SS Yachtmaster II - There's more to this watch then meets the eye

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by 2Redbulls

Now hear me out. With the triangular hand pointing to 5 min, it aligns the hand to 12. So it gives me a heading, which allows me to triangulate the hour and minute hand much easier. Problem solved!




Next up was the timing of instances longer then 10 min. I realized I could use the timer's red second hand as the placeholder where the minute hand is. Similar to how you use the Submariner bezel by setting it with the minute hand, I set the red "second" hand from the timer to the minute hand for the time and then hit the stop button on the chronograph. This effectively does the same thing as the bezel on the Sub. BINGO, now I can time things up to 60 minutes. Problem solved!

Brilliant!

I did the same thing with the regatta minute hand, but actually just cause I liked the way it looked in the center. I never thought of that though with the second hand. Very clever! I miss mine. It's an amazing watch.

[pirapan]

nice watch

[GoingPlaces]

Nice review.

I personally think this is a good looking watch (especially on YG!) with a very unique complication that only Rolex could come up with and perfect. Would probably never get one though since I wouldn't use the compilation.

[RolexNorth]

Love mine. Great watch.

IMG_9812.jpg

[Andad]

The watch looks ok but I sold my yacht in 1970 so no sale.

[lvwatch]

Spot on review. Has the most wrist presence out of any sport Rolex imho. Love it.

[belk7]

So, this is a year later than Tom's original thread, but my own experience mirrors his. This was not a watch that was on my radar at all. Then I actually ran into a buddy who has one, tried it on myself, and had to completely re-evaluate my opinion. Just recently acquired one, and it has quickly become a watch that I truly enjoy wearing.

[Daryl]

nice pics

[Investr]

I had one for 6 months, loved it when I wore. I just wasn't crazy about the fit and thickness especially compared to Daytonas and GMTS

[mistermann]

I loved it when I tried it on, maybe solid gold for retirement.

[belk7]

Originally Posted by Investr

I had one for 6 months, loved it when I wore. I just wasn't crazy about the fit and thickness especially compared to Daytonas and GMTS

I understand your position, Rick. It's a substantial watch. I have seemed to be wearing larger watches lately, so the size and thickness of the Y-M II didn't really faze me. I'm getting a pretty good fit thanks to the easy link.

This watch is still very new to me, and is quite different than any of my others. It will be interesting to me in 6 months to a year to see if I am still enamored with it. If not, it will be flipped. But for now, I'm really enjoying it.

[belk7]

Originally Posted by mistermann

I loved it when I tried it on, maybe solid gold for retirement.

Mike needs to jump in with his gold one. A beautiful piece for sure.

[belk7]

Originally Posted by Daryl

nice pics

[Urosfan]

Nice peice

[vazquez1085]

Rolex's most expensive stainless steel model and an absolute beauty. I love the YM2 in SS and it looks great on your wrist. Enjoy and wear it well!

[Ad11wrd]

Definitely my favourite Rolex so far always Enjoy wearing it.

[16610v]

Great review OP for how to set the watch that fit the usage.

I just bought one as well and I am loving it!

[HK Islandboy]

Thank you for the review. It's a great watch!

[Bagman]

Great looking watch. I'm a big guy so the size doesn't scare me. Has anyone seen it with a blue watch band?

[climblaw25]

That's an amazing way to use this piece to keep track of increments of time, much like the bezel on the Submariner. I never would have thought of this. Great idea!!

[VicLeChic]

Polarizing.

A work colleague owns one and let me have a close look at it. Well, there's nothing I like about it. Too many colours (he has the RG two-tone, even worse), busy dial, brash, garish, why YM II engraved on the bezel??

With regards to wrist presence, this thing looks huge on OP's wrist IMHO.

But hey, to each their own. If you like it then wear it, enjoy it and don't listen to naysayers.

[diracpoint]

Great review by OP. I just got a 2017 ss ym2 and was searching for reviews.

I think the triangle at 12 and slightly elongated marker at 6 make it easier to tell the time, especially ***when it is on the wrist***. Also, the mercedes hand helps, because it automatically is associated with the hour hand.

However, if it is *not* on the wrist and some distance away, it is difficult to tell the time because wg hands tend to disappear on white background.

Originally Posted by 2Redbulls

Next up was the timing of instances longer then 10 min. I realized I could use the timer's red second hand as the placeholder where the minute hand is. Similar to how you use the Submariner bezel by setting it with the minute hand, I set the red "second" hand from the timer to the minute hand for the time and then hit the stop button on the chronograph. This effectively does the same thing as the bezel on the Sub. BINGO, now I can time things up to 60 minutes. Problem solved!

This is Brilliant! I'll use this whenever I need more than 10 mins. Thanks OP.

Some pics ...

[bio guyver]

The YMII is a king. A grail watch

[bio guyver]

The YMII is disappearing from ad's there is a waiting list for it now.

[KevWatch]

Appreciate the review. Beautiful watch and makes a great statement.

[brianrhoff]

Love this one.

[Demeter008]

The YG YM2 only looks good in YG with the gold hands. The stainless looks good as well with the non-blue hands. The YM2 white gold & two tone doesn't look good at all. The YM1 in platinum 16622/116622 looks great with the platinum dial only, also you won't ever need to worry about the dial losing its quality over the years.

[2Redbulls]

Originally Posted by diracpoint

Great review by OP. I just got a 2017 ss ym2 and was searching for reviews.

I think the triangle at 12 and slightly elongated marker at 6 make it easier to tell the time, especially ***when it is on the wrist***. Also, the mercedes hand helps, because it automatically is associated with the hour hand.

However, if it is *not* on the wrist and some distance away, it is difficult to tell the time because wg hands tend to disappear on white background.




This is Brilliant! I'll use this whenever I need more than 10 mins. Thanks OP.

Some pics ...

Great pics!

The watch looks amazing!

[Sakuru]

Originally Posted by diracpoint

Great review by OP.

+1

Originally Posted by diracpoint

Some pics ...

It's much easier to read the time during the dark than in the daylight. While I'm not sure that is a compliment, it does make the YMII pretty unique.

Originally Posted by njs22

The reason I bought mine was for what it was designed for, yacht race timing. The fact that it cost twice the price of one of my boats I race is quite funny to me, but at least I do use it to time my yacht racing starts, hence the 10 minute timer.

It's a great watch and gets used for what it is designed for.

Interesting. Thanks for sharing!

Personally, I would be scared to use the YMII for its intended purpose: too much chance of banging it against a winch or something. I use an OS 14R, which I don't need to worry about as it is much, much cheaper ... plus it has a vibrating countdown, which keeps my head 'out of the boat' where it belongs.

Do you really use the timer set at ten minutes? In my experience, race starting sequences almost invariably begin at five minutes.

[JSMesser]

Enjoy all views. Watch to see varied light impressions in & outdoors!