Yacht-Master II

The Rolex Yacht-Master II is built around a peculiarly absorbing complication: a programmable regatta countdown with mechanical memory, designed to track the minutes before a sailing race starts. Its broad numbered bezel and horseshoe-shaped countdown scale give the family a look quite separate from the simpler Yacht-Master, while the differences between generations go deeper than metal and dial furniture.

Introduced in 2007, the first versions were yellow-gold 116688 and white-gold 116689, the latter distinguished by its platinum bezel rather than blue ceramic. Steel and Everose gold 116681 followed, then the all-steel 116680 arrived in 2013. Early watches used caliber 4160; the later caliber 4161 brought a revised chronograph mechanism. The Ring Command bezel interacts with the movement to set the countdown, which can be synchronized while running.

A 2017 dial revision provides another useful dividing line: a triangular marker at twelve, a rectangular marker at six, and Mercedes-style hands replaced the earlier layout and handset. That makes two examples of the same reference meaningfully different on the wrist, even before choosing between steel, two-tone, and precious metal.