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EDITOR'S NOTE: We recorded this video last year during the initial wave of COVID-19. Back then, the under-the-radar presence of the Rolex Yacht-Master in white gold made it seem like the perfect luxury watch for those troubled times when signs of ostentation just didn't feel quite right. Somehow the video then slipped through the cracks and we never published it. But as the pandemic continues to persist with most of Australia still locked down, in 2021, the Yacht-Master seems more relevant than ever.

There's no denying that this has become a top year for athleisure, after all, how many of you actually work from home wearing a suit? So while comfort is the name of the game, the desperate situation that many of us currently find ourselves in due to COVID, means this is also a time for a watch that whispers stealth wealth rather than conspicuous bling.  Admittedly, Rolex wouldn’t usually be the first name to pop up to fit this context. But as you’ll see in this video, the 18K white gold Yacht-Master masterfully fits the bill.

As one of the most discreet models from Rolex, it has always intrigued me with its combination of the superlative glitz of white gold and black rubber alchemy thanks to the Oysterflex bracelet (don’t be calling it a strap…). This is a monochrome gold tool worth a closer look, Spoiler alert; you might want to hide that credit card where you can’t find it.

Gold on rubber? This is something we were not expecting five years ago until the smash debut of Rolex’s  Everose gold 40mm, one of my absolute favourites from the Crown. With this flex move, Rolex captured the zeitgeist of a more relaxed style to further secure the attention of a younger audience.

With this 42mm white gold Yacht-Master on a black Oysterflex, the 226659 reference is simply more of a good thing. Ironically making a much stronger impact by virtue of keeping it quiet, and that’s why I might want to marry it. Fitted with the subdued matte black Cerachrom bezel insert of the red gold version, here the white gold is almost ironic stealth, which appeals tremendously to me. To be fair, I do notice the particular weight and bright twinkle of white gold too, I’m only human...

Thanks to its monochrome look, black Oysterflex and dark bezel, it has an underplayed, distinct tool watch vibe. On the wrist, the innate comfort belies its 42mm size, a well known feature of the ergonomic Oyster case. The feeling of precious metal remains a private pleasure,  with the Oysterflex bracelet imbuing it with a soft embrace that surprises in more ways than one.

The contrasts work brilliantly, with the crisp white print and dazzle of the 18k white gold case being a sharp contrast to the black elastomer bracelet. The white gold applied indices are still the sharpest ones in Switzerland, with the large triangle at 12 feeling as balanced as ever against the hour markers, sheer class. The quietly bold confidence of the Yacht-Master might even push you into wearing it for the activities the Professional series were created for, mark my words. Whether it be hoisting the mainsail in a rainstorm or snorkelling in the shallows, this might be a solid 42mm chunk of gold, but it's also one tough tool and those crown guards are there for a reason, mate. Just don’t call it a "beater", not even ironically. I mean it.



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