Rolex

Pulled the trigger on the updated YM 40mm

Oct 28, 2020,11:21 AM

This watch does not get much discussion, but after initially seeing it in person in 2015 I knew I had to have one at some point. I was in my local AD and he had the new iteration with the addition of Glidelock and that was it…

The Yacht-Master has always existed in an interesting place within Rolex’s sport watch family. When it first debuted in the 1990s, it was meant to be a more high-end lifestyle type of sport watch compared to the tool watches in the Rolex lineup like the Submariner and GMT-Master. The Yacht-Master was never meant to be a professional diving watch or something for pilots. If anything, it was meant to be a nautical-inspired luxury sports watch. That means there is a degree of activity to the owner's life and some water resistance is necessary, but so is style and status.

In person, the Rolex Yacht-Master 126655 is just as attractive if not more so than it the pictures on their website. I’ve always been a fan of mixing gold and the color black – something which you can find in other Rolex models from time to time if you look for it. The matte black color and texture of the Rolex Yacht-Master bezel is echoed on the dial – which again is very rarely matte on a modern Rolex sports watch. This makes for a phenomenally cool look that is both a bit more legible and aggressive looking than the slightly glossy Rolex Oyster sport watch models.

The Oysterflex bracelet is quite an engineering feat. One of the most appealing traits of Rolex as a company is that it tends to demonstrate what can only be described as an remarkable degree of OCD when it comes to research and development. Rolex does this without making any sort of fanfare about it at all. In this case we do know a little bit about the Oysterflex, however – it is basically designed to have the hypoallergenic and comfort properties of a rubber strap and the durability and shape-retention properties of a traditional bracelet.

At the core of the Oysterflex bracelet are metal inserts made of titanium and nickel, which are used to affix the bracelet to the clasp and watch case; over those is a sheathing of “high-performance black elastomer.” “Elastomer” is a portmanteau word, formed from “elastic” and “polymer” and is a general term for natural and synthetic rubbers. In addition to the materials complexity of the Oysterflex bracelet, it is also shaped in a rather unusual fashion – there are fins molded into the the wristward face of the bracelet, which allow the bracelet when worn to better approximate the natural curvature of the wrist.

The new model also migrates from the 3135 movement to the 3235 movement. According to Rolex, over 90% of Caliber 3235’s parts are new and it is protected by 14 patents. Some of the most notable changes that Caliber 3235 brought to the table include the new and more efficient Chronergy Escapement, a longer mainspring housed inside a barrel with thinner walls, and a new monobloc self-winding module. These modifications made way for Caliber 3235’s improved power reserve of 70 hours, despite retaining the same size as the preceding Caliber 3135.

The watch is a refreshing take on Rolex tradition that shows the brand’s skill at adapting to contemporary trends while staying true to its philosophy. Personally, I think it is a really unique and I’m glad I had the opportunity to pick one up.