The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 226627 is the titanium Yacht-Master on the Oyster bracelet. Rolex introduced the 42mm Yacht-Master in titanium as the lightweight alternative to the steel and gold models. The matte black Cerachrom bezel with raised polished numerals is the same Yacht-Master design language, but the titanium case and bracelet change how the watch wears. It is lighter than the steel Yacht-Master 40 by a noticeable margin. VSF Watch got the titanium finish, the bezel action, and the movement right.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Factory | VSF Watch |
| Reference | 226627 (Yacht-Master 42, titanium, black dial) |
| Movement | Dandong 3235 automatic, 1:1 clone, 72-hour power reserve |
| Case dimensions | 42mm diameter |
| Material | Titanium alloy, satin finish with polished chamfers |
| Bezel | Bidirectional rotatable matte black Cerachrom ceramic with raised polished numerals |
| Crystal | Sapphire with cyclops lens and AR coating |
| Dial | Intense black with Chromalight luminous markers |
| Bracelet | Titanium Oyster with Oysterlock safety clasp |
The titanium. The 226627 is the first Yacht-Master in titanium. Rolex put titanium in the deep-sea Sea-Dweller first and then brought it to the Yacht-Master. The case and bracelet are both titanium with a satin brushed finish and polished chamfers along the lug shoulders. The titanium is darker grey than steel and lighter on the wrist. At 42mm the watch has presence but the weight does not fatigue over a full day. VSF matched the titanium grain and the darker metal tone correctly.
The bezel. Matte black Cerachrom ceramic with raised polished numerals. The numerals are mirror-polished and sit above the sandblasted ceramic background. The bezel rotates bidirectionally with smooth, precise clicks. Ceramic means the matte black finish will not fade or scratch. The raised numerals catch light and give the bezel the same visual depth as the gold Yacht-Master bezels, just in monochrome. VSF got the ceramic finish and the numeral polish right.
The dial. Matte black with applied Chromalight indices and the broad Mercedes hands. The lume glows blue in the dark. The "YACHT-MASTER" text is printed in white. The date at 3 sits under the cyclops lens. The cyclops magnification is correct and the date is centered. No red text on this reference. The dial is black, white, and grey. Monochrome across the board. VSF's dial print quality and lume application are clean.
The case. 42mm in titanium. Slightly larger than the 40mm steel Yacht-Master. The case has a satin brushed finish with polished bevels. The Triplock crown has crown guards and screws down for water resistance. At roughly 13mm thick, the case wears similarly to a Submariner in size but noticeably lighter. The titanium construction is the defining physical difference between this and the steel Yacht-Master references.
The movement. Dandong 3235 automatic with a 72-hour power reserve. The 3235 is Rolex's current-generation caliber. The power reserve is the main advantage over the older 3135. Three days off the wrist without stopping. The movement has a blue hairspring and the correct shock absorber layout. Winding is smooth and the date changes instantaneously at midnight. VSF's 3235 is the correct movement for this reference.
The bracelet. Titanium Oyster with a satin finish and an Oysterlock clasp. The clasp has a safety catch and an Easylink extension for roughly 5mm of quick adjustment. The titanium bracelet is lighter than the steel Oyster and the darker grey tone matches the case. The satin finish hides surface marks better than polished center links. Strap changes are possible but the titanium Oyster bracelet is the correct pairing for this reference. Rubber or sailcloth would work if you plan to use the watch on the water.