Rolex Yacht-Master Midsize

It's not very often that Rolex does something new. Indeed, when most people think of a Rolex wristwatch, chances are they are picturing a Datejust, Submariner, GMT-Master, or Daytona. This simple name recognition and model association is part of why Rolex is as successful as they are, and why so many of their watches set the bar for iconography in timepieces. With that said, it makes their "oddball" pieces all the more intriguing! Enter The Yacht-Master. Introduced in 1992, this was a spiffed up lite diver, and rumor has it — if you can even believe it — was originally intended to replace the Submariner all together. Of course, that did not happen. What we did get, however, was a sporting, more polished, higher-end lite diver, complete with a timing bezel, screw down crown, a sporting Oyster bracelet, sapphire crystal, and the build quality that the world had come to expect with any other Rolex. The Yacht-Master line continues to expand until this day, now offering a wide range of sizes, metals, and bracelet options. This particular example, a Reference 268655, features a 37mm Everose gold Oyster case with a magnified sapphire crystal, a bi-directional rotating timing bezel with a matte black ceramic insert, a matte black (yes, matte black!!!) dial with applied luminous indices and red "Yacht-Master' text with a matching handset, and Rolex's  signed fliplock clasp with Rolex's fantastic Easylink system. For those with smaller wrist, or for those simply looking for a more compact package, this piece serves as an interesting alternative to a Submariner with a bit of added flair without sacrificing any of the daily-wearability and versatility of a Sub. We think that these are pieces are overlooked by many, but their loss is your gain!