Rolex Yacht-Master116655

Product Description

Almost every major watch manufacturer has a collection based on the marine or nautical theme - Audemars Piguet, Ulysse Nardin, Omega, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Seiko, Blancpain, Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC, Richard Mille - but none of those watches can match the Rolex Yacht-Master in truly luxury tool watch design and functionality. This ref. 116655 opened a lot of eyes to the Yacht-Master line when it was unveiled at the 2015 Baselworld Fair. Since the creation of the series in 1992 these watches have always enjoyed a small but fiercely loyal following of Rolex enthusiasts but this 40mm rendition in Everose gold - Rolex's patented rose gold alloy - was one of the buzz worthy darlings of the Fair, becoming an almost instant I-need-this watch. What makes it so special is the combination of established tool watch aesthetics with the unique luxury tidbits - this is a gentleman's Submariner, if you will, and it's gorgeous. The dial is a business-like matte black "maxi" design, but the lume plots are surrounded in Everose, the hands are Everose and all of that is loaded with the blue-glowing Chromalight lume. The writing on the dial is a mixture of white and Everose, with the exception of the red "YACHT-MASTER" at 6, which is a perfect pop of color. This is the dial that a lot of enthusiasts hoped Rolex would release on the Submariner but the Yacht-Master got it instead. Of course two of the major standouts are the bezel and "strap." The bi-directional bezel is Rolex's patented Cerachrom ceramic but done in the exact opposite scheme of every other Rolex tool watch - it's matte black to match the dial with glossy numerals done in relief. It's textural and unique and very cool. Rolex refers to the strap as its Oysterflex bracelet," which it describes as a nickel alloy metal blade that is "overmoulded with high-performance black elastomer." That should do it. This bracelet is reserved for this 116655 and a small handful of gold Daytonas, that's it, no other watch in any of the collections uses it. If you see this strap from across the room you're looking at a precious metal Rolex, without question. Like the Submariner-date, the Yacht-Master runs on the venerated Rolex in-house caliber 3135, and sports the screw-down Triplock crown, which are more than enough. Rolex has long been associated with pioneering adventure, ocean exploration and car racing but the Yacht-Master is a unique piece that in Rolex's own words "reinforced the ties between Rolex and the sailing world." Open ocean sailboat racing is perhaps the most challenging, historic, picturesque, dangerous and sexy gentlemen's sports in modern time. If you're literally racing from one continent to another to honor tradition you have an entirely different take on the world than most people - if you train on the weekends in calmer water on a 24-foot sloop you're the same breed of cat, and this is your watch.