Rolex Introduces Its New Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 Watch

Glowing with new brilliance

A new jewel shines on the surface of the sea: for the first time, the Yacht-Master 42 is available in yellow gold – an inspired and original refinement to the emblematic sailing timepiece that in no way alters its course.

Rolex is presenting a new version of the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42. From now on, the nautical watch is also available in 18 ct yellow gold, after having been offered uniquely in 18 ct white gold. The new version, which, like the original model, includes a bidirectional rotatable bezel and a Cerachrom insert with a raised graduation as well as the innovative Oysterflex bracelet, benefits from an optimized Chromalight display. The hour markers and hands are filled or coated with a new luminescent material, exclusive to Rolex, that guarantees a longer-lasting intense glow. In daylight, these display elements also have a brighter white hue.

The new version of the Yacht-Master 42 is equipped with calibre 3235, a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology, enabling it to display the hours, minutes, seconds and date. Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.

The CALL of the open seas

Launched in 1992, the Yacht-Master was designed specifically for navigators and skippers. Embodying the rich heritage that has bound Rolex and the world of sailing since the 1950s, this Professional-category watch provides a perfect blend of functionality and nautical style, making it equally at home on and off the water. An emblematic nautical timepiece, it is easily recognized by its bidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated bezel made entirely from precious metal or fitted with a Cerachrom insert in high-technology ceramic.

High-technology ceramic

Rolex played a pioneering role in the development of special ceramics for creating monobloc bezels and bezel inserts. Not only are these materials virtually scratchproof, their colours are also of a rare intensity and are resistant to environmental effects. In addition, thanks to its chemical composition, the hightech ceramic is inert and cannot corrode. Rolex has developed exclusive expertise and innovative manufacturing methods that grant it complete independence in the production of these ceramic components.

On the new version of the Yacht-Master 42, the bidirectional rotatable bezel is fitted with a 60-minute graduated Cerachrom insert in matt black ceramic. Its raised graduations and numerals are first moulded into the ceramic and then polished. The first 15 minutes are graduated minute-by-minute to allow time intervals to be read with great precision. The bezel can also be turned with ease thanks to its knurled edge, which offers excellent grip.

The Oyster case, symbol of waterproofness

A paragon of robustness and reliability, the 42 mm Oyster case of the new Yacht-Master 42 is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet). Its middle case is crafted from a solid block of 18 ct yellow gold. The case back, edged with fine fluting, is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement. The Triplock winding crown, fitted with a triple waterproofness system and protected by an integral crown guard, screws down securely against the case. The crystal, which is fitted with a Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock for easy reading of the date, is made of virtually scratchproof sapphire and benefits from an antireflective coating. The waterproof Oyster case provides optimum protection for the watch’s movement.

Perpetual calibre 3235

The new version of the Yacht-Master 42 is equipped with calibre 3235, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex that was released in 2015 and has been fitted on this model since its launch in 2019. At the forefront of watchmaking technology, this self-winding mechanical movement led to the filing of several patents, and offers outstanding performance in terms of precision, power reserve, resistance to shocks and magnetic fields, convenience and reliability.

Calibre 3235 incorporates the patented Chronergy escapement, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel-phosphorus, it is also insensitive to magnetic fields. The movement is fitted with an optimized blue Parachrom hairspring, manufactured by Rolex in a paramagnetic alloy. The blue Parachrom hairspring is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring the calibre’s regularity in any position. The oscillator is fitted on the Rolex-designed, patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, increasing the movement’s shock resistance.

Calibre 3235 is equipped with a self-winding module via a Perpetual rotor. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of calibre 3235 extends to approximately 70 hours.

Oysterflex bracelet and Oysterlock safety clasp

The new 18 ct yellow gold Yacht-Master 42 is fitted with an Oysterflex bracelet, which singularly combines the robustness and reliability of a metal bracelet with the flexibility, comfort and aesthetics of an elastomer strap. Developed by Rolex and patented, this innovative bracelet is made up of flexible, curved metal blades overmoulded with highperformance black elastomer, a material that is particularly resistant to environmental effects and very durable. For enhanced comfort, the inside of the Oysterflex bracelet is equipped with longitudinal cushions.

The Oysterflex bracelet on this new version of the Yacht-Master 42 is equipped with the Rolex-designed, patented Oysterlock folding safety clasp in 18 ct yellow gold, which prevents accidental opening. It also features the Rolex Glidelock extension system, which was designed by the brand and patented. This particularly inventive mechanism comprises a rack located under the clasp cover and a toothed sliding link that locks into the chosen notch. The Rolex Glidelock on the Oysterflex bracelet has six notches of approximately 2.5 mm, allowing the length of the bracelet to be adjusted easily, and without tools, up to some 15 mm.

Superlative Chronometer certification

Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This designation testifies that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, following the official certification of the movements by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The in-house certification tests apply to the fully assembled watch, after casing the movement, guaranteeing superlative performance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve, waterproofness and selfwinding.

The precision of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer is of the order of −2 /+2 seconds per day – the rate deviation tolerated by the brand for a finished watch is significantly smaller than that accepted by COSC for official certification of the movement alone.

The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

Technical Specifications

Case reference: 226658

Bracelet: Oysterflex

Category: Oyster Perpetual Professional

Certification: Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casing)

International five-year guarantee

Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42

Men's Watches

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Case:

• Oyster (monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown)

Safety
• Integral crown guard
Diameter
• 42 mm
Material
• 18 ct yellow gold
Middle case
• 18 ct yellow gold, polished finish
Bezel
• 18 ct yellow gold, bidirectional rotatable
• 60-minute graduated monobloc Cerachrom insert in matt black ceramic; polished, raised graduations and numerals, first 15 minutes graduated minute-by-minute
Case back
• 18 ct yellow gold, solid, screw-down with fine fluting
Winding crown
• Triplock in 18 ct yellow gold, screw-down, triple waterproofness system
Crystal
• Scratch-resistant sapphire with anti-reflective coating
• Cyclops lens over the date with double anti-reflective coating
Waterproofness
• 100 metres (330 feet)

Movement:

• Calibre 3235, Manufacture Rolex
• Mechanical movement with bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor

Precision
• −2 /+2 sec./day, after casing
Functions
• Centre hour, minute and seconds hands
• Instantaneous date at 3 o’clock with secure rapid-setting
• Stop-seconds for exact time setting
Oscillator
• Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz)
• Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring
• Rolex overcoil
• Large balance wheel with variable inertia
• High-precision regulating via four gold
Microstella nuts
• Traversing balance bridge
• High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers
Escapement
• Chronergy with optimized energy efficiency
• Paramagnetic nickel-phosphorus pallet fork and escape wheel
Jewelling
• 31 rubies
Power reserve
• Approximately 70 hours

Dial:

• Black lacquer
• Hour markers in 18 ct yellow gold, highly legible Chromalight (long-lasting luminescence, blue glow)
• Hands in 18 ct yellow gold, highly legible Chromalight (long-lasting luminescence, blue glow)

Bracelet:

• Oysterflex
• Flexible metal blades overmoulded with high-performance elastomer
• Oysterlock folding safety clasp in 18 ct yellow gold
• Rolex Glidelock extension system (approx. 15 mm in increments of approx. 2.5 mm)