While Rolex is renowned for its robust tool watches, the brand has long embraced gem-setting as another expression of its watchmaking expertise. Professional models such as the GMT-Master II, Daytona, and Submariner have also been offered in gem-set variations, featuring meticulously selected diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and other precious gemstones. Produced in far smaller numbers than their standard counterparts, these exceptional references represent some of the rarest and most collectible watches in the Rolex lineup. From the ruby-and-sapphire accents of the GMT-Master II SARU to the striking diamond-set Daytona "Leopard," these exceptional watches showcase a different side of the Crown’s mastery.  

A Bejewelled Yacht-Master 

Introduced in 2017, the Rolex Yacht-Master 40 ref. 116695SATS continues that tradition. Affectionately known among collectors as the "Haribo" or "Tutti Frutti" Yacht-Master, it pairs the collection's sporty case and Oysterflex bracelet with a bezel set with multicoloured gems and a single diamond at 12 o’clock. The result is one of Rolex's most distinctive jewellled sports watches, combining the Yacht-Master's nautical character with the brand's exceptional gem-setting capabilities. 

The defining feature of the Yacht-Master ref. 116695SATS is undoubtedly its bezel. Rather than the Cerachrom ceramic insert found on the standard 18k Everose gold Yacht-Master, Rolex replaced it with a carefully arranged sequence of baguette-cut sapphires in pink, blue, orange, and yellow, punctuated by eight green tsavorites and a triangular diamond at 12 o'clock. In place of the Yacht-Master's graduated timing scale, Rolex created a rotating bezel that showcases the brand's gem-setting artistry. 

As with all of Rolex's gem-set watches, the brilliance of the bezel lies not only in the gemstones themselves but in their consistency. Matching dozens of coloured stones in hue, saturation, clarity, and cut is an extraordinarily demanding process, requiring Rolex's gemologists to sort through large numbers of stones before selecting those that meet the brand's exacting standards. This painstaking selection process ensures each gemstone appears perfectly balanced with the next, allowing the progression of colours to flow seamlessly around the case. 

Still Every Bit a Yacht-Master 

Despite its colourful bezel, the ref. 116695SATS remains unmistakably a Yacht-Master. Rolex retained the collection's familiar 40 mm Oyster case, crafted from the brand's proprietary 18k Everose gold alloy. Introduced in 2005, Everose gold was developed in Rolex's own foundry to resist fading over time, preserving the warm tone of the rose gold even after years of wear. 

The watch is paired with the black Oysterflex bracelet, another hallmark of the modern Everose Yacht-Master. While it resembles a rubber strap, Oysterflex combines a flexible black elastomer exterior with two flexible metal blades at its core, providing the security of a bracelet with the comfort and flexibility of rubber. Rolex also equips the bracelet with its Oysterlock folding safety clasp, which can be fitted to three different positions. 

Elsewhere, the watch remains faithful to the Yacht-Master formula. The black dial features Rolex’s signature Mercedes-style hands, large Chromalight luminous hour markers for low-light visibility, and the famed Cyclops date magnifier at 3 o'clock, while the 100-metre water-resistant Oyster case and Triplock winding crown ensure it retains the robustness expected of Rolex's nautical sports watch. In short, rather than reinventing the Yacht-Master, Rolex concentrated its gem-setting on the bezel while leaving the rest of the watch largely unchanged. 

Powering the watch is Rolex's in-house Calibre 3135, the self-winding movement that served as the backbone of many of the brand's date-equipped watches for decades. Certified as a Superlative Chronometer, it beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, offers approximately 48 hours of power reserve, and incorporates Rolex's Parachrom hairspring for improved resistance to shocks and magnetic fields.

The Yacht-Master’s Luxurious Side 

At first glance, the ref. 116695SATS may seem like an unexpected addition to the Yacht-Master collection. Yet the Yacht-Master has always been positioned as one of Rolex's most luxurious Professional watches, and the 116695SATS builds on that legacy in an even more dramatic fashion by combining the collection's sporty design with one of Rolex's most accomplished displays of coloured gemstone setting. 

Seldom seen in the wild, the 116695SATS has become a highly desirable modern Yacht-Master reference, particularly among collectors drawn to Rolex's rarer gem-set creations. Alongside references such as the gem-set GMT-Master II models and the Daytona "Rainbow" editions, it demonstrates that some of Rolex's most fascinating watches are those that pair the brand's technical watchmaking with exceptional gem-setting.