YACHT MASTER product history and chronology explained
History
We will explain the history and timeline of the Yacht Master products. We will explain the products in an easy-to-understand manner, even for first-time customers.
Yacht-Master (Rolex) product history and timeline explained
| 2019 | A 42mm case white gold model (Ref. 226659) is now available. |
|---|---|
| 2019 | The Ref. 126622 has been released with a 40mm case and a new movement, with an improved power reserve of 70 hours. |
| 2016 | A rose gold and stainless steel combination model (Ref. 116621) is now available. |
| 2015 | The Ref. 16655, the first to feature the rubber strap "Oysterflex," and the 37mm boys' Ref. 268655 are now available. |
| 2014 | Production of the ladies' model has ended. |
| 2012 | The Rolesium undergoes a minor change. The Ref. 116622 is released. |
| 2011 | A rose gold and stainless steel combination model is now available. |
| 2007 | Two Yacht-Master II models (Ref. 116689, 116688) were released, attracting considerable attention due to their chronograph features. |
| 2004 | A combination model lineup has been added to the men's model lineup. |
| 1999 | The Rolesium, a stainless steel and platinum combination model, was released and became an instant hit. |
| 1997 | A combination model of stainless steel and yellow gold Rolesor is now available. |
| 1992 | The first solid gold Yachtmaster is now available in a men's model (Ref. 16623), boys' model (Ref. 68623), and ladies' model (Ref. 69623). |
Yacht-Master Lineage
| 2013~Present | Reference 116680 |
|---|---|
 | Cal.4161 In 2013, the Yacht-Master, which had previously been primarily manufactured in 18k gold and platinum, released a long-awaited all-stainless steel model, making the marine flagship a more realistic model. The bezel is made of durable, fade-resistant ceramic, combining practicality with a beautiful appearance. The Cal. 4161 movement features an improved countdown mechanism compared to the previous Cal. 4160, improving maintenance and flyback stability. The balance spring also uses blue Parachrom, boasting high magnetic resistance and durability, and is 10 times more resistant than conventional balance springs. Additionally, the hour hand on Yacht-Master II models from 2017 onwards has generally been replaced with a Mercedes-Benz hand. |
| 2011~Present | Reference 116681 |
 | Cal.4160 / cal.4161 In 2011, Rolex released its first sports model in a combination with 18K pink gold. The combination of pink gold and a blue bezel is rare even in Rolex's history, and has earned it a loyal following. The pink gold is a unique material, named Everose Gold, and as the name suggests, it is mixed with a small amount of platinum to prevent discoloration over time. The world's first regatta chronograph movement was developed over approximately four years of labor, based on Daytona's in-house chronograph movement, Cal. 4130. It is a truly professional marine model unlike any other. |
| 2007~Present | Reference 116688 / Reference 116689 |
 | Cal.4160 / cal.4161 In 2007, the Yacht-Master II was released, specifically designed for yacht racing. Unlike the Yacht-Master, which is designed for leisurely beach getaways, the Yacht-Master II is a more advanced model designed for serious marine sports. It features a regatta chronograph, a complex mechanism that counts down from 10 minutes to 1 minute—a world first—and a patented Ring Command bezel, which synchronizes with the movement for simplified operation. The original Yacht-Master II was crafted exclusively in solid gold, available in yellow gold (Ref. 116688) and white gold (Ref. 116689). |
| 2019~Present | Reference 126622 |
 | Cal.3235 This model was announced at Baselworld 2019. Compared to the previous model, Ref. 116622, there are almost no changes to the design, and the luminous paint is also the same. However, it is equipped with the high-spec movement, Cal. 3135, which extends the power reserve from 48 hours to 70 hours and is highly shock-resistant. |
| 2016~2019 | Reference 116621 |
 | Cal.3135 The new Rolesor model was unveiled at Baselworld in 2016. The Everose gold version of the sixth-generation 116655 was already popular, and the dressy design of this model with a metal bracelet further sparked the popularity of the Yacht-Master. The cute chocolate dial remains a very popular model to this day. |
| 2015~2019 | Reference 116655 |
 | Cal.3135 The new Yacht-Master series combines Everose gold with a rubber strap. Developed and patented by Rolex, the rubber strap "Oysterflex" boasts a comfortable fit and excellent durability. |
| 2012~2019 | Reference 116622 |
| | Cal.3135 The Ref. 116622, which debuted at Baselworld in 2012, combines the elegance and specifications befitting a luxury marine model. Its invention of the Easylink buckle, which allows for a 5mm extension, offers a glimpse of Rolex's commitment to bracelets. The movement is the same Cal. 3135 as the previous model, but it now features a blue Parachrom balance spring, which offers far greater shock resistance than previous models. |
| 2004~2016 | Reference 16623 |
 | Cal.3135 It is the only Rolex sports model that is available in sizes other than men's, and the 18K yellow gold two-tone model was released for men only in 2004. This combination is commonly known as Rolesor, and is said to be a portmanteau of ROLEX, SS, and OR. |
| 1999~Present | Reference 168622 |
 | Cal.2235 The Yacht-Master was released as a luxury diver's model. Unlike previous sports models, it is a new concept model that emphasizes luxury and elegance, and this model introduced a model made of the high-quality material platinum. The Ref. 168622 is a unisex size of the Ref. 16622, made of Rolesium. It is the only size available for a sports model, and is popular among women. |
| 1999~2012 | Reference 16622 |
Cal.3135 The Yacht-Master was introduced as a luxury diver's model. Unlike previous sports models, it was a new concept model that emphasized luxury and elegance, and models made from the high-quality material platinum were introduced. Since 1999, the Rolesium model, made from a combination of stainless steel and platinum, has been introduced. Combined with the unified silver color scheme, the Ref. 16622, which can be worn in everything from casual styles to glamorous party scenes, has sparked the popularity of the Yacht-Master. | |
| 1997~1999 | Reference 68623 |
Cal.2135 This model was only available in boys' and women's sizes. It was redesigned after about two years, so it's not widely available. Because it's far from the popular sizes of today, the used market price is low. | |
| 1992~1999 | Reference 69628 |
Cal.2135 This model was also released at the same time as the Ref. 16628, and is the only Rolex sports model to be available in boys' and women's sizes in addition to men's. The Ref. 69628 is a women's size, measuring 29mm, one size larger than the Datejust. As the only sports model available in three sizes, it is also popular as a couple's watch. | |
| 1992~1999 | Reference 68628 |
Cal.2135 Released at the same time as the Ref. 16628, it was the only Rolex sports model to be available in boys' and women's sizes in addition to men's. The Ref. 68628 is a boys' size, commonly referred to as a unisex size. The 35mm size is neither too big nor too small, making it a popular model for both men and women. | |
| 1992~2013 | Reference 16628 |
Cal.3185 The Yachtmaster was released for the wealthy who enjoyed beach resorts. Initially, the lineup consisted only of solid yellow gold, but it was the first sports model to be designed for couples, and was made available in three sizes for men, boys, and women. For the 20 years since its release, the model has remained largely unchanged, but models from 2007 onwards have had the ROLEX logo engraved on the dial (roulette engraving). |
| 2013~Present | Yacht-Master II Ref. 116680 | |
|---|---|---|
| | ||
Cal.4161 In 2013, the Yacht-Master, which had previously been primarily manufactured in 18k gold and platinum, released a long-awaited all-stainless steel model, making the marine flagship a more realistic model. The bezel is made of durable, fade-resistant ceramic, combining practicality with a beautiful appearance. The Cal. 4161 movement features an improved countdown mechanism compared to the previous Cal. 4160, improving maintenance and flyback stability. The balance spring also uses blue Parachrom, boasting high magnetic resistance and durability, and is 10 times more resistant than conventional balance springs. Additionally, the hour hand on Yacht-Master II models from 2017 onwards has generally been replaced with a Mercedes-Benz hand. | ||
| 2011~Present | Yacht-Master II Ref. 116681 | |
| | ||
Cal.4160 / cal.4161 In 2011, Rolex released its first sports model in a combination with 18K pink gold. The combination of pink gold and a blue bezel is rare even in Rolex's history, and has earned it a loyal following. The pink gold is a unique material, named Everose Gold, and as the name suggests, it is mixed with a small amount of platinum to prevent discoloration over time. The world's first regatta chronograph movement was developed over approximately four years of labor, based on Daytona's in-house chronograph movement, Cal. 4130. It is a truly professional marine model unlike any other. | ||
| 2007~Present | Yacht-Master II Ref. 116688 / Ref. 116689 | |
| | ||
Cal.4160 / cal.4161 In 2007, the Yacht-Master II was released, specifically designed for yacht racing. Unlike the Yacht-Master, which is designed for leisurely beach getaways, the Yacht-Master II is a more advanced model designed for serious marine sports. It features a regatta chronograph, a complex mechanism that counts down from 10 minutes to 1 minute—a world first—and a patented Ring Command bezel, which synchronizes with the movement for simplified operation. The original Yacht-Master II was crafted exclusively in solid gold, available in yellow gold (Ref. 116688) and white gold (Ref. 116689). | ||
| 2019~Present | Yacht-Master Ref. 126622 | |
 | ||
Cal.3235 This model was announced at Baselworld 2019. Compared to the previous model, Ref. 116622, there are almost no changes to the design, and the luminous paint is also the same. However, it is equipped with the high-spec movement, Cal. 3135, which extends the power reserve from 48 hours to 70 hours and is highly shock-resistant. | ||
| 2016~2019 | Reference 116621 | |
| | ||
Cal.3135 The new Rolesor model was unveiled at Baselworld in 2016. The Everose gold version of the sixth-generation 116655 was already popular, and the dressy design of this model with a metal bracelet further sparked the popularity of the Yacht-Master. The cute chocolate dial remains a very popular model to this day. | ||
| 2015~2019 | Reference 116655 | |
| | ||
Cal.3135 The new Yacht-Master series combines Everose gold with a rubber strap. Developed and patented by Rolex, the rubber strap "Oysterflex" boasts a comfortable fit and excellent durability. | ||
| 2012~2019 | Reference 116622 | |
| | ||
Cal.3135 The Ref. 116622, which debuted at Baselworld in 2012, combines the elegance and specifications befitting a luxury marine model. Its invention of the Easylink buckle, which allows for a 5mm extension, offers a glimpse of Rolex's commitment to bracelets. The movement is the same Cal. 3135 as the previous model, but it now features a blue Parachrom balance spring, which offers far greater shock resistance than previous models. | ||
| 2004~2016 | Reference 16623 | |
| | ||
Cal.3135 It is the only Rolex sports model that is available in sizes other than men's, and the 18K yellow gold two-tone model was released for men only in 2004. This combination is commonly known as Rolesor, and is said to be a portmanteau of ROLEX, SS, and OR. | ||
| 1999~Present | Reference 168622 | |
| | ||
Cal.2235 The Yacht-Master was released as a luxury diver's model. Unlike previous sports models, it is a new concept model that emphasizes luxury and elegance, and this model introduced a model made of the high-quality material platinum. The Ref. 168622 is a unisex size of the Ref. 16622, made of Rolesium. It is the only size available for a sports model, and is popular among women. | ||
| 1999~2012 | Reference 16622 | |
Cal.3135 The Yacht-Master was introduced as a luxury diver's model. Unlike previous sports models, it was a new concept model that emphasized luxury and elegance, and models made from the high-quality material platinum were introduced. Since 1999, the Rolesium model, made from a combination of stainless steel and platinum, has been introduced. Combined with the unified silver color scheme, the Ref. 16622, which can be worn in everything from casual styles to glamorous party scenes, has sparked the popularity of the Yacht-Master. | ||
| 1997~1999 | Reference 68623 | |
Cal.2135 This model was only available in boys' and women's sizes. It was redesigned after about two years, so it's not widely available. Because it's far from the popular sizes of today, the used market price is low. | ||
| 1992~1999 | Reference 69628 | |
Cal.2135 This model was also released at the same time as the Ref. 16628, and is the only Rolex sports model to be available in boys' and women's sizes in addition to men's. The Ref. 69628 is a women's size, measuring 29mm, one size larger than the Datejust. As the only sports model available in three sizes, it is also popular as a couple's watch. | ||
| 1992~1999 | Reference 68628 | |
Cal.2135 Released at the same time as the Ref. 16628, it was the only Rolex sports model to be available in boys' and women's sizes in addition to men's. The Ref. 68628 is a boys' size, commonly referred to as a unisex size. The 35mm size is neither too big nor too small, making it a popular model for both men and women. | ||
| 1992~2013 | Reference 16628 | |
Cal.3185 The Yachtmaster was released for the wealthy who enjoyed beach resorts. Initially, the lineup consisted only of solid yellow gold, but it was the first sports model to be designed for couples, and was made available in three sizes for men, boys, and women. For the 20 years since its release, the model has remained largely unchanged, but models from 2007 onwards have had the ROLEX logo engraved on the dial (roulette engraving). | ||
Handling brand
- ROLEX
Rolex Cartier
Cartier OMEGA
OMEGA PATEK PHILIPPE
PATEK PHILIPPE AUDEMARS PIGUET
AUDEMARS PIGUET Breguet
Breguet ROGER DUBUIS
ROGER DUBUIS A.LANGE & SOHNE
Lange & Söhne HUBLOT
HUBLOT FRANCK MULLER
FRANCK MULLER CHANEL
CHANEL HARRY WINSTON
HARRY WINSTON JAEGER LE COULTRE
JAEGER LE COULTRE IWC
IWC PANERAI
PANERAI BREITLING
BREITLING TAG HEUER
TAG HEUER Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels HERMES
Hermes Chopard
Chopard ZENITH
Zenith DAMIANI
Damiani TUDOR
Tudor (Tudor) TIFFANY&Co.
Tiffany PIAGET
Piaget BOUCHERON
Boucheron BVLGARI
BVLGARI RICHARD MILLE
Richard Mille