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

[2Redbulls]

I, like many on this forum had a adverse or negative first impression of the Yachtmaster II. I thought it was too big, too busy and too flashy. I didn't like the "YACHTMASTER II" on the bezel, I didn't like the fact it didn't have a date. I didn't like it had PCL's.

Odd, that I'm reviewing the watch now...

As my search for my next Rolex continued, having something out of the ordinary appealed to me. Seeing the YMII in members pictures on the wrist, suddenly the watch wasn't ugly to me. Then reading about the wrist presence and how it changed other peoples minds about got me intrigued. So I started reading about the watch and movement and almost universally, anyone who ultimately gave it a try developed a fondness for it, some even loved it.

Here's a brief list of things I'm really digging about the watch. The wrist presence. It has great presence, especially on the wrist. Sitting in a window display or in a case doesn't do it justice. Once on the wrist the size and color combination really bring out the scale of it. The colors also work really well together. It's not too much blue, like the smurf or pelagos but gives you that nice white dial with a ceramic blue bezel which looks great together with the PCL, and I believe is the only watch in this combination. The hands change from a bright blue to a black depending on the angle of light.

Then there's the heft/weight of the watch that you don't get the impression of in pictures. I can't imagine what this watch feels like as a PM model. It must be insane. I'm guessing the SS Yachtmaster II probably weights as much as a gold Sub or Daytona. What's also interesting is that even with the weight, it's very comfortable. It sits nice and flat on my 6.75 inch wrist and doesn't require the bracelet to be fitted tight for it to sit steady and flat. I could never do that with my 44mm Panerai's. If I didn't strap the Panerai on tight to the point of stopping blood, then the case would wobble on my wrist and hit the back of my hand to the point of soreness. Ask me how many panerai I own now....ZERO! Love the looks....hate the comfort...

OK, the Yachtmaster II has presence, looks really good and is comfortable but what about that stupid mechanical timer. Well, I discovered that the YMII movement is actually based on the 4130 aka Daytona. Obviously with some major tweaks, but the pushers are just buttery smooth. The fact that rotating the bezel is part of the engagement/setting of the timer is technically something pretty cool. Then we have the flyback capability. That's right the Daytona doesn't do that but the YMII does. Both the minute and seconds. While you can learn the steps to set the timer somewhere else (I won't get into it) what's cool for me, is that once the timer goes to zero and you stop it. You don't have to go through the whole process to set it again. One push and the timer goes back to 10 minutes or whatever time interval you were measuring. VERY COOL!

One other aspect I think is worth mentioning. No other company but Rolex would have developed a mechanical timer like this. Who would spend the resources and development on what seems like such a niche sport. Why a company who doesn't chase the trends, one who doesn't live and breadth by every quarterly profit statement, that's who.








Is my car and watch in balance (per the thread in the general forum)? Heck NO!!

[1st amg]

Good stuff, it really is a beauty!

[sea-dweller]

It's a beauty!

[Psmith]

Very nice

[Chesterkv]

The Yachtmaster 2 was my first Rolex purchase. I always wanted to own a Rolex but started off with breitling, once I saw a friend wearing the Yachtmaster 2 I made up my mind that this watch needed to be mine. A month later I purchased it and about another month later I really needed to get the submariner. 2 of my favorite Rolex watches. Hopefully in the next 5 months I can get a Daytonaz

[rolexjunki]

love it!

[regnant]

Thanks for your review, that's my fave Rolex watch

[brandrea]

Very nice indeed

[RRGHOST1]

Nice watch,i like the RG model too.

[pablondy]

horrible watch.

[Thailawson]

I was the same way.

I didn't like it on paper.

But when I tried it on, I instantly felt its strength.

[InfinityNexus]

It`s too large for me, but it is the most beautiful rolex there is. I would pick one up in a heartbeat (pending funds) were they to make it a 42 or 40

[Daryl]

Thanks for the review


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Watchurself]

Originally Posted by pablondy

horrible watch.

[ELITEVIDEOGAMES]

I used to think it was awkward looking and too big too, then i tried one on and
YMIIMETS.jpg

[Stratos]

Great acquisition!!

I love the looks and the wrist presence of this watch!

The only drawback that i can find is that having this complication, is not as robust as the other models of "sport" Rolex watches


Sent from someone else

[MichaelFlash]

Really nice Tom! Good review.

[rnguyenn]

nice watch

[csmoore23]

It is very underrated. In fact, it makes you want to take up yachting. As if you need another reason to sail.

I went to the Rolex NYYC annual regatta last year in Newport RI and ran into a guy with one. We talked for hours. It's an incredible watch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tj O'Reily]

It was a great review and it is a very good looking timepiece. For me the complication is probably the least useful amongst the Rolex line of sport watches - that said I am not sitting at the race track timing cars with my Daytona either! Overall though a very nice purchase and a real conversation starter I am sure.

[doozyj]

I'm in love with the YM2, I want this to be my next. Hopefully next year.

[snackwel5]

I love this watch. Ever since I went onto the Rolex website this was the one that caught my eye right away. Something about the nautical theme of the watch really draws your eye in. Some people dislike the "YACHT-MASTER II" on the bezel but i'm actually quite fond of it as it makes it original.

[DandyAnt]

Great watch 👍🏼


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bio guyver]

The best in rolex king.

[Lordofrolex]

Very nice review. I personally really liked the YMII but cant seem the find myself shelling out 13k for it (Grey dealers). But if someone gave me one i probably stick with it and not trade it for something else.

[njs22]

Yacht Master 2 is a great watch and that was a great review and I love mine.

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.

[2Redbulls]

UPDATE :



Hi Everyone,

So it's been a while and I've worn the YMII in rotation with a couple of other watches. Here's some additional thoughts on the watch and a couple of things that I've noticed that has made the watch even better for me.



After wearing it and comparing it to my Submariner and Yachtmaster, the one thing that I noticed was that it was slightly more difficult for me to pick up the hands on the YMII in low light conditions since my eyes are not great at reading distances. The other thing is when I wanted to track how long something took that was over 10 min. Well, I found a solution for both.

The YMII can be a little busy. Digits around the bezel, markers on the dial for every hour, the counter from 10 to 0, the sub dial for the seconds and the triangular hand for the counter. When I purchased the watch I automatically set the timer to 10min. Having the triangular hand set to 10 min also aligns with 8 o'clock. Not having the 12, 3, 6, 9 markers differentiated from the rest also adds a little confusion if you don't turn your wrist fully to read the time. The solution for me was to change the counter to 5 min instead of 10. 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!

[njs22]

Tom, I quite agree that the hands do not stand out well in low light, the only thing I would change in fact.

[Mr Kram]

i myself do not care for it, but as a tool watch, i think it's very appealing

[Danny83]

Nice review