ROLEX YACHT-MASTER REF 16622
The reference 16622 YachtMaster is made in SS and Platinum is just a little different and a unique Rolex watch.
It looks a little different than a diver watch and it´s a little big to call dress watch. In my opinion you can use it to both.
It have the TripLock crown who is good enough down to 1220 meters but because the
YachtMaster is not a diver watch it´s only rated to 100 meters. The TripLock crown
get a nicer balance and it´s easier to handle than the TvinLock crown when the watch
have crown guards.
The crown guards have a more rounded shape than the Submariner.
YachtMaster was the first Rolex with the big index´s, later called MaxiDial at the Submariner
with green bezel insert. The dial is made of Platinum and the YachtMaster is written in red.
YachtMaster even have a little bigger hands than the other Rolex´s except the Submariner
with MaxiDial. The red second hand just stand out in a nice way.
The bezel and the insert is made in Platinum with raised mirror polished numbers.
YachtMaster have SEL (solid end links) and the center links are mirror polished.
The center links are solid and not hollow like they use to be, so that means the bracelet
now are just so good as a Invicta bracelet. LOL
The clasp is a little different too, the raised crown is at the secure lock and not at the clasp like it use to be.
The YachtMaster even have a unique case with a more curved lugs than the other Rolex case.
In my opinion this looks really nice and give the case a better balance.
The backside of the lugs looks different too, notice the end of the lug.
The SuperLuminova do a great work as it use to do.
Inside the watch it looks just like it use to do, cal 3135 not looks like a Patek but it will serve you for many years.
This watch is awesome in my opinion and it looks better in the real world because it´s hard to get it justice with a camera.
Now it´s time to put a Daytona clasp to my Yacht-Master.
Here is the parts.
And the extra micro adjustment link.
Mmmm nice.
Ok we open it up and take a look.
The solid part who don´t looks like a regular clasp.
And the extra springbar who secure the extra lock.
Ok I have to pull off the orginal clasp at the Yacht-Master so we can compare then
side by side.
Then I have to put it on and I have to pull off a link at the bracelet and put it at the
other side to get the clasp in the center of the bracelet. From the start the removable
links at the bracelet only is at one side. Here is the result.
The secure lock feels real smooth and it looks real nice and clean when it´s closed.
Platinum or not?
There have been a lot of discussions about the SS/Platinum YACHT-MASTER
if some of the parts is solid Platinum or not. Then I decide to get a little
deeper at this topic and try to clear things out.
Here is what I got at the table.
So now it´s just to pull off the bezel.
This was a tricky one.
But hard work will win.
So we take a close look at the bezel and it should be 2 pieces.
Here is the backside.
Closer.
Closer.
And even closer.
I talk to a guy at Rolex Geneva at the phone and he told me the bezel is
made in 2 pieces but only Rolex can separate them with a special machine
when they refresh the bezel. The outer bezel is mirror polished and the
insert is blasted with polished numbers and sticks. Both parts are made
in solid Platinum but I can´t find a hallmark. Maybe it´s one the inserts
backside but that will I not try to check, it´s just a guess.
Here I weight the complete bezel and it says 10 grams.
And a Submariner bezel in SS says 4 grams.
And both says 14 grams.
Now we have to get inside the watch and made some more observations.
Caliber 3135 just as it should be.
So we get a little closer.
Ans pull off the hands.
No hallmars here either some says it´s Platinum but I will say white gold.
And I will say it´s whithe gold at the index surrounds at the dial too, but
I can be wrong with that.
So we pull off the dial too.
And the backcase says ROLEX 2 and PT 950
The guy at Rolex says the dial have only a Platinum surface but I will
say that is not correct. The dial is made in solid Platinum in my opinion.
If I should guess so have the guy mixed things up here and maybe he
have thinking of rhodium instead of rolesium. Rolex watches with
a rhodium dial is not a solid dial, it´s only a rhodium surface.
At the next project we start to pull off the backcase at the Yachtmaster.
Then we start to do some serious work.
Out with the heart.
And next step is to pull out a new one. Parachrome, me like.
There we go with the balance at the balance bridge.
It looks ok to me.
After a perfect adjustment it's spot on.
So I have to pull out a glassback so I can enjoy the movement.
And finally we start to pull off the bracelet.
Then the backcase
After that so will the crown and the rotor go off
There we go.
Now we will pull off the hands.
The old fashion way.
There we go.
Then the dial.
And what did we found.
Some new parts, he are very careful, he even use the loupe when he open the envelop. LOL
Me like.
I guess this will be very nice.
Or what?
Back with the dial.
And the hands.
Line up perfect.
And the final result.
This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2013-02-07 15:34:36 This message has been edited by amanico on 2013-02-10 02:11:14