If you squint, you’ll see a 2023 stealth titanium version of the original 1992 yellow gold Yacht-Master. But the elusive Rolex Yacht-Master 42 in RLX titanium is not a watch you see every day, so you have to look at it with your eyes wide open. In fact, this monochromatic “super sub” is a hard-to-find exotic timepiece with demand far exceeding supply. Some might say there’s nothing new when it comes to Rolex sports watches. Still, something tells me that this lightweight underwater watch will always be a rare and discreet watch. So when I showed up unexpectedly at Fratello headquarters, I seized the opportunity to wear it for a while. I had no choice but to experience its secret and luxurious presence with open hands and wide eyes. Spoiler alert: It’s phenomenal.
If I had to choose one watch from Rolex’s current lineup, I would have no hesitation in choosing the Yacht-Master 42 ref. 226627 features a titanium case, matching Oyster bracelet, and black ceramic bezel with 60-minute scale. The retail price of 14,650 euros is high, but the RLX titanium construction justifies it. After all, it’s only the second watch to be released using this alloy, after the giant 50 x 23mm Deepsea Challenge. To be honest, RLX titanium is actually grade 5 titanium, which is not all that rare, so it takes some effort to justify it. Again, this is also Rolex’s first wearable titanium watch. With that in mind and knowing the Yacht Master’s backstory, you can get past this price.
The elusive RLX titanium Rolex Yacht-Master 42 stalks like a leopard in the night
Unfortunately, everything I wrote in the previous paragraph is completely hypothetical. Rolex AD cannot/will not sell a titanium Yacht-Master 42, even if they bring you a clean banknote of 14,650 euros. And in a parallel market, premium prices cannot be justified no matter how hard you try. You won’t find it for less than 25,000 USD/25,000 EUR on Chrono24. Aside from the still-enthusiastic market, the relative rarity of the titanium Yacht-Master 42 also keeps prices high. It may be a niche product compared to the GMT-Master II “Pepsi”, but it still has a larger audience than the number of watches on the market.
Yet, somehow miraculously, the RLX Titanium Yachtmaster 42 arrived at Fratello headquarters. That gave me the opportunity to try out the “Super Sub” for a while. The Yacht-Master Ref. 16628 debuted in 1992, but legend has it that Rolex had already invented the model decades earlier. The watch was originally designed as a next-generation Submariner, but its soft look was considered too radically different. As a result, Rolex froze the concept. But in the 1990s, the brand wanted to emphasize its luxury even more, so it warmed up and slightly tweaked the 1960s design and introduced the yellow gold Yacht-Master.
The titanium Yacht-Master 42 next to the 40mm Ref. 16622 in Loresium
next generation sub machine
The 40mm yellow gold Yacht-Master Ref. 16628 had a white dial and etched bezel insert, had a triple-lock crown, and was water resistant to 100 meters. Inside the watch was the automatic Caliber 3135, the same movement found in the Submariner of the time. However, when it comes to appearance, these watches were actually quite different. With its shiny bits and rounded edges, it’s hard to imagine this watch being the next generation Sub.
Fast forward to 2023, and the latest iteration of the Yacht-Master has moved forward, and it’s looking just like the next-gen Sub. Stripped of all the precious metals and shiny details that made this watch stand out, the monochromatic matte RLX Titanium Yacht-Master 42 looks like a high-tech interpretation of the Submariner theme. Rolex changed the soul of the Yacht Master by transforming it from a watch that loves to go on casual boat trips or spend a lot of time on the sundeck of a yacht club to a competitive ocean racer. Ta. Adopts a large 42mm case that puts functionality first. The case is 11.6mm thick, has a lug-to-lug length of 50.3mm, and is water resistant to a depth of 100m. It is also equipped with the Rolex caliber 3235, which has a power reserve of 70 hours.
The use of grade 5 titanium for both the case and the Oyster bracelet makes the watch approximately one-third lighter than a steel watch. Most of the surface is brushed, but there is also some polishing. Just enough light to give the watch a chance to come to life, while still maintaining the rustic look of a genuine tool/sport watch. Think of this Yacht-Master 42 as an instrument built to luxury standards.
Wearing the lightweight and durable Yacht-Master 42 made of RLX titanium
When you take the Titanium Yacht-Master 42 out of the box, you feel the expected lightness of the alloy, but it also provides an unexpected feeling: solidity. The 904L steel Oyster bracelet is probably the best bracelet in the world for a sports watch. Its build quality, durability, and comfort are incredibly high. It’s difficult to build a titanium bracelet that feels the same as steel but is also lightweight. Rolex has made it happen. The titanium three-row bracelet looks and, more importantly, feels and functions like the sturdy and durable steel Oyster bracelet, but at a fraction of the weight.
I thought it was a very impressive bracelet. When I handed them my watches, my colleagues also experienced the paradoxical feeling of being light and durable. This lightweight version of the Oyster bracelet is equipped with patented ceramic inserts inside the links, increasing flexibility and longevity. It also features an Oysterlock folding safety clasp and Easylink comfort extension, allowing approximately 5mm of adjustment. This may be the ultimate sports watch bracelet on the market today.
Reliable lightness
When you wear it on your wrist, you can barely feel it’s there. That’s no surprise since it weighs just over 100 grams. There was no problem with the size, as I have a wrist of 18cm. The case diameter of 42mm is large, but that’s understandable. Larger watches accommodate larger dials and are easier to read. And since this is a professional watch, legibility is important for Rolex.
This RLX Titanium Yacht-Master 42 features a clean and simple matte black dial with long-lasting chromalite indexes. Rolex kept it simple by equipping the watch with wide hands and simply shaped hour markers. Luminous ‘maxi’ triangles, circles and rectangles give the watch a highly functional and highly attractive appearance.
The visual highlight of this watch is the bidirectional 60-minute bezel with 120 clicks. The matt black Cerachrom insert has a sandblasted base and the polished raised numerals and scales are fully visible. It rotates accurately and has a solid feel. I could have used the bezel to calculate the sailing time between the two buoys if I wanted, but I didn’t have a boat with me so I didn’t. But that didn’t dampen the atmosphere at all. When I first saw this watch on Rolex’s display at Watches and Wonders 2023, I wasn’t very convinced, but when I held it in my hands at the press presentation, all my doubts instantly disappeared and I was replaced with admiration. I did. That didn’t change after the watch salon, but now that I’ve worn this watch a bit “in nature,” my praise has only grown stronger.
In my opinion, the RLX Titanium Yacht-Master 42 is the ultimate modern Rolex. The use of lightweight alloys makes sense functionally as well as for a monochromatic appearance. The perfection of this tool watch is at a very high and luxurious level, and for those lucky enough to catch this elusive creature in the wild, it can also be used as a stealthy and sophisticated everyday beater. This is a functioning NEC Plus Ultra Tools watch.
What do you think of the RLX Titanium Yacht-Master 42? Is it truly the ultimate sports watch in the current Rolex lineup? Also, what models will run on titanium, such as the Explorer II or perhaps the next-gen Milgauss? Let us know in the comments below.
