Make: Rolex
Model: Yacht-Master 40
Reference: 16622
Year: 2010
Movement: Automatic Rolex Calibre 3135, Certified Chronometer
Box & Papers: Complete Original Rolex Box & Papers
Case: 40mm Stainless Steel and Platinum (Rolesium)
Dial: Original Platinum Dial with Textured Finish and Luminous Hour Markers
Bracelet / Strap: Original Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Bracelet
Condition: Excellent Pre-Owned Condition
Workshop: Mechanically Checked, Timegrapher Tested and Running Within COSC Parameters
Warranty: 12 Month RHW Assured Warranty
Rolex Yacht-Master 16622. The Most Underrated Rolex Sports Watch?
The Iconic Legacy
Some Rolex sports watches need no introduction. The Submariner, GMT-Master and Daytona have spent decades at the centre of the collecting world. Yet there is another Rolex sports watch that, in our opinion, deserves considerably more attention.
The Yacht-Master.
First introduced in 1992, the Yacht-Master was Rolex’s more refined interpretation of a nautical sports watch. It shared the robust Oyster construction and sporting credentials of the Submariner but introduced a more luxurious approach to case finishing, dial design and precious metals.
In 1999, Rolex unveiled the reference 16622, introducing a combination it called Rolesium: stainless steel paired with platinum. The watch featured a solid platinum bezel with raised, polished numerals and a distinctive platinum dial unlike almost anything else in the Rolex sports collection.
It was an inspired combination. Understated at first glance, yet full of character when examined closely.
This 2010 example belongs to the final years of the original 16622 generation, before the reference was replaced by the 116622 in 2012. Its original platinum dial is arguably the defining feature of this discontinued model and one of the reasons we have always been particularly fond of it.
Why You’ll Love It
The dial is where this Yacht-Master really comes alive.
Unlike the smooth, glossy finishes found on most Rolex sports watches, the original platinum dial has a distinctive textured, almost granular appearance. Its fine metallic surface catches and reflects light in an extraordinary way, shifting from a subtle silvery grey to a bright, shimmering platinum depending on the angle and surrounding light.
Photographs rarely capture it. It’s one of those watches that genuinely needs to be seen in person to appreciate the character of the dial.
Then there’s the bezel. Manufactured from platinum, its sandblasted background contrasts beautifully with the raised, polished numerals and markers. The result is a wonderfully tactile, three-dimensional appearance that sets the Yacht-Master apart from the ceramic and aluminium bezels found across much of the Rolex sports collection.
The 40mm Oyster case is equally appealing. Its softer, more rounded profile and polished finishing give the watch a refined presence on the wrist, while the original stainless steel Oyster bracelet provides the familiar comfort and solidity expected of a Rolex sports watch.
Inside sits the celebrated Rolex Calibre 3135, one of the brand’s most respected automatic movements, known for its reliability, durability and straightforward servicing.
This particular example dates to 2010 and is presented in excellent pre-owned condition, accompanied by its complete original Rolex box and papers.
It has also been mechanically checked in our workshop and tested on a timegrapher, where it is performing within COSC chronometer parameters. Importantly, we have not represented the watch as recently serviced, but its current mechanical performance is excellent.
For us, the 16622 represents something rather special: a discontinued Rolex sports watch that combines genuine precious-metal detailing, beautiful proportions and a dial with a character entirely its own.
Iconic Status
The Yacht-Master has always occupied an interesting position within the Rolex collection.
It has never attracted quite the same attention as the Submariner, GMT-Master or Daytona, despite sharing much of their engineering heritage and offering something arguably more distinctive in its design.
And that’s precisely what makes the original platinum-dial 16622 so appealing.
It represents an era when Rolex was willing to experiment with different textures, materials and finishes while retaining the classic proportions that made its sports watches so successful.
The original platinum dial is particularly significant. When Rolex updated the Yacht-Master collection, the distinctive textured platinum dial was eventually discontinued, leaving the 16622 as one of the most recognisable expressions of the original Rolesium concept.
There is also something wonderfully balanced about its design. It has the sporting presence of a Submariner but with a softer, more elegant appearance. The platinum detailing adds luxury without making the watch ostentatious, while the 40mm case remains a particularly versatile size.
From a personal perspective, this is one of my favourite modern Rolex sports watches, and certainly one of the most underrated.
I have always enjoyed buying the platinum-dial Yacht-Master because I believe it offers something that many more celebrated Rolex sports models do not: a genuinely distinctive design, precious-metal detailing and a wonderfully refined appearance, all without the attention that surrounds some of the brand’s better-known references.
It is a watch that deserves to be appreciated on its own merits rather than compared with the Submariner.
For anyone who appreciates the quieter side of Rolex sports watchmaking, the original Yacht-Master 16622 is a compelling choice.
Ready to Make It Yours?
Visit us at our home inside Martin & Martin, 30 High Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey.
This 2010 Rolex Yacht-Master 40, reference 16622, is presented in excellent pre-owned condition, featuring its original textured platinum dial, solid platinum bezel and original stainless steel Oyster bracelet.
It is accompanied by its complete original Rolex box and papers.
The watch has been mechanically checked and tested on our timegrapher, confirming that it is currently running within COSC chronometer parameters.
Every watch is supplied to our RHW Assured standard: Authenticated, Prepared, Documented and Guaranteed. It will be presented with its RHW Assured warranty card, RHW Assured swing tag and branded black suede RHW travel pouch, and is covered by our 12 Month RHW Assured Warranty.
Contact us for a secure payment link to pay by any major debit or credit card or Apple Pay
Buy online via our website using PayPal or PayPal Guest. No PayPal account is required and all major debit and credit cards are accepted
Bank transfers
Cash payments welcomed by arrangement
Apple Pay and all major debit and credit cards accepted in store and by private appointment
Book a private appointment via our website
One of my personal favourites from the modern Rolex sports collection. The original platinum-dial Yacht-Master combines everything I appreciate about Rolex: thoughtful design, exceptional materials and a sense of understated luxury. A beautifully presented, complete-set example of a discontinued reference that deserves far more recognition.
Make: Rolex
Model: Yacht-Master 40
Reference: 16622
Year: 2010
Movement: Automatic Rolex Calibre 3135, Certified Chronometer
Box & Papers: Complete Original Rolex Box & Papers
Case: 40mm Stainless Steel and Platinum (Rolesium)
Dial: Original Platinum Dial with Textured Finish and Luminous Hour Markers
Bracelet / Strap: Original Rolex Stainless Steel Oyster Bracelet
Condition: Excellent Pre-Owned Condition
Workshop: Mechanically Checked, Timegrapher Tested and Running Within COSC Parameters
Warranty: 12 Month RHW Assured Warranty
Rolex Yacht-Master 16622. The Most Underrated Rolex Sports Watch?
The Iconic Legacy
Some Rolex sports watches need no introduction. The Submariner, GMT-Master and Daytona have spent decades at the centre of the collecting world. Yet there is another Rolex sports watch that, in our opinion, deserves considerably more attention.
The Yacht-Master.
First introduced in 1992, the Yacht-Master was Rolex’s more refined interpretation of a nautical sports watch. It shared the robust Oyster construction and sporting credentials of the Submariner but introduced a more luxurious approach to case finishing, dial design and precious metals.
In 1999, Rolex unveiled the reference 16622, introducing a combination it called Rolesium: stainless steel paired with platinum. The watch featured a solid platinum bezel with raised, polished numerals and a distinctive platinum dial unlike almost anything else in the Rolex sports collection.
It was an inspired combination. Understated at first glance, yet full of character when examined closely.
This 2010 example belongs to the final years of the original 16622 generation, before the reference was replaced by the 116622 in 2012. Its original platinum dial is arguably the defining feature of this discontinued model and one of the reasons we have always been particularly fond of it.
Why You’ll Love It
The dial is where this Yacht-Master really comes alive.
Unlike the smooth, glossy finishes found on most Rolex sports watches, the original platinum dial has a distinctive textured, almost granular appearance. Its fine metallic surface catches and reflects light in an extraordinary way, shifting from a subtle silvery grey to a bright, shimmering platinum depending on the angle and surrounding light.
Photographs rarely capture it. It’s one of those watches that genuinely needs to be seen in person to appreciate the character of the dial.
Then there’s the bezel. Manufactured from platinum, its sandblasted background contrasts beautifully with the raised, polished numerals and markers. The result is a wonderfully tactile, three-dimensional appearance that sets the Yacht-Master apart from the ceramic and aluminium bezels found across much of the Rolex sports collection.
The 40mm Oyster case is equally appealing. Its softer, more rounded profile and polished finishing give the watch a refined presence on the wrist, while the original stainless steel Oyster bracelet provides the familiar comfort and solidity expected of a Rolex sports watch.
Inside sits the celebrated Rolex Calibre 3135, one of the brand’s most respected automatic movements, known for its reliability, durability and straightforward servicing.
This particular example dates to 2010 and is presented in excellent pre-owned condition, accompanied by its complete original Rolex box and papers.
It has also been mechanically checked in our workshop and tested on a timegrapher, where it is performing within COSC chronometer parameters. Importantly, we have not represented the watch as recently serviced, but its current mechanical performance is excellent.
For us, the 16622 represents something rather special: a discontinued Rolex sports watch that combines genuine precious-metal detailing, beautiful proportions and a dial with a character entirely its own.
Iconic Status
The Yacht-Master has always occupied an interesting position within the Rolex collection.
It has never attracted quite the same attention as the Submariner, GMT-Master or Daytona, despite sharing much of their engineering heritage and offering something arguably more distinctive in its design.
And that’s precisely what makes the original platinum-dial 16622 so appealing.
It represents an era when Rolex was willing to experiment with different textures, materials and finishes while retaining the classic proportions that made its sports watches so successful.
The original platinum dial is particularly significant. When Rolex updated the Yacht-Master collection, the distinctive textured platinum dial was eventually discontinued, leaving the 16622 as one of the most recognisable expressions of the original Rolesium concept.
There is also something wonderfully balanced about its design. It has the sporting presence of a Submariner but with a softer, more elegant appearance. The platinum detailing adds luxury without making the watch ostentatious, while the 40mm case remains a particularly versatile size.
From a personal perspective, this is one of my favourite modern Rolex sports watches, and certainly one of the most underrated.
I have always enjoyed buying the platinum-dial Yacht-Master because I believe it offers something that many more celebrated Rolex sports models do not: a genuinely distinctive design, precious-metal detailing and a wonderfully refined appearance, all without the attention that surrounds some of the brand’s better-known references.
It is a watch that deserves to be appreciated on its own merits rather than compared with the Submariner.
For anyone who appreciates the quieter side of Rolex sports watchmaking, the original Yacht-Master 16622 is a compelling choice.
Ready to Make It Yours?
Visit us at our home inside Martin & Martin, 30 High Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey.
This 2010 Rolex Yacht-Master 40, reference 16622, is presented in excellent pre-owned condition, featuring its original textured platinum dial, solid platinum bezel and original stainless steel Oyster bracelet.
It is accompanied by its complete original Rolex box and papers.
The watch has been mechanically checked and tested on our timegrapher, confirming that it is currently running within COSC chronometer parameters.
Every watch is supplied to our RHW Assured standard: Authenticated, Prepared, Documented and Guaranteed. It will be presented with its RHW Assured warranty card, RHW Assured swing tag and branded black suede RHW travel pouch, and is covered by our 12 Month RHW Assured Warranty.
Contact us for a secure payment link to pay by any major debit or credit card or Apple Pay
Buy online via our website using PayPal or PayPal Guest. No PayPal account is required and all major debit and credit cards are accepted
Bank transfers
Cash payments welcomed by arrangement
Apple Pay and all major debit and credit cards accepted in store and by private appointment
Book a private appointment via our website
One of my personal favourites from the modern Rolex sports collection. The original platinum-dial Yacht-Master combines everything I appreciate about Rolex: thoughtful design, exceptional materials and a sense of understated luxury. A beautifully presented, complete-set example of a discontinued reference that deserves far more recognition.
