Rolex Yacht-Master II 126680 specifications
The case stays at 44 mm, now measured at 13.9 mm thick. What changes is how you use it: the countdown lives in the pushers, and the bezel becomes an ordinary 60-minute timing ring.
| Reference | 126680 (also 126688) |
|---|---|
| Collection | Yacht-Master |
| Status | Current production |
| Introduced | 2026 |
| Predecessor | 116680 |
| Case diameter | 44 mm |
| Case thickness | 13.9 mm |
| Case material | Oystersteel (126688: 18k yellow gold) |
| Bezel | Bidirectional 60-minute rotatable, blue Cerachrom insert |
| Dial options | White matte lacquer with regatta scale on flange |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Calibre | 4162 |
| Movement | Automatic, column-wheel and vertical-clutch regatta chronograph; countdown programmed via pushers (max 10 minutes) with mechanical memory; Superlative Chronometer |
| Power reserve | 72 hours |
| Water resistance | 100 m |
| Bracelet / strap | Oyster in Oystersteel (126688: 18k yellow gold) |
| Retail price (US) | US$20,300 |
| Retail price (Malaysia) | RM87,700 |
Specifications checked against Rolex and independent references, October 2026. MYR figures marked ≈ are converted at 4.08 MYR per USD.
History and reference evolution
Rolex discontinued the steel 116680 in 2024. For two years there was no Yacht-Master II in steel, and many assumed the regatta model was finished. Then, at Watches & Wonders in April 2026, Rolex launched the Yacht-Master II 126680 in Oystersteel and the 126688 in yellow gold.
Goodbye to Ring Command
The older watch used a mechanical link between bezel and movement. You turned the bezel, set the time with the crown and locked it. It worked, but it confused many owners. So the 126680 drops that system. Instead, the pusher at 4 o'clock sets the countdown length, up to ten minutes. The pusher at 2 o'clock starts and stops it. Pressing 4 during a countdown resynchronises it on the fly.
The bezel is now a standard bidirectional 60-minute bezel with a blue Cerachrom insert. That makes the watch more useful day to day, because the bezel can time anything.
Calibre 4162
The new calibre 4162 uses a column wheel and vertical clutch, and it runs at 28,800 vph with a 72-hour reserve. It also brings the Chronergy escapement and Rolex's Superlative Chronometer certification. Reports from the launch suggest the core architecture is close to the old 4161, with much of the regatta work sitting on the dial side.
A redesigned dial
The dial is white matte lacquer. The ten-minute regatta scale now sits on a raised flange around the edge, rather than across the upper dial. Also, the countdown hands now run anticlockwise, and the steel version uses red accents on them. The gold 126688 swaps those for yellow gold details.
For value, these changes split the Yacht-Master II market in two. The 116680 is the mechanical curiosity; the 126680 is the easier watch to live with. Buyers who wanted the look but feared Ring Command now have an option.
126680 pre-owned prices compared
| Condition | What it means | USD | MYR (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unworn, full set | Stickers or barely worn, box, card dated within ~2 years, all tags | US$26,000 – US$31,000 | RM106,000 – RM126,000 |
| Excellent, box & papers | Light wear, unpolished or lightly polished, warranty card present | US$24,000 – US$28,000 | RM98,000 – RM114,000 |
| Good, no papers | Normal wear, watch only or box only, service history helps | US$20,400 – US$25,800 | RM83,000 – RM105,000 |
| Polished or aftermarket parts | Soft case edges, replaced dial/bezel/bracelet, or non-Rolex parts | US$17,300 – US$23,800 | RM71,000 – RM97,000 |
Bands reflect asking and achieved prices from 2 public market sources in October 2026, rounded. Retail for comparison: US$20,300. Prices move; use them as a sense-check, not a quote.
The US list is US$20,300, and Malaysian retail is RM87,700. Early market prices for excellent examples with papers sit around US$24,000 – US$28,000, or roughly RM98,000 to RM114,000. That is a premium of a fifth or more over list. However, the watch has only been on sale for six months, so treat every number here as provisional.
What moves the price of this reference
Newness and allocation drive the price today. Authorised dealers receive few pieces, so early buyers pay grey-market premiums. An unworn watch with a 2026-dated warranty card commands the top band.
Metal matters as well. The gold 126688 now lists at US$60,700, or RM263,100. Too few have traded to give a band, so negotiate carefully if you find one.
The biggest unknown is long-term demand. Regatta chronographs appeal to a narrower audience than divers or GMTs. In fact, the old 116680 spent much of its life trading below list. So the current premium on the Yacht-Master II 126680 may shrink as supply catches up. Our retail vs market price guide explains how premiums tend to evolve.
Where to check prices
Authorised dealers in Kuala Lumpur sell at list, but stock is scarce and waiting lists favour existing clients. Grey dealers in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong already offer the 126680 at a premium; compare their asks against European listings, which ran from about EUR 24,000 to 29,500 for unworn pieces in October 2026. Chrono24-style marketplaces are useful but thin. Auction data does not exist yet in meaningful volume. Our used Rolex prices guide tracks how new releases settle.
When a price is too good to be true
A genuine Yacht-Master II 126680 is unlikely to sell below its US$20,300 list in 2026, at least with papers. Therefore, treat any "full set" offer under about US$20,000 (roughly RM81,600) as a serious red flag. Also be wary of any seller who cannot show a 2026-dated warranty card, because no older example can exist.
Genuine vs replica: how to check a 126680
The pushers and countdown
Start with the function. On a genuine Yacht-Master II 126680, the pusher at 4 sets the countdown and the pusher at 2 starts it. There is no Ring Command, so a bezel that does anything other than rotate is a warning sign. Next, run a full countdown. The hands should move anticlockwise smoothly, and a press of 4 mid-countdown should resynchronise them.
Bezel, dial and flange
The bezel turns both ways with even clicks. Its blue ceramic insert carries a 60-minute scale, not a ten-minute countdown. On the dial, the regatta scale sits on a raised flange. Also, the steel model has red accents on its countdown hands. A watch that reuses 116680 parts would instead show the older ten-minute scale across the upper dial.
Genuine: rehaut engraving alignment
- Each engraved crown and letter lines up with its minute marker
- Engraving is crisp, even in depth, and readable at 12 o'clock
- Serial number engraved on the rehaut at 6 on modern pieces
Warning signs
- Letters drift between markers as they go around the ring
- Shallow, sandy-looking or uneven engraving
- Serial at 6 printed rather than engraved, or wrong format
The crystal has a laser-etched coronet above 6 o'clock. As before, the dial carries no date window, so a Cyclops lens would be wrong.
Genuine: laser-etched crown at 6 o'clock
- Made of tiny dots, hard to find without a loupe
- Sits in the crystal just above the 6 o'clock marker
- Present on most Rolex crystals from the early 2000s onward
Warning signs
- Bold and frosted, easy to spot head-on
- Solid lines instead of a dot matrix
- Off-centre, or placed on a reference/era that would not have it
Genuine: lume colour and application
- Modern pieces glow blue (Chromalight) and stay bright for hours
- Every marker and hand glows at the same intensity
- Lume plots filled neatly to the edge of the surround
Warning signs
- Green or mixed-colour glow on a modern reference
- Hands and markers fade at different rates
- Overfilled or thin, lumpy plots under a loupe
What only a watchmaker can confirm
Opening the solid caseback lets a watchmaker confirm calibre 4162 and its markings. They can check the column wheel, the vertical clutch and the regatta parts. Locally, Rolex's own Kuala Lumpur service centre is the most authoritative place to ask. For the full process, see our real vs fake Rolex guide and our box and papers guide.
Who the 126680 suits, and the alternatives
The Yacht-Master II 126680 suits a buyer who wants a regatta chronograph without the learning curve. It suits sailors, of course, but it also suits anyone who likes a white-dial sports watch with a big case. At 44 mm, wrists from about 17.5 cm upward wear it best.
Comparing your options
If you want the original mechanism and a lower price, the Yacht-Master II 116680 trades below its last list. If you prefer a classic chronograph, consider the Daytona 126500LN. For a simpler and smaller Yacht-Master, the Yacht-Master 40 126622 is a good fit. Our Yacht-Master vs Submariner comparison covers the wider family. Finally, the Yacht-Master collection page shows every reference.
Getting one through Kuala Lumpur dealers
Local buyers have two realistic routes in late 2026. The first is an authorised dealer at RM87,700, where you will likely wait and may need a purchase history. The second is a grey dealer, where you pay a premium but leave with the watch. In between sit Singapore and Hong Kong dealers; however, check import duty and SST before assuming a cross-border deal is cheaper.
Whichever route you take, insist on the green-sealed tags, the 2026-dated warranty card and a working countdown demonstrated in front of you. Also, keep the Oyster bracelet's spare links. The bracelet is broader than on the older model, with polished centre links and an Easylink extension, so missing links are noticed at resale.
Yacht-Master II 116680
Steel regatta chronograph with Ring Command bezel, 2013 to 2024. Complex, big, and priced below its last list. Discontinued
Yacht-Master 40 126622
40 mm Oystersteel with a 950 platinum bezel, slate or blue dial, calibre 3235. Trades near list.
126680 FAQ
What changed between the 116680 and the 126680?
Three things matter most. The countdown is now programmed with the pusher at 4 rather than the Ring Command bezel. The bezel becomes a normal bidirectional 60-minute bezel. And the movement moves from calibre 4161 to 4162. The dial is also redesigned, with the regatta scale on a raised flange.
How much is the Yacht-Master II 126680 in Malaysia?
Malaysian retail is RM87,700 as of October 2026, confirmed through authorised dealers. The US list is US$20,300. Early secondary-market prices sit above that, with excellent examples around US$24,000 to US$28,000, or roughly RM98,000 to RM114,000. Data is thin because the watch is new.
Is there a gold version of the 126680?
Yes. The 126688 is the 18k yellow gold version, covered on this page as a variant. It launched at US$57,800 and now lists at US$60,700, or RM263,100 in Malaysia. Too few have traded so far to give a reliable pre-owned price band.
How do you set the countdown on the 126680?
You press the pusher at 4 o'clock to choose the countdown length, up to ten minutes. The pusher at 2 o'clock then starts and stops the timer. Pressing the 4 o'clock pusher during a running countdown resynchronises it, which helps if the start signal is out of step.
Will the 126680 hold its value?
Early prices sit above retail, but that is normal for a new Rolex in short supply. Regatta chronographs have a narrower audience than divers or GMTs, and the 116680 traded below list for much of its life. So treat the current premium as uncertain rather than permanent.
Is the 126680 bezel still used to program the countdown?
No. That was the job of the Ring Command bezel on the older 116680. On the 126680, the bezel is a conventional bidirectional 60-minute bezel. All countdown programming happens through the pushers, which makes the watch simpler to use.
Last updated . Written and fact-checked by the Rolex Malaysian editorial team. Specifications and prices are re-checked quarterly.