Yacht-Master

The Rolex Yacht-Master pairs a bidirectional bezel with raised, polished numerals and a more rounded case profile than the Submariner, giving familiar Rolex sports-watch ingredients a different character. Introduced in yellow gold in 1992, the family has since spanned 29, 35, 37, 40 and 42mm cases, with steel-and-platinum, two-tone, gold and titanium versions taking it in distinctly different directions.

The steel-and-platinum Yacht-Master 16622 established the Rolesium combination: a steel case and bracelet with a platinum bezel and, originally, a platinum dial. Its successor, the Yacht-Master 116622, brought a revised bracelet and clasp while retaining caliber 3135; the later Yacht-Master 126622 moved to caliber 3235 and approximately 70 hours of power reserve. That silver-toned bezel remains the visual thread across these generations.

The gold Oysterflex models change the texture entirely: their black elastomer bracelets conceal flexible metal blades, while matte black ceramic bezel inserts retain the raised numerals. The 42mm Yacht-Master 226627 instead uses RLX titanium for both case and bracelet, with predominantly satin finishing. The similarly named Yacht-Master II is a separate proposition—a 44mm regatta chronograph with a programmable countdown, rather than the Yacht-Master’s straightforward time-and-date display.