Rolex doesn't revive discontinued references unless it has something definitive to say. At Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026, the Crown said it loudly: the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II is back, and it is meaningfully better, at least mechanically and horologically speaking. First launched in 2007 in yellow gold, then in steel in 2013, and pulled from the catalog in 2024, the regatta countdown chronograph watch returns as references 126680 in Oystersteel and 126688 in 18K yellow gold, both with a redesigned massive 44 mm case, a new movement, and a rethought interface that replaces the previous bezel with a more traditional diving-elapsed-time rotating bezel. Below is a picture of the previous reference so you can compare the new look against the old one.
Things to Know About the Watch and How it Works
The core premise of the watch as a whole hasn't changed: this is still a purpose-built 44 mm tool watch regatta chronograph designed to time the critical countdown sequence before a race start. What has changed is almost everything around it. The countdown is now programmed exclusively through the lower pusher, while the upper pusher starts and stops the timing function—no more crown-based programming sequence. Both references share the matte white lacquer dial and blue Cerachrom bezel, which makes for an unusually cohesive pairing across steel and gold. A separate hands-on review of the 18K yellow gold reference 126688 will follow.
More consequentially, the countdown minutes and second hands now sweep counterclockwise, so the remaining time reads intuitively as the red pointer and red seconds’ hands wind back toward zero rather than advance. The countdown scale has been relocated to an internal flange graduated from 10 to 0 minutes, with half-minute intervals marked by red triangles, offering a much cleaner visual solution than the previous generation's overtly crowded dial. The new matte white lacquer dial reduces glare in bright marine conditions.
The case proportions have been refined throughout: the middle case has been restyled with domed sides, the Oyster bracelet has been widened slightly to a 22 mm lug width, and the Oysterlock safety clasp has been slimmed down. The yellow gold reference 126688 adds Rolex's patented ceramic inserts inside the bracelet links to reduce wear and improve flexibility—a detail that matters on a watch meant to be used. The thickness of the watch is now 13.90 mm—0.6 mm thinner than its predecessor, but still considerably thick—, making it slightly more manageable on the wrist.
Perhaps the most notable change at a glance is the blue Cerachrom bezel—notably without the “Yacht-Master II” text of previous generations and in a richer blue hue—that reads more like a dive watch than a regatta timer, lending this reference a more versatile aesthetic than its predecessor. The outer flange is graduated for the first 30 minutes, with the final 30 seconds of the countdown readable in finer detail via the chronograph center seconds hand when the bezel is in the neutral position. The bezel also allows the wearer to easily measure time intervals—for example, the sailing time between two buoys.
The water resistance remains at 100 meters, and the 2026 model debuts Rolex's strengthened Superlative Chronometer certification, which now includes testing criteria for magnetism, reliability, and sustainability in addition to the established precision and waterproofness standards.
The Movement
Powering the new Rolex Yacht-Master II OysterSteel ref. 126680 is the new calibre 4162 which replaces calibre 4161, and it is the reason the redesign was possible. The new in-house movement powers the programmable countdown with mechanical memory and on-the-fly synchronization, preserving the core functionality of the Ring Command system while dramatically simplifying how the sailor interacts with it.
The bridges carry Rolex's Côtes de Genève finishing, and the skeletonized oscillating weight is visible to watchmakers through the hermetically screwed case back.
On the Wrist & Price
On the wrist, the watch wears quite large and feels almost as big as a Deepsea. On a 7.25-inch wrist, the 44 mm case wears exactly as intended—substantial without being overwhelming—, the proportions landing closer to a serious tool watch than a showpiece. The blue Cerachrom bezel dominates the visual presence—we think the diving bezel has no place on this watch, and somehow the bezel specific to the Yacht-Master II should’ve been redesigned—, along with the white lacquer dial reading with remarkable clarity even at a glance. The red accents on the steel version really complete the sporty look.
The wider Oyster bracelet feels well-balanced against the case, and the overall wrist presence is assertive but never awkward. The Easylink 5 mm comfort extension is a practical touch on a watch designed to be worn over a sailing jacket, and one that collectors who wear over a shirt cuff will appreciate equally.
This is the most technically compelling Rolex in recent memory outside of a Daytona, and the most significant single-model overhaul the brand has shown in years.
Sticker Price USD 20,300 USD and USD 57,800. For more information, visit Rolex.
