Rolex
Yacht-Master II
116680
The regatta specialist — a 44 mm mechanical countdown built for the start line.
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Overview
The Rolex Yacht-Master II reference 116680 is a 44 mm Oystersteel regatta chronograph introduced in 2013, distinguished by its programmable mechanical countdown function designed around the timing sequences of competitive sailing. Its white dial provides high legibility against the bold architecture of the case, while the in-house calibre 4161 places it firmly among the most technically ambitious movements Rolex has produced. The reference remained in production for over a decade, cementing its status as the definitive expression of the Yacht-Master II line in steel.
History
The Yacht-Master II line was launched by Rolex in 2007 as a purpose-built regatta instrument, and the 116680 arrived in 2013 as the Oystersteel variant of the 44 mm generation. Its development centred on the calibre 4161, a movement engineered entirely in-house to deliver a synchronisable countdown mechanism — a feature with no direct precedent in Rolex's catalogue. The reference attracted sustained collector interest throughout its production life, appreciated both for its sporting credentials and for the mechanical complexity concealed beneath a recognisably Rolex exterior. Production continued into 2024, making it one of the longer-running references in the modern Yacht-Master II family.
Notable points
- Calibre 4161 features a patented Ring Command bezel that physically couples the rotating bezel to the movement, allowing the countdown duration to be set and synchronised without additional pushers.
- The programmable countdown can be set to any interval between one and ten minutes, directly reflecting the variable starting sequences used in official offshore racing.
- At 44 mm in Oystersteel, the 116680 is among the larger and more architecturally assertive references in the modern Rolex sports catalogue.
- The white dial variant offers a clean, high-contrast reading surface that complements the polished and brushed finishing of the Oystersteel case and bracelet.
- A production span stretching from 2013 to 2024 gives the 116680 an unusually long run for a technically complex sports reference, underlining its acceptance within the line.
