Yacht-Master 40 — Everose

Introduced at Baselworld in 2015, the Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 represented a major change in direction for the Yacht-Master collection. It was the first Yacht-Master produced in Rolex’s 18ct Everose gold and, more importantly, the first Rolex ever fitted with the Oysterflex bracelet. Despite its rubber-like appearance, Oysterflex is constructed around flexible metal blades overmoulded with high-performance elastomer, combining the security and durability of a metal bracelet with the comfort and sporting appearance of a rubber strap. The 116655 paired this with a 40mm Everose gold case, black Cerachrom bezel and black dial, creating the distinctive black-and-Everose aesthetic that has become one of the most recognisable configurations in the modern Rolex Professional collection. Powering the reference is the long-running Rolex calibre 3135, operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour and providing approximately 48 hours of power reserve. The 116655 remained in production until 2019, when it was succeeded by the visually similar reference 126655, which introduced the newer-generation calibre 3235. While the 116655 does not carry a widely established collector nickname, its historical importance comes from being the reference that introduced Oysterflex to Rolex, paving the way for its later use across the Daytona, Sky-Dweller and additional Yacht-Master references.