Hands-on with the Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 (Everose gold on Rubber Strap) – Live Photos & Price

Rolex may have a new CEO, it’s not meaning that things are going to radically change for the old house. The ‘Crown’ is known for just updating and improving the collections instead of entirely changing them. For Baselworld 2015, you won’t be surprised to see that the recipe had been kept. However, one of the classics is receiving an important update. Here is the new edition of the Rolex Yacht-Master now in Everose gold, with a ceramic bezel and with a rubber strap.

The Rolex Yacht-Master was one of the few Rolexes that wasn’t updated. The rest of the collection – Submariner, Explorer II, Milgauss or Sea-Dweller – had received, at least, a small update or a more important change. However, all of them are keeping the same base and weren’t a totall renewal of the existing models. The recipe for this new Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 is exactly the same: keeping the same bases and adding the new technologies – and another important (at least for Rolex) novelty.

The first thing that had been updated on this Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 is the 40mm case, that now comes in 18K rose gold (or Everose as Rolex likes to call its own alloy). Previously available only in stainless steel (with a platinum bezel) with both a silver or a blue dial, the Rolex Yacht-Master now turns to precious metal. The case however is not totally the same than in the stainless editions. The case bands are slimmer and the lugs are more curved, to better fit the wrist. Of course, the typically Rolex fluted caseback is still here and is also executed in 18k rose gold. Water resistance is still at 100m.

The face of the watch is also updated with new materials and colors. As you’ve probably noticed, the bezel keeps its raised numerals and its 60-minute scale but it now comes in black Cerachrom (Rolex own ceramic), with numbers and graduations polished on the top while the background remains matt, in order to allow a good contrast. The dial also shares this same deep black color and comes with gold applied indexes filled with white luminous material. The rest, from the crystal (with no antireflective coating), to the cyclops or the Mercedes hands, remains the same as the stainless steel edition. The same goes for the movement as the Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 still sports the calibre 3135, a robust, in-house automatic movement with date and chronometer rated (by COSC).

The big novelty is however in the strap. For the first time, Rolex comes with a Rubber strap. That might be something quite random for most of the brands but for Rolex collectors, this is big. This black Oysterflex bracelet is made in a very soft and flexible rubber. Due to longitudinal cushion system that stabilizes the watch (two very soft rubber bands on the internal part of the strap), it feels extremely comfortable on the wrist, making the Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 a real pleasure on the wrist. This Oysterflex bracelet is fitted on an 18k Everose gold Oysterlock clasp.

However, don’t imagine having this strap on another of your Rolex, as the attachment is specific to this new edition of the Yacht-Master and won’t fit any other watch.

These Baselworld 2015 additions to the Rolex Yacht-Master are bringing some real good fresh air to a watch that used to be in the shadow of the Submariner. Without being an addict of gold watches, we have to admit that the contrast between the rose gold and the black accents – dial, bezel and strap – is pleasant and not too showy. This new Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 will be priced at 18.200 Euros (Ex. taxes).