The Rolex dedicated to sailing and built for the timing of a regatta start, the Yacht-Master II, has one of the most complicated movements of Rolex's lineup. Also nicknamed “the other Rolex chronograph,” the Yacht-Master II has a countdown timer which can be set between 1 to 10 minutes, allowing skippers to time their start on the water.
According to a recent patent filed by Rolex, the Yacht-Master II will soon get a refresh, and the new movement will be easier to use. The countdown programmation can be easily done by repetitively pushing the button at 4 o’clock while the chrono is stopped. No need to use the command bezel or to unscrew the crown. (When the button at 4 o’clock is pushed while the chrono is running, the flyback function remains as in previous models.)
The movement design stems from 2007, when the Yacht-Master II was first introduced. A decade ago, Rolex introduced the steel version of the Yacht-Master II and renamed the movement from 4160 to 4161. The reference number of the Yacht-Master II is one of the last to still start with “11”. A new Yacht-Master II that is easier to use will likely put pressure on prices for the discontinued model.