Rolex revived one of its most polarizing watches this year at Watches & Wonders with a new Yacht-Master II featuring an updated design and new mechanics. The next evolution of the Rolex Yacht-Master II picks up where the previous generation left off when it was discontinued in 2024, with vibrant colors and strangely niche complications all set within a far more palatable yet no less robust platform. If you weren’t keen on the original, the new reference 126680 will likely do little to win you over, but if you were one to enjoy the loud, vibrant nature of the most boisterous Yacht-Master ever made, you’ll find a lot to love with the latest iteration.
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The Yacht-Master II is a peculiar watch in that it was designed as a regatta instrument for yachting enthusiasts. The original collection was first introduced in 2007 with the reference 116680, and it was the first watch from Rolex to use the Ring Command system. This allowed the regatta timer complication to be programmed through the bezel, meaning the wearer could adjust the length of the countdown from one to ten minutes on the fly. With the newest generation, that functionality has been moved to the pushers along the side of the case, and the watch has gained a more traditional diver’s bezel in the process.
There are plenty of other quality-of-life features with the newest Yacht-Master II, but before we tackle any of that, let’s address the defining quality of this watch: its size. This is not a watch for the faint of heart, and never has been. The newest Yacht-Master II remains 44mm in diameter, though it clocks in slightly thinner than it had been at 13.9mm in thickness. If you’re the type to be concerned about these kinds of measurements, this was likely never a watch for you in the first place. The watch makes a statement at a glance, and you’ll know it’s on your wrist at all times. For the YMII buyer, this is a feature, not a bug. If you want a trim, wearable chronograph from Rolex that tucks neatly under a cuff, the Daytona remains your best bet.
That said, this won’t necessarily be an uncomfortable watch. The oyster bracelet does a great job of distributing the heft around your wrist, and the sculpted caseback settles neatly into the back of the wrist. At the end of the day, it’s wearability that matters the most, and Rolex understands how to manage that even with their larger watches, such as this. On that note, there is also an Easylink extension in the clasp, which can be opened to provide an extra 5mm of space on the fly.
[toc-section heading=”Dial and Functions”]
Not only is this a large frame, but it’s also quite vibrant in nature, featuring a bright blue Cerachrome bezel framing a clean white dial with rich red accents. It’s an unmistakable design, and it’s now more practical than ever. The regatta timing functions of the watch take a back seat to the primary display, but they’re there and easy to use when the need should arise. This largely comes down to the 10-minute scale being moved to a stepped flange surrounding the dial, offering a big improvement over the original design, to my eye at least.
In fact, the watch appears relatively straightforward at a glance. The complication itself, however, is anything but. There are plenty of other regatta timers out there, and they all find interesting ways to illustrate the countdown procedure of a regatta. Sailing races generally begin with a timed countdown sequence that usually lasts five to ten minutes. Getting the timing right for this sequence is crucial, and the Yacht-Master II allows the wearer to manually program the start point with the press of the button below the crown. The counting timing elements are separated from regular timekeeping thanks to their bright red color scheme.
A press of the button above the crown will begin the countdown and send the timing seconds and minute hand into action, both of which operate counterclockwise. Further, the bezel is fully indexed for the first thirty minutes, which allows for a broader range of timing, as Rolex cites the example of the “sailing time between two buoys”. It’s a highly unusual dance that happens every time the feature is engaged, and makes this watch a highly unique experience, even among other regatta timers of the past and present.
The ability to program where the countdown begins on the fly is a handy feature for sailors looking to optimize their starting strategy. Once the starting minute is selected, the watch will remember this position until it’s manually changed. Additionally, if adjustments need to be made, it can be reprogrammed without first resetting, as a press of the bottom pusher will make the adjustment and restart the timer. It’s an impressive implementation of the complication, and while it may not be as straightforward as a classic chronograph, it might be more useful for timing in general, so long as things are kept within ten minutes, that is.
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All of this is handled by the Rolex caliber 4162, which is an evolution of the 4161 found in the previous generation. The countdown function has been completely redesigned, and it now hosts a Chronergy escapement for more efficient and accurate timekeeping. Like all Rolex calibers, this movement is a Superlative Chronometer, meaning you can expect timekeeping to within -2/+2 seconds per day.
[toc-section heading=”Final Thoughts”]
Stepping back, the design as a whole has certainly softened with this generation of the Yacht-Master II, which should open it up to a broader audience of potential buyers. It feels more broadly in line with other Rolex tool watches, and is generally a more practical and approachable design. That said, fans of the original may find this a step too far from the rather unique identity that had been established with the collection.
This is a niche watch, and as such, a perfect platform for Rolex to let its hair down a bit when it comes to exploring new ground with its design language. With this generation, Rolex has gone back to its comfort zone somewhat, but the core Yacht-Master II DNA is still present and accounted for.
The newest Yacht-Master II is being offered in steel (ref. 126680) at $20,300 and yellow gold (ref. 126688) at $57,800. The watch will likely welcome additional variations in the coming years, but I wouldn’t expect any of them to be subtle. This is perhaps the ultimate ‘just lean into it’ sport watch from Rolex, and as such, it’s a welcome return.
For more information, visit the brand’s website here.
