yacht master ii hands

Hands-On Rolex Yacht-Master II Review

So, I got a YachtMaster II. But hear me out… It was an insanely, and undeserved gift (“the company you keep”, right?). This got me to thinking about a lot of Rolexes offerings , and brought me around to the idea that the Yacht-Master II, no matter how niche a complication, no matter how specific, no matter how big, no matter how ridiculous - Might be one of my favorite models - And I’m not just saying that because I didn’t actually make the purchase.

Let me clear the elephant in the room. That’s the “You’re just saying you like the watch because it was free” statement that is absolutely BOUND to shroud my DM’s after this goes live. And that’s fine, I expect it, I welcome it, and I recognize the privilege that I’m projecting here. However, I would like to clear the air on where this review is going to come from - I have had plenty, and I mean PLENTY of opportunity to buy, sell, handle, photograph, and write about Rolex in the past decade. While I have on occasion, I’ve never particularly found Rolex to be a terribly interesting brand to review. Incremental changes over decades and decades tend to run together, and very few of those changes are worth lengthy, wrist-time in order to trump the (literal) thousands of reviews on the internet already - So I’ve mostly passed up on writing any kind of in-depth article or review on the brand. I’ve always felt that was better left for the Rolex boys, who are probably more qualified than myself to write about them anyway.

That is, until I have been wearing this particular model for a decent period of time. I started to notice that so many of the Rolex Yacht-Master II reviews on the internet, have often come from people who are attempting to sell you the watch. With the exception of a few “Hands On” articles floating around, I have had a very difficult time finding an open and honest review of this particular watch from someone who has actually owned one, and has worn it for a significant portion of time. So that is what I’m going to attempt to do here. This is going to be a wordy, however, comprehensive review of the Rolex Yacht-Master II (Ref 116680) - Arguably the most polarizing modern watch Rolex has produced.

If you’ve been around Rolex circles for any serious amount of time, you’ll likely have heard that the Yacht-Master II is simply too large of a watch for Rolex to have made - And to be fair, it’s very big by Rolex standards. The watch is the only Rolex produced that measures in at 44mm with a significant 14mm thickness and is made of 904L Stainless Steel. So to the more introverted Rolex collector, this is probably not the watch for them. While this model is definitely heavy, I have never once felt this watch to be uncomfortable or a nuisance on the wrist.

I have seen a number of comments that the Yacht-Master II is too bulky and heavy, however I do not feel that is the case. In fact, my Omega Planet Ocean is only 42mm x 15.7mm, and feels much bulkier and heavier than the Yacht-Master II.

The case is alternating with polished and satin-finished and features a nautical blue ceramic bezel. The pushers are, as is Rolex’s MO, a perfect length. Even though I’m left handed, and therefore wear my watch on my right wrist, I had no issues with the pushers digging into my wrist, or catching on my sleeves. The rounded and tapered case, although thick, cleanly buffers between the oversized bezel and any sleeve you wish to pull over it. I live in Tampa FL, so I am always tucking it away under a sleeve… cause… I don’t want to get robbed in a parking lot.

The pushers are easy to use, cause it’s Rolex, and of course they are. The triple-lock crown screws down easy and fits tight against the case, so I never feel like there is any risk in the water - Even though the watch carries a 100m water resistance rating.

The bezel is often criticized for it’s ostentatious nature. I mean, there is no doubt what watch is on your wrist with the huge, bold, and easily seen “YACHT-MASTER II” etched into the bezel itself. The bezel function works with the movement (which we will get to in a minute), as it turns 90 degrees in order to program the indicators (which we’ll also get to). The matte finish with crescent grippers makes the bezel easy to use, and readily available when needed.

This is the ref. 116680, which means there were some moderate adjustments made to the dial by Rolex over the previous er… 116680 (Rolex opted not to change the reference number). Personally, I find them to be minimal, and unless you’re insanely familiar with the Yacht-Master II line of watches, will likely be largely unnoticed, but I feel it important to discuss anyway.

For starters, the indicators are not simply square all the way around the dial anymore. Instead of every indicator remaining the same shape and angle, the 12 o’ clock indice was changed to an elongated triangle to easily dictate the top of the watch. Additionally, the 6 o’clock indicator was changed to an elongated rectangle, again, to easily dictate it’s location. Is this likely to be a deal-breaker for Regatta enthusiasts when looking to time 60 second intervals with a flyback function? Probably not. But it does make the dial a lot more legible, and I suppose, a certain percentage more useful.

Additionally, the other major changes were too the handset. Instead of the heat treated blued handset of prior models, the 116680 features skeletonized hands with lumed tips and an added “mercedes” hour hand. This allows for the wearer to see the Regatta timer lap ring with minimal interruption - Although, I think the blue handset would have helped - The polished hands can get lost against the slick white dial in certain light. Lesser changes include some thickening of lines, a bit darker tint of blue, and some added lume.

Overall, the dial is exactly what you’d expect from Rolex. It’s superbly legible, displays the utility of the movement well, and is innately “Rolex”. The updates definitely add to the legibility, even when using the lap timer, however, I’ve never known a Rolex to really struggle in that department to begin with.

THE MOVEMENT:

Inside the Yacht-Master II is the Rolex Calibre 4161. The movement is formidable, and the functions make sense for the extremely specific times a captain would need to use it. Essentially, the “chronograph” functions as a 10 minute countdown sectioned off in “laps”. When activated, the movement counts the ten lap starting sequence of a regatta race.

Interestingly, because of the internal memory, the movement can be programmed for any position within the 1-10 sequence for even more precise timing. This can be done by rotating the “Command bezel” 90 degrees and pressing the start / stop pusher to adjust the position. Interestingly, Rolex boasts that it’s one of the first watches in the world to utilize a bezel in conjunction to the movement.

The 360+ part Calibre 4161 beats at 28,800 VpH, features a 72-hour power reserve, and Rolex’s Parachrom hairspring for better anti-magnetism.

THE BRACELET:

The watch comes on an Oystersteel bracelet with a pretty unique clasp feature that allows for the adjustment of the links to 5mm - or a half link. This was super handy for my wrist, because the watch sat just a hair too lose, but taking out a third link would cause the watch to flop around more than I’d like. Admittedly, I hadn’t had much experience with this feature, but learned on the fly how easy it was to use. Where the bracelet connects to the clasp, there is a little fold half link. You can either pull up and flip it back down to set it in place, or pull slightly back to release it. This either shortens, or lengthens the link. This is great for hot days when your wrist swells. And the added ability to do it quick, on the fly, and without tools was a huge bonus to the watches utility.

Obviously, there isn’t much improving on the Oyster bracelet. It’s insanely comfortable, it flexes perfectly when it needs to, it’s clasp is solid and doesn’t buckle (no pun intended) and it’s fit to the lugs is perfect for the watch.

The Yacht-Master II is very top-heavy, so it’s important for the bracelet to manage that efficiently, and this is Rolex we’re talking about, so it does. Are there times that swelling and moisture, and dirt / sand affect the comfort? Sure, but there’s nothing the bracelet can do to fix that.

CONCLUSION:

While, admittedly loud, I found myself leaning into the oversized and exaggerated nature of the watch more and more. Is it massive and recognizable? Yes. Obviously. Does it take away from the watch at all? No. I feel it compliments it. Rolex as a whole has a difficult time being identified without, it becoming your entire identity - If that makes any sense, and the Yacht-Master II case is one of the few (in my opinion) Rolex watches that comes with it’s own personality - even if that personality tends to get lumped in with the loud and obnoxiously rich people that tend to strive to own it.

As my first Rolex, I recognize that it’s not exactly the normal “First” for the brand, but I’ve grown to love the watch. In fact, I think it’s a staple in my collection. It’s hefty and legitimately feels like a sports watch worth wearing, and still classic and toned down enough to be a dinner watch. I don’t have much to fault the watch with that isn’t built into the foundations of what the watch is to begin with. I feel and criticism I could really throw at it would be met with “Yeah, we know, that’s the point”, and that just feels… well, pointless.

How much is the Rolex Yacht-Master II?

If you can find one at retail, you’re looking at a price tag of $18,700 USD but is going for around $24,000 to $29,000 on the secondary market.

THE COLLECTIVE

European Watch Company – Est. 1993

Almost Obscure: The Rolex Yacht-Master II 116689

Published by mike razak.

View all posts by Mike Razak

Rolex does not simply release watches on a whim. New models are rare, and updates to existing models are often minor, sometimes not even warranting an announcement. Regardless of timing or subtlety, everything The Crown does is met with scrutiny and drama. So, too, it was when the Yacht-Master II was released in 2007. The watch was met with mixed reactions: With an obscure complication that no one really asked for and the largest case in Rolex’s catalog, some thought it sullied the robust elegance of its forebear. Others rightfully praised its technical innovations. Fast forward more than a decade and the model seems to have won out: the Rolex Yacht-Master II 116689 seen here (and its sister references) remains in the Rolex catalog and is a favorite among those seeking a Rolex with a bit more panache and functionality than the standard Submariner.

When the original Yacht-Master was introduced in 1992, it was Rolex’s first entirely new model since the Sea-Dweller in 1967. The watch was an immediate hit with the seagoing elite, and has remained incredibly popular, with a variety of colorways and sizes released to satisfy demand.  Then, in 2007, the Yacht-Master II was released. Rolex spent over 35,000 hours designing the movement for the watch, which was designed to aid skippers in tracking the starting sequence of a regatta, including a novel integrated bezel and programmable countdown timer with memory function. Two models were part of the original release: the 116688 in solid 18kt gold with a blue ceramic bezel and the 116689 in 18kt white gold with an embossed platinum bezel.  

Design Details

At 44mm wide and 14mm thick, the Yacht-Master II features the largest production case Rolex offers. Despite its size, the watch is good to just 100m of water resistance—certainly sufficient for most aquatic adventures, but a subtle hint that Yacht-Master II is aimed at those who plan to remain aboard. The solid 18k white gold case and bracelet of the 116689 remain classic Rolex: polished throughout, with gentle curves, it gives way to the dual-finished Oyster bracelet, which features an Oysterlock clasp and Easylink 5mm extension for fine-tuned sizing. The patented Triplock crown and its guards maintain the aesthetic, with ringed chronograph pushers at its flanks. A white gold bezel—dubbed the Ring Command bezel for its added functionality—features a frosted platinum insert with embossed, polished numerals and model name. Protecting the dial is a sapphire crystal. 

Despite the watch’s functionality, Rolex has kept things extremely legible with a clean white dial. Square hour markers are applied and filled with the brand’s proprietary Chromalight lume. At 9 o’clock, the Crown logo is accompanied by the traditional Rolex dial text. At 6 o’clock, a running seconds subdial features a radial finished ring. The hands are all blued, with the hour and minute featuring lume; the minute hand has a cutout to allow for better timing legibility. In a large arc bounded by bright blue, the 10-minute regatta scale lines up perfectly with both the applied markers and the bezel. The countdown time is displayed by a bright red chronograph sweep hand and a lumed triangle minute hand.

To set the countdown timer, turn the Ring Command bezel 90 degrees counterclockwise, press the 4 o’clock pusher, and use the crown to set the desired interval (the triangle hand will snap back to 0 if pushed past 10). After rotating the bezel back, the watch’s pushers operate similarly to a normal chronograph. But Rolex has added two unique functions. When the timer is set, the initial countdown time is memorized: if the countdown is 7 minutes and needs to be restarted, stopping and resetting the timer will return it to 7 minutes. Equally impressive, the watch can be resynchronized to the official race countdown if necessary: pressing the reset pusher without stopping the timer will jump the timing hand to the nearest minute. 

Inner Workings

Powering the Rolex Yacht-Master II is the automatic Rolex 4161 caliber, based on the 4130 chronograph movement (seen in the Daytona). Comprising over 360 components, including 44 jewels, the movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and delivers a robust 72 hours of power (a number of the constituent parts are so small, they require specialized micromanufacturing mastered in-house by Rolex). The watch is further equipped with Rolex’s Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock system, together delivering exceptional antimagnetism and shock resistance. As with all modern Rolex movements, the 4161 is certified to their Superlative Chronometer standards, accurate to -2/+2 seconds per day. 

Instead of the traditional chronograph functions of its base movement, the 4161 has been retooled to allow for use as a countdown timer. In conjunction with a vertical clutch, a column wheel extends through the main plate, allowing for the programmable countdown. Additional reworking has added instantaneous re-synchronization functionality and countdown memory; and as discussed above, the bezel is coupled to the movement to allow its use as a locking mechanism for the timer (though considering the bezel part of the movement might be a stretch). All of these decidedly niche features make for one of the most complicated Rolex calibers ever made. 

Versus the Competition

Watches and regattas have been linked for quite some time, and indeed many brands sponsor teams, races, or entire series. Omega and TAG Heuer have both released limited edition America’s Cup watches featuring countdown mechanisms. Panerai makes the Luminor 1950 Regatta Chrono Flyback and Ulysse Nardin has its Marine Regatta model. Of course, sometimes only a Rolex will do, in which case one can opt for the timing function of the Daytona, the Ring Command bezel of the Sky-Dweller, or the nouveau riche appeal of the original Yacht-Master. 

Personality

While the original Yacht-Master appealed to the owners of superyachts by providing a higher-end alternative to the Submariner, the Rolex Yacht-Master II 116689 builds on that appeal with the added bona fides of regatta timing functionalities. In the white gold execution, it’s perhaps best suited to the sailing enthusiast with who enjoys the occasional regatta and may even partake in one from time to time, but also likes a splash of luxury on the wrist and isn’t afraid to let others know.  

Final Thoughts

Be it as it may an undeniable piece of luxury sailing kit, the Yacht-Master II does what only a few Rolexes do: provides both the exceptional quality the brand is known for and unique functionality. For that alone, the model is well worth a look.

See More of the Rolex Yacht-Master II 116689

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Hands-On The Rolex Yachtmaster II Regatta Timer, Ref. 116680

The rolex yacht-master ii: for those who consider themselves rolex enthusiasts, it's one of the most polarizing watches the crown produces. and yet there is more – much more – to this relative behemoth than meets the eye. we wanted to see what would happen if we met this technically unique, programmable flyback yacht timer chronograph on its own terms – read on to join us in our journey into one of the most idiosyncratically styled and mechanically sophisticated rolexes ever made..

I’m going to be completely honest: I was thoroughly prepared to have a negative reaction to this watch. Let’s face it; it’s a head-scratcher for the average Rolex/Submariner/GMT Master/Day-Date lover. First of all it’s pretty damned big. This is a 44 mm watch; it was born a 44 mm watch and it’ll die a 44 mm watch and that is nothing you or anybody else can do about it. You can have it in four different metals, and therefore, weights, ranging from steel (heavy) to gold/steel (heavier) to solid yellow gold (even heavier) to  platinum and white gold combined (Schwarzeneggerian). It has a Cerachrom bezel in an absolutely screaming shade of blue, and it says YACHT-MASTER in giant letters right across the bottom third or so just to remove any lingering shade of doubt in the minds of any small-craft skipper for leagues around that they are in the presence of, well, the Master of a Yacht; it is not an introverted watch by any stretch of the imagination.

On top of everything else, the Yacht-Master II has a complication that pretty much no watch guy or gal ever can remember what do with, or has a perceived need for: it is a regatta timer, which is about as niche a complication as you can imagine. If you get a bunch of watch nuts together there is an excellent chance that you can get a more lucid explanation out of somebody for the Equation of Time than you can for a regatta timer (which is saying something) and it says something about the relative obscurity of the complication in general, and the relative niche-ness of the Yacht-Master II in particular, that when we got it into the office we had five people who live and breathe watches sitting around scratching our heads because no one could quite remember how the darned thing works. You put all those things together and you should have a watch that a dyed-in-the-wool horological classicist should thoroughly disdain. Right?

Actually, wrong. But let’s back up a bit.

First of all this is technically a very interesting watch and it’s worth your attention just on the level of interesting horological problem solving alone. A regatta timer is used by the skipper of a yacht to determine when their vessel is allowed to cross the starting line. Sailboats can’t just hover at the starting line of a yacht race, so what happens is that the racing committee establishes a countdown period during which the boats have to tack back and forth at the starting line without actually crossing; if you cross early, there is a penalty and if you are too cautious and cross late you will probably cross the finish line behind the boats that made it over the start line ahead of you. The countdown can be anywhere from five to ten minutes depending on the rules and race.

The Yacht-Master II is a programmable, flyback regatta timer that allows you to select a countdown interval of anything from one to ten minutes; in addition if you have started the countdown early or late, you can synchronize your watch “on the fly” when you hear the second of the two audible signals which are usually given at the start of a race (the signal to start the countdown comes first, and is usually followed by a warning signal closer to the start). Here’s how it works.

To set the countdown timer, you turn the bezel (Rolex calls it the "Command Bezel") a quarter turn to the left. This locks the lower chrono pusher and engages the setting mechanism for the triangular red countdown hand. You then unscrew the crown to its first position, and set the countdown hand – setting is one-way only but at 10 minutes, if you continue to turn the crown, the countdown hand will fly back to 1 and you can continue until you reach the desired number of minutes. When you’re done, you screw the crown back down, and turn the bezel back to its starting position, and you’re ready to regatta.

When the first gun (or other audible signal) is heard, you start the countdown . . . and that’s it. Now a really neat trick here is that you may, for some reason, have started your countdown too early, or too late. If that’s the case, all you have to do is wait for the second gun/signal, and hit the re-set button – the seconds hand will fly back to the zero mark and begin running again immediately; and the minute countdown hand will fly back to the nearest minute and likewise start counting down again. It’s the fact that the flyback is to the nearest minute, not to zero, that allows you to re-synch your countdown with the official countdown time, that gives the Yacht-Master II much of its utility, and much of its technical interest.

Okay, sure it’s technically interesting – but what about the aesthetics? All I can tell you is that, much to my very pleasant surprise, it was colossally fun to wear in every sense of the word. The fact that it is so unapologetically extroverted is actually the secret to its appeal.  The weight isn't a problem (at least, not for me, and not in steel) and I found I could wear it all day without discomfort despite the overall size – partly thanks to the downward curvature of the lugs, which ensured a comfortable fit on my 7 inch wrist.  The sharply contrasting deep blued hands, white dial, and red countdown hand – and, yes, that bright blue bezel – give the whole watch a suitably jaunty, nautical feel and make it a pleasure to look at (and at night visibility is very good; the lume on the hands and dial is almost startlingly bright).

Yes, this is an extroverted watch, but the quality of execution is very clean and very high (as is usually the case with Rolex) and it’s so much the opposite of what I’d ordinarily wear that having it on gave a feeling almost like a Walter Mitty fantasy coming to life. I felt like a guy who’s worn a blue suit and rep tie and driven a four door Merc his whole life, who somehow one day finds himself in a pair of ripped jeans and a beat up flight jacket, cruising down some winding secondary road on an old shovelhead Harley, and suddenly catches himself thinking, My god, all the wasted years. Ultimately I started to feel that objecting to the over-the-top-ness  of the Yacht-Master II was silly, even narcissistic – if you go into a Joss Whedon actioner expecting a Lars Von Trier art-house tearjerker to unspool, you probably have only yourself to blame.

It is a rationally appealing uitlitarian tool watch? I'm not the one to ask. There is no way for me to evaluate what someone who actually owns a ’36 Herreshoff classic yacht and takes it on the regatta circuit would actually think of the Yacht-Master II, or whether they would find it useful. But I can tell you that it is actually a ton of fun to wear, and a big part of the reason is the very thing many object to at first – that this is a watch that pulls no punches when it comes to being larger than life.

It has that one most essential element for something to be a successful style exercise: the courage of its convictions, and if you think of yourself resolutely as a smaller-than-forty millimeter, tasteful restraint kinda guy, get one on your wrist for a surprisingly refreshing change of pace, and you can feel larger than life too.

The Rolex Yacht-Master II 116680 as shown, $18,750, 44 mm diameter case in 904L stainless steel. Bidirectional rotatable "Command Bezel" with blue Cerachrom insert; water resistance 100 meters/10 bar.

Movement, Rolex 4161 self-winding programmable flyback regatta timer with mechanical memory and "on-the-fly" synchronization; Parachrom blue antimagnetic balance spring.  

Bracelet, Oyster, flat three piece links with Oysterlock safety clasp.

More info, of course, on Rolex.com .

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Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II Hands-On

For this reason, the Ring Command rotating bezel system was designed in a way so that it allows the wearer to set the regatta countdown to the desired time by rotating the bezel to the left by 90° and adjusting the easy-to-read red triangle hand to the desired position. Once the bezel is rotated back to its original position, the chronograph’s timer is locked. When this happens, the fly-back function of the chronograph allows the wearer to stop the running chronograph, reset it to the pre-set time between 5-10 minutes and start it again – all at a single press of the lower pusher. Rolex was thoughtful as ever: while the regatta timer’s setting can’t be messed up thanks to its locking by the bezel, the pushers are not locked by a stupid screw-down system (that wouldn’t belong on the Daytona either if they weren’t part of the recognized design). So while the Yacht-Master II is aptly water-resistant with its 100m (330ft) rating without screw-down pushers, the chronograph can be easily modulated on mark of the officials. All these are also incredibly useful features during the high-intensity moments of cooking pasta or boiling an egg – and it is here where I should add that the countdown can be set freely between 1 and 10 minutes on the Yacht-Master II, even if regatta races only need the 5-10 minute adjustability.

As recently as last year, Rolex has quietly restyled the Yacht-Master II by fitting what Rolex calls the Professional handset – and what us mortals often call the Mercedes hands. Prior to these, the YMII came fitted with stick hour and minute hands, and if its those that you liked better, well, I checked and there’s still plenty of brand new YMIIs on the market with those hands as well. It has to be said that the Professional hands perform here as they do on other Professional Rolexes (yes, that’s an official Rolex product category): the two main hands are easy to distinguish and, kudos to Rolex on this one, they don’t affect legibility either thanks to a few intelligent design choices.

First, the minute hand was skeletonized in a way so that its second half is hollow, therefore allowing for an easy and accurate reading of the regatta minute timer’s red triangle, should the two overlap. Although the hour hand is fixed to the column pinion above the red triangle hand, the latter is still large enough to stand out from underneath – as the circle wouldn’t overlap all of the triangle. Not as ideal as the two being the other way around with the regatta hand falling between the hour and minute hands, but I doubt this would cause any real issue.

I already mentioned how setting of the regatta timer works, but I did mean to add that setting it is either something you learn or won’t figure out. I wish I knew how many Yacht-Master II wearers were out there in the world right now who’d freak out if they were told the bezel on their watch could rotate. OK, that is an unfair assessment, so I’ll just tone it down to how many could set their regatta timer to 7 minutes immediately, without hesitation. I guess the percentage of those owners is about the same as that of those who know how to use the slide rules on their Navitimers, or those who at least once push their supercars to their limits. I’d imagine it’s a low, low percentage – which isn’t a bad thing or something to be mad about, just fun to think about.

On the wrist, the Yacht-Master II shows many faces. First of all, the material its case and bracelet are crafted from make a big difference. You can have the Yacht-Master II in all-Oystersteel and this is the least-expensive version with a retail price of around $19,000. Strangely, to my eyes at least, this all-steel model isn’t the least flashy version, because that’d be the Oystersteel-Everose gold Rolesor (Rolesor is Rolex-speak for two-tone). This $25k Rolesor version is one of the two pieces pictured in this article and it is this that I think is the least obtrusive one – because it combines the sensible message that two-tone sends, as opposed to the “look-at-me, I’m a big steel watch” vibe that the all-steel version seems to have going on.

Then things take a drastic, and I do mean drastic turn with the $44k all-yellow-gold version that makes you feel like you’re an aptly dressed extra in Wolf of Wall Street . Any all-gold Rolex is a statement watch, but while you can make a case for yourself wearing, say, a yellow gold Day-Date 40, this one right here is less of a President’s watch and more of a premiership footballer’s. There is something amusing about having a watch with this level of visual complexity and the ostentatiousness of yellow gold around the wrist. Still, as a practical joke, it’s not as good as this factory-bedazzled GMT , so yeah, you can always be one-upped, even within Rolex territory – so just get the two-tone. The end of the line is the piece with an all white gold bracelet and a platinum bezel that costs a good couple grand more than the yellow gold version.

With a properly sized bracelet –  not  as seen directly above – the two-tone, steel, and Everose gold versions make for a great everyday wearer, pretty much the same way an Audi R8 is a great everyday driver. The YMII is large at 44mm wide, but has a strangely good weight to it, especially in this configuration – the all-gold version is as heavy on the wrist as it is on the eyes.

At a time and age when people are buying perpetual calendars because “ do you even know how complicated it is ?” wearing a Yacht-Master II shouldn’t be as odd as it may at first appear. Its engineering is absolutely mind-boggling, more exotic, arguably more useful on a daily basis – for those who like the idea of getting their pasta al dente  with a $25,000 watch – and you can play with it at any given time, whereas touching a perpetual calendar the wrong way will make you wish you didn’t.

After all is said and done, the Yacht-Master II surprised me in a positive way and made me feel stupid for secretly disliking and ignoring it for so long. It’s a great piece of machinery with a styling to its case, bezel, and dial that can only truly be appreciated in the metal. It’s distinctly Rolex down to its last detail, but it’s also unlike any other Rolex ever. In the eerily classy steel-Everose combination, with its neatly labeled, blue ceramic bezel and crisp white dial with further Everose gold accents, it’s a visually pleasing watch that I wouldn’t mind wearing on a daily basis.

Now, my only worry is Rolex dropping this quirky, dedicated, and high-effort side and letting us all die without seeing a comparable exercise ever again. I am eager to see what their next unexpected, highly complicated piece is going to be. If you feel the same but don’t want to wait and have the money to spend, I’d recommend filling this void with the Yacht-Master II.

Prices for the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II range between around $19,000 and $48,000 , depending on the variation. rolex.com

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Complication By Name: The Rolex Yachtmaster 2

Ask any Rolex collector or enthusiast what their favorite aspect of the brand is, and you can be sure that terms like ‘understated’ and ‘reserved’ will make up at least some of the conversation. The unobtrusive, almost minimalist design of models such as the Submariner or the Datejust have always been favored by people content with displaying only the most modest outward expression of their good taste.

The Rolex Yachtmaster 2 is not one of those designs. The Yacht-Master II is a huge, extrovert of a watch that’s outrageous in concept and screaming for attention.

It’s a massive departure for Rolex, the brand that, perhaps more than any other, exemplifies that discreetness for which the Swiss are so famous. The Yacht-Master II collection has a polarized opinion since its launch in 2007. There have been subtle upgrades that marked its 10 th birthday celebration, which have done nothing to quell the debate.

Let’s take a look at one of Rolex’s most controversial, technically impressive, and incredibly specific offerings.

A Complication Worthy of the Name

Despite its title, the Yacht-Master II is a completely new model rather than an update to the original Yacht-Master ref 16622. That previous namesake, released in 1992, had very little to justify its moniker other than the standard Oyster waterproofing. There were no explicit functions aimed at making life on the ocean waves any easier.

The Yacht-Master II on the other hand, was designed to solve that age-old problem we’ve all struggled with on so many occasions—timing the starting sequence of a sailing regatta!

Ok, so that’s a pretty niche problem, but it does exist and the solution Rolex manufactured is nothing short of spectacular. Even the Yacht-Master II’s detractors agree that its unique complication is simply remarkable.

With only a few exceptions, such as the Daytona’s chronograph movement and the annual calendar on the Sky-Dweller, Rolex has rarely included complications beyond a date feature into its catalogue. So the ultra-complex programmable countdown with mechanical memory on the Yacht-Master II is all the more fascinating.

How Does it Work?

The start of a regatta is a convoluted affair, generally involving several distinct phases, and having a way to precisely coordinate the timing of each stage is vital.

With the wind being what it is, yachts can’t just sit at the start line of a race waiting for the off. Skippers have to maneuver their boats back and forth without crossing the line for a specified length of time before the race begins, usually between five and 10 minutes. The perfect watch for yachting, especially if you partake in events such as the Rolex Fastnet .

The start of this countdown is signaled by a gunshot and is followed by two further preparatory signals at set intervals to allow crews to coordinate their approach. Cross the start line too early and they’ll incur a penalty, too late and they risk bringing up the rear for the rest of the proceedings.

This was the multifaceted problem facing Rolex. It wasn’t enough for the Rolex Yachtmaster 2 just to be able to measure intervals of time. Because of the nature of a regatta’s starting procedure and the split-second timing involved, skippers need to be able to synchronize their watches with the race’s official countdown timer ‘on-the-fly’.

To achieve all this while still keeping the watch manageable in both size and operation has taken some brilliant ingenuity. The key to this timepiece is the bezel, which is now directly connected to the movement and has become intrinsically linked to the functionality. Known as the Ring Command Bezel, rotating it through 90° unlocks the programming operations of the watch. Turning the crown sets the countdown duration, and returning the bezel to its start position locks and memorizes the setting.

The countdown is started by pressing the top pusher, with the elapsed seconds indicated by the sweep hand on the center dial and the minutes by the red arrow hand on the internal horseshoe-shaped gauge.

Should you need to adjust the watch’s countdown at any time, if you started it too early or late, for example, simply pressing the lower pusher causes the seconds hand to reset—to ‘fly back’ to its starting position. The red arrow hand also synchronizes to the nearest minute to compensate for any discrepancy.

The Rolex Caliber 4161

The power behind all this technical virtuosity is Rolex’s own, in-house self-winding movement, the Caliber 4161.

Based on the 4130 from the Daytona, the two share several important features, such as the blue Parachrom hairspring in the oscillator that offers up to 10 times more shock resistance than traditional movements, plus a 72-hour power reserve.

Even with the 4130 as a base, the Yacht-Master II’s movement still took Rolex around 35,000 hours to perfect and is built up of over 360 separate components. Accurate to within two seconds a day, like all Rolex Perpetual Movements, it surpasses the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) tests for precision and reliability and carries Rolex’s own Superlative Chronometer certification.

New for the 2017 Version of the Yacht-Master II 116680

Perhaps the only subtle thing about the Rolex Yachtmaster 2 is the facelift it enjoyed on its 10 th anniversary this year. All the delicate upgrades were confined to the dial, with the inner workings being left well alone.

The 12 and 6 markers were changed from the squares shared by the rest of the indices to a triangle and rectangle respectively. To further aid legibility, the hands were also updated—where the previous model had thin batons, the hour hand is now the iconic Mercedes figure, with a luminescent disk. The minute hand, while still baton shaped, now has a cutout section to avoid obscuring the regatta countdown.

The new dial is carried over onto all four of the Yacht-Master II’s models—the 904L steel, the Everose Rolesor, the yellow gold, and the white gold and platinum. Each finish carries the same reference number as the 2007 originals.

The Rolex Yachtmaster 2: A Big Watch For Big Personalities

Rolex launched multiple watches at Baselworld 2017 , but the Yacht-Master II certainly splits opinions like the Sea-Dweller. It won’t be found on the wrist of the shy and retiring. But is your average professional sailor or yacht owner someone who generally likes to blend into the background?

With its extravagant color scheme and imposing physical size—at 44mm, it’s the biggest reference in the Rolex lineup—there’s no danger of anyone mistaking it for anything else.

But whether it’s your thing or not, it remains a brilliant example of the watchmaker’s art.

About Paul Altieri

Paul Altieri is a vintage and pre-owned Rolex specialist, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of BobsWatches.com. - the largest and most trusted name in luxury watches. He is widely considered a pioneer in the industry for bringing transparency and innovation to a once-considered stagnant industry. His experience spans over 35 years and he has been published in numerous publications including Forbes, The NY Times, WatchPro, and Fortune Magazine. Paul is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the watch industry and e-commerce, and regularly engages with other professionals in the industry. He is a member of the IWJG, the AWCI and a graduate of the GIA. Alongside running the premier retailer of pre-owned Rolex watches, Paul is a prominent Rolex watch collector himself amassing one of the largest private collections of rare timepieces. In an interview with the WSJ lifestyle/fashion editor Christina Binkley, Paul opened his vault to display his extensive collection of vintage Rolex Submariners and Daytonas. Paul Altieri is a trusted and recognized authority in the watch industry with a proven track record of expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.

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Oyster Perpetual

Yacht-Master II

The art of command, starting strong.

As a chronograph with a bold nautical character, the Yacht Master II occupies a singular place in the Rolex roster of Professional watches. It features an unprecedented mechanical function: a countdown that can be programmed and synchronized on the fly to adjust and re-adjust the watch to regatta start times. An essential tool for any coxswain and their decision-making process, as it allows them to take the best start towards victory.

The Yacht-Master II’s bold and distinguished marine character is firmly in line with the spirit of the Oyster Professional watches.

Countdown to the race

As for any voyage at sea, time management is vital in a regatta. At its launch in 2007, the Yacht-Master II features an unprecedented mechanical function: a programmable countdown with mechanical memory, synchronizable on the fly. A function that responds ideally to the need for precise timing during the crucial starting sequence of a regatta.

This flexibility is one of the major assets of the Yacht-Master II; its development was a considerable technological challenge. The programming can be mechanically memorized, which makes it possible to start a new countdown without having to reprogramme the watch, for example in the next leg or a subsequent regatta with identical countdown duration.

Furthermore, once the watch’s countdown is launched, it can be synchronized on the fly to match the official countdown via the ‘fly-back’ reset function of the seconds hand and adjustment of the countdown minute hand to the nearest minute.

The spirit of the sailor

With its unique programmable countdown with a mechanical memory and on-the-fly synchronization, the Yacht-Master II lays claim to a proud place in the prestigious line of Rolex Professional watches.

An unprecedented combination of complexity and simplicity.

Oyster, 44 mm, Oystersteel

Prioritization Methods and Techniques – Part 2: MoSCoW Method

In my previous article, Prioritization Methods and Techniques - Part 1: Why Prioritize and the Kano Model , I talked about the need to prioritize and the Kano model as a prioritization method. In this second article in the series on prioritization methods and techniques, I will discuss the MoSCoW method.

The MoSCoW method is a highly widespread prioritization method which was popularized by Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM). The term MoSCoW has nothing to do with the capital of Russia. It is an acronym derived from the first letter of each of four prioritization categories – Must have, Should have, Could have and Won’t have.[1] The two “O” are added to make the word pronounceable.

Must have: This category contains requirements or features that are absolutely mandatory. Those are fundamental to the system (being a product or a service). If any of them are neglected, the system will certainly not work or will have no value for the customer.

Should have: These features are important, ideally, we should have them for the system to work correctly. If they are not there, a workaround may be possible, but it can be costly or cumbersome. Yet, they are not mandatory and therefore do not have the highest priority. Simply put, they don’t have much impact on delivery success right now, though they must be implemented soon enough (after the “must-haves”).

Could have: These are useful additions (often small-scale improvements) that add tangible value. These are “nice-to-have” requests. In general, they do not take considerable resources, but they are not essential to implement either. Their absence won’t affect almost anything, or at least wouldn’t impact the release negatively.

Won’t have (sometimes also known as “would like to have, but not this time”): These items are not worth the investment (of time, money, energy) and are unlikely to make the cut (at least not in the near future). These requirements are of the lowest importance and can be easily omitted (definitely considered out of scope for the first release) or rescheduled for future releases.

When prioritizing requirements in a project, DSDM recommends no more than 60% effort for “must-haves” requirements and a sensible pool of “could-haves”, usually around 20% effort (see Figure 1 below). Anything that is higher than 60% effort for the “must-haves” poses a risk to the success and predictability of the project, unless the environment and the used technology are well understood, there are minimal external risks/dependencies and the team is experienced and well established. Note that we are talking about a balance based on estimated effort of requirements (i.e. the expected time it takes to implement the prioritized features) and not total number of requirements. When calculating effort for a specific timeframe (e.g. first release), “won’t haves” are excluded, as they are considered out of scope for this timeframe.[2]

Figure 1: Balancing priorities using the MoSCoW prioritization technique (recommendation by DSDM[2])

Practical example

Let’s take a simple practical example. How can you categorize the features required to manufacture a child’s bicycle?

Must have: two wheels ; a frame

Should have: brakes for safe stopping; pedals; ability to adjust the saddle to accommodate growth; safety cover for the chain; stabilizers or the ability to fit them when needed (the last two features can also be classified as “could-haves” depending how essential they are for the child/parents)

Could have: bell or horn to alert others in proximity; attractive color of the bike; front suspension; Presta valves for inflating tires

Won’t have: valve caps to cover the tires valve; Bluetooth bike speaker

Even though it may seem strange not to have the pedals and the brakes in the “must have” category, in reality they are not mandatory for a child’s bike. By definition a bike is two-wheeled transportation device, so it must certainly have two wheels and a frame to link the wheels together, but everything else is subject to discussion and negotiation. For example, small kids can learn to ride a bike by simply using their feet, so no pedals and brakes are really needed. This simple example also shows that there is often a disconnect between expectations and requirements. People often have high level of expectations, but high expectations are different from must-have requirements which are mandatory and non-negotiable.

Let’s now look at the advantages and disadvantages of the MoSCoW method.

Pros of MoSCoW

• Simplicity. The MoSCoW method is one of the simplest prioritization techniques. It does not require searching for detailed data or making complicated calculations. So, it is easy to master and use because it is based on simple principles. Using this prioritization scheme in a product management context promotes mutual understanding between product people (product managers and product owners) and stakeholders. It is also a great method to resolve conflicts and to bring stakeholders to consensus. Prioritizing work using MoSCoW is fast and transparent.
• Agility for flexible scheduling and implementation. Since this prioritization method has no strict time limits for the implementation, except for the “must-have” category (items there should always go first and be implemented as soon as possible), it allows for flexible implementation timeframes per feature. Therefore, a team can easily adjust feature deliveries or releases on favorable terms based on agreement with customers/stakeholders.

Cons of MoSCoW

The MoSCoW technique is very simple, but such simplicity comes with some pitfalls.

• The technique lacks a clear consistency of implementation and lacks specific planning per feature. Even though priorities can be easily and quickly set, the MoSCoW method prioritizes the backlog items in four categories (in a similar fashion to the Kano model, covered in my previous article, which also prioritizes features in different categories), so it does not introduce any sequencing of features/backlog items and lacks specific planning. This makes it quite challenging for product people to decide on the exact priority of a feature compared to another one within the same category. At the end of the day, this drawback might put the entire release at risk.
• MoSCoW classification rules can be subjective and this creates imbalance between the absolutely required (must have or mandatory) and slightly desirable. Often, the blurred lines between categories make it hard to decide in which category a feature should go into, specifically when we talk about “must-have” and “should-have” lists. But it is sometimes also the case between “should-haves” and could-haves”. This happens due to the subjectivity of requirements. Therefore, features or stories allocated to the different categories should be approached with great thought and care and the chosen categorization should be agreed with (or well explained to) all stakeholders.

When to use the MoSCoW method

The MoSCoW method is probably the simplest and most widespread prioritization scheme for new product development, and more specifically for small products. But as we saw above, this technique also has its disadvantages and is not always effective. For instance, if you have a complicated backlog with many time-sensitive releases, consider choosing other prioritization method or complementing MoSCoW with another more accurate or comprehensive technique.

On the other hand, it is quite reasonable to use MoSCoW when prioritizing work for small (and not too complex) products, which does not have many technical limitations. The MoSCoW requirements help product people and teams take a strategic, orderly approach to prioritization. This method is great for avoiding wasted time, arguments and misdirection.

In my next article I will talk about the Eisenhower matrix. Meanwhile, if you want to know more about prioritizing using the MoSCoW method, please feel free to contact me.

About this article or just curious about working at BlinkLane? Contact Martin or take a look at our open vacancy .

References:

[1] Griffiths, M. (2012). PMI-ACP Exam Prep (2nd ed.). RMC Publications Inc.

[2] Agile Business Consoritum (n.d.). Chapter 10: MoSCoW Prioritisation. Retrieved from https://www.agilebusiness.org/page/ProjectFramework_10_MoSCoWPrioritisation

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