Key Highlights
- Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II with redesigned regatta countdown and clearer display.
- Oystersteel or 18 ct yellow gold, both powered by calibre 4162 with Chronergy escapement and around 72-hour power reserve.
- Nautical identity with blue Cerachrom bezel insert, matt white lacquer dial and Chromalight-filled hands and markers.
- Programmable countdown with mechanical memory and on-the-fly synchronization via the pushers.
- Certified Superlative Chronometer under strengthened 2026 criteria.
A Nautical Instrument for Regatta Starts
The 2026 Yacht-Master II refines Rolex’s regatta chronograph with a clearer display and updated movement for race start sequences, offered in Oystersteel reference 126680 and 18 ct yellow gold reference 126688.
Both use a 44 mm Oyster case in Oystersteel or gold, waterproof to 100 metres with crown guard, Triplock screw-down crown and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
Reimagined Countdown and Display
The programmable countdown now sits on a flange around the dial, graduated from 10 to 0 minutes with half minutes marked as triangles, while the 60-minute blue Cerachrom bezel is reserved for elapsed time.
On the Oystersteel model, the countdown scale and related hands are accented in red, while the matt white lacquer dial maximizes contrast with applied gold hour markers and Chromalight.
The countdown minute and seconds hands move counterclockwise, mirroring the direction of the countdown and supporting legibility when the sequence accelerates.
Intuitive Regatta Operation
The countdown is controlled by two pushers: the lower pusher sets the duration in one-minute steps and stores it in a mechanical memory, while the upper pusher starts and stops the function.
At the race committee signal, the central countdown seconds hand moves counterclockwise and the triangle-tipped minute hand tracks the flange; if timing drifts from the official sequence, pressing the lower pusher resynchronizes the watch as the hands snap to the correct indications.
When the countdown reaches zero, the minute hand stops automatically while the central seconds hand continues until stopped and reset for the next start, and the Cerachrom bezel can read elapsed sailing time up to 60 minutes.
Calibre 4162: Updated Regatta Movement
Calibre 4162 is a self-winding chronograph movement developed and manufactured by Rolex as an evolution of calibre 4161, using a column wheel and vertical clutch for precise, smooth countdown starts.
It features a cut-out oscillating weight, bridges with Rolex Côtes de Genève, Chronergy escapement in nickel-phosphorous, blue Parachrom hairspring with Rolex overcoil, Paraflex shock absorbers and an approximate 72-hour power reserve.
Oyster Architecture and Bracelet
The Oyster case is machined from a monobloc middle case in Oystersteel or 18 ct yellow gold with fluted screw-down case back and Triplock crown for 100-metre waterproofness, and a knurled bidirectional bezel for grip in wet conditions.
Both versions come on the three-piece link Oyster bracelet with polished centre links, satin-finished outers and polished edges, secured by an Oysterlock folding safety clasp with Easylink extension; on the yellow gold model, ceramic inserts in the links enhance flexibility and reduce wear.
Superlative Chronometer in 2026
The Yacht-Master II is a Superlative Chronometer, tested by Rolex after Swiss chronometer certification of the movement, with enhanced 2026 criteria related to resistance to magnetism, reliability and sustainability.
Rolex checks the fully cased watch for a daily rate of −2/+2 seconds, waterproofness, self-winding efficiency and power reserve, and delivers each watch with the green seal and an international five-year guarantee.
Why It Matters
For the GCC, where regattas and coastal cruising are prominent, the 2026 Yacht-Master II offers a regatta-specific timing instrument in Oystersteel or 18 ct yellow gold, with redesigned countdown, waterproof Oyster construction and Cerachrom bezel aimed at practical use at sea and regional tastes in either discreet or statement-making luxury.
Grounded in Rolex’s alliances with major international races, it appeals to owners who value technical substance, reliability and a clear functional link to the sport they follow or practice.
