The titanium of the new Rolex Yacht Prestige 42 has probably been the worst-kept secret since Ben Ainslie was spotted wearing a watch thought to be a prototype in 2021. Now, though, it’s finally here in production form, numbered 226627, and it’s a great addition to the collection. From a tool watch point of view, the lightweight material finally gives this model some use. Hooray! 
I’ve always considered the Yacht Prestige one of the strangest sports replica watches in the Rolex fleet. It’s ostensibly designed for sailing, with a two-way bezel, but it’s more of a luxury item. With today’s new titanium Yacht Prestige 42, Rolex has largely upped the ante on the purposefulness of this watch, and I think it works. In the end, for me, at least, this is a Yacht Prestige worth considering.
The new titanium replica Rolex Yacht Prestige is now the second production watch from the brand to use the lightweight material (with the introduction of the Grand Deepsea Challenge in 2022). It’s a material that has been used for over 50 years but is just now making its mark in Rolex. Then again, the Tudor brand has been happily using it in Pelagos for over a decade. In any case, Rolex found a reason to include RLX Class 5 titanium in Yachtmaster because of the high demands of competitive sailing.
Interestingly enough, the new Rolex Yacht Prestige Titanium is an addition to the collection. In other words, this watch does not replace any of the previous steel or precious metal variants. It comes in only one size – 42mm – and is only available on a matching RLX titanium Oyster strap with Oyster lock and Easylink wetsuit extension. The bezel is Cerachrom in black and features polished relief detailing. An interesting detail is the bevels on the lugs. These are becoming calling cards for this material (also available in the Deep Sea collection). I welcome them because it reminds me of the old Rolex sports models.
Rolex sticks with brushed surfaces on most of its titanium Yacht Masters. Even with grade 5 titanium here, this watch is still more scratchy than steel. That said, you can still see some polishing work around the crown guard and inside the knurling of the bezel.
Despite its more serious look, the general specifications remain the same as the other imitation watches in the collection. The Titanium Yacht-Masterpiece has a water resistance rating of 100 meters, and it uses a chronometer-certified 3235 automatic movement with a 70-hour power reserve. Expect this watch to shine like a lighthouse beacon with its large gold encircled indices filled with Chromalight.
