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Rolex Yacht-Master 40
Ref. 126655
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Yacht-Master arrived in 1992 as Rolex's answer to a specific question: what does a sports watch look like when the sport is sailing rather than diving? The 126655 carries that lineage forward in solid 18ct Everose gold — not plated, not capped — paired with a Cerachrom ceramic bezel whose raised, polished numerals sit against a matte surround. That combination of finishes, hard-edged legibility against warm metal, is what separates this reference from anything else in the collection. At 155.6 grams the watch is heavier than it first appears on paper, but the Oysterflex strap changes the experience considerably. A titanium-nickel blade runs inside the elastomer, keeping the case from rocking, while internal cushions lift it fractionally from the skin so the wrist breathes. The result is that a solid gold watch of this size wears without the flat, pulling weight of a gold bracelet — it sits differently, more like a strap watch should. The Calibre 3235 inside carries a 70-hour power reserve and the Chronergy escapement, which recovers more energy from each swing of the lever than a conventional geometry allows. Chromalight lume on the dial reads a distinctive blue in darkness rather than the green common elsewhere, and it holds for long enough that the colour is still there well into the night.
- Reference
- 126655
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Yacht-Master
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 11.6mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Titanium
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Bidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3235
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 48.1mm
- Power reserve
- 70 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 3 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (2,749), Automatic Watches (1,742) and Titanium Watches (172).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 40mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 70-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Rolex Yacht-Master 40 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 126655 | GC2.0-RG-05 | pfc904-1020001-100182 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £32,950 | £34,800 | £29,800 |
| Case size | 40mm | 39mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 60m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 70 hours | 50 hours | 48 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 70 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 48.1mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference new, at £32,950. There is nothing to compare it against today.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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