Rolex Yacht-Master II
Taming the passage of time
Rolex presents the new generation of the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II. This new version of the world’s only regatta chronograph features an entirely reworked movement and design, and is available in Oystersteel or 18 ct yellow gold.
The display of the various functions and the handling of the countdown have been redesigned to improve legibility and simplify use. The countdown scale is now set on a raised ring on the dial, while the function is set and used exclusively via the two side pushers. Numerous carefully chosen aesthetic details underline the watch’s maritime character and its place within the Yacht-Master line. This new Yacht-Master II is every bit as impressive as the original model was on its launch.
Dial and graduated raised ring
Optimal legibility
The design of the display ensures excellent legibility of the various functions. The dial features a new matt white finish that reduces reflections, and is fitted with the applied hour markers emblematic of the Professional category. The raised ring for the countdown function is set on the dial with the utmost precision – a patent-pending feature. It is graduated from ten to zero minutes, with the half-minutes indicated by triangles.
Cerachrom bezel insert
The pinnacle of advanced technology
Available in Oystersteel or 18 ct yellow gold, the Yacht-Master II features a bidirectional rotatable bezel with a blue ceramic Cerachrom insert graduated over 60 minutes. Special tools are required to machine this exceptionally hard, scratch-resistant high-technology ceramic. The stable colour of this ceramic is UV-resistant and inert, and cannot corrode due to its specific chemical composition.
The recessed graduations and numerals on this blue Cerachrom insert are coated with a thin layer of platinum or yellow gold using PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition). The first half hour of the graduation can be read minute by minute. With the bezel in the neutral position, the chronograph’s centre seconds hand allows the final 30 seconds of the countdown to be followed even more precisely. Its knurled edge offers excellent grip and helps the wearer measure intervals such as the sailing time between two buoys.
Oyster bracelet
Legendary and robust
The Yacht-Master II is fitted with an Oyster bracelet. Introduced at the end of the 1930s, this three-piece metal bracelet with broad, gently curved links is particularly robust. The Oyster bracelet of the Yacht-Master II, in Oystersteel or 18 ct yellow gold, is equipped with a streamlined Oysterlock safety clasp that prevents accidental opening. It features the Rolex-designed Easylink extension, allowing the bracelet to be lengthened easily by approximately 5 mm. On the 18 ct yellow gold watch, the Oyster bracelet features Rolex-patented ceramic inserts around the metal pins in the bracelet links, which improve flexibility and help prevent premature wear.
Calibre 4162
An innovative movement
Introduced in 2026 and used exclusively in the Yacht-Master II, calibre 4162 is a chronograph movement with a countdown function, entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. The new-generation Yacht-Master II is equipped with calibre 4162, an evolution of calibre 4161 fitted in the previous model. This self-winding mechanical movement delivers enhanced performance, particularly in terms of precision, power reserve, convenience and reliability.
The countdown function is activated by a robust chronograph mechanism with a column wheel and vertical clutch, ensuring an instantaneous and extremely precise start to timing. Calibre 4162 also incorporates some of the key innovations Rolex has brought to its movements, including the Chronergy escapement. Thanks to the architecture of its barrel and the higher efficiency of its escapement, the movement offers a power reserve of approximately 72 hours. Calibre 4162 is finished to an exceptionally high standard, featuring bridges with Rolex Côtes de Genève decoration and an openworked oscillating weight.
Superlative Chronometer
Certification
The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II carries the Superlative Chronometer certification. Awarded to every watch after it leaves the manufacture, this exclusive designation confirms exceptional everyday performance under strict monitoring by independent, internationally recognised Swiss bodies.
In 2026, three criteria were added to the Superlative Chronometer certification: resistance to magnetic fields, reliability and durability. These criteria are monitored throughout the development and manufacturing process of every watch, during which hundreds of checks and validations are carried out that directly affect the watch’s performance. They complement the criteria introduced when the certification was redefined in 2015: precision, waterproofness, self-winding and power reserve. That year, Rolex also created an exclusive testing protocol carried out on the fully assembled watch, using fully automated equipment developed in-house. The requirements for precision are particularly demanding: after casing, the movement’s accuracy must be within −2/+2 seconds per day, a tolerance far stricter than the threshold required for official chronometer certification, which applies only to the movement.
The green seal fitted to every Rolex watch attests to Superlative Chronometer status, which is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.
