Sunday, December 30, 2012

Stainless Steel & Platinum Yacht-Master Cobalt Blue Sunray Dial!!!


...Best New Rolex Model Of 2012 Award...

Stainless Steel & Platinum Yacht-Master

Cobalt Blue Sunray Dial
[40mm: Reference 116622]


As we all prepare for 2013, I thought it would make sense to take a look back and decide what the best new Rolex model was for 2012, and my favorite is the all-new Platinum & Stainless Steel Yachtmaster with Blue Dial. Why? Rolex very, very rarely introduces all-new models, but when they originally introduced the Yacht-Master in 1992 it was a Reference 16628 in 18kt gold, with a white dial and 3135 movement, which was the same movement used in the Rolex Submariner. 


All New Blue Dial Yacht-Master Photo By Jurgen

At BaselWorld in 1999 Rolex suprised everyone when the introduced the stainless steel and platinum version. Rolex refers to the combination of Stainless Steel and Platinum as Rolesium. This all-new model was the first to bring back the timeless Maxi Markers and fat hands. Since then Rolex has slowly returned all sports models to incorporate Maxi Markers and fat hands-Thank God!!! 

The stainless and platinum Yacht-Master dial and bezel were made out of platinum but, the challenge was that the watch had no contrast. It was beautiful but it looked albino and had no pop. That all changed this rear at BaselWorld when Rolex introduced the new 40mm Reference 116622 with a Cobalt Blue Sunray dial, which is just stunning. With this new version Rolex also updated the case design, by giving the Yacht-Master a Supercase, which means, they made the lugs much thicker.


If you want to learn more about the origins of the Rolex Yacht-Master be sure to check out my story titled, "The Complete History Of The Rolex Yacht-Master."