start/stop button at the 2 o’clock position. You can also use the reset button at the 4 o’clock position to reposition the countdown hand to the nearest minute, whilst the seconds countdown hand returns to 0.

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How to Set and Use the Rolex Yacht-Master II

Regatta races are an exciting way to test your sailing ability. The Rolex Yacht-Master II has a countdown timer so you can time your regatta race.

Not only does it look fantastic, but its highly specialized functions are powered by one of the most impressive movements Rolex has released to date. Using these functions though can be a frustrating and complicated path.

While there are number of steps to the process, Rolex designed it to be quick and simple once you get to know it.

With this guide, you’ll learn how to set the Rolex Yacht-Master II for a regatta, as well as how to use it during the race.

What is a regatta watch?

First of all, what is a regatta watch? The Rolex Yacht-Master II’s countdown timer is used to time events that involve boats or other competitive pursuits, such as sailing races, chariot races, and even football matches.

The goal of these events is to get from point A to point B in the fastest amount of time possible. To do this, teams will use the count-down timer on their watches to measure their progress and determine whether they should increase their speed or slow down if they are falling behind.

You’re probably wondering why you would need a watch with such an advanced feature if you aren’t partaking in regatta activities yourself. Well, there are plenty of instances where having the ability to time something accurately can be useful. Even everyday tasks like boiling your eggs perfectly or recording the length of timeouts count! The possibilities are endless.

How to Set your Countdown Timer on a Rolex Yacht-Master II

The countdown timer on the Rolex Yacht-Master II is an elegant and useful feature. You’ll need to set it up though before the beginning of the regatta to start the countdown at the appropriate time.

To set the countdown timer:

1. The timer needs to have stopped. If it is still going, push the upper pusher on the right hand side of the dial/case to stop the timer.

2. Once the timer is stopped, you need to turn the bezel to the left, or counterclockwise, a quarter turn. It will stop at a quarter as that’s as far as it can go, and it will click into place for you.

3. Push the bottom pusher on the right hand side of your case. When you push this button, it will stay pushed down. This bounces the second hand to zero or the 12 o’clock mark. The minute hand will also return itself back to wherever you previously had it set. Having the lower pusher depressed blocks you from pressing the upper pusher.

4. Unlock the crown by turning it counterclockwise. The crown is the center knob at the 3 o’clock position on the right hand side of your case. Turn the crown clockwise setting it to the minute that you need.

5. Once you’ve set the duration of your preferred countdown, you’re going to return to the bezel. Turn the bezel this time in a clockwise direction until the click, or a quarter turn. This action unlocks the upper pusher and lets go of the lower one.

6. Push your crown back in and rotate it clockwise until it locks. This ensures that your watch keeps its water resistance.

How to Use the Countdown Timer on your Rolex Yacht-Master II

The countdown timer on the Yacht-Master II is used to display how much time has passed in a race (or other endeavors). Many people use this feature when they’re tracking their own races, but it’s also useful for non-sporting activities.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Your top or upper pusher starts and stops your countdown. This is similar to other traditional Rolex complications like what you’d find on the Daytona . The lower pusher resets the timer.

2. The difference with the Yacht-Master from other chronograph watches is that you can jump forward or backward to the closest minute with a one touch to the lower button. There’s no need to reset the counter, wasting valuable time in a race.

3. To use the fly-back or fly-forward functions mentioned above, while the timer is running, give one quick press to the lower pusher. The timer resets itself to the closest minute while still running. This allows you to instantly start measuring the next duration, with no time lost.

Timing a Regatta Race using the Rolex Yacht-Master II

Ok, so your timer is set, and you know how to run it, but what are you supposed to do with it during a regatta race?

Regatta Racing (photo: Rolex)

1. If you’re unfamiliar with why you need a timer in a regatta, this isn’t unusual. A gun and a wave of a flag signal the countdown to the start of the race. When you see or hear this, then press the top pusher that starts the timer. If you did your job, your timer was set at the needed number of minutes ahead of time. At this point, the second hand is tracking the elapsed time since you started. The minutes hand will move every 60 seconds tracking the time until it hits the finish or zero. End of a countdown.

The Rolex Yacht-Master II in Steel and Everose Gold (photo: Rolex)

2. There may be a point where you’ll have to pause and resync your timer. You’ll want it to maintain sync with the official clock. Being on-time is important in a regatta. This is easy to accomplish. When you hear the second or third prep signals, the official ones, press the lower pusher. This resets the second hand back to the beginning, or zero, synchronizing the minute hand back to the closest minute, thus syncing with the official clock.

3. At this point, the race has begun. Your personal countdown has finished and you’re off. Now you can restart your timer by pressing the top pusher to stop it and then the bottom pusher to reset it to the last programmed setting.

How to Use Your Rolex Yacht-Master II: Final Thoughts

Now you know how to use your Rolex Yacht-Master II in a regatta race. It’s a great watch that will make timing your races much easier and more accurate. Better yet, use your timer for anything you need a countdown for.

On the market for a Rolex Yacht-Master? Check out our wide selection of Rolex Yacht-Master watches at SwissWatchExpo.com.

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Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II Hands-On

The year is 2011 and this conversation is overheard in a Rolex boutique.

“Good morning.” “Good morning, sir, how may we help you?” “I’d like a large Rolex.” “That’d be the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II. Here you go, sir.” “I’ll take that, thank you. Bye.” “Bye!”

All images by David Bredan

The Large Rolex

For the longest time, and I’ll take the blame for this, I couldn’t see the Yacht-Master II as nothing more than  The Large Rolex . The 44mm wide Yacht-Master II was the go-to large Rolex, with a massive gap in size between it and the 40mm Sea-Dwellers, Submariners, and others. Debuted in 2007, the Yacht-Master II was followed just next year by the absolutely massive Deepsea that had the same width at 44mm but was considerably thicker, so it both appeared and wore much, much larger than the YMII, placing it far off the map for most.

The Sky-Dweller made its debut in 2012, and while it also looks and wears large, until 2017 it was exclusively available in solid gold cases, rendering it about 40% more expensive than the two-tone YMII that had already been available by 2012. I did look these things up – wouldn’t want to pose as someone who remembers all this. No wonder then, that the Yacht-Master II became The Large Rolex worn by premiership ballerinas footballers, celebrities, and… basically everyone who wanted in on the large watch craze with a Rolex, but didn’t like or couldn’t afford the Sky-Dweller. The fact that Rolex took so long and only debuted the larger, 43mm wide Sea-Dweller in 2017 is just Rolex being its usual cautious self that caused it to nearly miss the boat on the large watch trend – but that’s for another discussion.

Stars aligned and I ended up in a Rolex boutique with a camera in one hand and the Yacht-Master II in the other – welcome to watch blogger life. It was only there that I realized I should have cared about the Yacht-Master II because my goodness, it is a truly impressive piece of watchmaking. It’s the Bentley of watches: big, brash, and showy, bought by a demographic that people not part of are keen not to be associated with… But beyond all that lies a deeply impressive, well-made, uniquely cool product.

I am realizing now that it might as well just be my boredom with the Submariners and Datejusts speaking, but as I was reviewing my images on the spot on the camera’s screen (not even a larger, better display) I realized the many intricate and well-made details of the Yacht-Master II. It’s proper Rolex through and through – you’d never ever mistake the entire watch or any of its details for anything but a Rolex – but at the same time its functionality, layout, as well as its case and dial design are all refreshingly unique.

Yes, that’s what got me. The weird, piston-style pushers (that need not be screwed down), the weird, but strangely beautiful proportions of the lugs and bezel, the incredible quality of the blue ceramic bezel and its laser-etched, PVD-coated numerals, the weird arch of the dial that resembles (in my mind at least) a gauge of a submarine, and the ADD-curing tactile feel of the Ring Command bezel. These make the Yacht-Master II not only unlike any other Rolex, but unlike any other watch. How did this happen?

Whether or not Rolex had the large watch trend on its mind when designing the Yacht-Master II, we’ll never know. I have no hopes in receiving a definitive “yes, we did” or “no, we didn’t” answer from them. The Yacht-Master II was designed with a programmable fly-back regatta chronograph ( ooooh, just writing that down felt strangely satisfying ) and it was also the watch to debut Rolex’s Ring Command rotating bezel system that was later also used in the Sky-Dweller.

We’ll look at how it all works soon but for a second imagine the amount of R&D time and effort that must have gone into designing what is now called the Manufacture Rolex Calibre 4161 “with some 360 components.” What the heck, even Rolex appears to be proud of this movement as this, I believe, is the only movement they proactively communicate the exact component count of. It is known that the 4130 chronograph in the Daytona has 201 parts, but Rolex officially only ever said they managed to reduce the chronograph’s component count by 60%, without providing the total 201 count – and as far as the other movements are concerned, no exact component figure is ever shared.

Give or take the large watch trend, the Yacht-Master II is also something else: it’s Rolex’s love letter to one of its obscure, but long-standing passions, yachting. Worry not, I’ll spare you the long, teary-eyed story of all that’s exciting about yachting. That’s partly because I’ve never been on a racing yacht and partly because it’s irrelevant in this discussion – you either already are a skipper at heart, or if you’re not, my measly few words won’t get you started. Rolex has produced a number of longer videos on the topic, so if you can take 24 minutes of “uplifting-instrumental-music.mp3” and are desperate to learn more about yachting, then I suggest you watch the video above. But only then.

So, looking at it strictly as a watch, without its implications, customer base, or inspiration, what do we have with the Rolex Yacht-Master II? From my time with it, I came away with a new-found admiration for its many impressive feats starting with its mechanical engineering and ending with its countless neatly executed details. The Rolex Yacht-Master II was specifically designed for regatta yacht races where the starting procedure of the race requires each yacht to be positioned as best as possible when a given time limit expires. From what I understand this time limit before the actual start varies between 5 and 10 minutes and so skippers need a regatta timer watch with a countdown timer (i.e. a reverse chronograph) that can be programmed to count down from a pre-set time between 5 and 10 minutes. When the officials give a signal, the countdown begins, the pre-set regatta chronographs are started, and the maneuvering begins.

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Rolex yacht-master ii.

Rolex Yacht-Master II is a Regatta chronograph by Rolex .

At the Baselworld 2007 Rolex unveiled this new wristwatch model. It has a countdown counter with a maximum of ten minutes and with mechanical memory function using the new “ Ring Command ” bezel . At reset, the counter resets to the preset time. This is an unusual model for Rolex in that it features a complication , though the movement is similar to the chronograph movement found in the Daytona .

The Yacht-Master II is powered by the newly and specifically for this purpose developed manufacture Calibre Rolex 4160 . This self-winding movement consists of 360 components and has a power reserve of 72 hours. Each Yacht-Master II has a chronometer certification by COSC . The Yacht-Master II received an updated movement, Rolex 4161 , in 2013 .

The original 2007 Yacht-Master II was released only in yellow and white gold . In 2011 , a two-tone Rolesor steel and Everose gold version was released, with an all-steel version following in 2013 . All Yacht-Master II references received the new Rolex 4161 movement that same year, though all models retain the same reference numbers.

In 2017 , Rolex updated the dial of the Yacht-Master II with a triangular marker at 12 00 and a rectangular marker at 6 00. These versions also feature new hands, and are marked “-0002” after the reference number.

• 116680 (2013-) - Stainless steel
• 116681 (2011-) - Rolesor (two-tone steel and Everose gold)
• 116688 (2007-) - Yellow gold
• 116689 (2007-) - White gold
• 116680 stainless steel , 116681 Rolesor , 116688 yellow gold , 116689 white gold
• Self-winding manufacture movement Rolex 4160 or Rolex 4161 , chronograph movement, bi-directional winding, 28,800 A/h
• COSC certified chronometer
• 360 components
• Power reserve 72 hours
• 18ct yellow or white gold
• Turning bezel
• Screw-in crown
• Waterproof to 100 m
• Hours, minutes, small seconds (at 6 o'clock)
• Countdown counter with a maximum of ten minutes and with mechanical memory function
• Oyster bracelet with Oysterlock clasp and Easylink extension
• Approx. 28,000 Euro ( white gold ) and ca. 25,000 Euro yellow gold

Review: Rolex Yacht-Master II Ref. 116680 2017 Edition

Among the hard core Rolex collectors, lies a quiet discontent. One watch polarises the community like no other Rolex ever has. It is big. It is bold. It screams its model name in your face in huge text on the bezel. It carries the same reference number as the watch it replaces. And yet, like the other Rolex professional watches, it is born out of a professional need. That of the skipper of a yacht. This is the Rolex Yacht-Master II. The programmable regatta countdown flyback chronograph from Rolex. We took a close look at it, examine its  raison d’être , and give you the plain verdict: Awesome or not. Read to discover!

The Rolex Yacht-Master II. Shown here in stainless steel case, with blue Cerachrom bezel. also available in yellow gold, white gold and Rolesor.

The Rolex Yacht-Master II

The Yacht-Master II occupies a place within the Rolex hierarchy of professional watches.  This is a special category of watches that Rolex designs and intends for use in a specific profession. The Submariner and Sea Dweller  were designed for professional diving, initially developed with diving specialists COMEX. The Explorer was developed with explorers to summit Everest, the GMT series for PanAm pilots. The Daytona Cosmograph was derived for use on the race track, though when it first appeared in 1960, it was merely labelled Chronograph, but was quickly nicknamed the Daytona, after the famous race circuit.

The Yacht-Master first introduced in 1992 as a Ref. 16628 in yellow gold is a curiosity. It is not a professional yachting watch, but a Submariner with stronger aesthetics and made with more premium case and bracelet materials. The Yacht-Master was only available in precious metals.

The Rolex Yacht-Master II. This is the earlier model, first introduced in 2007, and later revised with a new movement in 2013. The overall look remained the same till 2017. Note the differences, which will be discussed in the section Dial, Case, Hands below.

Based on the success of the Yacht-Master, Rolex unveiled the Yacht-Master II in 2007 . This is a totally different kettle of fish. This is a true professional yachting watch incorporating a flyback chronograph and a programmable countdown timer. Two models made the debut lineup, a yellow gold Ref. 116688 and a white gold Ref . 116689. Both are professional regatta watches and equipped with the new manufacture caliber 4160. This new movement was derived from the then new in-house caliber 4130 used in the Daytona Cosmograph. To the 4130 base, Rolex added the additional features to make the 4160 the first watch in the world to be equipped with a programmable countdown function from 1 to 10 minutes with a mechanical memory.

For Baselworld 2013 , Rolex released a stainless steel version, the Ref. 116680 which featured an upgraded movement in the form of the C.4161. It remains unclear what changes were made to the movement, but we expect this to be routine upgrades to improve chronometry and serviceability.

And for Baselworld 2017, the Yacht-Master II was revised yet again. The updates were mainly dial side aesthetic changes, but the C.4161 now gains Rolex Chronometer Certification. The 2017 Editions were released in stainless steel, yellow gold, white gold and platinum. Curiously, Rolex chose to retain the reference numbers, and used 116680 for the new 2017 Edition of the Yacht-Master II in stainless steel.

The dial, case and hands

The case is the standard Rolex Oyster case, but much larger with a 44mm case diameter. The review sample was in 904L stainless steel. The case is water resistant to 100m, and is equipped with a Triplock crown. Interestingly the pushers for the chronograph is not screw down, despite the Triplock capabilities of the crown. Perhaps this is not a real concern, as the depth rating is only 10 atm.

The bracelet is also in solid 904L steel, with the Oysterlock clasp with the usual 5mm comfort extension built in. Rolex has retained the same case shape and dimension since the 2007 introduction. The case and bracelet is solidly built, as one would expect from Rolex.

The watch features a Cerachrom, Rolex-speak for ceramic, bezel in a mesmerisingly beautiful blue shade. This bezel is not changed since its introduction in 2007, and carries the countdown numbers of 0-10 in huge arabic numerals. And the name “Yacht-Master II” screaming out loud at 4 to 8 o’clock position. Normally, this author would find this screaming announcement to be a aesthetic disaster, but somehow, in this huge case, coupled with the calming blue hue and the bold graphics, it seem to be quite in character. Acquiring a strong, masculine persona . And yes, we say it, it is a rather handsome watch .

The Rolex Yacht-Master II has a large case, measuring 44mm in diameter and a huge Cerachrom bexel in an amazing shade of mesmerising blue.

The main difference between Ref. 116680 (2013) and Ref. 116680 (2017) dials are as follows:

• most visibly, the hour minute hands on the 2017 edition have changed from slim hands to larger ones. The minute hand is skeletonised, and the hour hand carries the iconic “Mercedes” hands.
• an inverted triangle now marks the 12 o’clock hour marker and a rectangle marks the 6 o’clock in the new version, where the old one had square markers all round.

And that’s all! The bezel remains the same. The other graphic elements remains the same. The main dial remains in white lacquer, and the markings in blue. The hour markers are filled with blue Chromalight.

Legibility of the time, and all functions work well. This is critical in a professional race watch, as the heat of the race often gets the better of one, and it is easy to be confused and mis-read critical information.

The difference between the 2007 and 2017 version is in the hands which are enlarged to carry the signature Mercedes hands, and the hour markers which now feature an inverted triangle at 12 and a rectangle at 6.

Regatta Timing

The purpose of a regatta chronograph is not only to track racing time but also to count down the critical minutes before the racers cross the starting line. This is because, unlike an automobile, the yacht is not able to do a standing start. The yachts will have been already moving when they cross the starting line.

The “Fleet Race”, which takes place on a course marked by buoys, begins with a five, seven or ten-minute countdown at the end of which the yachts begin sailing the course. This countdown is pre-determined by race officials. During this decisive interval of time, the competitors strategically array themselves on the startling line – based on winds and, most importantly, keeping clear of other competitors – in order to cross the line as close as possible to the starting signal. It is the skipper’s role to ensure that his yacht will cross the start line as soon as possible after the starting signal to ensure a head start, but also not to cross the line before the signal to avoid penalty points.

A good start determines the success in this test of skill, tactics and technical expertise. And the standard regatta watch will not only have to be tough enough to withstand the rigours of racing, and the water, but also perform the countdown, and chronograph timing.

The Yacht-Master II retains excellent functionality for a complex countdown sequence required of a regatta timer. But is also useful for more mundane tasks like timing for cooking pasta, egg, or even hand pulling an espresso.

The Yacht-Master II regatta countdown

When it was first introduced in 2007, the Yacht-Master II was the only chronograph with a programmable countdown function. This is implemented by the use of the bezel, which is not a diving bezel, but is bi-directional. Rolex calls this the Command Ring. To activate the setting of the countdown function, the bezel is turned 90° counter clockwise. Then the pusher at 4 o’clock is depressed. The crown is then unscrewed, and pulled into its first position. Now the countdown hand, with the red triangle can be set as desired. It is set by moving the crown in one direction, which moves the hand in one minute intervals forwards. The hand retrogrades back to 10 after going past 0. Once the desired time is set, the crown is pushed back, screwed down, and the bezel returned to the “home” position. And the regatta timer is ready.

At the sound of the first gun, the skipper starts the chronograph as per normal. This begins the countdown function. As the chronograph is a flyback, he can reset the countdown at any time by depressing the pusher at 4 o’clock.  This is necessary if the skipper needs to re-synchronize his watch to race time.

The flyback works also to reset the countdown hand to the nearest minute. That is, for the first half of the minute it will retrograde back, and for the second half it will forward to the nearest minute. This feature is useful in regatta timing, as the second gun can sound for the race to begin,

Once the chronograph is stopped and reset, the countdown hand returns to its pre-programmed position, ready for the next race.

The setting function for the countdown chronograph is activated by twisting the bezel quarter turn clockwise. And set by a push of the pusher at 4 and the crown in a pulled out position. Once set, it operates seamlessly.

The movement

The movement is the Rolex in-house manufactured 4161, which is based on the Rolex 4130 used in the Daytona. The original Yacht-Master II had the 4060 movement, which was updated in 2013 to the 4161. In its latest iteration, the C.4161 carries additional minor modifications to meet the Rolex chronometer specifications of +/-2 seconds a day.

The Rolex C.4161 chronograph movement with countdown and bezel operated setting function for the programmable countdown function.

As is usual for Rolex, there is no display back, and the movement is not visible. We did not open the case back to view the movement. But we did see the movement out of its case in Baselworld, The photograph above is a stock pic from Rolex, and shows the movement. The chronograph features an integrated column wheel with a vertical clutch engagement.

Finishing is up to the usual Rolex specifications. Very well executed engineering level finish with no extraneous decorations. The movement is a proven to have been a robust one, with good chronometry capabilities. It is certified to both Rolex Chronometer Certification as well as COSC standards. The standard Rolex innovations of the Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring is fitted.

The competitive landscape

In recent years, the competitive landscape (or seascape) has started to be quite well populated. When Rolex introduced the Yacht-Master II in 2007, it was probably the first with the regatta countdown feature. In our current non-exhaustive survey, we include the following which we feel are interesting alternatives. At S$25,120 with GST, the Yacht-Master II in SS is reasonable value and compares well with the competition.

Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta  (S$ 24,500 with GST) is perhaps the best place to start. The UN features a world premiere of a bi-directional chronograph hand which automatically switches to countdown to count-up. This on itself is an interesting complication, requiring some 650 component in the in-house UN-155,caliber. The UN has a longer power reserve of 3 days.

Bremont Regatta   (S$9,000 with GST) is a more modestly priced competitor. It is a highly technical watch from Bremont, and lends much of its technology, mostly in materials, from the F1 and aerospace industry. The Bremont is a more regular chronograph dial with many sub-dials, which may tend to be a bit confusing in the melee of a race.

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M ETNZ (S$ 10,100 incl GST). The case is also in titanium with a ceramic bezel. The movement is quite advanced, featuring an in-house column wheel chronograph Omega C.3300 with Co-Axial escapement and a silicon balance spring. The watch is rated to a depth rating of 300m, while the Rolext is only rated to 100m. The Omega case is also 44mm, and it features a non programmable 5 minute countdown system incorporated into the 30 minute totalizer at 3 o’clock.

Maurice Lacroix Pantos S Regatta ( € 6,990 which converts to approximately S$10.700). The Maurice Lacroix is housed in a forged carbon fibre cage, and is rated to 200m. The movement is quoted as ML162, and we are not able to confirm the source of the base movement. The case is 45mm diameter so larger compared to the others. However, instead of 5 minute count down and 15 minute counters, it features a huge aperture on its dial revealing a rotating disc showing a count down from 10 minutes. This is shown as blue markers indicating “Ready” to 6 and then 5-0 section marked in red. At the 0, the pointer in the aperture indicates “Race”.

What the Yacht-Master II has going for it is the effortless way to set the programming for the countdown via the Command Ring. And also the fact that as it is a Rolex, resale prices would remain higher than its competition.

Concluding thoughts

As we hinted earlier in the review, we were prepared not to like the watch. It is large. It featured screamingly bold graphics. It seems rather expensive for a sports chronograph.

But as we got used to the watch, it is quite attractive. Very masculine, as we mentioned. The functionality is intuitive once one learns it, and it works flawlessly . The chronometry is excellent. And the wrist presence is quite imposing, though not in a negative way, but rather ascribes some gravitas to the wearer. The colour scheme of blue and white with accents of red, coupled with a clean dial sans sub-dials is outstanding in making it clear and legible. It has many things going for it. And eventually we succumb and fall in love with the Rolex Yacht-Master II .

On the wrist, the Yacht-Master II sits rather comfortably, even under the cuffs of a shirt and suit. It looks comfortably at home in this formal environment as it would on board a race yacht in the seas.

Rolex Yacht-Master II Specifications

Reference:  116680 Case : Oyster, 44 mm, steel Monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown Diameter : 44 mm Material : 904L steel Bezel : Bidirectional rotatable Ring Command bezel. Blue Cerachrom insert in ceramic, engraved numerals and inscription Winding crown : Screw-down, Triplock triple waterproofness system Crystal : Scratch-resistant sapphire Water resistance : Waterproof to 100 metres / 330 feet Movement : Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding, regatta chronograph Calibre : 4161, Manufacture Rolex Precision : -2/+2 sec/day, after casing Functions : Centre hour and minute hands, small seconds hand at 6 o’clock. Programmable countdown with mechanical memory and on-the-fly synchronization. Stop-seconds for precise time setting Oscillator : Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring Winding : Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor Power Reserve:  Approximately 72 hours Bracelet : Oyster, flat three-piece links, 904L steel Clasp : Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link Dial : White, with highly legible Chromalight display with long-lasting blue luminescence Certification : Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casing)

Price: S$25,120 with GST.

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The Rolex Yacht-Master II Reference 116681

2007 was the year Rolex proved that it could only be taunted so much by detractors for the lack of complications in its lineup before it would come out swinging. It has long been the anti-Rolex league’s favorite go-to criticism, holding up the Swiss giant’s catalog of ruggedly simple, almost minimalist, three-hand watches and sneeringly comparing them to the overtly functional pieces from the likes of Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin. Did Rolex lack the imagination to compete with the sky charts and moonphases of other watchmakers? Or was it the technical prowess it was missing? Rolex took it with its usual granite stoicism for decades, with the modesty of the Day-Date’s dual calendar or the Daytona’s chronograph seemingly as extravagant as it was prepared to go. Then, the iconic Swiss watch manufacturer released the Rolex Yacht-Master II series.

Vastly different from the original and less complex Yacht-Master, the Rolex Yacht Master II is a vibrant behemoth that contains one of the most technically impressive complications ever made. As a product, it could also serve as the dictionary definition of the word “niche.” Powered by a new caliber that required more than 35,000 hours to devise, the result was a watch that’s sole purpose was to help yacht skippers coordinate the starting procedure of a sailing regatta. The first models of the collection were available in either yellow or white gold. Then In 2011, the Yacht master II ref. 116681 appeared, which is a striking Rolesor variant that blends tough 904L stainless steel with precious 18k Everose gold. If you’re into big watches that make a bold statement on the wrist, then keep reading for everything you need to know about the Rolex Yacht-Master II 116681

Rolex Yacht-Master II 116681

Yacht-Master II Reference 116681 Key Features:

• Reference Number: 116681
• Year of Introduction: 2011
• Case Size: 44mm
• Materials: Everose Rolesor (wo-tone stainless steel and Everose gold)
• Functions: Time w/ running seconds, regatta chronograph featuring a programmable countdown timer with mechanical memory and on-the-fly synchronization
• Dial: White w/ Luminous Hour Markers
• Hands: Straight or Mercedes
• Luminous Material: Chromalight
• Bezel: Ring Command Bezel; blue Cerachrom insert w/ 10-minute scale
• Crystal: Sapphire (Flat)
• Movement: Rolex Cal. 4161 (automatic w/ 72-hour power reserve)
• Water Resistance: 100 meters (330 feet)
• Strap/Bracelet: Oyster Bracelet (two-tone stainless steel and Everose gold)
• Clasp: Oysterlock with 5mm Easylink extension
• Approx. Price (USD): $25,350 (Retail); $30,000 – $35,000 (Pre-Owned)

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

Everose Rolesor Yacht Master II Design

While the styles of the Yacht-Master II watches have split opinions and are a world away from the handsome elegance that has been the Rolex hallmark for over 100 years, this technical yet luxurious sports watch has won plenty of fans. Its concept and sheer audacity have also silenced many of the brand’s critics and Rolex has proved that, should it decide to mix it up in the world of complications, it can compete with the best of them.

As mentioned, the first two Rolex Yacht Master II models that debuted in 2007 were in yellow gold (ref. 116688) and white gold (ref. 116689, which was discontinued in 2022). Five years later, Rolex unveiled the Yacht-Master II ref. 116681 as the two-tone Everose gold and stainless steel variant. The combination of the two metals, the bright blue bezel (crafted from Rolex’s ceramic alloy, Cerachrom), and the flashy dial is certainly not the subtlest of Rolex watches, but somehow, the Yacht-Master II 116681 just works.

The Everose gold elements – on the bezel numerals, crown, pushers, snailing around the seconds sub-dial, and center links of the sporty Oyster bracelet – soften some of the brashness of the all-steel or yellow gold versions. As a variant, it’s a definite eye-catcher. It has retained its rather graceful proportions, especially for such a large piece and one that crams in so much functionality. The 44mm case (the biggest case size in the Rolex fleet that’s only shared by the Deepsea) affords a large surface area for the dial designers to play with. And it’s just as well. There is a lot of information displayed on the watch’s face, but the logical placement of each element gives it legible readability.

At the top is a horseshoe-shaped track numbered to ten. The starting gun in a regatta is preceded by a warning signal, often either five or ten minutes beforehand. It informs participants the countdown has begun, and the Yacht-Master II’s curved gauge is there to precisely time the flying start – the long dagger-like hand marks the countdown seconds while the small red arrow-tipped hand displays the countdown minutes.

However, the clever part comes should our yacht skipper need to reset the countdown for any reason. The watch is the first in the world to feature a mechanical memory with both flyback and fly-forward functionality, and it allows the regatta timer to reset to synchronize with the official race timer – either forwards or backwards to the nearest minute. Therefore, should the countdown have been triggered too early or too late, it’s a simple step to bring it back in line.

Rolex Yacht-Master II Dial Update

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Yacht-Master II, Rolex rolled out redesigned dials across the entire collection – including, of course, the Yacht-Master II ref. 116681. So what changed?

First, Rolex replaced the original straight hands with a Mercedes handset, which is much more common across the brand’s sports watches. Also, the hands of the Yacht Master II 116681 went from a dark blue to Everose gold – a nice touch to match the rest of the pink-toned details of the watch. Another dial update that occurred to bring the face of the Yacht-Master II more in line with Rolex’s other sports watches concerns the shape of the hour markers.

Earlier models featured square lume-filled indexes for each hour. However, after the 2017 dial redesign, Yacht-Master II watches now included an inverted triangle and a rectangle at 12 and 6, respectively. Naturally, since the Yacht-Master II 116681 is an Everose Rolesor edition, the hour markers feature Everose gold surrounds.

Yacht-Master II Ring Command Bezel and In-House Caliber

The key to the impressive functionality of the Rolex Yachtmaster II lies in the model’s most conspicuous component: the bright blue Cerachrom bezel with its oversized, pink golden numerals. More than simply being the watch’s border, the bezel is central to its overall operation.

Directly linked to the internal movement, the Ring Command Bezel, to give it its proper title, unlocks the programmable actions of the watch by rotating it counter-clockwise through 90 degrees. With the bezel activated, the crown can be used to set the countdown duration and the two pushers at the two and four o’clock positions start and stop the chronograph and work the flyback function. It sounds like a convoluted affair, but in reality, there is a beautifully designed intuitiveness to getting the most out of the Yacht-Master II.

The Rolex engineers have pared down the process as much as possible, while still retaining all the necessary performance. Underneath everything lies the movement. The original references were released with the Cal. 4160, a heavily reworked version of the Daytona’s Cal. 4130, complete with the vertical clutch that eliminates backlash on the chronograph seconds hand.

By 2013, Rolex had perfected the purpose-built Cal. 4161 specifically for the Yacht-Master II. At the time, it was the company’s most component-heavy movement to date, and the Caliber 4161 is constructed from 360 separate parts. As well as the improved accuracy and shock resistance provided by including Rolex’s proprietary Parachrom hairspring, the 31-jewel, high-beat movement also has a power reserve of 72 hours.

Over A Decade of the Rolex 116681 Yacht-Master II

The Rolex Yacht-Master II ref. 116681 has been a part of the brand’s catalog for over a decade now. Despite the movement update in 2013 to the Caliber 4131 and the dial update that occurred in 2017, Rolex has retained the same reference number since this two-tone variant’s release in 2011. And that’s quite curious given that Rolex has allocated new reference numbers to other watch models that have undergone much more subtle updates. Rolex truly works in mysterious ways!

It’s also interesting to note that in 2022, Rolex discontinued the white gold and platinum Yacht-Master II ref. 116689, which brings the Yacht-Master II lineup down from four references to only three. Perhaps the end of the Rolex Yacht-Master II ref. 116681 is near? Though we don’t wish for that to happen, it’s not uncommon for the modern-day Rolex to replace models after about a decade (or less) of production.

While the Rolex Yacht-Master II 116681 has an undeniable heft and is ultra-luxurious, it can easily be worn all day. Its watertight Oyster case ensures it’s more than a match for the rigors of life on the ocean and its robust self-winding movement is top-notch. As a skipper’s watch, this Rolex Yacht-Master II is in a class all its own. But even if you don’t sail competitively and only ever use the watch’s innovative timing function in the kitchen (if at all,) the steel and Everose gold Yacht-Master II ref. 116681 is a head-turning luxury sports watch that’s unlike any other in Rolex’s lineup.

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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.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, white gold Reference 226659

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Staying on course

The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 in 18 ct white gold with a black dial and an Oysterflex bracelet.

The oysterflex bracelet, highly resistant and durable.

The Yacht-Master’s new Oysterflex bracelet, developed by Rolex and patented, 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 white gold Oysterlock safety clasp. It also features the Rolex Glidelock extension system, designed by the brand and patented. This inventive toothed mechanism, integrated beneath the clasp, allows fine adjustment of the bracelet length by some 15 mm in increments of approximately 2.5 mm, without the use of tools.

18 ct white gold

Commitment to excellence

By operating its own exclusive foundry, Rolex has the unrivalled ability to cast the highest quality 18 ct gold alloys. According to the proportion of silver, copper, platinum or palladium added, different types of 18 ct gold are obtained: yellow, pink or white.

They are made with only the purest metals and meticulously inspected in an in-house laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment, before the gold is formed and shaped with the same painstaking attention to quality. Rolex's commitment to excellence begins at the source.

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 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.

More Yacht-Master technical details

Reference   226659

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Oyster, 42 mm, white gold

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

Flexible metal blades overmoulded with high-performance elastomer

Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Rolex Glidelock extension system

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

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