SUPER BOWL CHAMPION: PATRICK MAHOMES ROCKING HIS ROLEX YACHT-MASTER

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION

PATRICK MAHOMES

ROLEX YACHT-MASTER

Patrick Mahomes just took his family to Disneyland to celebrate his Super Bowl win and was in the Disneyland Parade. As we see in the photo below, was rocking his white gold 42MM Rolex Yacht-Master on an OysterFlex bracelet. Patrick Mahomes was not only the heroic quarterback that won Super Bowl LVIII in the last seconds of the game but was also voted MVP!!!

As I mentioned in my recent Super Bowl Sunday story, Patrick Mahomes is a Rolex fanatic of the highest order, and has an amazing Rolex harem that is second to none!!! Ironically, I don't think Patrick Mahomes is current official Rolex brand ambassador, but I think Rolex should make him one as he represents a whole new generation that wears his Rolex watches well...

The 42MM White Gold Rolex Yacht-Master is arguably in a class by itself as it's not your classic Yacht-Master. Considered to be one of the most thoroughly modern expressions of classic Rolex Aquatic design language, its larger 42MM size is accented by its radical vintage Rolex Firebird 3-Dimensional bezel which is finished with a matte black bezel insert.

Oysterflex on a Yacht-Master

...Rolex Studio Shot of The Day...

Oysterflex on a Yacht-Master

Yacht-Master 42: A Rolex Fan's Favorite?

Yacht-Master 42


Why the Yacht-Master

Is My Favorite Watch

 By DANNY CRIVELLO

           

The reason I believe the Yacht-Master has always been one of the most underrated models in Rolex's collection is because of its name. While "Submariner," "Sea-Dweller," "Explorer," and "GMT-Master" conjure up thoughts of adventures in the deep sea, in the mountains or across the globe, the name "Yacht-Master" makes us feel the watch is for the elite few who, well, own a yacht.

I was fortunate enough to be invited for Rolex's first appointment on the first day of Baselworld. I was essentially the first one to try the new Yacht-Master 42. And I reported it live on Twitter and Instagram. After a few weeks and more time to think about it, I wanted to share my reaction.

When I was given the watch by the Rolex representative to try on, I didn't expect my hand to shake, but it did. The combination of perfect lighting in the Rolex press room, the brilliance and sparkle of the white gold from the case, and the piece's slightly increased size gave it a subtle aura. But enough that it made my hand shake as I held it. That was unexpected but a pleasant surprise.

Is the Yacht-Master designed with yacht owners in mind? If it's 1966 and you decide to be the first person to truly circumnavigate the world completely on your own—West to East via the great capes, in a journey that would take you 226 days, yachting is an adventure. The Yacht-Master is the Explorer of the sea, the Submariner of the surface, and the GMT-Master that crosses the globe not with jet engines, but sails. 

Above, Sir Francis Chichester, whose daring spirit marked the history of yachting for future generations, autographed the picture by writing: "Gipsy Moth IV needs repairs after capsizing in the Tasman Sea, but the Rolex ticks on happily. Francis Chichester."

It's 1966 and there's no GPS. Your navigational instruments include a sextant, the stars and a Rolex watch. 

Sir Francis Chichester departed Plymouth and sailed solo around the world in his yawl, Gipsy Moth IV. The journey took 226 days and handed him the honor of being the first person to truly circumnavigate the world completely on his own. He was 65.

So owning a Yacht-Master is not just for yacht owners; it could be for those who long for adventures on the high seas. Please see Jake's Complete History of the Rolex Yacht-Master. 

Below: "To Rolex, many thanks for the splendid G.M.T.-Master. Francis Chichester. 19.8.66."

Please indulge me as I add, below, a non-related Rolex picture. My grandpa, who was a submariner during World War II and later became a Navy officer, is seen here with his teenage son, my dad. My dad would earn all his sailing certifications and endorsements. 

I write about my grandpa here, and the Rolex Submariner I own. Now I want to own a Yacht-Master in honor of my dad. 

Four facts about the new Yacht-Master 42:

First time a Yacht-Master is released in 42mm.
First time a Yacht-Master (I) is released in white gold.
First time a Glidelock clasp is on an Oysterflex bracelet.
First and only Professional model offered in three sizes.

What I like most about the Yacht-Master 42: 

The size: While I owned many 40mm-diameter watches and I have a 7-inch wrist, the 42mm size is more modern without being over the top. Many Omega and Grand Seiko divers are at 44 and more. 42, I believe, is the new 40. It is the new perfect size in line with modern fashion. 

The case design: I've owned a couple Maxi case Rolexes, like the BLNR (GMT "Batman") and the LV (Submariner "Hulk"). But I love a thinner lug design like the one of my Air-King and Daytona. The Yacht-Master has a winner lug shape and profile design—all that with a Maxi dial maximizing legibility both by day and night. It reminds me a bit of the uber-popular Submariner "Kermit."

The metal: The 18-karat white gold adds a reflection and luster that can't be matched by steel. And it brings the watch into a luxury range without being too flashy. It is quieter than yellow gold and lighter than platinum. Some say white gold is a secret between you and yourself.

The bezel: I use the bezel function all the time—to time events or just to mark time in the future, like a scheduled departure time. I love bi-directional bezels because they're so quick and easy to operate. While the Yacht-Master is not a dive watch, its specs go beyond the kinds of depth I will ever reach. It's waterproof to 100m. 

A word about the strap and clasp: The Yacht-Master 42 is the first Rolex to be equipped with a Glidelock system on Oysterflex, allowing the wearer to extend the strap length by increments of 2.5 mm up to 15 mm. On the flip size—literally!—it makes the clasp a little bit longer than its 40-mm Everose, non-Glidelock Yacht-Master cousin, which, by the way, will also be equipped with a Glidelock extension and a new movement in 2019. 

But on the wrist the Oysterflex is amazingly comfortable and adds a touch of sportiness. You don’t need to compromise on robustness, waterproofness or reliability though. Resistance and durability are comparable to that of a metal bracelet, according to Rolex, making it the perfect companion for an adventure on the high seas.

Sir Francis Chichester would have approved! 

Sir Ben Ainslie: Yacht-Master 42 in Titanium

Watches And Wonders 

2022 Predictions

Watches And Wonders is just around the corner and begins in Geneva, Switzerland on March 30, 2022, and will run through April 5th. If you are not familiar with Watches And Wonders, it basically replaced the Basel World trade show, which used to take place in Basel, Switzerland.

Many readers are very curious about what Rolex will introduce at Watches & Wonders and have been asking me for my predictions? I have no idea!?!! 

My best guess/hope is that Rolex will introduce the all titanium Yacht-Master that Danny discovered and wrote about last year. I brought Danny's story which he originally published on September 23, 2021 back up to the top of the blog for your review as seen below. I am throwing darts at a board, but I hope to see Rolex do something interesting with the Milgauss. Also, we might see the Rolex Air-King get an updated movement and dial...

Also, my best guess is we might see Rolex dive back into its amazing history, and surprise us with a vintage/retro inspired watch model...

...THE RETURN OF THE TOOL WATCH...

A Stealth Rolex Prototype 

Hiding in Plain Sight

Originally Published on September 23, 2021

Yacht-Master 42 in Titanium

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

ROLEX MAKES A TITANIUM WATCH

By DANNY CRIVELLO

There is a famous story about André Heiniger, the CEO of Rolex from 1962 to 1992. He was once asked by a friend how things were faring in the watch business. "I have no idea," Heiniger quickly replied. "Rolex is not in the watch business. We are a luxury business."

Indeed, Rolex is well known today for being a luxury brand rather than the watchmaker of choice for the adventurers, divers, pilots and astronauts who are profiled in these pages. The introduction of the Explorer in steel and yellow gold this year is the brand's latest example of firmly claiming the luxury space regardless of history.

Sir Ben Ainslie rocking his Titanium Yacht-Master

So it's highly unusual for Rolex to take an existing model like the Yacht-Master 42 and revamp it to drastically eschew all manner of luxury, making it more dull, less complicated and with a thinner strap—all for pure practical sake. 

What is even more unusual for Rolex is to request a new model to be tested by professionals in real-world conditions before its introduction to the public. This is COMEX-level watch development: In the 1970s, Rolex asked a French diving company to help perfect its Submariners and Sea-Dwellers watches by taking them on real-world dives and saturations. 

In creating a watch especially designed for the most competitive regattas, Rolex approached the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie, and asked him to take the watch on real races, like the America's Cup or the SailGP. 

Actual pictures of Rolex's first titanium watch are hard to come by. I've requested more pictures from Rolex, and Rolex politely responded: "We do not wish to communicate more about this model than what we already have." The cynics will call it pure marketing genius; I call it a laser-beam focus on engineering the next tool watch.

This is the first time Rolex has created a watch with a titanium case. Breitling, Omega, Grand Seiko, IWC and even Richard Mille have done it. Vacheron Constantin announced a titanium model just this week. Of course, the Pelagos from Rolex's sister company Tudor is in titanium. The lightness of a titanium case is sometimes a turnoff for customers, who equate heft with luxury.

In 2019, I was fortunate enough to be invited by Rolex at Baselworld for what turned out to be the last Baselworld. I had Rolex's first appointment on the first day reserved for the press. So I was essentially the first one to try on the white-gold Yacht-Master 42 and report about it.

The combination of perfect lighting in the Rolex press room, the brilliance and sparkle of the white gold from the case, and the piece's slightly increased size gave it an undeniable aura. Its unexpected heft added to the experience, as my brain was still trying to compute how a steel-looking watch equipped with a rubber strap can pack so much mass. 

Compared to steel, titanium lacks the heft, the luster and is arguably less attractive while it is more expensive to produce. It doesn’t take to polish as well as steel either, which is why you often see titanium watches with matte or blasted finishes.

This new Yacht-Master 42 case is in "anthracite grey," according to Rolex, with a matte finish. In short, it stands at the diametrical opposite of fire emoji on the Instagram wrist-shot spectrum. 

Then Rolex removes the date complication and puts it on a black NATO.

Pardon, vous pouvez répéter ?

Rolex never develops a watch to then downgrade the complication years later. To be sure, the brand offers the Submariner and the Submariner Date. But the date version of a model tends to succeed the no-date version, not the other way around. Here Rolex decided to de-complicate the Yacht-Master 42 and make it as simple as possible, improving the symetry and legibility of the dial. The movement on this new Yacht-Master, Rolex said, is its latest: the 3230 introduced in 2020.

Still, with this new Yacht-Master, Rolex has reclaimed its roots as a tool watchmaker: the watch is made of a metal that weighs around half as much as stainless steel. Pound-for-pound, titanium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any known metal. And for the first time, a Rolex NATO is provided with the watch, keeping it secure in case of spring bar failure. The NATO, according to Rolex, combines Cordura with "high-performance elastomer." The NATO has a Velcro, which allows for easy adjustment whether on the wrist or over technical clothing. 

I reached out to Sir Ainslie and he told me he never takes his titanium watch off, which might be the lightest Rolex has ever made. "Every little bit of weight that we can save helps us to go faster," Sir Ainslie said. 

"Best watch I've ever worn, says it all," he finally told me. 

One more thing... 

When I discussed the article with Jake, he said that the lack of a date complication on the Yacht-Master in titanium gave it a vintage tool-watch vibe. Then he added: "Do you know what this looks hearkens to? A Mil-Sub." He is right!

1968 Rolex Ad: No-Date Sub and Sailing

1977 America's Cup Sailing Rolex Ad

Steven Mnuchin United States Secratary of the Treasury

Steven Mnuchin

United States Secratary of the Treasury

White Gold 42MM Rolex Yacht-Master

United States Secratary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin is pictured below wearing his White Gold Rolex Yacht-Master. Mnuchin is the 77th Secretary of the Treasury. It's fascinating to note that the Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell wears a stainless steel Rolex Submariner. This means the two most powerful men in the financial world both wear Rolex sports watches.

Secratary Mnuchin is pictured above and below in this story with President Trump in the White House, wearing his Rolex Yacht-Master on a Rolex OysterFlex bracelet which is has titanium-nickel allow blades inside that are concealed with a rubberlike elastomer.

In the video below from a recent presidential press briefing at the White House we see Steven Mnuchin taking the podium while wearing his 42MM Rolex White Gold Yacht-Master.

The 42 MM Rolex Yacht-Master was introduced at the BaselWorld last year, and our own Captain Danny was the very first journalist to get to inspect and try on the all-new Rolex Yacht-Master in person.