[Rolex] A thorough comparison of the old and new Yacht-Master II!

The Yacht-Master II , introduced as a professional model for yacht racers, is the world's first Rolex complication model equipped with a programmable countdown function " regatta chronograph " with mechanical memory, which can be set to any time between 10 minutes and 1 minute to match the start time, the most important time in a yacht race.

Positioned as a higher-end model of the Yacht-Master, it was initially only available in high-end materials such as platinum and gold, but in 2013, the Ref. 116680, which used stainless steel, was added to the lineup. This successfully gained it great popularity both in Japan and overseas, and it was later redesigned to release the new Yacht-Master II.

This time, we will compare the old and new models of the relatively easy-to-get SS (stainless steel) "Ref. 116680" from the Rolex Yacht-Master II series! If you want a Yacht-Master II but are unsure which model to buy, or if you want to know the history of the Yacht-Master II, this is a must-read, so be sure to read until the end.

* Regatta Chronograph: Chronograph function / 10-minute to 1-minute countdown measurement function

【table of contents】

• ◆ Introduction of the Yacht-Master II "Ref. 116680"
• ◆ Spec comparison of the old and new models of "Ref.116680"
  • ❶ [Needle][Needle]

    Hour hand shape

    Old Model	Bar Type
    Current model	Benz Needle

    The most obvious change is that the hour hand has been changed from a bar type to a Benz hand. The Benz hand is named after the three-pointed star logo of the German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, as it resembles that shape.

    Needle Color

    Old Model	Blue
    Current model	Silver

    The hour, minute, and second hands have been changed from the same blue as the bezel to the same silver as the case, giving the watch a more unified look.

    ❷【Index】

    Index border color

    Old Model	Blue
    Current model	Silver

    The color of the index border has been changed from "blue" to "silver", and the hands and indexes have become silver, making the "red" countdown minute hand stand out even more. In addition, the stainless steel and pink gold combination model "Ref.116681" and the yellow gold "Ref.116688" have also changed the color of the chronograph second hand to the same color as the hour and minute hands.

    Index shape at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock

    Old Model	12 o'clock: square, 6 o'clock: square
    Current model	12 o'clock: Triangle, 6 o'clock: Rectangle

    The shape of the indexes at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock has been changed. The indexes on the current model are larger, so the area of ​​the luminous material is also larger, making it easier to check the time even in dark places.
    summary

    What did you think?

    This time, we compared the old and new models of the Rolex Yacht-Master II, and I hope you can see the differences between them.

    The Yacht-Master II has two different charms: the old model makes the most of the blue color, which is no exaggeration to say is the model color of the Yacht-Master II, and the current model uses silver color in key areas and has changed the shape of the hands and indexes to improve visibility.

    This time we focused on the SS (stainless steel) model, but there are also other attractive models available in platinum, gold, and combination, so be sure to find one that suits your taste.

監修者のプロフィール

コミット銀座

2015年の会社設立以来、"高く買い、安く売る"をモットーに、顧客第一主義を徹底。価格面におけるメリットのみならず、お客様が安心して買い物出来る環境づくり、お客様に最適な時計の提案も実現。
徐々にお客様からの信頼も得て、多くの顧客様を抱えることに成功。高い知識を要するヴィンテージロレックスや、パテックフィリップを始めとするハイエンド商材の取り扱いを得意とする、新進気鋭の高級腕時計専門店。

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