rolex yacht master ll

Rolex Yacht-Master II Steel & Rose Gold Luxury Men's Watch 116681-0002

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Roger Federer Just Rocked One of Rolex’s Coolest Sports Watches

By Oren Hartov

Earlier this week, at the New York premiere of his new documentary Federer: Twelve Final Days , tennis icon and Rolex testimonee Roger Federer strapped on the Yacht-Master II ref. 226627—a watch so lightweight that I feared, upon first handling it in Geneva last year, that I might crush it, thus owing Rolex corporate headquarters a check for $14,050 (plus tax).

The ref. 226627 was not Rolex’s first titanium watch—that distinction belongs to the 50mm-wise Deepsea Challenge , which was seemingly designed for James Cameron to wear while plumbing the depths of the Atlantic for sunken ocean liners. The Yacht-Master II, on the other hand, is arguably more exciting: Measuring a more comfortable 42mm wide, it was first spotted on the wrist of skipper (and fellow Rolex testimonee) Sir Ben Aislney back in the fall of 2021. No longer a prototype and now a full production model, it’s crafted from Grade 5 RLX titanium and is available for purchase. ( Theoretically, at least. )

What makes this Submariner-esque watch different from, well, a Submariner ? The two are admittedly similar in design, with a few key differences: There’s the RXL titanium case, of course, but then there’s also the 42mm sizing (as opposed to 41mm on the Sub); a bidirectional timing bezel with a sand-blasted Cerachrom insert (instead of the Sub’s unidirectional dive bezel); the date window (which is only seen on Submariner Date models); and the matching, RLX titanium Oyster bracelet with Oysterlock folding clasp and Easylink comfort extension. (The Sub doesn’t have an available titanium bracelet.)

Other than that, both the Submariner Date and the Yacht-Master II are powered by Rolex’s automatic Calibre 3235 movement with 70 hours of power reserve, and both are made for aquatic use. The Sub, however, is a diver’s watch rated to 300m of water resistance; the Yacht-Master II, on the other hand, is made for sailing and is water resistant to 100m—still respectable, to be sure, but best kept to the deck of a cutting-edge racing craft.

Seeing the Yacht-Master II on Federer’s wrist is more fun than notable—it looks perfectly at home when paired with his dark suit at the photocall, though it's a distinctly sporty piece made to be used and abused. Being a Rolex testimonee, of course, Federer has been spotted in just about every notable Crown offering over the past few years, from the Le Mans Daytona to the Sky-Dweller in precious metals and more. (The man pulls off a dressy 1908 with black tie beautifully, but let’s be real—this is a brand famed for its sport watches, and we’re talking about one of the world’s most renowned athletes.) Having cycled through many of the brand’s most compelling offerings, the only remaining pertinent question is: How do we get Fed into a “Leopard” Daytona ?

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Find anything you save across the site in your account

Roger Federer just served up one of Rolex’s coolest sports watches

By Oren Hartov

When it comes to flexing rare Rolex watches, few have a more consistent game than Roger Federer . Earlier this week, at the premiere of his new documentary Federer: Twelve Final Days , the tennis icon strapped on a Yacht-Master II ref. 226627 – a watch so lightweight that I feared, upon first handling it in Geneva last year, that I might crush it, thus owing Rolex corporate headquarters a check for $14,050 (plus tax).

The ref. 226627 was not Rolex’s first titanium watch – that distinction belongs to the 50mm-wise Deepsea Challenge , which was seemingly designed for James Cameron to wear while plumbing the depths of the Atlantic for sunken ocean liners. The Yacht-Master II, on the other hand, is arguably more exciting: Measuring a more comfortable 42mm wide, it was first spotted on the wrist of legendary British sailor Sir Ben Ainslie back in the fall of 2021. No longer a prototype and now a full production model, it’s crafted from Grade 5 RLX titanium and is available for purchase. ( Theoretically, at least. )

What makes this Submariner-esque watch different from a Submariner ? The two are admittedly similar in design, with a few key differences: There’s the RXL titanium case, of course, but then there’s also the 42mm sizing (as opposed to 41mm on the Sub); a bidirectional timing bezel with a sand-blasted Cerachrom insert (instead of the Sub’s unidirectional dive bezel); the date window (which is only seen on Submariner Date models); and the matching, RLX titanium Oyster bracelet with Oysterlock folding clasp and Easylink comfort extension. (The Sub doesn’t have an available titanium bracelet.)

Other than that, both the Submariner Date and the Yacht-Master II are powered by Rolex’s automatic Calibre 3235 movement with 70 hours of power reserve, and both are made for aquatic use. The Sub, however, is a diver’s watch rated to 300m of water resistance; the Yacht-Master II, on the other hand, is made for sailing and is water resistant to 100m – still respectable, to be sure, but best kept to the deck of a cutting-edge racing craft.

Seeing the Yacht-Master II on Roger Federer’s wrist is more fun than notable—it looks perfectly at home when paired with his dark suit at the photocall, though it's a distinctly sporty piece made to be used and abused. Being a Rolex testimonee, of course, Federer has been spotted in just about every notable Crown offering over the past few years, from the Le Mans Daytona to the Sky-Dweller in precious metals and more. (The man pulls off a dressy 1908 with black tie beautifully, but let’s be real—this is a brand famed for its sport watches, and we’re talking about one of the world’s most renowned athletes.)

Having cycled through many of the brand’s most compelling offerings, the only remaining pertinent question is: How do we get Fed into a “Leopard” Daytona ?

By Mike Christensen

By Vivian Morelli

Celebrate The Class of 2024

The Rolex Watches of Che Guevara

Precision Timekeeping in a High-End Tool Watch

Although Rolex watches are an international symbol of wealth, success and personal accomplishment, they can often be found on the wrists of the most unexpected individuals. Rolex has always produced precision timekeeping devices ; however, they were historically viewed as high-end tool watches, rather than luxury items. As a result, some of the most interesting and unexpected figures throughout history have chosen to wear a Rolex.

As a communist revolutionary leader, Ernesto “Che” Guevara did not affix a great deal of value to many material possessions. Despite a general disdain for wealth, excess, and inequality, Che Guevara actually owned several different Rolex collections throughout his lifetime.

Rolex watches have never been considered inexpensive; however, they previously occupied a much more accessible price range. As a point of reference, a stainless steel Submariner Date retailed for $180 in 1957. Adjusting for inflation, that would still only be equal to roughly $1,600 today. To add some additional perspective, a brand-new, stainless steel Submariner Date now costs $8,550.

It is very likely that Che Guevara wore an early reference Submariner during the first part of his revolutionary career; however the watch that most frequently makes an appearance in pictures with him, is his GMT-Master, reference 1675 – a gift from fellow communist leader, Fidel Castro.

Castro was a huge fan of Rolex watches; many photographs exist of him simultaneously wearing two different Rolex on the same wrist. One was set to local time in Havana; the other displayed the time in Moscow. Castro liked the brand so much that he frequently gave out Rolex watches to his high-level commanders and associates.

It is confirmed that Che Guevara received at least two different Rolex watches from Castro during the late 1950’s and 1960’s. Precision timepieces were a necessary item of equipment for field commanders, especially in the pre-quartz watch era. An accurate watch was crucial for coordinating and synchronizing military operations, and the reliability and precision of Rolex watches made them an obvious choice.

The first Rolex Guevara received was in 1958 when Castro promoted him to the position of Comandante ; however, less than a year later, Che gave that very same watch to his father. In 1966, Castro gave Guevara a second Rolex – right before he left Cuba for Bolivia.

When Che Guevara was killed on October 9 th , 1967, CIA operative Félix Rodríguez removed Guevara’s Rolex GMT-Master from the wrist of his corpse; the watch remains in his possession to this day. A unique quality about Rolex is the brand’s ability to fit in among different income levels and lifestyles. From movie stars to soldiers, U.S. presidents to communist revolutionaries, it appears as though everyone can appreciate the ingenuity and craftsmanship of Rolex watches.

About Paul Altieri

Paul Altieri is a vintage and pre-owned Rolex specialist, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of BobsWatches.com. - the largest and most trusted name in luxury watches. He is widely considered a pioneer in the industry for bringing transparency and innovation to a once-considered stagnant industry. His experience spans over 35 years and he has been published in numerous publications including Forbes, The NY Times, WatchPro, and Fortune Magazine. Paul is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the watch industry and e-commerce, and regularly engages with other professionals in the industry. He is a member of the IWJG, the AWCI and a graduate of the GIA. Alongside running the premier retailer of pre-owned Rolex watches, Paul is a prominent Rolex watch collector himself amassing one of the largest private collections of rare timepieces. In an interview with the WSJ lifestyle/fashion editor Christina Binkley, Paul opened his vault to display his extensive collection of vintage Rolex Submariners and Daytonas. Paul Altieri is a trusted and recognized authority in the watch industry with a proven track record of expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.

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