The Dive Watch Connection

i'm no rolex aficionado, but i have "rented" several vintage and new sport models---all stainless sub/explorer variants---over the last few years.
i find myself intrigued by the rose gold yachtmaster and am a bit perplexed as to why it has not been better received (seemingly?).
perhaps it is the very dichotomies that attract me to the watch that repel others?
i love the fact that rolex chose to pair the rose gold case with matte ceramic bezel and matte rubber strap. it's more tool than the 116600 frankly. not sure i'd be as smitten with the same specs in a stainless case version, because that would seem somewhat predictable and less quirky.
it's very high on my list as a daily and if i had surplus watch funds currently i would already own it. love the idea of a gold case watch on a rubber strap as a daily.

discuss please...

If money was no object and gold fit with my lifestyle (and my hypothetical yacht), that or the DD with green dial would be my precious metal choice. I've not handled the rubber oysterflex in person, but I think it's perfect on that watch. It's a beautiful piece for sure IMO.

And since we need a pic, here is one from the Dink:

Tapatalk double, dammit.

That's my exit watch. Way out of my price range, though.

I like that one a lot. If I were going to get a gold diver-esque watch on a rubber strap it would be this one. Regarding it's "unpopularity", I haven't seen it. It's a niche watch by design and it's still the most liked watch in the YM and YM2 ranges.

I love it. I keep thinking of flipping the AP 15400 and PAM 422 to buy one. I just can't part with the AP so it'll take a few years to save up to get there.

I love the blue, but it's the only YM I like. The reason it's not more popular is the immense amount of competition in the price range.

If I were going gold sport watch, there's a number of other options I'd go for before this. And likewise, if I just wanted to spend $15-20k on a watch, there are many others I'd choose over this.

But then again, I think I have fairly particular tastes.

The bezel also looks a thousand times better than the usual too shiny ceramic stuff. I wish they could offer this design with contrast colored numbers and a lume pip - it would greatly improve the Sub.

Matt stealth edited his post! It's "cerachrom" which I guess means ceramic. One thing about Rolex, they don't tend to produce watches that wear poorly. Kudos to Rolex for not using an awful fitted end link rubber strap. I hate those.

Yeah, originally thought it was a rubber bezel also, but reread Jason's OP. Standard YM bezel doesn't wear nicely, but matte ceramic should be nice. I agree they should use it in all their sport bezels.

You're totally correct, the Pt bezel is not a robust design and it's apparently a multistep nightmare to refinish. It has to be polished in various ways, then the high polish areas need to be masked so the whole thing can be media blasted.

thanks for all the thoughts and opinions.
i guess my love of it makes my taste niche or quirky then?
as for the value proposition, i get it doesn't with an oyster bracelet, but i'd still way rather have $17k cash in this than $13k in the newly revised seadweller anniversary (used prices and they will settle, but not by much methinks).
that said, in theory i loved the ss aquanaut, but in practice i couldn't quite reconcile a "luxury sport" watch of that price on a designated rubber strap, but methinks the rose gold might just make it work? i still swoon when i see the rg aquanaut on rubber but that's a much different price point...

Patek "sports" watches are a little silly when the seals last a year and a half and the movement isn't particularly robust.

Can I say I don't like it
And honestly if this was a random watch you guys would pick it apart. And the guy who designed a U1Pro calls it an exit watch, lol Chris
Matte bezel with no lume pip or contrasting track numbers
Genital wart over the date
Rubber strap only at that price
Polished surfaces (not even talking about yellow color)
To each is own, IMHO

Panerai7 wrote:Can I say I don't like it
And honestly if this was a random watch you guys would pick it apart. And the guy who designed a U1Pro calls it an exit watch, lol Chris

I've always had a thing for rose gold. Can't explain it.

CGSshorty wrote:

Panerai7 wrote:Can I say I don't like it
And honestly if this was a random watch you guys would pick it apart. And the guy who designed a U1Pro calls it an exit watch, lol Chris

I've always had a thing for rose gold. Can't explain it.

For me it's the opposite. I've never liked anything but WG, but this combo sings to me. My wife and tried them on in Vegas and both loved them. I can't stop dreaming of owning one.

The solid gold models on strap never retain value. This should be a good buy in a couple years.

CGSshorty wrote:

Panerai7 wrote:Can I say I don't like it
And honestly if this was a random watch you guys would pick it apart. And the guy who designed a U1Pro calls it an exit watch, lol Chris

I've always had a thing for rose gold. Can't explain it.

Then you'll fit in well in Florida.

I know the idea of an exit watch will never work for me, but I'd love to try the RG YM. I think it is stunning. Although there's a ton of competition in that price bracket, I'd take it over a Patek any day unless I was absolutely loaded and didn't care about high and frequent costs associated with servicing.

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art, i agree on the singular point criticisms, but there's something about the sum of all those flawed parts being much more compelling as a whole.
and it does work much better on the wrist in person than in pictures. it is much more subtle and the rose gold is very under the radar from most angles.
great point about value retention jpc, i see the rose gold daytonas on croc for less than this rgym currently, so maybe it drops in price to the point where it is more compelling as a beater some day

The strap Daytona is really appealing to me.

As gold watches go, I like it. But I agree with Dave, it sells a lifestyle.
I know that pretty much all watches (especially Rolex) sell a lifestyle, but seems that this does it in spades, don't know why exactly, but that's how I feel.
To me, that would look great when chilling on your yacht, and it would be part of a rotation of watches.. I'm thinking AP, Sea-Dweller etc.

Why not go for it, wear it for a few months and see how it goes. BTW, what does one of these run out at?

I've actually seen that one in the flesh (wife's uncle owns one) and it's an awesome watch, would definitely rock one.

I can understand the dislike to rose or yellow gold, but since I was little I've loved the two tone, blue dial Sub

I want one!

David SW has one for 19,800


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So $17,800 is a good price.