Live from Watches and Wonders Rolex has just unveiled a new version of the Yacht Master 42 with a material never before seen on the model, namely titanium.
Anticipated by many collectors, Rolex with this new model has certainly succeeded in pleasing its enthusiasts with an unusual but successful watch (perhaps a bit late).
Let us now go on to find out all the details within this article.
RLX Titanium
To be precise, Rolex had previously created a titanium Yacht-Master but it was a one-off made for sailor Ben Ainslie.
After the public appearance of this highly exclusive model, all fans of the crowned house began to wait and hope that a similar model made of the same material might also arrive in the catalog.
As strange as Rolex’s use of titanium may seem to many, suffice it to say that the Geneva-based maison’s hallmark spirit has always been the creation of instrument watches suitable for all kinds of situations.
Titanium is therefore a material that, thanks to its lightness combined with its strength, is perfect for a watch with a sporty character that can be used in all kinds of situations.
Rolex already gave us a taste of this new material a few months ago with the new Deepsea Challenge, and even then we should have expected the material to be adopted on other models in the crowned house’s collection. Many even, hoped it might arrive on the Daytona for the 60th anniversary.
This innovative material from Rolex is called RLX titanium and is nothing more than a grade 5 titanium alloy that is distinguished by its light weight and resistance to corrosion. Used to make both the case and the iconic Oyster bracelet, titanium made it possible to reduce the weight of the watch by about one-third compared to a similar steel watch.
In order to make this type of material, which is highly difficult to work with, the fashion house had to develop specific manufacturing processes.
The features
The 42 mm diameter case of the new titanium Yacht-Master 42 features several finishes that highlight all of Rolex’s expertise in the field. Polished parts on the crown protection straps and the upper edges of the lugs contrast with the satin matte finish of the rest of the case and bracelet.
The bi-directional rotating bezel with a black ceramic “Cerachrom” disc is directly inspired by the aesthetics of the 2019 model and features shiny black raised numerals that contrast with the matte black of their surface. Thanks to these elements, the wearer of this watch with a nautical spirit can measure a duration such as, for example, the time between two buoys.
The black dial matching the bezel contrasts the white hour markers ensuring excellent readability in all situations including at night thanks to the Chromalight luminescent material also placed on the hands. The beating heart of the watch is the COSC-certified in-house caliber 3235 with a 72-hour power reserve. Completing the watch is the titanium Oyster bracelet with Oysterlock safety clasp.
What we think about it
We can only welcome this novelty from Rolex, which has once again managed to demonstrate, without distorting the faithful design of the model, its know-how in the field of innovation and development of technical solutions that are functional for everyday use and in all areas of the watch.
In true tool watch style, I think this Rolex will surely spark among the maison’s longtime fans.
Prezzo
Il prezzo di listino del Yacht‑Master 42 in titanio è di EUR 14.150,00.
Per maggiori informazioni sul mondo di Rolex vi invito a visitare il loro sito web e a consultare la nostra sezione dedicata alla maison.
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