Rolex Yacht-Master Guide: Every Reference, Size, Bezel, Bracelet and Price

The Rolex Yacht-Master is Rolex's nautical watch: an Oyster case in 37, 40 or 42 mm, a bidirectional rotatable bezel graduated over 60 minutes with raised polished numerals, a date at 3 under the Cyclops lens, 100 m of water resistance and, since 2019 on the 40 and 42 mm models, the calibre 3235 with 70 hours of power reserve. Rolex introduced it in 1992 as the 16628 in 18 ct yellow gold, added the steel and platinum "Rolesium" 16622 in 1999, put the Oysterflex rubber bracelet on it in 2015 and has since extended the family to Everose Rolesor, white and yellow gold, RLX titanium and the 44 mm Yacht-Master II regatta chronograph. This guide covers the specifications by size, how the watch changed reference by reference, every reference with Bizak's dated catalogue asks, the dial and bezel options, the Oysterflex versus Oyster decision, the Yacht-Master II, how it compares with the Submariner, how it wears, what it costs in 2026 and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the Yacht-Master to order; the Yacht-Master collection lists the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on October 12, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

Rolex Yacht-Master specifications by size

Sources: the Rolex Yacht-Master collection page lists every current 37, 40 and 42 mm configuration with its reference, metal, bezel, dial and bracelet, and the Rolex Yacht-Master II page covers the regatta chronograph. Every Yacht-Master movement is a chronometer certified by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres before Rolex applies its own Superlative Chronometer test to the cased watch. Service intervals are set out on the Rolex watch care and service page.

What is the Rolex Yacht-Master and how has it changed since 1992?

The Yacht-Master was the first entirely new Rolex professional model in a generation when it appeared in 1992, and it was deliberately not a dive watch. It borrowed the Submariner's case architecture and Mercedes hands but turned the bezel the other way, into a bidirectional ring for timing a sailing leg or a start sequence rather than a decompression stop, and it came only in 18 ct yellow gold. Over 34 years the model has moved from a gold-only dress-sports watch to the Rolex family with the widest spread of case materials. The reference history in brief:

• 1992, ref. 16628. 40 mm, 18 ct yellow gold, calibre 3135, solid gold Oyster bracelet with the Oysterlock clasp. Dials in white, champagne, blue, slate and mother-of-pearl. It stayed in production until the 2012 refresh and is the only all-gold 40 mm Yacht-Master on a metal bracelet.
• 1994, the mid-size and ladies' models. A 35 mm "Midsize" (68628 in yellow gold, 68623 in yellow Rolesor, later 168622 in Rolesium) and a 29 mm ladies' version (69628, 69623, later 169622, 169623 and 169628) made the Yacht-Master the first Rolex professional model offered in three sizes. Both smaller sizes have since been discontinued and now trade only pre-owned.
• 1999, ref. 16622 Rolesium. Oystersteel case and bracelet with a 950 platinum bezel and a sandblasted platinum dial. Rolex registered the name Rolesium for the combination, and it has been the signature Yacht-Master configuration ever since. A yellow Rolesor 40 mm, the 16623, followed in the mid-2000s.
• 2012, ref. 116622. The Rolesium updated with the then-current case, an Oyster bracelet with the Easylink extension and a new bright blue sunray dial alongside the platinum dial; a dark rhodium dial arrived later in the run. Still the calibre 3135.
• 2015, refs. 116655 and 268655. 18 ct Everose gold with a matte black Cerachrom ceramic bezel and the first Oysterflex bracelet, a rubber-coated metal-blade bracelet rather than a strap. The 40 mm used the calibre 3135; the new 37 mm size used the calibre 2236 with the Syloxi silicon hairspring. See the Oysterflex guide for how the bracelet is built.
• 2016, refs. 116621, 268621 and 268622. Everose Rolesor in 40 and 37 mm with a solid Everose bezel and a chocolate dial, and a 37 mm Rolesium.
• 2019, refs. 126622, 126621, 126655 and 226659. The 40 mm models received the calibre 3235 and 70 hours of power reserve, and a new 42 mm size appeared in 18 ct white gold on Oysterflex, the first Yacht-Master at that diameter. The 126622 guide covers the current Rolesium in detail.
• 2022, ref. 226658. The 42 mm case in 18 ct yellow gold with the black Cerachrom bezel and Oysterflex.
• 2023, ref. 226627. The 42 mm case in RLX titanium, the first titanium Yacht-Master offered for sale, on a titanium Oyster bracelet rather than Oysterflex, after a prototype had been worn by Sir Ben Ainslie the year before.

Alongside these, Rolex has offered gem-set Yacht-Masters in Everose gold with a multicoloured sapphire bezel (116695SATS) and in white gold with sapphire or diamond bezels (126679SABR and the 42 mm 226679TBR), which sit at the top of the catalogue and trade on their stones more than on the model.

Which Rolex Yacht-Master references exist? Every reference with dated catalogue asks

Rolex reference numbers for the Yacht-Master follow a pattern: 166, 1166 and 1266 identify the 40 mm generations, 2686 the 37 mm, 2266 the 42 mm and 1166 with an 8 in the fourth position the Yacht-Master II; the last digit gives the metal (2 Rolesium, 1 Everose Rolesor, 3 yellow Rolesor, 5 Everose gold, 8 yellow gold, 9 white gold, 7 titanium). The table lists each reference with what Bizak's sourced catalogue asked for it on October 12, 2026. Every entry is sourced to order, every figure is an observation on that date, and the spread within a reference comes from dial, condition and whether the watch is new or pre-owned.

The pattern is clear. The Rolesium 40 is the entry point and the volume reference, the Everose Rolesor sits a few thousand dollars above it, the Oysterflex gold models double the ask, and the 42 mm titanium lands between Rolesor and gold. Catalogue entries for the most requested configurations: 126622 blue dial, 126622 slate dial, 126621 chocolate dial, 126655 Everose on Oysterflex, 226627 titanium and pre-owned 16628 champagne dial. The 37 mm Rolesium has its own guide: Yacht-Master 37 268622.

Which dials and bezels does the Yacht-Master come in?

The Yacht-Master dial catalogue is narrower than the Datejust's but each metal has a signature:

• Bright blue on Rolesium. A sunray blue with applied white gold markers, a red seconds hand and "Yacht-Master" in red. Introduced on the 116622 in 2012 and carried to the 126622, it is the single most requested Yacht-Master configuration and the one in the photograph above. Bizak's catalogue listed it at US$14,618 new and US$13,535 pre-owned on October 12, 2026.
• Slate (dark rhodium) on Rolesium. A grey sunray dial that reads closer to the platinum bezel. On the 126622 it was asked above the blue in our catalogue on October 12, 2026, at US$16,501 new, because fewer were produced for the first years.
• Platinum on the 16622 and early 116622. A sandblasted platinum dial in the same grey as the bezel; subtle in daylight and the one collectors associate with the original Rolesium.
• Chocolate on Everose Rolesor. A warm brown sunray matched to the Everose bezel and centre links on the 116621, 126621 and 268621. A darker dial was also catalogued on the Everose Rolesor.
• Black on Everose, white gold, yellow gold and titanium. The Oysterflex and titanium models use a matte black dial with gold or titanium-coloured surrounds and the matte black Cerachrom bezel, so the case metal does the talking.
• Diamond-paved and gem-set. The 126655, 268655 and 116655 were offered with a pavé diamond dial, and the sapphire-bezel 116695SATS and 126679SABR with paved dials; these carry the highest asks and are the hardest to compare because the stone layout varies.
• Vintage 16628 dials. White, champagne, blue, slate and mother-of-pearl, with gold surrounds and tritium then Luminova lume; the mother-of-pearl dial is scarce and was asked at more than double the champagne in our catalogue on October 12, 2026.

The bezel is the second decision. The platinum bezel on Rolesium is sandblasted with polished raised numerals and is the softest of the three to scratch; the solid Everose bezel on Rolesor is polished and marks easily; the Cerachrom ceramic bezel on the gold Oysterflex and titanium models is matte black with polished raised numerals and does not fade or scratch in normal wear. All three rotate in both directions with no click, which is correct for the model and not a fault.

Oysterflex or Oyster bracelet: which should you choose?

The Yacht-Master was the first Rolex to use the Oysterflex, and the family still splits by bracelet along metal lines. The Rolesium and Everose Rolesor models come on a three-link Oyster bracelet with polished centre links, Oysterlock safety clasp and the Easylink 5 mm extension; the solid Everose, white gold and yellow gold models come on the Oysterflex; and the titanium 226627 comes on a brushed titanium Oyster bracelet with the Glidelock extension. There is no official cross-over: Rolex does not sell a Rolesium Yacht-Master on Oysterflex or a gold Yacht-Master on a metal bracelet in the current catalogue, though the 16628 of 1992 to 2012 was an all-gold watch on a gold bracelet.

The Oysterflex is a flexible titanium and nickel alloy blade overmoulded in black elastomer, with longitudinal cushions on the inside that hold the watch off the wrist. It is lighter than a gold bracelet, which makes the Everose and white gold 40 and 42 mm watches far more wearable than their metal suggests, and it closes with the same Oysterlock safety clasp. The 2015 versions had the Easylink extension; from the 2019 references the Oysterflex Yacht-Masters moved to the Glidelock, which adjusts in small steps without tools. The Oyster bracelet is the more durable of the two over decades and the one that holds its value better on a Rolesium, where the polished centre links are part of the look. Our Oysterflex guide covers every Rolex on the rubber bracelet and what replacement costs.

What is the Yacht-Master II and how is it different?

The Yacht-Master II is a different watch that shares the name. Introduced in 2007 in 18 ct yellow gold (116688) and in white gold with a platinum bezel (116689), it is a 44 mm regatta chronograph with a programmable countdown from 1 to 10 minutes and a mechanical memory, set through the Ring Command bezel: turn the bezel 90 degrees to unlock the countdown, set it with the crown, and the bezel locks it in. The calibre 4160, later 4161, has 72 hours of power reserve and a flyback function that synchronises the countdown with the official start signal. Rolex added the Everose Rolesor 116681 in 2011 and the Oystersteel 116680 in 2013, and revised the dial in 2017 with a Mercedes hour hand and a triangular index at 12. There is no date, the case is thicker and heavier than any Yacht-Master, and the blue Cerachrom bezel on the steel, Rolesor and yellow gold versions is the model's identifier.

On October 12, 2026 Bizak's catalogue listed the steel 116680 from US$16,950 pre-owned and US$18,134 to US$19,999 new, the Everose Rolesor 116681 at US$21,978 new and US$20,350 pre-owned, the yellow gold 116688 at US$46,035 new and US$42,625 pre-owned, and the white gold and platinum 116689 pre-owned from US$31,886 to US$40,455. The catalogue also carried Yacht-Master II entries under the references 126680 (steel, US$26,918 to US$27,499) and 126688 (yellow gold, US$66,999 to US$79,361); confirm the reference, movement and specification against Rolex's current Yacht-Master II page before relying on those. Entries: Yacht-Master II 116680, 116681 Everose Rolesor and 116688 yellow gold. Buy the Yacht-Master II if you want the complication and the size; it is not a bigger Yacht-Master.

Yacht-Master vs Submariner: which should you buy?

They share a movement and a silhouette and differ in purpose. The Submariner is the dive watch: 300 m, a one-way bezel that cannot be turned past a decompression stop, a brushed case and the Glidelock. The Yacht-Master is the lighter, dressier sports watch: 100 m, a two-way bezel for timing on deck, platinum or gold on every version, polished centre links, a slimmer case and a red seconds hand. On the wrist the Yacht-Master 40 wears like a Submariner from the 16610 era, smaller and flatter than the 41 mm 126610LN. In the secondary market the Submariner carries the larger premium over retail because demand is deeper; the Rolesium Yacht-Master is easier to find and, pre-owned, was asked below the Submariner in Bizak's catalogue on October 12, 2026. The Submariner 126610LN guide and the Submariner 124060 guide cover the alternative in detail; if you want one steel sports Rolex, the Submariner is the safer choice, and if you want something you will see less often, the Yacht-Master is the better buy.

How does the Rolex Yacht-Master wear? 37 vs 40 vs 42 mm

The Yacht-Master 40 is the easiest Rolex professional model to wear. The case is under 12 mm thick, the lugs are short and curve down, and the bezel sits flush, so it fits under a cuff where a Submariner or GMT-Master II catches. On wrists from about 16.5 to 19 cm (6.5 to 7.5 inches) it is the right size. The 37 mm is the same watch for smaller wrists or for buyers who want it as a unisex piece; it uses the calibre 2236 rather than the 3235, which means about 55 hours of reserve against 70 but the same accuracy standard, and it wears a little smaller still because the bezel is proportionally wider. The 42 mm models are only offered in gold and titanium and wear larger than the number because of the black bezel and black dial; on Oysterflex the gold 42 is comfortable on wrists above about 17.5 cm, and the titanium 226627 is the lightest 42 mm Rolex and the one to choose if weight is the objection to a Submariner. Rolesium weighs about the same as a steel Submariner; the solid gold 16628 on its gold bracelet is noticeably heavier than anything in the current catalogue.

How much is a Rolex Yacht-Master? Retail and dealer prices in 2026

• Retail. Rolex publishes US list prices on the product pages linked from the Yacht-Master collection page. In 2026 the Rolesium 126622 and 268622 have been listed in the low-to-mid US$10,000s, the Everose Rolesor a little above that, the titanium 226627 in the mid US$10,000s, the gold Oysterflex models in the region of US$30,000 and the Yacht-Master II from the high US$10,000s in steel. Those figures move with Rolex's periodic price adjustments, so take the current number from Rolex's page rather than from any guide, including this one.
• Secondary market. The Yacht-Master is one of the few current Rolex professional models that has generally been obtainable at an authorised dealer without years of waiting, and the secondary ask reflects that: in 2025 and 2026 unworn Rolesium 126622 examples have typically been asked at a modest premium to list, pre-owned examples around list, and the gold and titanium models at a premium that reflects their metal rather than scarcity. The discontinued 116622 and 16622 trade well below the current reference and are the value route into the model; the yellow gold 16628 has risen as collectors have taken to it.
• Bizak catalogue asks. On October 12, 2026 our sourced catalogue listed the 16622 from US$8,369 pre-owned, the 116622 from US$11,624 pre-owned and US$12,652 new, the 126622 from US$13,535 pre-owned and US$14,618 new, the 126621 at US$17,078 new, the 268622 at US$12,118 new, the 126655 at US$36,934 new, the 226627 at US$26,125, the 226658 at US$38,625, the 226659 from US$30,999 and the 16628 from US$20,459 pre-owned, all sourced to order.

Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact reference, dial, year and card; our Rolex price guide explains how to read a quote across the range, and the Submariner price guide is the right comparison for the Rolesium.

Is the Rolex Yacht-Master a good investment?

It is a watch that holds value rather than one that makes money, and that is a point in its favour for a buyer rather than a trader. Because Rolex has produced the Rolesium in volume and allocations have been easier than for the Submariner, GMT-Master II or Daytona, the premium over retail on a 126622 has stayed modest and the downside has stayed small. The references that have done best are the ones Rolex stopped making: the 16628 in yellow gold, which has a following as the original, and the first Oysterflex 116655, which collectors recognise as the start of something. Diamond-paved and gem-set dials lose the most against their retail because the secondary market discounts factory stones. The titanium 226627 is too new to judge but has been asked above list since launch. Buy the Yacht-Master as a watch you will wear for a decade; if you want a steel Rolex that trades above retail, our first Rolex guide is the better comparison, and how to sell a Rolex explains what a dealer will pay when the time comes.

Buying a used Yacht-Master: what to check

• Warranty card and rehaut. The card serial must match the engraving on the rehaut at 6 on any watch from 2007 on. Every 1266xx and 2266xx Yacht-Master was sold with the five-year warranty, so a 2022 or later watch should still be inside it; Rolex does not reissue cards.
• Bezel metal. A Rolesium bezel is platinum: sandblasted matte with polished raised numerals and no colour. A Rolesor bezel is solid Everose and warm. A Cerachrom bezel is matte black ceramic. A polished steel bezel with painted numerals on a watch sold as a 16622 or 116622 is a replacement, and an aftermarket Cerachrom bezel on a Rolesium is a modification.
• Bezel action. The Yacht-Master bezel turns in both directions without a click; a bezel that clicks has been fitted with the wrong parts. The raised numerals should be sharp, not rounded, which on platinum means it has not been polished.
• Dial and lettering. Current dials read "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" and carry a small crown at 6 between "Swiss" and "Made". The red seconds hand and red "Yacht-Master" should be present on Rolesium and Rolesor dials; a white seconds hand is a service replacement or a swap. On a 16628, lume plots should match in colour between dial and hands.
• Oysterflex condition. Check the elastomer for cracks at the clasp and end-link joints and for shine from solvents; a replacement Oysterflex is a service-centre part and should be priced into the offer. Check that the Glidelock or Easylink moves freely.
• Oyster bracelet. The polished centre links show scratches sooner than brushed links. Lay the bracelet flat and lift one end: a bracelet that sags sharply has stretched. On a 16628 the gold bracelet stretches more than steel and is costly to replace.
• Case edges. Even brushing on the case sides and sharp polished chamfers on the lugs. A rounded lug tip or a mirror-polished case side means it has been polished, which matters more on the slim Yacht-Master case than on a Submariner.
• Movement and date. The calibre 3235 date should jump instantly at midnight and set in the first crown position without resistance; a 3135 from the 1166xx and earlier should run within a few seconds a day. A 2012 to 2016 watch may be approaching its first service, and a dealer's service invoice is worth having.
• Price against the band. A full-set 126622 or 126655 offered well under the asks above is the single most reliable warning sign.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch. The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry publishes guidance on counterfeits and the legal protection of the "Swiss Made" marking.

Quick answers

How much is a Rolex Yacht-Master?

Rolex's US list price for the Rolesium 126622 has sat in the low-to-mid US$10,000s in 2026, with gold Oysterflex models around US$30,000. Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the 126622 from US$13,535 pre-owned and US$14,618 new, the 116622 from US$11,624 pre-owned and the 16622 from US$8,369 pre-owned on October 12, 2026.

What is the difference between the Yacht-Master and the Submariner?

The Yacht-Master has a bidirectional 60-minute bezel in platinum, gold or ceramic, 100 m of water resistance, a slimmer 40 mm case and polished centre links; the Submariner has a unidirectional ceramic bezel, 300 m, a 41 mm brushed case and the Glidelock clasp. Both use the calibre 3235.

What sizes does the Rolex Yacht-Master come in?

37 mm (268622, 268621, 268655), 40 mm (126622, 126621, 126655 and gem-set versions) and 42 mm (226659 white gold, 226658 yellow gold, 226627 titanium). The Yacht-Master II is 44 mm. Discontinued 29 and 35 mm versions trade pre-owned.

What is Rolesium?

Rolex's name for an Oystersteel case and bracelet combined with a 950 platinum bezel, introduced on the Yacht-Master 16622 in 1999 and used on the current 126622 and 268622. Early Rolesium models also had a platinum dial.

Is the Rolex Yacht-Master a good investment?

It holds value rather than appreciating. The Rolesium 126622 trades close to retail, the discontinued yellow gold 16628 and first Oysterflex 116655 have appreciated as collectors have taken to them, and gem-set versions lose the most against list. Buy it to wear rather than to trade.

Request a Yacht-Master sourcing quote

Tell us the reference, size, dial, bracelet, preferred year range, condition and whether the warranty card is required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, card and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: 126622 blue dial, pre-owned 126622 blue dial, 116622 Rolesium, pre-owned 16622, 126621 chocolate dial, 268622 Yacht-Master 37, 126655 Everose Oysterflex, 226659 white gold, 226658 yellow gold, 226627 titanium, pre-owned 16628 slate dial; browse the Yacht-Master collection, the wider Rolex collection, two-tone watches, or sell or trade your Yacht-Master.

Related reading: Yacht-Master 40 126622 guide · Yacht-Master 37 268622 guide · Rolex Oysterflex guide · Submariner 126610LN guide · Rolex waitlist explained.