Top 10 Facts About Rolex Yacht-Master II – Interesting Things to Know
The Yacht-Master II, also called Yacht-Master 2 is one of Rolex’s most complicated watches. Together with the Sky-Dweller, the Yacht-Master II makes up what are the two most complicated watches in Rolex’s collection.
We have already looked at the most interesting facts about the Yacht-Master in this article, but this time, we’re taking a closer look at the Yacht-Master II.
The fact is that the Yacht-Master II is far from Rolex’s most popular or well-known model. It’s a rather niche watch that is built for a specific purpose, is quite large, and doesn’t appeal to everyone. Technically, it’s a very impressive watch, but its niche:d design makes it a watch that is often forgotten and neglected in favor of other, more recognized models.
But still, this model deserves recognition due to its great complexity and innovative characteristics. And that’s exactly what we’re doing in this article. Below, we take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about the Yacht-Master II.
Top most interesting facts about the Rolex Yacht-Master II
1. The Yacht-Master II has been made in several metal configurations
Despite being a watch that has been in the backseat and often neglected, Rolex has consistently released new versions in the form of different materials. The Yacht-Master II has been made in full white gold, stainless steel, yellow gold, and steel, rose gold and steel, and yellow gold. The only executions it has not been made in is full rose gold (Everose) and full platinum.
So despite it not being a very popular model (relatively speaking), Rolex has still continued to release new versions and variants to keep and boost the public’s interest in it.
2. The Yacht-Master II is one of Rolex’s largest watches
The Yacht-Master II is at the top of Rolex’s watches when we talk about size. It is a rather hefty timepiece that makes a bold statement on the wrist, measuring 44mm in diameter. Only the Deepsea Sea-Dweller has the same diameter of 44mm.
Moreover, in terms of design, the Yacht-Master is a very eye-catching model that stands out and grabs people’s attention. Combine this with its large size and you have a very bold timepiece.
3. The Yacht-Master II is a spin-off of the Yacht-Master
Rolex has long had a closer relationship with yachting. But for a long time, they didn’t have a watch that was dedicated to the sport. And so in 1992, Rolex released its first yachting-dedicated watch, the Yacht-Master. The thing is that the Yacht-Master didn’t have a lot of truly useful functions for yachters. It has a bi-directional rotating bezel that can be used to time different things. But apart from that, it doesn’t do much except for telling the time.
The Yacht-Master II, on the other hand, is a completely different story. This watch is developed to be truly useful by yachters and features multiple functions such as a regatta timer.
So whilst the Yacht-Master and the Yacht-Master II don’t look similar to each other, they are both built for the same purpose. And the yacht-Master II is based on the concept and idea of the Yacht-Master, just developed to be more practical as a useful tool rather than solely a stylish accessory.
4. The Yacht-Master II was first launched in 2007
The Yacht-Master was launched in 1992 but the upgraded version, the Yacht-Master II was launched in 2007.
The watch became the world’s first watch with a programmable countdown timer and a mechanical memory. As already discussed, the watch was developed specifically for sportsmen to use while regatta racing. This meant incorporating functions that were truly useful for these athletes.
5. The Yacht-Master II is only available in one size
Unlike the Yacht-Master which is available in two sizes (and has been available in multiple sizes further back in history), the Yacht-Master is only made in one size, 44mm. There are several reasons for this. But most importantly, it has to do with the complexity of all the functions. It’s a complex watch with a complex mechanism that cannot be cramped into a smaller case just by taking the movement and putting it into a different case.
Moreover, since this watch is intended as a tool, one size is considered sufficient.
6. The Yacht-Master II is one of Rolex’s most complex watches
The Yacht-Master II is packed with functions and features and therefore has a very complex mechanical movement.
The Yacht-Master II has a programmable countdown timer which is used to measure how much time is left until the start of the race. The regatta programmable countdown chronograph can be selected between one and ten minutes. When the chronograph starts, the countdown is accurately timed.
Moreover, it has a flyback and fly-forward function that allows for easier synchronization if they have to restart the race sequence.
Simply put, the Yacht-Master II is the world’s first watch that is equipped with a programmable countdown timer and a mechanical memory.
4. The Yacht-Master II is one of Rolex’s youngest models
It’s not often that Rolex releases a new model so when they do, it’s quite a big deal. Rolex frequently upgrades and revises its existing models but these changes are often just minor changes. Releasing a completely new model only happens every tenth year or so at a maximum.
Being released in 2007, although it may sound like a long time ago, it’s not very long if we are talking in Rolex terms. The only model that Rolex released after that is the Sky-Dweller in 2012.
5. Rolex updated the movement of the Yacht-Master II in 2013
Whilst Rolex doesn’t frequently release new models, they do relatively frequently revise and improve its existing models. One such event for the Yacht-Master was in 2013 when Rolex changed the movement of the Yacht-Master II from caliber 4160 to caliber 4161. This was an upgraded and improved movement with better performance.
6. The Yacht-Master II features a Ring Command bezel
Ring Command means that the bezel is “integrated” into the movement. In other words, when the bezel rotates, it puts the movement into different positions. The 10 minutes countdown can be set solely by rotating the bezel counterclockwise. The bezel is so cleverly developed is developed so the countdown feature can be locked and unlocked by rotating the bezel 90 degrees. The fact of the matter is that the Ring Command bezel is one of the first watches in the world to have a bezel that worked together with the movement. Only the Sky-Dweller has the same functionality, which was released several years later.
In other words, the bezel is an integrated part of the movement which makes the watch easier and more practical to use.
7. It took many years before the Yacht-Master II was made in steel
Originally, the Yacht-Master was exclusively available in solid gold, making it both expensive and uncommon. Rolex wanted to profit off of this movement as much as possible and it was likely therefore that Rolex exclusively launched the model in full gold, both yellow and white gold with references 116688 and 116689. Most likely, this was due to the huge costs associated with developing such a complicated movement.
But in 2011, Rolex released a bi-color version in Everose gold and steel, and in 2013, for the first time ever, in full stainless steel.
8. The movement of the Yacht-Master II took nearly four years to complete
This is one of the reasons why Rolex doesn’t release new models very frequently. At least not with completely new movements. The fact is that the Yacht-Master II movement took nearly four years to develop, approximately 35,000 hours. Being one of the most complicated movements Rolex has ever created, it’s not surprising that the research and development behind it are extensive.
9. The movement consists of 360 parts
This goes to show the great complexity of this movement, both to develop but also to assemble. It explains why it took nearly four years to create it and is also part of the explanation of why it is so expensive.
10. The Yacht-Master has clever functions
We have already talked about the functionality of the Yacht-Master but one particularly clever feature that the yacht-Master has is the Regatta synchronization. If the wearer has started the countdown too early or too late, it is possible to synchronize it by pressuring the start/stop button at the 2 o’clock position. You can also use the reset button at the 4 o’clock position to reposition the countdown hand to the nearest minute, whilst the seconds countdown hand returns to 0.
