Rolex Yacht-Master 42 226627

The year 2023 turned out to be a year of hits for Rolex, as the Geneva-based company introduced a mix of very sensible novelties with some unexpected interesting new artistic concepts. As for sports watches, the most interesting novelty from Rolex is the titanium version of the Yacht-Master 42 with reference 226627. There is no feeling of bulkiness from wearing this Rolex watch.

The Yacht-Master 42 titanium watch is a very unusual experience for any long-time Rolex fan. Rolex, to one degree or another, helped create the 20th-century notion that the value of watches can often be measured by feeling how strong and heavy they are. Rolex watches have never been designed with lightness in mind, so most of them are quite hefty and loved for this reason. Usually, someone admires a Rolex watch made of precious metal, just by feeling its mass in the open palm.

The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 watch was introduced in 2019 in tones very similar to the titanium model, but made of 18K white gold and with a black Rolex Oysterflex strap. As a result, a yellow gold version was added, and it seemed that the largest copy of the Rolex Yacht-Master was destined to become a product consisting only of precious metals. The 2023 Yacht-Master 42 model 226627 changes this paradigm by adding an all-Class 5 titanium case and matching bracelet to the family of luxury watches.

Even though Rolex uses the same Grade 5 titanium as other brands, they pay great attention to finishing and polishing the surface of these watches. Rolex uses a kind of deep-grain engraving, which is somewhat different from the same effect on steel. Titanium as a color is also slightly darker than the comparatively bright 904L steel from which most other Rolex sports watches are made.

Apart from titanium with a matching bracelet, there’s not much new in the watch. The Yacht-Master 42 case is 42 mm wide and has the same proportions as other watches of the larger Oyster Perpetual model. The case is waterproof to 100 meters, and around the dial there is a bezel rotating in one direction with a matte black ceramic insert that harmonizes with the matte dark gray tone of the Yacht-Master 42 dial. The familiar rich black dial is clear, the large hour markers and hands are covered with a luminescent compound, which makes it easier to read readings in low-humidity conditions. the illumination level.

Inside the watch is an automatic movement, a Caliber 3235 produced by Rolex, operating at a frequency of 4 Hz with a power reserve of about 70 hours. The mechanism shows the time and date, and there is a Rolex Cyclops magnifying lens on the sapphire crystal. Many engineers consider titanium to be the ideal material for watch cases. The light weight and large size give the 42 mm wide Rolex watch an interesting and attractive personality.

For watch lovers and Rolex collectors, there really is a lot new about wearing a Rolex titanium watch simply because most people have never done it before. The Tudor subsidiary brand has a Pelagos watch, which for a while was really the more sober equivalent of the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 226627. They’re also much cheaper, but they don’t have the iconic Oyster Perpetual case shape and famous Submariner-style dial like the Yacht-Master.

While Yacht-Master 42 in titanium raises many interesting philosophical questions about what Rolex should and shouldn’t do, the product will be a commercial success given the current latent demand for high-quality titanium sports watches. Rolex has made it clear that the production volume of the Yacht-Master 42 titanium watch will be limited, in large part due to the fact that there are so many titanium parts in the case and especially in the bracelet that they all need to be polished in exact accordance with each other.

The new Yacht-Master 42 features an Oyster titanium RLX bracelet with ceramic inserts for greater flexibility, with a secure Oysterlock clasp. The bracelet is equipped with an Easylink extension, which makes it easy to adjust the length of the bracelet by about 5 mm.

The Rolex Yacht-Master watch was first introduced in 1992 and has since become one of the most popular and iconic Rolex models. Designed for sailing enthusiasts and those who appreciate the marine lifestyle without stepping on board, the Yacht-Master model is available in several sizes and in several materials, including stainless steel, gold and platinum. The model is available in several variations, including Yacht-Master II; the latter is equipped with a regatta timer, a countdown timer designed specifically for yacht racing. The new Yacht-Master RLX Titanium watch marks a symbolic and long-awaited return of Rolex to a time when sports and professional watches were created for everyday activities without the luxury component.

WATCH

Automatic movement, Caliber 3235. Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date. Power reserve: 70 hours. Certified chronometer

DIAL

Black. Overhead indexes, phosphor

THE BRACELET

Titanium Bracelet

HOUSING

The diameter is 42 mm. Case material: Titanium RLX. Water resistance is 100 m.

REFERENCE

226627

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