Rolex Yacht-Master

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 16628, dates to circa 2004 and features a 40mm solid 18k yellow gold Oyster case with a magnified sapphire crystal, a signed crown, a yellow gold bi-directional rotating bezel, a crisp and flawless luminous white dial with applied onyx indices and a matching handset, and a matching solid yellow gold Oyster bracelet with a signed fliplock clasp. This piece remains in excellent condition throughout and 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 if a luxury sports watch is what you’re after, stop right here — this is one of the best!