The Rolex Yacht-Master is a relatively young collection, began in 1992. And the Yacht-Master was well-received upon launch. With the passing of time, the yachting-inspired model has evolved and pioneered its own road. Let’s take a closer look at the Yacht-Master’s history from the beginning.

Rolex Yacht-Master 40 16628 In Yellow Gold – 1992

In 1992, The release of the first Yacht-Master 16628 means that Rolex is beginning a new chapter. Its striking similarities with the Rolex Submariner watches were clear for all to see. The luxury imitation Rolex Yacht-Master 16628 is produced only in 18ct gold. The 40mm case is paired with a Triplock crown, but only offers water resistance to 100M. So it’s positioned differently from the Submariner, Rolex Yacht-Master is not a diving watch. In addition, Yacht-Master 16628 is powered by 3135 calibre movement and has a white dial.

Rolex Yacht-Master 35 68628 & 29 69628 In Yellow Gold – 1994

In 1994, just 2 years after the debut of the ref.16628, Rolex would introduce the new Yacht-Master watches with same design but smaller case sizes. They are replica Rolex Yacht-Master 68628 35mm and fake Rolex Yacht-Master 69628 29mm. This the first time that Rolex ever offered one of their sports watches in a smaller case size. This also means that henceforth, the Rolex Yacht-Master is no longer just a men’s collection, but also a women’s collection. The two Rolex Yacht-Master watches are also made of 18k gold only, but come in two dial options, white and deep blue.

In the same year, Rolex has also added a deep blue dial option for the ref.16628. Rolex imitation watches with blue dials tend to be the popular versions, and coupled with the gold case and bracelet, the new Yacht-Master watches were once again a hit.

Rolex Yacht-Master 35 68623 & 29 69623 Two-Tone – 1995

A year later, Rolex updated the product for two smaller sizes of the Yacht-Master collection. These are the knock off Rolex Yacht-Master 35 68623 and the AAA Rolex Yacht-Master 29 69623. Unlike the previous year’s update, these Rolex Yacht-Master watches are two-tone watches made of gold and stainless steel.

Rolex Yacht-Master 40 16622 & 35 168622 & 29 169622 Rolesium – 1999

In 1999, in total, Rolex updated three watches, a 40mm men’s watch(ref.16622) , a 35mm midsize watch(ref.168622) and a 29mm ladies watch(ref.16922). These 3 imitation Rolex Yacht-Master watches are made of stainless steel and platinum, referred to as ‘Rolesium’. The case and bracelet are produced in 904L stainless steel, however the bezel itself is made by 950 platinum.

Rolex Yacht-Master 40 16623 Two-Tone – 2005

Following on from the Rolesium models is a two-tone Yacht-Master again. Rolex Yacht-Master 16623 Replica was the first 40mm two-tone watch. Released in 1995, the two smaller versions of the Rolex Yacht-Master replica watches were updated in 2000. The upgraded models are 168623 and 169623. The Yacht-Master 40 16623 has a stainless steel case. But the bezel is made of 18k yellow gold with raised numerals in a high polished finish. Furthermore, the two-tone Oyster bracelet features yellow gold center links flanked by two rows of stainless steel. The ref.16623 was available with a variety of dials including blue, white, mother of pearl, champagne, brown and silver.

Rolex Yacht-Master 116622 Rolesium – 2012

In 2012, Rolex introduced the 40mm replica Yacht-Master 116622. The watch is made of 904L stainless steel, but has a platinum bezel. The most significant change is that the stainless steel version is now available with the blue sunray dial. Previously, this dial color was only available in the platinum version. In total, the new blue sunburst dial has been very well received.

Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 In Everose On Oysterflex – 2015

Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 was born in 2015. This was not only the first Everose gold Yacht-Master but also the very first Rolex fitted with an Oysterflex bracelet. Additionally, This was also the first time the Yacht-Master watch had a ceramic bezel. Matching the black Oysterflex strap and black ceramic bezel is the black dial, punctuated with rose gold.

That same year, Rolex also introduced another new Everose watch on black Oysterflex strap. But the new imitation Rolex Yacht-Master 268655 has a new case size, 37MM. Then, this new case size effectively replaced the previous ladies and midsize Yacht-Master watches. So Rolex has now stopped making the 35mm and 29mm watches.

Rolex Yacht-Master 116621 Rolesor – 2016

Rolex Yacht-Master 116621 brings together 18k Everose gold and stainless steel. There is a rotating 18k Everose gold bezel on the 40mm stainless steel case. And the raised numerals on the bezel are high-polished, providing a contrast to the sandblasted background. In addition, the Oyster bracelet includes rose gold center links in between the exterior steel links.

Baselworld 2019

That year, Rolex first upgraded the movement inside the Yacht-Master watch to the NO.3232 movement. All 1166xx references were upgraded to ref.1266xx. Most importantly, Rolex also added a new size to the Yacht-Master during the year. The newest replica Rolex Yacht-Master 226659 has a 42mm case size. The ref.226659 is not only the biggest Yacht-Master to date, but also the first to be made in white gold. The new watch has the same look as the other 40mm watches, a black Cerachrom bezel, a black Oysterflex bracelet, and a black dial. And of course, the internal movement is the latest NO.3235 movement.

Yacht-Master Or Submariner

Similar in appearance to Submariner watches, the Yacht-Master is a more elegant and refined version of the Submariner. Also somebody think that the Yacht-Master is the result of the Submariner’s redesign. But unique in that the Yacht-Master collection is offered in mens and ladies size(42mm, 40mm, 35mm, 29mm). There are not many watch lines in the Rolex family that offer this size variation.

Rolex watches are widely considered to be a solid investment, probably the most reliable in the world of luxury goods. With all of the brand’s models, you can be reasonably confident that it will retain its value and, in most cases, even appreciate in value over the years. Of course, as with anything, some pieces will perform better than others, and for those looking to preserve their value, the trick is to be able to spot the pieces destined for future glory before the rest of the industry discovers them.?
Right now, there is no precise scientific basis for discovering the classic works of the future. It is almost impossible to predict where the golden eggs are buried – otherwise, we would all have bought a large selection of exotic “Paul Newman” Daytona watches in the 1960s and lived the high life today. However, there are some standout models currently in production that have the “uniqueness” factor to become future classics, and the fake Rolex Yacht Prestige II 116689 may be one of those watches.
The Rolex Yacht Prestige II is a brave project that required the experts at Rolex to come up with a new way to cram so much technology into one watch. The key innovative difference was the incorporation of the bezel, normally a decorative feature, into the overall mechanism and working mechanism of the watch. Called the “ring command bezel”, it is directly connected to the internal movement of the Yacht-Master II, acting as an on/off switch to unlock various operations and create a surprisingly simple and straightforward setting process.
The engine driving all this virtuosity is a heavily modified Cal. 4130 from the Rolex Daytona replica. The Cal. 4160 took some 35,000 hours to perfect, using a variation of the vertical clutch and column wheel system found on Rolex’s legendary racing chronographs.?
In addition, despite being purchased at the retail level for several thousand dollars more than its gold counterpart, the often overlooked status of reference 116689 means that it is actually much less expensive when purchased second-hand on the pre-owned market.
All in all, the Rolex Yacht Prestige II 116689 is a very special watch. Now in its second generation, Rolex’s first foray into the world of true complications may be aimed at a very niche market, but it is still one of the most impressive examples of the watchmaker’s output ever produced. While there is no guarantee that the replica Rolex?will become a classic, this ultra-luxurious model has all the necessary ingredients to one day be at the top of every collector’s wish list.