rolex yacht master ii homage

10 Rolex Yacht-Master Alternatives (Homage & Affordable Watch Options)

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The Rolex Yacht-Master is the ultimate nautical watch . Purpose-built for sailing, the Rolex Yacht-Master is an indispensable marine tool and a benchmark in watchmaking. With Rolex pedigree, a rich history, and a glorious reputation, the watch remains immensely sought after. However, like with any Rolex model, the pricing keeps many away. For instance, a brand new Yacht-Master within the most economical configuration can set you back by over nine thousand USD. Don’t let this worry you though. That is to say, there are many homages and affordable alternatives you can consider instead of the expensive Rolex Yacht-Master. In this article, we will recommend a list of alternative watches from various brands. Above all, the list will feature models across different price ranges making sure there is something for everybody. Before we look at our alternatives, let us learn more about the Yacht-Master itself.

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Rolex Yacht-Master

Best Affordable Rolex Yacht-Master Alternatives

NOTE: This article features alternatives to the Rolex Yacht-Master and not the Yacht-Master II.

Invicta Pro Diver 9210

See on Invicta | Read Amazon Reviews

  Swiss brand Invicta bears a rich history. Founded in 1837 by Raphael Picard in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the brand focused on affordable luxury. Since the brand’s re-establishment in 1991, it remains based in Hollywood, Florida. For this list, we’re looking at Invicta’s Pro Diver 9210 model. This model is almost identical to the Rolex Yacht-Master. For instance, the overall design of the case and its constituents are just like that of the Rolex. Furthermore, the 40mm stainless steel case hosts a Japanese Caliber NH35A automatic movement and is visible through the clear rear. In addition, the watch is water-resistant up to 200M and is available in different finishes/colors. More importantly, all Invicta models come with a three-year warranty. You may read about the brand Invicta here. 

Davosa Ternos Collection

See on Davosa | See on Amazon

  The Davosa name originated from a collection under the Fabrique d’horlogerie Hasler & Co SA brand in Switzerland. Launched in 1987, the collection gained immense popularity globally and grew to the brand we know of today. The family-owned brand offers its Ternos Collection to consider for the Rolex Yacht-Master alternatives. The Ternos Ceramic, Medium, and Professional offer great alternatives for you to choose from. The three collections offer Yacht-Master like models measuring in different diameters, colors, and price points. We will specifically look at the Ternos Ceramic Automatic to highlight some features. The 40mm all stainless steel watch runs on the DAV 3021 automatic movement. A ceramic, unidirectional rotating bezel sits around the anti-glare, sapphire crystal. The dial markers and hands are luminous and the watch itself is water-resistant up to 20ATM. Read our review on Davosa here. 

Steinhart Ocean One

See on Steinhart | Find on eBay

German brand Steinhart is another brand to consider for homage models. Founded in 2001 by Gunther Steinhart in Augsburg, the watch brand markets itself as ‘Swiss Made’. The brand’s Ocean One model under the diver’s series offers a good alternative to the Rolex Yacht-Master. Available at a fraction of the Rolex price, the Ocean One features Swiss made ETA 2824-2 movement. The 42mm case hosts Rolex like hour markers, hands, a date display at 3 under a cyclops lens. A graduated ceramic bezel sits on the case. In addition, the markers and hands remain Superluminova treated and the watch is water-resistant up to 30ATM. The brand offers this model in a host of color and strap options to choose from. Also, you can opt for models without a date display. Let us now look at a few premia, technically proficient, and luxury alternatives to the Rolex Yacht-Master.

Parnis Yachtmaster

See on Parnis

If you like the Rolex Yacht-Master exclusively for its styling, consider this homage brands. These ‘Rolex lookalikes’ by Parnis are available at incredibly affordable prices. Launched in 2005, the Chinese brand Parnis majorly markets in the United States and Europe. The brand remains sought after as they offer homage models to many Swiss luxury watches. For instance, the Parnis Yachtmaster draws its design entirely from the Rolex. From the bezel ring, the dial design, cyclops lens, hands, and markers, every detail reflects here. Made of 316L steel, the model measures at 41mm. In addition, the hands and hour markers are luminous and the watch itself is water-resistant up to 5ATM.

Alpha Yachtsman

See on Alpha

Another homage brand well regarded for its decent build quality and close design detail is the watch brand Alpha. Established in 1993 and based in Hong Kong, the brand claims all its models undergo tests with ‘sophisticated Swiss instruments’. The watchmaker’s Alpha Yachtsman is a great homage alternative and is available at a fraction of the Rolex price. The model bears striking resemblance to the Rolex Yacht-Master. This Chinese model hosts a self-winding automatic movement within the 44mm stainless steel case. In addition, it features a date display under a cyclops lens and a bezel just like that of the Rolex. The watch is water-resistant up to 3ATM and comes with a one year warranty. More importantly, Alpha watches are a great value for their economical pricing.

Oris Divers Sixty Five

See on Oris | See on Jomashop

Founded in 1904 in Hölstein, Switzerland by Paul Cattin and Georges Christian, Oris offers a premium and well-built alternative. We recommend the Oris Divers Sixty Five for this list for its Rolex like design and features. The watch’s retro design reflects the iconic Oris diver’s collection from the 60s. The 40mm anti-corrosive stainless steel watch runs on an automatic movement under the blue dial. The indices and hands on the dial are luminous. However, unlike the Rolex, the date display is at 6 o’clock instead of 3 o’clock. The bezel bears a close resemblance in design to that of the Yacht-Master. In addition, the Oris Divers Sixty Five is water-resistant up to 10bar. Furthermore, Oris offers a host of configuration options to add to the Rolex feel, making this a good alternative. Read about the brand Oris here. 

Longines Hydroconquest

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Swiss luxury brand Longines traces its history to 1832 in Saint-Imier. The watchmaker remains renowned for their exquisite designs across their collections. The Hydroconquest collection offers great models for divers and watch enthusiasts. In addition, the collection offers an alternative to our list. Specifically, the Hydroconquest L3. 781. 4. 76. 6. This stainless steel and ceramic model looks slightly similar to the Yacht-Master while ensuring it stands out as a Longines. The 41mm case hosts Caliber L888 Automatic movement under the ‘Sunray Grey’ dial. Underneath the anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, the dial features Arabic numerals at 6, 9, and 12. In addition, the hands and hour markers remain Swiss Super-LumiNova treated and the date window sits at 3 o’clock. On top, a unidirectional rotating bezel just like that of the Rolex is present for time calculations. Above all, this model is water-resistant up to 30 bar. Click here to know more about Longines . 

Tag Heuer Autavia Collection

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If retro or vintage styling is your preference, consider the Tag Heuer Autavia Collection. This luxury Swiss brand took off in 1860 when Edouard Heuer founded the company. Subsequently, in 1985 after a majority purchase by the TAG Group, the name Tag Heuer formed. After that, LVMH, a French luxury goods brand bough the brand. Over the years the Tag Heuer name has gained great acclaim and reputation. The Heuer Autavia hence makes a good candidate as a luxury alternative. In addition, it boasts of great features. For instance, the 42mm steel and the ceramic watch runs on Calibre 5 COSC automatic movement. The dial hosts retro-themed Arabic numerals and a date window at 6 o’clock. On the case sits a sleek rotating bezel. Furthermore, the watch is water-resistant up to 100m and the collection offers 6 models to choose from. We’re now approaching the Rolex price tag territory.

Breitling Superocean Automatic 44

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  Check Discounted Price

If you’re strictly looking at a luxury brand alternative offering a similar watch, it’s worth considering Breitling. Founded by Léon Breitling in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, the company currently sits in Grenchen. The 132-year-old Swiss luxury brand remains globally sought after for its aviation-inspired professional and luxury watches. However, the brand designs equally stunning and capable marine/nautical watches. Case in point, the Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 . Powered by Breitling 17 self-winding mechanical movement, this model measures at 44mm. Breitling also offers the same design in 36, 42, 46, and 48mm. The watch features a unidirectional and ratcheted bezel around the glare-proofed and cambered sapphire crystal. Underneath, the dial hosts a date display at 3 o’clock along with luminous and hour markers. In addition, the watch is also available in diver friendly rubber straps. Above all, the watch is water-resistant up to 1000m , making it an ideal marine tool. See our full comparison of Breitling vs Rolex here.

Omega Seamaster 300

  Buy New | Buy Pre-Owned

Almost as expensive as the Rolex and an equal in every way. Swiss brand Omega remains in the upper echelons of luxury Swiss watch brands. Founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the brand is now a subsidiary of the Swiss Swatch Group. Headquartered in Biel, Omega boasts of a diverse and sophisticated collection. The Seamaster 300 also takes on a retro design approach. Inspired by the original Seamaster 300 from 1957, the updated version is incredibly desirable. The polished and brushed 41mm stainless steel case hosts the anti-magnetic Omega Master Co-Axial calibre 8400. The workings are visible through the clear rear. Under the domed, anti‑reflective, and scratch‑resistant sapphire crystal we see rhodium-plated hands filled with  ‘vintage’ Super-LumiNova. A unidirectional rotating polished ceramic bezel ring sits on top with a Liquidmetal diving scale. Above all, this model comes with Omega’s five-year warranty and is water-resistant up to 300m. If you have no limitations financially, treat yourself to the 60th-anniversary special edition version of the Omega Seamaster 300. Part of the 1957 Trilogy set, this specialty watch is a collector’s must-have. Limited to just 557 pieces and measuring at 39mm with a bidirectional bezel, it commands a staggering price.

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6 Best Rolex Yacht-Master Homages & Alternatives in 2023

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Steinhart Ocean 39...

Davosa Ternos

Pagani Design PD-1...

Alpha Yachtsman

Parnis Yacht Maste...

Gigandet Ocean Kin...

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How Did I Come Up With My List?

6 best rolex yacht-master homages, 3 quality rolex yacht-master alternatives, which rolex yacht-master homage should you get.

Though the Yacht-Master is a function-forward tool watch, it’s also the snazzy boat club counterpart to the Submariner. It’s often built with platinum or gold, and generally falls on the higher end of the price spectrum when it comes to Rolex’s professional watches.

Instead of dedicating a few paychecks to one watch, check out our six best homages.

The Yacht-Master is a sport watch that you wear to impress.

After all, it’s built with precious metals and patented Rolex materials made especially and exclusively for the line. Plus, its generous bezel is iconic and recognizable from a mile away.

Believe it or not, you can impress without having to drop a few grand. 

Our six best Rolex Yacht-Master homages here are a mix of surprisingly cheap close-to-template look-alikes, and inspired but comparably affordable luxury timepieces. Even the most expensive entries are a fraction of the cost of a Yacht-Master.

Read on to see which of the six is the best fit for you, or to find out if you’d rather go with one of our three alternatives.

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As a long-time auction house professional, I’ve come across countless Yacht-Masters of all references. I developed this list using this background, along with my experience using my choice homages and many more that didn’t cut it. 

I also deliberated with colleagues, watch collectors within and outside of my clientele, and watch specialists in my field. On top of that, I spent countless hours reading and watching reviews, and diving into forums and Reddit threads. As such, All perspectives and priorities are considered in this list.

Steinhart Ocean 39 GMT Ceramic

• Medium Wrists Ideal for 6.6 to 7.4 inch wrists. Metrics: 35-45mm case size / 42-56mm lug to lug width, while also considering size of bezel, hour marker circle size, lug protrusion, strap, and color of dial i
• Small Wrists Ideal for 5.5 to 6.5 inch wrists. Metrics: 28-40mm case size / 35-50mm lug to lug width, while also considering size of bezel, hour marker circle size, lug protrusion, strap, and color of dial i
• Movement:  Automatic
• Case Size:  39mm
• Lug to Lug:  47mm
• Band:  Stainless steel bracelet
• Water Resistance:  30m

In addition to looking like the Yacht-Master , the Steinhart GMT Ocean 39 Ceramic boasts the combined qualities of a dive watch and a GMT. It has a 24-hour hand, a complete calendar, excellent Super LumiNova, and a ceramic bezel that’s durable and resistant to fading.

The Ocean 39 isn’t just a great homage, but a compelling value proposition of a tool watch.

Thanks to its generously-sized bezel, you might think it is the Yacht-Master at first glance. As any quality homage though, its thoughtful differences allow it to stand on its own. 

The GMT hand adds a pop of color on top of its extra functionality. Plus, it may not come in as many sizes as its source material, but the 39mm is a reasonable middle-ground between large and small cases that suits most, if not all, wrists. 

It even comes in a two-tone “Chocolate” version reminiscent of the gold and steel versions of the Yacht-Master.

The Ocean 39 runs on the Elaboré version of the already reliable SW200, which is leveled up in accuracy and precision.

What I Like

• This watch not only looks a lot like the Yacht-Master , but wears like it as well thanks to the large bezel-to-case ratio, and equally as generous case-to-lugs ratio.
• It runs on a premium and accurate 21-jewel Swiss movement that’s anti-magnetic and anti-shock.
• This timepiece combines dive and GMT watch features, making it a robust and function-forward tool watch.

What I Don’t Like

• The Steinhart stock buckle is friction-based, for a less-than-smooth action. You also need an extra 16mm end link if you want to add a replacement.

What Do Other Reviewers Say?

Reviewers are impressed with the flawless finishing, particularly in how perfectly the bezel lines up with the indices. Many also rave about how comfortable this watch is to wear, crediting it to the universal 39mm case size and smooth lugs.

Many mention that while the 21-click bezel is crisp and strong, it can be hard to grip due to how thin it is.

Overall, the Ocean 39 is popular in watch forum communities , many agreeing it punches way above its price point.

The Verdict

The Steinhart GMT Ocean 39 Ceramic has the robust looks of the Yacht-Master and the premium build of a Swiss luxury watch for a fraction of the typical cost.

It has an accurate automatic movement, a flat sapphire with a beautiful blue AR-coat, and a strong ceramic bezel that’s highly polished. It’s also a dive watch with Submariner -level water resistance as well as a GMT hand, making it a multi-hyphenate tool watch.

The Steinhart Ocean 39 Vintage GMT Premium Ceramic is our top pick for three reasons. You get a lot of function out of this timepiece, thanks to its combination of dive watch and travel watch features. Second, each function is premiumly-built, from the Swiss Elaboré movement to the hard-clicking bezel and effortless bracelet operation.

• Case Size:  40mm
• Lug to Lug:  48mm
• Water Resistance:  200m

The most immediately-seen remarkable quality about the Swiss-made Davosa Ternos is the watch’s overall finishing. The brushing on the bracelet and lugs is clean, and the applications are flawless, and well-aligned for effective legibility.

Even the Mercedes hour hand is immaculately executed. 

The date cyclops offers crystal clarity, which is remarkable since cyclops windows are often go-to short-cuts for homage-makers at any price point.

The Ternos runs on the DAV 3021, which is based on the Sellita series 200, a clone of ETA 2824. This movement is a reliable workhorse that matches automatic Swiss movements at higher price points.

It’s also easy to regulate. And since almost all watchmakers have experience with this movement, you’ll have no issues finding someone to service it.

• Davosa’s rendition of the ETA 2824 movement beats at a precise 28,800 BPH which gives the second hand a continuous and steady movement.
• Comes with a two-year warranty and is sent directly to you from Davosa via Express Courier.
• A genuine Swiss-made luxury timepiece, from its high-tech ceramic bezel, soft blue sapphire, President bracelet, to its refined finishing throughout
• The minute hand is a little short and doesn’t touch the outer minute track.

The Ternos is one of the most popular Yacht-Master homages , with forum-goers often considering Davos at the top of the homage pecking order.

Reviewers praise the watch’s accuracy, craftsmanship, and solid end links which provide a stable but comfortable experience. 

A few Amazon reviewers mention long shipping times. As always, keep in touch with your seller and do your research to make sure they’re reputable.

If your main priority is clean finishing and a high-end looking construction, the Davosa Ternos offers considerate quality-to-price. The brand’s reputation in the watch world also adds a level of street cred. 

Its durable and reliable Swiss movement is based on a familiar often-used caliber, which means this watch can last you for decades.

If your main priority is clean finishing and a high-end looking construction, the Davosa Ternos offers considerate quality-to-price. The brand’s reputation in the watch world also adds a level of street cred. Its durable and reliable Swiss movement is based on a familiar often-used caliber, which means this watch can last you for decades.

Pagani Design PD-1651

• Water Resistance:  100m

Not only is the Pagani PD-1651 an almost-exact replica of the Yacht-Master , but it comes in 14 different colorways. Between the wide-ranging options and the sub-100 price point, the 1651 has a collectible quality about it too.

Regardless of which one you go for, the sunburst dial behind the applied indices offers legibility and beautiful lightplay that makes the watch look far more expensive than it is.

On the function front, this watch has respectably long-lasting lume, and runs on a popular Seiko movement. The NH35A is fairly accurate. More importantly, it will last a long time without needing service thanks to its low rate of six beats per second.

• The design is almost a one-for-one with the Yacht-Master , including the signature bezel number placement to the half-recessed crown.
• The sunburst dial behind the applied indices offers legibility and attractive lightplay.
• Seiko’s NH35A automatic movement is easily hacked and serviced.
• Pagani’s stainless steel bracelets come with stiff links, and the microadjustment is hard to use due to the small side holes which are difficult to locate.

Reviewers love the PD-1651 ’s high-end looking sunburst and automatic movement, given its sub-100 price point.

Some reviewers complain that Pagani’s product descriptions are misleading. One example is that most sellers, using copy straight from the brand, report that the dial protector is sapphire. 

While it’s almost as scratch-resistant as actual sapphire, Pagani uses an artificial sapphire-like glass.

The Pagani PD-1651 is the perfect watch to test-drive the vibe of the Yacht-Master . It’s one of the visually closest homages on the market, is easily found well under $100, and comes in several colorways.

On top of that, it runs on a Seiko automatic, at the cost of most quartz watches.

The Pagani PD-1651 is the perfect watch to test-drive the vibe of the Yacht-Master. It’s one of the visually closest homages on the market, is easily found well under $100, and comes in several colorways. On top of that, it runs on a Seiko automatic, at the cost of most quartz watches.

• Case Size:  44mm

As a brand, Alpha’s attention to detail is superb, especially for its price tag. The Yachtsman is no exception. 

The index iron silver dial shimmers and catches the light effectively from every angle. It’s complemented by an icy silver-tone bezel, complete with well–polished raised numbers exactly like the Yacht-Master ’s. Out of all the affordable homages on this market, this combination best mimics the Yacht-Master’s silvery white Rolesium construction.

Even the crown is signed, which showcases an attention to detail rarely seen at this price point.

Alpha isn’t always forthcoming about who manufactures the Yachtmaster’s automatic movement, but I’m 99% sure it’s Seagull.

• A clear attention to detail is seen throughout the design, from the silver dial, applied indices, brushed and polished surfaces, and signed crown.
• The 21-jewel automatic is surprisingly accurate, which isn’t usually the case when homage makes use discreet Chinese movements.
• Alpha offers a one year manufacturer warranty making each purchase secure, no matter how affordable.
• This watch isn’t water resistant.

Reviewers enjoy how well-executed the silver tone of the dial and bezel are. 

Additionally, while most Seagull and Seagull-like movements are usually noisy, many are impressed with how Alpha watches don’t often come with movement issues. Alpha is likely servicing all of the Chinese movements before equipping their watches with them.

The Alpha Yachtsman is an affordable answer to the platinum-based Rolesium-constructed Yacht-Master . At around $100, it doesn’t have the exact natural shine of Rolex’s patented materials. Still, the lustrous iron dial, slick silver bezel, and polished numbers all work together to imitate a similar kind of lightplay.

The Alpha Yachtsman is an affordable answer to the platinum-based Rolesium-constructed Yacht-Master. At around $100, it doesn’t have the exact natural shine of Rolex’s patented materials. Still, the lustrous iron dial, slick silver bezel, and polished numbers all work together to imitate a similar kind of lightplay.

Parnis Yacht Master

• Movement:  Automatic movement
• Case Size:  41mm, 43mm
• Lug to Lug:  46mm, 48mm
• Water Resistance:  50m

The Parnis Yacht Master is another excellent close-to-template option that’s a fraction of the price of its inspiration piece. 

What separates it from other homages is that Parnis embodies one particular component of the spirit of the Yacht-Master that not all homage-makers dip into: its use of different materials.

Sure, Parnis isn’t building their Yacht-Master with platinum or illegally using Rolex Oystersteel and Everose. 

But in addition to ceramic black and silver-toned bezels, you can get this watch in rose gold plated stainless steel, a durable and commanding PVD case—and several other material variations if you just scour the internet.

• Parnis uses different materials not only to create aesthetic variations, but also to offer different functions, like its PVD case colorway.
• This watch offers thoughtful visual differences, like the double-shield 12 marker, orange second hand, and textured dial variations, allowing it to stand apart from the Yacht-Master while still maintaining the same look.
• The end of the lugs curve, which offers a sleek design and a comfortable wear on the wrist.
• It’s almost impossible to catch the threads on the screw down crown, making it difficult to use.

Reviewers praise the aesthetic of the Parnis Yacht Master , and the variations in construction.

Many recommend being diligent when dealing with online Parnis sellers from Asia—and I agree with them.

One Parnis customer mentions that he didn’t receive the extra links he requested to make his watch fit properly. Relatedly, this Reddit reviewer received an ill-fitting bracelet.

The Parnis Yacht Master offers function-forward variations that even Rolex’s Yacht-Master doesn’t have. If you love the precious metal look, but not the price, Parnis will have a version for you. If you wished Rolex would make more tool-looking Yacht-Masters, the PVD Parnis with a textured case is an effective answer.

The Parnis Yacht Master offers function-forward variations that even Rolex’s Yacht-Master doesn’t have. If you love the precious metal look, but not the price, Parnis will have a version for you. If you wished Rolex would make more tool-looking Yacht-Masters, the PVD Parnis with a textured case is an effective answer.

Gigandet Ocean King

• Large Wrists Ideal for 7.5+ inch wrists. Metrics: 40mm+ case size / 50mm+ lug to lug width, while also considering size of bezel, hour marker circle size, lug protrusion, strap, and color of dial i
• Case Size:  43.7mm
• Lug to Lug:  51mm
• Water Resistance:  300m

Gigandet’s Ocean King has one of the best executed dials in the Yacht-Master homage world. They come as a jaw-droppingly dimensional sunburst variation (in blue or green), and as a flawlessly silken white and black.

A true-blue luxury option, Gigandet takes the Yacht-Master design, and executes it with the discipline of German engineering. The cyclops is clear, the brushing is exquisite, and the red second hand adds a distinct pop of color.

This watch is loaded with useful functions and runs on a strong and shock-resistant automatic movement equipped with 24 jewels.

• With its 300m of water resistance, extra bright Iume, and safety folding clasp with a double-bracket and dive extension, this Gigandet is an authentic function-heavy tool watch.
• The finishing on this watch is luxury-level, seen especially in its beautiful dials and perfect applications.
• The 24-jewel automatic movement is sturdy, and can handle pressure and shock.
• Gigandet watches can be hard to find outside of Europe, so you’ll have to pay the shipping premium if you aren’t on the continent.

Reviewers not only love the Gigandet Ocean King for its similarities to the Yacht-Master , but as a worthy entry-level luxury watch in general. Many mention how its finishing is equal to Swiss watches several times its price.

With the brand’s Swiss roots and its German-based revival, the brand is also respected among watch collectors.

From its double-coated sapphire, attractive dial, and several useful operations, the Gigandet Ocean King is the Yacht-Master built more affordably and with German precision.

Comparisons aside, the Ocean King is independently reputable and well-constructed in its own right.

From its double-coated sapphire, attractive dial, and several useful operations, the Gigandet Ocean King is the Yacht-Master built more affordably and with German precision. Comparisons aside, the Ocean King is independently reputable and well-constructed in its own right.

Unlike an homage, which is built as a visual tribute to a more expensive watch, an alternative is a comparable model that isn’t always less expensive. It can be a competitor’s counterpart or a similar option within the same brand.

If you’re in the market for a Yacht-Master or homage, check out our worthwhile alternatives first.

Oris Divers Sixty-Five

• Versatile Pick
• Movement:  Swiss automatic
• Case Size:  36mm
• Band:  Rubber strap

Like the Yacht-Master, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five is a robust tool watch with a graduated scratch-resistant ceramic bezel. The Oris, however, is rugged in different places on its body than the Yacht-Master is. The utilitarian rubbers strap offers a less sleek aesthetic than a stainless steel oyster or president would.

Meanwhile, thanks to the Divers Sixty-Five ’s vintage leanings, the bezel is thinner with smaller numbers and the crown is guardless, for a sleeker and simpler look. Still, all of the practical qualities are there from the double-domed AR-sapphire to the Swiss automatic movement.

Longines HydroConquest

• Case Size:  41mm
• Lug to Lug:  50mm

Neither the Longines HydroConquest or the Yacht-Master are afraid of big features. Both watches have similar bezels and are designed for amphibious wearers.

The HydroConquest , however, is distinguished in looks because of its gigantic six, nine, and 12 markers. If you love the wide look of the Yacht-Master , but are also attracted to aviation-inspired designs, this Swiss automatic is for you.

Breitling Superocean 44

• Lug to Lug:  52.7mm
• Water Resistance:  1000m

The Breitling SuperOcean 44 has bulky features, just like the Yacht-Master. Unlike the Yacht-Master though, Breitling built this watch to be extra beefed up all-around. Its lug-to-lug size is a considerable 52.7mm and, as a true diver’s watch, this guy boasts 1000m of water resistance.

Aesthetically, the SuperOcean 44 has a more animated look to it. Its dial is matte, the indices are heavily outlined like an illustration, and the font for the 6, 9, and twelve look like a cleaned-up version of the BAM!s and POW!s in the ‘60s Batman show. It has fun features that don’t take away from its overall professional look.

With its impressive materials and extra functionalities, the Steinhart is our top pick Yacht-Master homage.

If you want to go the affordable luxury route, the Davosa Ternos and Gigandet Ocean King are both well-respected level-ups.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Alpha Yachtman , Pagani PD-1651 , and the Parnis Yacht Master are cheap but well-built look-alikes each with a distinct offering.

Even if you’re looking to get a Yacht-Master one day, it’s always worth trying out some homages before making the investment.

Is the Yacht-Master a dive watch?

With 100m of water resistance, the Yacht-Master is designed for sports on the water. Though this is enough for most swimmers, a true professional dive watch needs at least 200m of resistance.

Is the Yacht-Master the same as the Submariner?

No. While the Yacht-Master is built for sports near or on water, like boating, the Submariner is the dedicated pro-dive watch.

Ever since I received an Omega Seamaster for my 16th birthday, I fell in love with watches. Professionally, this led me to work for New York and LA’s leading auction houses. Personally, it led to a life as a collector, my Seamaster and my Explorer II being my favorite timepieces.

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The best Rolex yachtmaster homage

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Bought a Rolex ym back in 2017 from davidsw in Orlando and I love it. What I didn't love is that it showed wear very easy. Secondly the 7,500 looked better in my bank account. So I discovered this homage that has long since been discontinued probably the best ym homage ever made . Anyone else have this model  

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Dedan said: Very nice! I own a Yacht Master 'homage' (I realise it's more a copy tbh) from Parnis: View attachment 14848161 Can't say I've seen that Invicta for sale anywhere. Click to expand...

yankeexpress said: Have several YachtMonster Click to expand...

hmm some nice watches in a style that i havent come across before. thanks guys for the photos and keep them coming.  

Wow didn't know there were so many homages . Great pics  

Any sub 200$ YM homages that are 200m (or greater WR)? I think the original YM was only 100m WR.  

The Invicta is 200  

Pagani Design of Aliexpress fame just came out with a YM homage. It seems to be getting good reviews. Ceramic bezel, sapphire crystal...and I believe it's running a nh35.  

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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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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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6 Beautiful Pictures of the Yacht-Master II

Get your sea legs with the Yacht-Master II

Sailing into the scene in 2010, the Rolex Yacht-Master II was built specifically with the yachting crowd in mind. At 44mm in diameter, it’s a whale of a watch that sits confidently on a wrist. As with other Rolex tool watches, the Yacht-Master II boasts features that are actually valuable for its specific audience, and in this case, for the yachtsmen, the Yacht-Master II is equipped with a regatta timer.

The Yacht-Master II’s mechanical regatta chronograph movement – Rolex Caliber 4161 – gives skippers a countdown feature with a patented mechanical memory that can be programmed from 10 minutes to one minute. The timer, a practical feature for those who compete in the open seas, ensures that the racing vessels cross the starting line precisely at the right time. Even more remarkable is that if there are modifications to the official race countdown, the watch’s timer can be changed on the fly even if its countdown has already begun. The timer function is actually programmed from the watch’s bezel, dubbed by Rolex as the “Ring Command Bezel” which controls parts of the movement.

Aside from its technical prowess, the Yacht-Master is also impressive to look at. Available in four different materials – stainless steel , yellow gold , Everose gold and stainless steel, and white gold – each model is more impressive than the next. The bezel of the stainless steel, yellow gold, and Everose gold versions are outfitted with a blue Cerachrom insert in ceramic for a bold appearance, while the white gold version has a bezel in solid platinum for a monochromatic look.

Between the large numbers on the bezel, the four hands, the hour-markers, the sub-dial at 6 o’clock and countdown scale on the dial, the Yacht-Master II has the danger of being too cluttered to look at. Yet, Rolex has managed to take all that information and design the face of the watch in a way that is harmonious, balanced, and just great to look at.

To keep the elements at bay while out at sea, the Oyster case of the Yacht-Master II is armed with a screw-down winding crown with the Triplock triple waterproof system for a case that’s not only watertight, but also waterproof to 330 feet. Finishing off the nautical sports watch is the Oyster bracelet in matching materials – stainless steel, yellow gold, Everose Rolesor and white gold – with the customary Easylink system for length adjustment up to 5mm.

Not so much an evolution of the first Yacht-Master collection, but rather a revolution, the Yacht-Master II is an unapologetic demonstration of the brand’s technical watchmaking innovation and skill, coupled with a striking design that is very different other Rolex sports models. It is a Rolex that charts it’s own course.

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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SwissWatchExpo Ultimate Guide to the Rolex Yacht-Master and Yacht-Master II

The Rolex Yacht-Master collection pays homage to the brand’s connection to the world of sailing. Precision and dependability are vital for tools used in navigating open seas, and the Yacht-Master’s reliable, waterproof, and robust qualities make it the perfect timepiece for the sport.

The  Rolex Yacht-Master  collection pays homage to the brand’s connection to the world of sailing. Precision and dependability are vital for tools used in navigating open seas, and the Yacht-Master’s reliable, waterproof, and robust qualities make it the perfect timepiece for the sport.

While the original Rolex Yacht-Master is a stylish and ultra-luxe sport accessory for boating enthusiasts, the Yacht-Master II put together the best of Rolex technology to accurately time regatta races. Whether you’re lounging on a boat, or racing one, there is a Yacht-Master watch for you.

Learn more with  SwissWatchExpo ‘s Ultimate Guide to the Rolex Yacht-Master collection.

Rolex Yacht-Master II Rolesor Everose Gold Steel 116681

About the Rolex Yacht-Master Collection

The  Rolex Yacht-Master  is one of the brand’s youngest collections, having been introduced only 1992. And yet, it’s already one of their most diverse, with two distinct models under the family of watches, and dozens of permutations when it comes to dial designs, bezel styles, and bracelet options.

A look into its history shows that Rolex had plans for a yacht-themed watch decades before the Yacht-Master line was launched. Today, it’s a mainstay in the Rolex catalog.

Here are important milestones in the Rolex Yacht-Master and Yacht-Master II history.

1958:  Rolex entered a partnership with the prestigious New York Yacht Club, a social and boating club which sponsors an annual regatta.

1966:  Rolex solidified its ties to the world of sailing when Francis Chichester – one of the world’s pioneering aviators and solo sailors – became the first person to sail around the globe while wearing a Rolex on his wrist. He sailed on his yacht, the Gipsy Moth IV, from August 1966 to May 1967, taking him 29,600 miles around the world.

1970s:  Rolex never got around to creating a watch specifically for this category. The brand did make a prototype of the Cosmograph chronograph with the name “Yacht Master” on its dial, but they ultimately decided not to bring it to market.

1992:  Rolex finally introduced the modern Yacht-Master – the brand’s first luxury sports watch built for the open seas. Whereas Rolex’s previous sports watches had utilitarian themes – the Submariner for diving, the Daytona for racing, and so on – the Yacht-Master was focused on aesthetics and luxury.

1994:  Rolex introduces midsize and ladies’ models of the Yacht-Master

1996:  Rolex introduces two-tone (steel and gold) midsize and ladies’ models of the Yacht-Master

1997:  Rolex introduces the Rolesium version, which combines a steel body with a platinum bezel and dial. Until today the Rolesium is found exclusively in the Rolex Yacht-Master collection.

2007:  Rolex releases the Yacht-Master II, which is the world’s first watch equipped with a programmable countdown timer and a mechanical memory. The Yacht-Master II was unlike anything Rolex had launched before. Not only was it massive with its 44mm case, but it also had a bold, visually striking design that stood out among Rolex’s catalog of versatile timepieces.

2019:  Rolex introduces the Yacht-Master 42 to the collection. This is the first 42mm Yacht-Master model, offering a larger option for those who find 40mm too small. The first model came in 18k white gold, also a first for the collection, followed by an 18k gold version in 2022.

Key Features of the Rolex Yacht-Master

The  Rolex Yacht-Master  collection is composed of two families of watches: the original Yacht-Master, and the Yacht-Master II. While these two models have the same name, they are quite different from each other.

The Yacht-Master was introduced in 1992 as an ultra-luxurious sports watch for yachting and sailing enthusiasts. The nautical-inspired timepiece takes after the Rolex Submariner, but with greater emphasis on luxury materials and aesthetics.

The Yacht-Master II is a relatively new addition to the Rolex portfolio, introduced in 2007. Much larger that the Yacht-Master at 44mm, it is a purpose-built regatta watch equipped with a countdown timer for use in competitive sailing.

FEATURES OF THE ROLEX YACHTMASTER

Rolex yacht-master design.

Rolex Yacht-Master  models come in an Oyster case with 100 meters of water resistance, a Triplock winding crown, and a bi-directional rotating bezel with raised 60-minute graduations and numerals. To make the watch easily readable, the dial features lume-filled round, baton, and triangular hour markers; luminous Mercedes-style hands, a date window at 3 o’clock, and a sapphire crystal with a Cyclops lens for easier reading of the date.

Since the introduction of the first all-gold Rolex Yacht-Master model in 1992, Rolex has expanded the line in terms of materials, aesthetic details, and mechanical upgrades. Here are the options available within the collection.

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER SIZES

The Yacht-Master line is one of the most varied Rolex collections due mainly to the number of sizes made available. The smaller sizes, particularly the Lady Yacht-Master models, have been discontinued, but are still available in the pre-owned market.

• 29mm (discontinued)
• 35mm (discontinued)

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER MATERIALS

The solid 18k yellow gold and two-tone models of the Yacht-Master have been discontinued and replaced with the Everose and White Gold versions. The 37 and 40mm sizes come in Everose, Everose Rolesor, and Rolesium metals, while the 42mm comes exclusively in White Gold.

• Yellow Gold (discontinued)
• Yellow Rolesor (Steel and Yellow Gold – discontinued)
• Everose Gold
• Everose Rolesor (Steel and Everose Gold)
• Rolesium (Oystersteel and platinum)

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER BEZELS

The bezel material used for the Yacht-Master depends on the metal or alloy used for the case.

• Matte Cerachrom bezel – 18k Everose and white gold models
• 18k Gold bezel – Rolesor steel and gold models
• 950 Platinum – Rolesium steel and platinum models

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER BRACELETS

The Rolex Yacht-Master has only been equipped with the three-link Oyster bracelet and the Oysterflex bracelet, which combines rubber with an internal flexible metal blade.

The Oysterflex can only be found on the solid 18k Everose and white gold models with matte ceramic bezels.

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER MOVEMENTS

The Yacht-Master uses a time-and-date movement that changes depending on the size of the watch. Below are the movements used for each size.

• 29mm – Caliber 2135; Caliber 2235
• 35mm – Caliber 2135; Caliber 2235
• 37mm – Caliber 2236
• 40mm – Caliber 3135; Caliber 3235
• 42mm – Caliber 3235

FEATURES OF THE ROLEX YACHTMASTER II

Rolex yacht-master ii design.

The  Rolex Yacht-Master II  is one of the brand’s largest watches. Each model comes with a 44mm Oyster case that is water resistant to 100 meters, a Triplock winding crown, a Ring Command Bezel, two chronograph pushers, and an Oyster bracelet.

It is also one of Rolex’s most complicated watches, as it features a regatta chronograph with a countdown that can be programmed from 1 to 10 minutes, allowing yacht racers to accurately time the start of a race.

Furthermore, its Ring Command Bezel is more than just a decorative element – it operates in conjunction with the movement and is actually how the user can set the programmable countdown.

Rolex Yacht-Master II Rolesium and Everose Rolesor Models

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER II MATERIALS

All Rolex Yacht-Master II models come in the same 44mm case size. Models are available in the following metals:

• Yellow Gold
• White Gold and Platinum
• Everose Rolesor (stainless steel and Everose gold)
• Oystersteel
• The materials used for the bezel differ depending on the material of the case.

These are the available configurations:

• Cerachrom Bezel – Yellow Gold, Everose Rolesor, Oystersteel
• 950 Platinum – White Gold

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER II DIALS

The Yacht-Master II dial is unlike anything seen on other Rolex models because of its niche complication.

It features a countdown display which can be programmed from 1 to 10 minutes, and read using the red-tipped arrow hand.

Below the hour and minute hands at the center is a running seconds sub-dial. There’s also a red central chronograph hand, which can fly back or fly-forward to its starting position while in motion.

It also features 12 square lume-filled hour markers.

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER II MOVEMENTS

The Yacht-Master II is equipped with two of Rolex’s most advanced movements to date, which feature a programmable countdown timer with mechanical memory, and chronograph synchronization.

Earlier models were powered by the 4160, and later models were upgraded to the 4161. The latter is based on the Daytona’s Caliber 4130, which features the same blue Parachrom hairspring for better switch resistance, and offer a 72-hour power reserve.

• Ref 116689 – Caliber 4160; Caliber 4161
• Ref 116688 – Caliber 4160; Caliber 4161
• Ref 116681 – Caliber 4160; Caliber 4161
• Ref 116680 – Caliber 4161

Popular Rolex Yacht-Master Models

The  Rolex Yacht-Master  and Yacht-Master II are both excellent luxury watches that can suit any lifestyle. The Yacht-Master fits the mold of classic Rolex sports watches; while the Yacht-Master II has pushed the boundaries of what regatta watches can do. You can’t go wrong with the Rolex Yacht-Master, but here are some collector’s favorites:

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER with OYSTERFLEX BRACELET

In 2015, the Oysterflex, Rolex’s patented rubber bracelet, made its debut in the Yacht-Master collection. It’s appearance was also marked by several firsts: the first solid Everose gold Yacht-Master, paired with a matte dial and matte Cerachrom bezel.

The practical and edgy combination of solid gold and rubber continued with the release of the 18k white gold Yacht-Master 42 in 2019, and the 18k yellow gold version in 2022. This is a watch for someone who wants a luxurious watch that’s also ready for any adventure.

These models have the Calibre 3235 in place, which offers a 70-hour power reserve, and an upgraded Parachrom hairspring that has 10 times more precision than the traditional hairspring. The Calibre 3235 was also the first movement to receive Rolex’s certification as a Superlative Chronometer, and is regulated to a precision of an impressive -2/+2 seconds a day.

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER RHODIUM DIAL

The stunning combination of Oystersteel and 950 platinum was made even more beautiful with the addition of a sunburst rhodium dial. This luxurious watch is part of the series of Yachtmasters introduced in 2016, which were upgraded with the Caliber 3235 movement mentioned previously. The slate dial is paired with turquoise details on the model signature and seconds hand, which gives just the right amount of color on the sleek monochromatic design.

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER II STEEL EVEROSE GOLD

The highly specialized Yacht-Master II was created as a professional regatta watch which can also be used as a chronograph. On the bezel, it has large 0-10 scale numbers and the Yacht-Master II name. On the dial is a smaller version of this countdown. Together, these allow the wearer to select a countdown interval of anywhere from one to ten minutes.

Aside from being one of the most complicated watches in the Rolex portfolio, the Yacht-Master II also stood out because of its unique look, owing to its 44mm case and bold colors. The steel and 18k Everose gold version is a crowd favorite due to its eye-catching combination of rose gold, blue, and red hues.

Common Questions About the Rolex Yacht-Master

Built for the sea, but stylish enough for any occasion, the Rolex Yacht-Master is one of the most desired sports watches in the brand’s catalog. Here are some of the most common questions asked about the Rolex Yacht-Master.

WHAT IS A ROLEX YACHT-MASTER?

The Rolex Yacht-Master is a collection of watches built for yachting and sailing. It is composed of two families of watches: the Yacht-Master, a luxury watch designed to be worn on while lounging on a boat; and the Yacht-Master II, a functional sports watch designed to accurately time the start of a regatta race.

WHY IS THE ROLEX YACHT-MASTER SO EXPENSIVE?

As a line of sport watches with special focus on aesthetics, the Rolex Yacht-Master collection evokes an unmistakable sense of luxury than can only be achieved by using the finest materials.

The Rolex Yacht-Master II in particular, is equipped with exclusive functions and features such as the programmable countdown with mechanical memory and the Ring Command Bezel.

The architecture, manufacturing, and innovative features of the Yacht-Master collection make it unique in the world of watches and therefore fetches a higher price tag.

Rolex Yacht-Master Mother of Pearl Dials

HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY ROLEX YACHT-MASTER IS GENUINE?

A genuine Rolex watch will be beautifully finished and decorated in keeping with the brand’s uncompromising quality standards. If you see any sign of imperfection on the watch, such as misaligned or misspelled text, unfinished surfaces, or wrong engravings and markings, it is likely a fake.

It is always advisable to do research beforehand so you can check if the details on your watch is in tune with the model’s features.

We also advise clients to only purchase a watch from a reputable and trusted dealer, who can provide a guarantee of authenticity on the watch.

IS THE ROLEX YACHT-MASTER WATERPROOF?

Rolex Yacht-Master watches are guaranteed water resistant to a depth of 100 meters of 330 feet. The collection was not made specifically for diving, but they come with screw-down crowns and case backs, which protect the movement from moisture and dust that can be encountered with sporting use.

SHOP FOR ROLEX YACHT-MASTER

The Rolex Yacht-Master and Yacht-Master II serve as the embodiment of the brand’s relationship with the world of sailing. Explore our collection of Rolex Yacht-Master watches at  SwissWatchExpo.com .

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2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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21 Things to Know Before You Go to Moscow

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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 ct 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 ct 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 ct 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 ct yellow gold and 18 kt ct 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