Rolex Predictions 2024: Yacht-Master II Redesign or Discontinuation?

The Rolex Yacht-Master II is one of the most bewildering watches in The Crown’s catalog. From its niche functionality to its massive self-titled bezel inscription, the 44mm beast stands alone in both its mechanics and aesthetics. Its eccentricity is, at least in part, a product of its age; much like the Milgauss in 2023, the Yacht-Master II is long overdue for an update or discontinuation. Since its 2007 release, the watch hasn’t seen any significant changes. Today I’d like to revisit the Yacht-Master II, discussing its quirks, potential for improvement, and likelihood for discontinuation.

What is the Yacht-Master II and Why Does it Exist?

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The Yacht-Master II features a “regatta chronograph” complication: a countdown timer set in one-minute increments up to ten. The timer’s intended use is to count down the minutes before the starting gun of a yacht race (also known as a regatta). However, the regatta chronograph can also count down the minutes before your next set at the gym, taking dinner out of the oven, or announcing to the room that you are, in fact, wearing a Yacht-Master II. The complication is set using a Ring Command Bezel: Rolex’s mechanically-integrated rotating bezel also seen on the Sky-Dweller. Without question, the Yacht-Master II is one of Rolex’s most complex watches, even today. Aside from its unique movement and functionality, the watch sets itself apart via its aesthetics.

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There are no two ways around it – the Yacht-Master II is huge. At 44mm across, 14mm thick, and 50mm from lug tip to lug tip, this is the largest Rolex watch outside of the Deepsea collection. Within those dimensions, the Yacht-Master II exhibits a quirky layout like none other. The regatta chronograph’s readout is entirely redundant: numbers 1-10 are included on both the dial and bezel, taking up much of the watch’s visual real estate. Taking up even more of this real estate is the bezel’s large “YACHT-MASTER II” text: something I’m confident Rolex would never put on a watch today. With the exception of the platinum-bezeled white gold configuration (worn by Aaron B. of Bachelor Nation fame), the Yacht-Master II is equipped with a bright blue ceramic bezel insert: a color that plays nicely with red accents atop a bright white dial.

How Can Rolex Improve The Yacht-Master II?

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The Yacht-Master II was released during an interesting time in horology. The late 2000s and early 2010s mark the era of the oversized watch thanks to brands like Panerai and Hublot. The Yacht-Master II is certainly emblematic of this time. It’s safe to say that, in the eyes of modern consumers (beyond just enthusiasts, in my opinion), the Yacht-Master II could most easily be improved by a size reduction. The watch’s current caliber 4161 is no larger in diameter than its base caliber 4130 (the outgoing Daytona movement): just 30mm. In other words, the Yacht-Master II’s large size is not a result of its complex mechanics, it’s a design choice. If we see an updated Yacht-Master II, I’m confident that we’ll see it in a smaller case (even if just slightly), with a movement based on the new caliber 4131.

Another potential improvement for the Yacht-Master II would be an Oysterflex bracelet. Given the Oysterflex’s popularity and adoption in similar product lines (Yacht-Master, Sky-Dweller), I suspect that Rolex would implement it in a potential future Yacht-Master II.

Will Rolex Discontinue Or Update The Yacht-Master II?

In last year’s round of predictions, I wrote “As far as the Yacht-Master II goes, discontinuation feels just as likely as an update”. The year before that, Everest predicted that the Yacht-Master II would be discontinued. I highlight past years not to double down or solidify any one position; nobody knows what Rolex will or won’t do and I’ll be the first to admit that. I highlight these past predictions to show that, for years now, the longevity of the Yacht-Master II line has been in question. While the watch holds plenty of potential for a redesign (I mean, just imagine a 40-42mm Yacht-Master II on Oysterflex), it could very well be discontinued like last year’s Milgauss. As with all “predictions”, only time will tell what Rolex actually chooses to do.