When

[hemikuwait]

Will this underrated beauty get its turn on the Rolex appreciation train




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[Watch This]

When it is discontinued and jumps in price. I have the steel version. Awesome reference.

[brandrea]

It’s a great reference but will always be more of a niche piece due to its size and the complication

[SaintMickey]

It is a unique bird...a big unique bird. I am sure more praise is due but even I find it hard.
Keep that one to yourself and enjoy not being like every other schmuck with a Submariner!!!!

New one is 44mm is that what that is?

https://www.rolex.com/watches/yacht-...6681-0002.html

[Chester01]

One has to appreciate the ingenuity, but its not one of the icons (Sub/GMT/Explorer) that was actually worn in an era when people relied on them day in and day out. The references I mentioned were worn by people doing history, and the one you mention simply worn by folks with the money to spend on a nice watch. See few need a watch like that now. The subs/gmts/exp were needed for their function and reliability. No modern rolex creation can match that history. Its really that history people are buying when they buy a modern sub/gmt, but to me they are simply homages to the 4/5 digit references that made Rolex what it is.

[Watch This]

Originally Posted by Chester01

One has to appreciate the ingenuity, but its not one of the icons (Sub/GMT/Explorer) that was actually worn in an era when people relied on them day in and day out. The references I mentioned were worn by people doing history, and the one you mention simply worn by folks with the money to spend on a nice watch. See few need a watch like that now. The subs/gmts/exp were needed for their function and reliability. No modern rolex creation can match that history. Its really that history people are buying when they buy a modern sub/gmt, but to me they are simply homages to the 4/5 digit references that made Rolex what it is.

That's the narrative Rolex would have you believe. A narrative created and expertly promoted by the brand. The tool watch. For the masses, has always been a luxury watch. An aspirational luxury watch.

[WatchNutcase]

probably never

[Chester01]

Originally Posted by Watch This

That's the narrative Rolex would have you believe. A narrative created and expertly promoted by the brand. The tool watch. For the masses, has always been a luxury watch. An aspirational luxury watch.

Sorry, no. The watch was used in the military and at one point cost only about 2/3 times that of a seiko. In the 80’s and even early 90’s people wore them as tools (did in my family anyway on construction sites, laying concrete and asphalt, etc.). In the 90’s they were like a bmw, yea a nice watch but a daily tool that one wore and did not have cell phone tethered to their scalps.

The Rolex was chosen by folks that needed a reliable tough as nails watch and Rolex delivered and thus chosen by military, fighter pilots, etc. the deeds came first, and Rolex capitalized on that. But it was not the other way around.


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[ltmgeller]

It's one of my favorite models. I have it in YG. It just feels so good on the wrist. The grey prices have doubled over the past few years. They are trending around msrp +- a few k. There is a lot more love for the model now compared to when I got mine 3 years ago. My friends in the watch community would openly tell me how much they disliked the watch. Now they are considering picking one up. Only time will tell.

[Watch This]

Originally Posted by Chester01

Sorry, no. The watch was used in the military and at one point cost only about 2/3 times that of a seiko. In the 80’s and even early 90’s people wore them as tools (did in my family anyway on construction sites, laying concrete and asphalt, etc.). In the 90’s they were like a bmw, yea a nice watch but a daily tool that one wore and did not have cell phone tethered to their scalps.

The Rolex was chosen by folks that needed a reliable tough as nails watch and Rolex delivered and thus chosen by military, fighter pilots, etc. the deeds came first, and Rolex capitalized on that. But it was not the other way around.


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Keep drinking the Kool aid.

[inadeje]

OP - we will have every detractor eating humble pie pretty soon. Discontinuation allied to seriously low production numbers will make this piece ultra rare = sought after = parabolic appreciation

One of the most beautiful Rolex’s every produced and so misunderstood. The price is prohibitive, thus way off many radars. Furthermore, It isn’t a sheep reference where everyone wants one because everyone else has one. As one poster stated, its a rare bird, but then again, so was the 4 digit Daytona when it was released. Rolex couldn’t sell them. People loathed them. Noticing any similarities? History goes full circle OP, hold on tightly to that beauty, as I will mine.

In the meantime I love wearing this, since almost nobody else has one.

[Seddyspaghetti]

I appreciate it but wouldn’t buy one bc i don’t like the way it looks

[TheVTCGuy]

It’s not for me but wear and enjoy in good health!

[Koolpep]

Originally Posted by Watch This

That's the narrative Rolex would have you believe. A narrative created and expertly promoted by the brand. The tool watch. For the masses, has always been a luxury watch. An aspirational luxury watch.

To emphasize this point this is the advert I found a day ago in my German news magazine:



They are the official timekeeper of the Philharmonic orchestra of Vienna.

And here an ad for the SkyDweller from a watch magazine.



Not entirely sure how much history a watch can show that was released in 2012 but hey. See the common thread? Precious metals, diamonds, luxury. If they show tool watch vibe then like this (from a watch magazine):



Clean, white, snow capped mountains and mountaineers rocking their gold and steel Explorer I - as one does.

[Chester01]

Originally Posted by Watch This

Keep drinking the Kool aid.

I’m afraid many Johnny come lately’s here have little appreciation for this history of Rolex and spend more time wondering is it safe to wear them in the hot tub. No Kool aid required my friend just simply search for Rolex and military and you will see the history of the watch. It’s well documented and easily accessible, they were worn by service members, available on base, and the costs again if you are willing to do a bit of digging, about 2.5-3x the cost of a seiko at the time. These are simply basic facts about Rolex and sorry they don’t fit your narrative. It’s hard to believe but there was a history of this watch before what your instabooks and facegrams tell you. Look it up and enjoy the reading.


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[1William]

For those that know it is already appreciated.

[OrangeSport]

I just struggle with the usefulness of the complications. I use my diving bezels and/or chronos every day. I'm not sure how useful this would be.

[OG1982]

Thats gotta be one of the worst looking watches Rolex has produced, especially in the current line up.

[Watch This]

Originally Posted by Chester01

I’m afraid many Johnny come lately’s here have little appreciation for this history of Rolex and spend more time wondering is it safe to wear them in the hot tub. No Kool aid required my friend just simply search for Rolex and military and you will see the history of the watch. It’s well documented and easily accessible, they were worn by service members, available on base, and the costs again if you are willing to do a bit of digging, about 2.5-3x the cost of a seiko at the time. These are simply basic facts about Rolex and sorry they don’t fit your narrative. It’s hard to believe but there was a history of this watch before what your instabooks and facegrams tell you. Look it up and enjoy the reading.


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And this forum has no shortage of members who are living in 1965 and either think they are James Bond or part of some imaginary great outdoor adventure. This is 2021. I choose not to wear a watch that has changed little in style since 1959. Boring. And, I have had every SS reference in the Rolex lineup. I choose the YM2 now because it's cool, very different, and I don't see ten a day.

And by the way, I am 60 years old and not on any social media.

[SpiritSoul]

Originally Posted by brandrea

It’s a great reference but will always be more of a niche piece due to its size and the complication

For non-yachts/sailing people who own the ym2, do you use the 10min regatta countdown for anything else in life? seriously asking!

[Chester01]

Originally Posted by Watch This

And this forum has no shortage of members who are living in 1965 and either think they are James Bond or part of some imaginary great outdoor adventure. This is 2021. I choose not to wear a watch that has changed little in style since 1959. Boring. And, I have had every SS reference in the Rolex lineup. I choose the YM2 now because it's cool, very different, and I don't see ten a day.

And by the way, I am 60 years old and not on any social media.

No imaginary lifestyle, I’m not sure what your point is.? What I said are facts and easily accessible. These were not the status items in the 60’s and 70’s they were today. Even more recently My 16610 sat for about 10 months at the AD before it was bought in 1998.

These have been used as tool watches and were accessible and not the lux goods they are in 2021, from the 1950’s through the 70’s they were accessible reliable watches that were not as I stated and you can find online 2/3 times a seiko. These are facts. I never said something about James Bond.

Look, I wear and have worn my 16610 mountain biking, hiking, snow boarding, tennis, soccer, weddings, funerals, etc and in an era when we wore watches to tell the time.

I still use it as such and daily as part of my job to measure elapsed time and other matters many times each day- yes that’s being used as a tool. My parents in the 80’s did not have watch collections, they wore their gold DD daily as folks here wear their gshocks now.

It’s their current status that is obscuring your view of the history of the brand. Their history of use by regular military folks (not functional characters) is well documented and simply not up for debate.


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[Oyster Sauce]

Originally Posted by brandrea

It’s a great reference but will always be more of a niche piece due to its size and the complication

+1 It's a really cool watch, but it's size makes it impractical/unrealistic for a significant percentage of the population. This is actually good news for those who like it and wear it -- freedom from the hype train means availability for those who desire it.

[Carondelet]

Originally Posted by SpiritSoul

For non-yachts/sailing people who own the ym2, do you use the 10min regatta countdown for anything else in life? seriously asking!

I don't own a YM2, but seeing as there's a 10min natural release on nearly everything I cook in my instantpot/ninja foodi, I'd certainly use one regularly.

As mentioned by someone previously though, it's a bit cost prohibitive for me, when I can use the bezel on my CHNR for the same purpose. And 44mm is a bit too large for my wrist for me to comfortably use it as a daily wear.

[Yas.2k]

Originally Posted by Ollie1982

Thats gotta be one of the worst looking watches Rolex has produced, especially in the current line up.

If second that. It’s ugly af.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by Yas.2k

If second that. It’s ugly af.

Underrated, unappreciated, rare, watch the change of minds when it turns out to be the one everyone wants lol...

[Carondelet]

Originally Posted by garyk

Underrated, unappreciated, rare, watch the change of minds when it turns out to be the one everyone wants lol...

I'll +1 this. I think it's already started to happen with some of the other models in the modern lineup, it is only a matter of time before the YM2 becomes a part of it.

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by Watch This

And this forum has no shortage of members who are living in 1965 and either think they are James Bond or part of some imaginary great outdoor adventure. This is 2021. I choose not to wear a watch that has changed little in style since 1959. Boring. And, I have had every SS reference in the Rolex lineup. I choose the YM2 now because it's cool, very different, and I don't see ten a day.

And by the way, I am 60 years old and not on any social media.

Stunningly brilliant narrative love it!

[SaintMickey]

Originally Posted by garyk

Underrated, unappreciated, rare, watch the change of minds when it turns out to be the one everyone wants lol...

And it turns out few were sold...

I'm going to go buy one...

[HogwldFLTR]

I don't know; although I used to race in regattas I don't see that in my future. The watch is way to large for me to wear as a daily but I'd love to own one if I were racing. I agree, it's a niche watch which doesn't touch most's hot buttons.

[inadeje]

I have to admit that I revel in these threads concerning the YM II. They always scrape the barrel and procure the most opinionated outbursts from even the most passive TRF members. Yes, the YM II is so damn polarizing that it brings out the negativity to a whole new level.

How do these posters substantiate their rabid dislike for the reference? Well, they poke fun at the complication or the Yachting association written on the watch. Well, let us analyze a few variants that are seemingly gloated upon here:

How about emblazoned on the outer ring of the dial “original gas escape valve”? Has anyone used this? At which depth did you last actuate your valve?

Obviously the subs meager maximum depth of just 1000 ft doesn’t cut it for deep diving (desk?)TRF members, since the accolades thrust upon the 12 x more…12,800 ft depth rating of the Deepsea make it a far more popular choice for our brethren of deep sea divers. Anyone ever have the The Bends (Decompression Sickness) after wearing their deepsea?

Who could really live without a watch designed to protect the movement while still telling the time in magnetic fields up to 1,000 gauss? All these TRF incomings of the Milgauss seemingly from multi-aliased employees at European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) are getting tiresome, right? I know your nuclear work is probably classified, but could you all at least give us a hint with your next incoming?

Then we have those members who need to calculate elapsed time against speed, such a seemingly regular daily occurrence that they couldn’t be without their Daytona chronographs on any given day. You know, just in case a passing vehicles speed must be quickly established.

Then we have all you TRF cave dwellers, confined underground for so long you’re confused as to whether its day or night, a dilemma you couldn’t possibly resolve without your indispensable Explorer II on wrist.

Come on guys…why oh why is the YM II so derided and your only weapon is a cheap shot at its complication? Don’t you risk being hypocritical if in the same breath you pour acclaim and admiration on the aforementioned for their indisputably indispensable complications and purpose?

Anyhow, just as a final act of bad taste, here’s my YM II again

That beach you see in the background was 6 minutes away, or so my countdown timer told me. Diving from his sunbed into the shallow water was a guy with a sub on, and two sunbeds to his left there was a guy timing the barmaids delivery time of a piña colada using his Daytona