Short on time? The 226658 is the yellow gold Yacht-Master 42, added at Watches & Wonders 2022. A 42mm case with a matt black ceramic bezel, a black dial, the Oysterflex bracelet and calibre 3235 with about 70 hours of power reserve. It's the boldest-looking Yacht-Master you can buy, and one of the most comfortable gold Rolexes on the wrist.
Backstory
The Yacht-Master 42 arrived at Baselworld 2019 in white gold, the 226659, and it was the first time the line had gone up to 42mm. Three years later Rolex gave it the yellow gold treatment. Same recipe, very different mood. Where the white gold version is almost stealthy, the 226658 makes no secret of what it's made of.
Key Details
The case is 42mm of 18k yellow gold, with a bidirectional 60-minute bezel. Its insert is matt black Cerachrom with raised, polished numerals, so the numbers catch the light while the ceramic around them stays flat and dark. The dial is plain black with Chromalight markers and a date at three under the Cyclops. Water resistance is 100 metres.
The Oysterflex is the same idea Rolex introduced on the Everose Yacht-Master in 2015: flexible metal blades inside a high-performance elastomer, with cushions along the underside to hold it steady. It closes with a yellow gold Oysterlock clasp.
The Movement
Calibre 3235 is the current Rolex automatic for date models: Chronergy escapement, about 70 hours of power reserve, and Superlative Chronometer certification. Wind it on Friday evening and it'll still be running on Monday morning.
On the Wrist
You'd expect 42mm of gold to feel heavy. On Oysterflex, it doesn't. The strap takes a lot of weight out compared with a gold bracelet, and it moulds to the wrist quickly. The black bezel and dial keep the gold in check, too. It looks expensive, but it doesn't shout as loudly as a full gold bracelet would. The honest downside: 42mm with a tall bezel is a lot of watch on a smaller wrist, so try it if you can.
Which Yacht-Master?
If you want the same look in a quieter metal, there's the white gold 226659. If you prefer something smaller and warmer, the 40mm Everose models on Oysterflex wear noticeably more compact; we've written about the 116655 that started it all. The 226658 is the one for people who want the gold to be the point.
Final Thoughts
It's a sports watch made of precious metal, on a strap you can swim in, with one of Rolex's best current movements. A bit extravagant, and a lot of fun.
Ours is a 2026 full set with the box and warranty card. See it here.
