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Introducing The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 In White Gold (Live Pics & Pricing)

Matte black bezel. need i say more.

From a distance, you'd be forgiven for not even realizing that this watch is a new introduction to Rolex's collection. I mean, it looks so much like something that could have been in the catalog for decades, but it's actually as fresh as it gets. This is the first 42mm time-and-date Yacht-Master, offering a larger option for those who still find 40mm too conservative, and it comes with a sleek combination of a black dial and an unbelievable bezel made of white gold with a matte black Cerachrom insert. The markings on that insert are raised and polished and the result is totally stunning. Inside is the caliber 3235, which is Rolex's most state-of-the-art, time-and-date movement. It uses the Chronergy high-efficiency escapement and is regulated to a crazy +2/-2 seconds per day. If you liked the Everose gold Yacht-Master introduced back in 2015 but wanted something bigger and sleeker (and somehow even more reliable), your prayers have been answered.

The Yacht-Master line can be a bit confusing, even for people who know their Rolex references backwards and forwards. First off, like with the Explorer, there's a standard Yacht-Master (which is what you're looking at here) and a Yacht-Master II (which is 44mm and has a regatta timer complication). As far as the simpler time-and-date models go, there are now three sizes: 37mm, 40mm, and 42mm. There are a mix of metal configurations, including steel and platinum, steel and Everose gold, all Everose gold, and now all white gold. And don't even get me started on the various incarnations of the Oyster bracelet and Oysterflex bracelet that you can choose from.

For me, the new Yacht-Master 42, despite adding a bunch of new options to the mix, is the purest expression of the model yet. The white gold case is luxe and hefty while still giving off the appearance of being a hearty tool watch, the matte black bezel is straight-up mean looking, and the Oysterflex bracelet is practical and casual. This is a watch for someone who wants to look low-key but likes things just so. And I can squarely get behind that.

Brand: Rolex Model: Yacht-Master 42 Reference Number: 226659

Diameter: 42mm Case Material: 18k white gold Dial Color: Black Indexes: Applied white gold and Chromalight Lume: Chromalight on hands and hour markers Water Resistance: 100 meters Strap/Bracelet: Oysterflex bracelet with white gold Oysterlock clasp

Caliber: 3235 Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date Diameter: 28.5mm Power Reserve: 70 hours Winding: Automatic Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph) Jewels: 31 COSC Chronometer Certified Additional Details: Regulated to +2/-2 seconds per day, utilizes Chronergy escapement

Price: $27,800 Availability: Later this year

For more click here.

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The stealthy excellence of the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 in white gold (ref. 226659)

If you weren’t paying close attention you could easily miss the new Rolex Yacht-Master 42 in white gold. And I mean that in the best way. It’s a handsome timepiece, with a quiet presence that (despite its newness) feels reassuringly familiar in some hard-to-define way.

Despite being 2mm bigger than its Everose Gold brother (and a 42mm Oyster case wears quite big), it’s the opposite of in your face. In fact, thanks to the monochrome colour scheme of the dial, bezel and case, and the matt black Oysterflex strap, it may be the most discreet model in Rolex’s entire line-up.

I’m not suggesting that it can’t be a love-at-first-sight piece – but the more closely you look, the greater the rewards. The absence of colour draws your eye to the details, and emphasises the play of shiny and matt surfaces: the fine band of polished notches around the outer edge of the bezel contrasts with the matt Cerachrom insert, which in turn plays against the shine of the black lacquer dial. The polished surfaces of the raised numerals on the bezel (they are an integral part of the bezel, moulded with the ceramic, rather than applied) cast barely-there shadows on the surrounding matt surface. And when the light plays over the highly polished case-side, with its seamless cutaway from lugs to crown guards – well, it’s a beautiful thing. The curve is perfect and the white gold has a visual softness that you just don’t get with steel or platinum.

The matt black rubber Oysterflex strap is the Goldilocks element, tying everything together in just-right harmony (whereas the hardness and shine of a metal bracelet could throw things off-balance visually).

Having been introduced in 2015, the Oysterflex strap is no longer news but it’s worth revisiting because it’s such a great piece of design – possibly the most comfortable watch strap known to mankind. That’s thanks to the tiny, flexible ‘blades’ hidden on the underside between a pair of longitudinal cushions. The effect is a feeling of extraordinary lightness on the wrist (balanced in this case by the pleasant heft of the white gold case), absolute stability and … no sweat. Literally, since the air can circulate between skin and strap. The folding clasp has an integrated extension system that enables you to adjust it in 2.5mm increments, up to a total of about 15mm – instantly and without tools.

On the dial, simplicity of the markers and their assertive size make it highly legible (again, with no colour to distract the eye – not even the line of red text that appears on other Yacht-Masters). Thanks to the Chromalight lume (which glows blue in the dark) none of this clarity is lost at night.

Rolex scores more points by bringing its new-generation Calibre 3235 (launched last year) into the Yacht-Master range for the first time – a technical step up from the Everose Gold model. The key attributes of cal.3235: the patented Chronergy escapement, designed to maximise energy efficiency and made of magnetically neutral nickel-phosphorus, and the Parachrom hairspring, resistant to shocks and also paramagnetic. The benefit: accuracy of +2/-2 seconds per day (tested after casing), more than twice the standard chronometer specification.

As we expect from Rolex, this is an exceedingly well built and tremendously practical watch, ideally suited to everyday sporting wear. Although it’s water-resistant to 100 metres, it’s designed for above-water not underwater life. The bezel is bi-directional; it’s Yacht-Master, not Dive-Master. It’s not a tool watch. So while I briefly thought – as I’m sure many of you did – “Why not steel?” I no longer ask that (rhetorical) question. White gold is entirely appropriate and, in this handsomely sporty monochrome package, it’s the stealth Rolex par excellence.

Rolex Yacht-Master 42 (ref. 226659) price

Rolex Yacht-Master 42 , white gold on Oysterflex, $36,950

Rolex Yacht-Master 42 White Gold ref. 226659

The master and commander of the crown's nautical fleet..

If a conservative bastion of watchmaking like Rolex proposes a 42mm white gold watch on a black rubber strap as the epitome of sporty elegance, well, you’ll have to admit that times have changed. Rolex seems to have tapped into the zeitgeist for larger luxury sports watches doubling up as watches that can be worn just about everywhere with just about anything. Released during Baselworld 2019, the Yacht-Master was revisited in a larger 42mm case with sleek black tones and the new-generation calibre 3235. It also marks the first time the Yacht-Master has appeared in white gold, so let’s take a closer look at Rolex’s “watch of the open seas”, the Yacht-Master 42 White Gold ref. 226659.

The call of the sea

When Hans Wilsdorf presented the Oyster in 1926, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch, he paved the way for Rolex’s outstanding and ongoing tradition of water-resistant watches. From the iconic Submariner to hyper professional deep-sea divers like the Sea-Dweller , the sea and all things maritime are a natural habitat for Rolex’s robust tool watches. Rolex also enjoys a long-standing relationship with the world of sailing and since the early 1950s has partnered with select yacht clubs around the world. As the sponsor of prestigious regattas, like the exciting Rolex Fastnet Race, Rolex even developed a watch, the Yacht-Master II, with a specific regatta countdown function for competitive sailors.

Below: Sir Francis Chichester, the first person to sail single-handed around the world from west to east, a nine-month journey from August 1966 to May 1967. Next to it, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual he was wearing on his wrist during this voyage.

But what about wealthy yacht owners and sailing club members who prefer to watch regattas as opposed to participate in them? Men who want a sporty looking watch that can definitely take a plunge but with enough panache to wear to a cocktail or a more formal event? Welcome the Yacht-Master 42, Rolex’s luxury nautical sports candidate.

Theory of Evolution

Rolex is the most Darwinian of watch brands, generally known for introducing evolutions as opposed to revolutionising the scene with brand new collections year after year. Careful, well-thought-out ameliorations on existing models tend to be the norm at Rolex and most of the time it’s a tweak on the dial or an ‘exciting’ upgrade to steel. Change comes slowly at Rolex and only to improve upon an existing species.

This explains why the debut of the Yacht-Master in 1992 was hailed as such a groundbreaking, surprising event: a full 25 years had passed since Rolex’s last release (1967 Sea-Dweller). But there was another reason why the Yacht-Master surprised and then failed to engage Rolex fans and that was its non-tool watch status. Unlike the Submariner, the solid gold case of the Yacht-Master was not really compatible with a rugged, professional dive watch. Although it picked up on many design cues and was fitted with the same calibre as the Submariner, the water-resistance was reduced to 100 metres and its vocation as a professional dive watch was redirected to activities above deck.

Tooled down, dressed up

Although Rolex will never officially confirm whether the Yacht-Master was the result of an aborted plan to revamp the Submariner in the 1980s, the Yacht-Master was positioned as a luxurious nautical watch, a statement watch that you can wear on the deck of your yacht, get splashed by ocean spray and still look, well, affluent.

The first generation Yacht-Master appeared in 1992 with a 40mm yellow gold case (ref. 16628) and a white dial. Sharing the same dial with no numerals, the same hands, the same date window with Cyclops lens, the same 60-minute bezel, the same Triplock crown, and the same movement as the Submariner, the differences lay in the more refined, more rounded aesthetics, the thick solid gold (bidirectional) bezel and the large raised mirror-polished numerals.

Over the years the Yacht-Master has appeared in a mid-size 35mm men’s version and even a 29mm ladies’ model (1994). Today it exists in three sizes: 42, 40 and 37mm. It wasn’t until 1999, however, that the Yacht-Master really got the wind in its sails with a steel case and platinum bezel model (ref. 16622) called Rolesium, which is still going strong today. By 2005, two-tone Yacht-Masters joined the line-up and in 2015, the Everose (ref.116655) introduced two major aesthetic updates: the bezel featuring a black ceramic insert and a daring black rubber ‘Oysterflex’ strap.

Overnight, the 2015 Yacht-Master looked radically different from its metal counterparts. It was suddenly more contemporary, sleeker and more dramatic with its rich red gold case and contrasting matte black features.

Sized up, toned down

Sporty look but luxurious materials (and price…) This white gold Yacht-Master 42 proclaims its independence from the Submariner.

The 2019 Rolex Yacht-Master 42 follows the style mandates of the 2015 model playing heavily on the textures card but tones down the colour scheme and ups the size. With its more discreet 18k white gold case and matte black bezel and strap, you could say that this is the black-tie model of the Yacht-Master family. It is also the largest model of the Yacht-Master with a 42mm diameter, no doubt a move designed to differentiate it one step further from the 40mm steel Submariner Date with a black dial and bezel.

If for any reason your first glance at the watch led you to believe it was a Submariner, a quick look at the price tag will clearly establish its identity. This Yacht-Master 42 reference 226659, in white gold costs EUR 25,700 while the Submariner Date ref. 116610LN costs EUR 7,850: that’s a difference of EUR 17,850 (if ever you can find a Submariner Date at retail price… but that’s another debate )

A case study in textures

The case, for the first time in the Yacht-Master’s relatively short history, is crafted in 18k white gold straight from Rolex’s proprietary foundry. All the gold surfaces are polished for a more elegant feel and the lugs benefit from the 2015 update when they were whittled down and given more of a curve.

The distinctive white gold, bidirectional rotating bezel of this Rolex Yacht-Master 42 is filled with black Cerachrom ceramic. Developed and patented by Rolex, Cerachrom is a hard ceramic material that is practically scratch-proof, corrosion-resistant and impervious to ultraviolet rays. The matte black ceramic has been sandblasted to provide a more technical, contemporary finish and provides the background for the raised black numerals marking 0-60 minutes. The numerals and markers are first moulded into the ceramic and then polished to contrast with the sandblasted bezel.

Add to this the remarkably flexible and resilient black rubber strap and you can see how important textures are to this watch: the cold, sleek feel and weight of white gold; the rugged, slightly gritty sandblasted ceramic; the knurled bezel and fluted caseback; the prominent and raised numerals; and the agreeable warm and supple texture of the rubber strap.

The black lacquered dial, which reinforces the sober aesthetics of this Rolex Yacht-Master 42, features applied 18k white gold hour markers. The hallmark Mercedes hour hand, the minutes hand and the central seconds hand with its round counterweight are also crafted in white gold, and like the hour markers, are treated with Rolex’s very own luminescent material known as Chromalight that emits a long-lasting blue glow in the dark. As a model that is equally as happy in an executive suite as on the deck of a yacht, all Yacht-Masters have a date window at 3 o’clock magnified with Rolex’s hallmark Cyclops lens.

Oysterflex bracelet

Originally used for dive watches, the rubber strap went upmarket in the 1980s onboard Hublot’s daring precious metal/rubber strap combination. The Rolex Yacht-Master 42, like the 2015 model, is fitted with a matte black rubber strap. Not just any black rubber strap mind you, but a black elastomer strap with a hidden infrastructure made up of flexible metal blades that replicate the robustness and reliability of a metal bracelet with the flexibility and comfort of a rubber strap. An Oysterlock folding clasp in 18k white gold fitted with an extension system (Glidelock) allows you to adjust the length of the strap by about 15mm without tools!

From our experience, it might seem big on the wrist and protrude quite a lot… But believe us, it certainly is one of the most comfortable straps you’ll find on the market.

Calibre 3235

This Rolex Yacht-Master 42 reference 226659 is fitted with the latest-generation automatic movement developed and manufactured by Rolex: calibre 3235. First introduced in 2015 to replace the long-serving calibre 3135, calibre 3235 is now Rolex’s flagship date-function movement and is protected by no fewer than 14 patents! The most significant innovation is the new Chronergy escapement. Made from anti-magnetic nickel-phosphorous, about half of the beefy 70-hour power reserve can be attributed to the newly designed escapement. A Parachrom hairspring fitted on Paraflex shock absorbers, also insensitive to magnetic fields and temperature variations, offers 10 times more precision that a tradition hairspring in case of shocks. Calibre 3235 was the first movement to receive Rolex’s own certification as a Superlative Chronometer with a tolerance of just -2/+2 seconds a day (more stringent than COSC).

The name of this watch couldn’t be more appropriate. Yacht-Master refers to the master of the yacht, not the deckhand or cabin boy. Clearly, this is a statement watch with a lot of style that makes its point without shouting. It is also a versatile watch: sporty but not a cumbersome tool watch, robust but sleek enough to wear at more formal engagements. Far less flashy than the Everose model, the combination of white gold and black give this watch a distinctive, elegant personality. As for the 42mm diameter, it seems that Rolex is only answering a demand of the market. I know some here might disagree on this increased diameter, but many collectors are asking for larger watches… The people have spoken.

Price & Availability

The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 reference 226659 has a retail price of EUR 25,700 . Regarding availability, it is now for sale in stores. Demand appears reasonable and the watch doesn’t suffer the same shortage or premium as some other Rolex models (in steel, though).

More information rolex.com .

Technical specifications – Rolex Yacht-Master 42

14 responses.

This seems to be a well-planned and well-executed product that takes Rolex where it probably wishes to be … in the segment of luxury sports watches, rubbing shoulders with AP and Patek. And I bet that their brand ‘halo’ is strong enough to make most target customers make overlook the horological differences between Rolex and Trinity time pieces …

It’s a bit too big and bulky, but I have always thought this design was just about perfect. On the right wrist, in steel, I say, “Fair enough.” The other day I was outside having a smoke and a brand new 911 Carrera S pulled up. I defy anyone to fault that purchase.

Es un submariner de oro blanco nada más

I just don’t get the price hike for a tool watch of good but not great quality…however, people will buy it because it’s a Rolex and they are advertised at F1, tennis and golf championships. Who pays for that?

A tool watch in white gold. Hahaha. What a joke.

I’m sorry if I offended you. Maciej, I honestly didn’t know a tool watch was only in stainless steel. Now I am better informed, thank you.

No, no, no, no!! Keith, you did not offend me. I can’t hear but I do sense sarcasm in your comment;-) I wasn’t at all referring to your comment. Besides, I do agrr with what you say. I just hate things that pretend to be something they are not. You don’t make white gold hammers. Just like I hate the idea of a Lamborghini SUV. Gold is an elegant material, and a tool is a tool. It’s all marketing. Things like watches, cars, cameras etc are tools, they have a function. Sure, you want them to look and feel special and so on, of course, you want them to have character, be more than just tools. But when they start become fashion or marketing items, to me they lose their raison d’etre.

I agree entirely…

Every single Rolex is a fashion item or statement of wealth which is nothing to do with function. I once asked on a Rolex forum what a submariner could do that a $100 quartz dive watch rated to 300m could not. I was greeted with outrage, but not a single person could give me a coherent answer. Why? Because the answer is “nothing.”

I don’t agree. No, I do agree. We all know that $100 Casio does an even better job than a Submariner. And you could say this about pretty much about any of the watches featured in Monochrome. And obviously soldiers use G-Schocks rather than Vermont’s, pilots probably don’t need to use any watches, much less Navitimers. And “nobody” who buys a Submariner actually takes it diving (just like “nobody” takes their Range Rover off-roading (in””, because a small percentage probably do). But that doesn’t mean they are just fashion items…we want our accessories to feel and look special, not “just do the job”. But once they start contradicting their intended purpose, even if it’s just theoretical, they—as I said—lose their raison d’etre. Even if in practical terms they have lost 8t long time ago.

Todo eso que enuncian se llama sociedad de consumo

The key word Maciej is “accessories” A professional diver doesn’t have those. A soldier soon learns the stupidity of taking an inadequate watch into combat. Doesn’t matter which Brand Ambassador promotes it. Here’s a clue as to the authenticity of G-Shock. They don’t have them. Don’t need them. A competition yachtsman would probably not want the weight of all that gold. It’s ALL nonsense. I see many young men toting fancy leather bags these days. Why? The same reason they buy “lifting toning water” and friggin “lightening” underarm deoderant! Just another demographic to squeeze dry. We have reached The End of Days.

I’ve always thought that Rolex were brilliantly made watches but never thought they actually looked great. I do like the look of this one but it is a fashion piece not a tool watch

The thing that REALLY REALLY annoys most watch guys is that Rolex USED TO BE genuine tool watches. Then they fell victim to “Louis Vuitton Syndrome”. Vuitton used to make some of the best leather in Europe…..120 years ago. Now they sell mediocre bags at stratospheric prices. And they don’t even make them where they claim to make them. At least with Rolex, you ARE getting a technically superior watch as time moves on. But that is the excuse they use to inflate the prices to insulting levels. They find ways to justify massive prices, like “904L steel” and RolexRolexRolexRolexRolex all around the rehaut (which hugely cheapens the look if you ask me). And then they do other things which actively detract from the stated mission, like refusing to use AR coatings, like polishing tool watches (!), like writing everything they can think of on the dial…..all for one reason; to lure in the “consumer” in their fancy boutiques with all the spot lighting shining nicely on the brand new, impeccable finish. They take tool watches and fancy them up, making them less correct for the job. And they don’t care because they are raking it in. Here’s an infallible method to decide whether a watch is a tool or not. Imagine it banged-up. Imagine a gouge out of one lug, a scratched crystal, badly-damaged bezel. Will it look better, or ruined? If the answer is “B”, it is not a tool watch.

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• Rolex watches
• The Yacht-Master collection The Yacht-Master collection
• M226659-0002

Rolex Yacht-Master 42 Oyster, 42 mm, white gold

All prices are Rolex’s suggested retail price before applicable taxes. The suggested price can be modified at any time without notice.

All prices are Rolex's suggested retail prices inclusive of V.A.T. Prices can be modified at any time without notice.

ROLEX PRICING POLICIES

Please contact us or visit your nearest Tourneau location for information and pricing of this timepiece.

Prices can be modified at any time without notice.

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.

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.

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.

All Rolex watches are assembled by hand with the utmost care to ensure exceptional quality. Such high standards naturally restrict Rolex production capacity and, at times, the demand for Rolex watches outpaces this capacity.

Therefore, the availability of certain models may be limited. New Rolex watches are exclusively sold by Official Rolex Jewelers, who receive regular deliveries and independently manage the allocation and sales of watches to customers.

Tourneau I Bucherer is proud to be part of the worldwide network of Official Rolex Jewelers and can provide information on the availability of Rolex watches.

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Rolex Yacht-Master 42 White Gold Men's Watch M226659-0002

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• (954) 782-5000

Rolex YACHT-MASTER Oyster, 42 mm, white gold M226659-0002

Yacht-master 42.

Oyster, 42 mm, white gold

+1 954-710-5742

Model availability

Water-resistance

Waterproof to 100 metres / 330 feet

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

Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding

3235, Manufacture Rolex

Power reserve

Approximately 70 hours

Certification

Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casing)

The Oysterflex Bracelet

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 kt 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 kt white gold

By operating its own exclusive foundry, Rolex has the unrivalled ability to cast the highest quality 18 kt gold alloys. According to the proportion of silver, copper, platinum or palladium added, different types of 18 kt 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

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.

All Rolex watches are assembled by hand with the utmost care to ensure exceptional quality. Such high standards naturally restrict Rolex production capacity and, at times, the demand for Rolex watches outpaces this capacity.

Therefore, the availability of certain models may be limited. New Rolex watches are exclusively sold by Official Rolex Jewelers, who receive regular deliveries and independently manage the allocation and sales of watches to customers. J.R. Dunn is proud to be part of the worldwide network of Official Rolex Jewelers and can provide information on the availability of Rolex watches.

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Thank you for your interest in Rolex watches. Please enter your message below and we will be delighted to assist you.

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Yacht-Master

A valuable tool watch

A technical and elegant watch, the Yacht-Master is a reliable nautical instrument on the wrist.

Its graduated bidirectional bezel allows for precise measurement and reading of time intervals when navigating. This tool watch benefits from innovations that improve its legibility and wearers’ comfort in all circumstances.

Graduated bidirectional bezel Precision and legibility on the wrist

The bidirectional bezel with raised 60-minute graduations is a key feature of the Yacht-Master. Entirely crafted in precious metal – 18 kt Everose gold or 950 platinum – or fitted with a black Cerachrom bezel insert in high-technology ceramic, it is an essential part of the watch’s identity.

With its polished markers and numerals, which stand out clearly from the matt surface, the bezel guarantees optimal reading of time intervals, for example, the sailing time between two buoys. Furthermore, the detailed graduation of the first 15 minutes offers extra precision when reading navigational time.

The bidirectional rotating mechanism relies on a ring bearing 120 notches for precise and fluid adjustment to the nearest half-minute. Lastly, the bezel has a knurled edge, making it easy to manipulate in all conditions.

Gold, Rolesor and Rolesium Precious alloys and exclusive combinations

Rolex gold is an intrinsic part of the Yacht-Master’s identity: 18 kt yellow, white or Everose gold are comprised of 750‰ pure gold and blends of silver, copper and palladium. They are all entirely created and cast in our own foundry.

The Yacht-Master in 18 kt Everose gold is available in two diameters: 37 mm and 40 mm. Each of these versions is also available with a diamond-paved dial. The 18 kt yellow gold and 18 kt white gold versions are reserved for the Yacht-Master 42.

Rolex gold is also combined with Oystersteel – a particularly corrosion-resistant alloy – for the Everose Rolesor versions of the Yacht-Master 37 and Yacht-Master 40. They combine a bezel and centre links in Everose gold with a middle case, winding crown, case back and outer links in Oystersteel.

The Yacht-Master 37 and the Yacht-Master 40 are also available in Rolesium versions, an alliance of platinum and steel. They combine a platinum bezel with a middle case, winding crown, case back and bracelet in Oystersteel.

RLX titanium Robustness and lightness

RLX titanium made its first appearance in the Yacht-Master range in 2023. The grade 5 titanium alloy selected by Rolex is a particularly lightweight metal and is noted for its mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. Its use for the Yacht-Master 42’s case and bracelet has reduced the weight of the watch by around a third compared to a similar watch in steel. RLX titanium is complex to work with and has required the introduction of special production processes.

The combination of polished, high-sheen and technical satin finishes illustrates our excellence in machining and finishing techniques. Together, they produce a subtle blend of textures and light, setting off the gleaming polished surface of the crown guard and the lustrous high-sheen on the top edges of the lugs against the matt of the technical satin finishing – with its pronounced grain – visible on the rest of the case and bracelet.

Bracelets, clasps and extension systems Comfort and security on the wrist

Chromalight display and cyclops lens for optimal legibility.

Equipped with the Chromalight display and the Cyclops lens, the Yacht-Master combines two exclusive Rolex features that improve legibility.

The Chromalight display provides optimum legibility, whatever the light conditions. The luminescent material is applied by experts to the hands and the large hour markers which have simple shapes (triangle, circle and rectangle) that are characteristic of Rolex professional watches. Brilliant white in daylight, this material emits an intense blue glow in the dark.

Introduced in 2008, the Chromalight display was optimized in 2021 to maintain the intensity of the blue glow for longer. The performance of this luminescent substance clearly exceeds the standards required by watchmaking norms.

Designed to improve the readability of the date thanks to its magnifying effect, the Cyclops lens is both an aesthetic and technical signature of the brand. This Rolex invention was patented in the early 1950s. Like the crystal of the watch, it is made of virtually scratchproof sapphire and benefits from a double anti-reflective coating.

Calibres 3235 and 2236 Superlative performance