Rolex Yacht-Master Buyer's Guide (I & II)

INTRODUCTION

What Is a Rolex Yacht-Master?

The Rolex Yacht-Master is the brand's luxury sports watch for the nautical world, blending Submariner DNA with premium materials and a refined sporting character.

The Rolex Yacht-Master collection launched in 1992 and was the brand's first sport watch built specifically for the sailing lifestyle. While it shares the Oyster case architecture, Mercedes-style hands, and rotating bezel with the Rolex Submariner, the Yacht-Master leans heavily into luxury. It was the first professional Rolex offered exclusively in precious metals, and it remains the only Rolex collection available in Rolesium, a combination of Oystersteel and 950 platinum that is unique to this model. Currently, the Yacht-Master is produced in three sizes: 37mm, 40mm, and 42mm.

There are two distinct watches under the Yacht-Master name, and buyers should understand the difference before shopping. The Yacht-Master (sometimes called the Yacht-Master I) is a time-and-date sport watch with a bidirectional 60-minute rotating bezel, water resistance to 100 meters, and an emphasis on elevated materials. It is available in Rolesium, Everose Rolesor, solid Everose gold, solid white gold, solid yellow gold (discontinued), and RLX titanium. The Yacht-Master II was a 44mm regatta chronograph produced from 2007 to 2024, featuring Rolex's proprietary Ring Command bezel and a programmable countdown timer powered by the caliber 4161. Rolex discontinued the entire Yacht-Master II lineup in April 2024.

Whether you are drawn to the understated elegance of a Rolesium Yacht-Master 40 on an Oyster bracelet, the modern stealth of the titanium Yacht-Master 42, or the now-discontinued technical ambition of the Yacht-Master II, this guide covers every reference number, current secondary market pricing, full specifications, and the expert buying advice you need to make a confident purchase.

AT A GLANCE

Rolex Yacht-Master Review

Everything you need to know before buying a Rolex Yacht-Master, summarized for buyers short on time.

The Rolex Yacht-Master is built for collectors who want the sport watch aesthetic of a Submariner or GMT-Master II but prefer a more refined, luxury-forward package. It appeals to lifestyle buyers, executives, and second-watch collectors who already own a core Rolex tool watch and want something with more visual presence.

Rolex introduced the Yacht-Master in 1992 as a full yellow gold sport watch, then quickly expanded the collection with smaller sizes (29mm and 35mm, now discontinued) and new materials. The 1999 Rolesium models brought the watch to a broader audience, and the 2015 introduction of the Oysterflex bracelet and Everose gold variants reinvented the collection's identity. In 2023, the titanium Yacht-Master 42 (ref. 226627) arrived as the collection's most technically modern release.

On the secondary market, the Rolesium Yacht-Master 40 (ref. 126622) is the collection's volume leader, trading around $13,500 to $15,000. Everose gold Oysterflex models (ref. 126655) sit near $28,000, and the titanium 42mm (ref. 226627) commands approximately $27,000 to $29,000. Entry-level vintage references like the discontinued 16622 can be found for around $9,000 to $11,000, making the Yacht-Master one of the more accessible Rolex sport watch collections on the pre-owned market.

The biggest decision most buyers face is choosing between the 40mm and 42mm Yacht-Master. The 40mm offers more material variety and a classic size, while the 42mm delivers a modern, larger-wearing experience in either white gold or titanium. Both sizes are powered by the current-generation caliber 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve.

From an investment perspective, the Yacht-Master has historically offered more stable, gradual appreciation compared to hype-driven models like the Rolex Daytona. Rolesium references tend to hold the strongest resale liquidity, while gold and Oysterflex models attract a narrower buyer pool but reward patient owners. The 2024 discontinuation of the Yacht-Master II has added a new collectibility angle for those references as well.

Keep reading for the full breakdown on every reference, detailed pricing, specs, and our expert buying checklist.

ORIGINS

History of the Rolex Yacht-Master

From prototype Daytona dials in the 1960s to the world's first titanium Rolex sport bracelet, the Yacht-Master's story spans over six decades of nautical innovation.

Rolex's relationship with sailing dates to 1958, when the brand partnered with the New York Yacht Club. Although prototypes with "Yacht Master" printed on Daytona-style dials appeared in the 1960s, only two known examples exist today, one of which belonged to Eric Clapton and sold for $125,100 at auction in 2003. It took Rolex nearly three more decades to officially launch the collection.

EVERY MODEL

Rolex Yacht-Master Reference Numbers

A complete table of every Yacht-Master and Yacht-Master II reference number, organized by sub-family. Use these to identify exactly which model you are looking at.

The Yacht-Master collection spans dozens of references across multiple generations. To decode any Rolex reference number, the first digits identify the model family, the penultimate digit indicates the bezel type, and the last digit reveals the case material. For a complete breakdown of material codes, see our Rolex metal codes guide.

Yacht-Master (Yacht-Master I)

Yacht-Master II (Discontinued 2024)

MARKET DATA

How Much Does a Rolex Yacht-Master Cost?

Current secondary market prices and retail benchmarks for the most popular Yacht-Master references, updated for 2026.

Rolex implemented an average price increase of approximately 7% across all models in January 2026, with steel models rising around 5.6% and gold models seeing increases closer to 9%. These increases, combined with ongoing tariff pressures on Swiss-made goods, have pushed both retail and secondary market prices upward. The figures below reflect current market conditions as of early 2026.

BUYING CHANNELS

Retail vs. Secondary Market

Understanding the key differences between purchasing a Yacht-Master from an authorized dealer and buying pre-owned on the secondary market.

The Rolex Yacht-Master is available through authorized dealers, but popular configurations like the Rolesium 126622 and the titanium 226627 often carry significant waitlists. The secondary market offers immediate availability, access to discontinued references, and the ability to choose the exact configuration you want without waiting months or years for an allocation.

The Yacht-Master II, discontinued in its entirety in 2024, is now exclusively available through the secondary market. For buyers who want a regatta chronograph with Rolex's Ring Command bezel, pre-owned is the only option.

THE DEBATE

Yacht-Master 40 vs. Yacht-Master 42

The core decision facing modern Yacht-Master buyers: classic versatility in 40mm, or the bold new generation in 42mm.

The Yacht-Master 40 is the collection's backbone. It has been in continuous production since 1992 and is available in the widest range of materials: Rolesium, Everose Rolesor, and solid Everose gold. The 40mm case wears comfortably on most wrists, pairs with the classic Oyster bracelet (or Oysterflex on gold models), and offers the familiar Rolex sport watch proportions that collectors have loved for decades. If you want a Yacht-Master in Rolesium, the only option in the current lineup is the 40mm ref. 126622.

The Yacht-Master 42, introduced in 2019, represents a different philosophy. It launched exclusively in 18k white gold with a Cerachrom bezel and Oysterflex bracelet, then expanded in 2023 with the RLX titanium ref. 226627 and yellow gold ref. 226658. The 42mm case feels notably larger on the wrist, though the titanium version is remarkably lightweight. The 42mm models lean harder into the modern, stealthy, monochromatic aesthetic with their all-black ceramic bezels, while the 40mm Rolesium and Rolesor variants retain the polished precious metal bezel with raised numerals.

Material availability is the deciding factor for many buyers. If you want the classic Yacht-Master look with the platinum or gold bezel featuring raised, polished numerals on a sandblasted background, you need the 40mm. If you want the matte black Cerachrom bezel with its more tool-watch appearance, the 42mm is your watch. Both sizes are powered by the same caliber 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve, so the mechanical performance is identical.

COLLECTOR TERMS

Rolex Yacht-Master Nicknames

The Yacht-Master collection does not have as many established nicknames as the Submariner or GMT-Master, but several terms are widely used among collectors and dealers. For a complete list of Rolex nicknames across all models, see our Rolex nicknames guide.

BUYING CHECKLIST

How to Buy a Rolex Yacht-Master

Five steps to ensure you make a smart, confident purchase on the secondary market.

TECHNICAL

Rolex Yacht-Master Specifications

Key specifications for the current-production Yacht-Master lineup. Specs shown are for the Yacht-Master 40 (ref. 126622, Rolesium) unless otherwise noted.