Admin: Tighten repetitive and generic prose

2026-10-29T00:28:18Z

Tighten repetitive and generic prose

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:28, 29 October 2026
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	==Production outline==		==Production outline==
	~~Published start dates vary.~~ ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' ~~gives~~ 1999; a 2008 Rolex Forums post says 2000; a 2013 forum discussion cites ~~2005 from~~ Mondani's ~~''100 Years of Rolex''~~. Rolex's U.S. catalogues list the ~~168623~~ in 2011 and 2012.		''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' dates the start to 1999; a 2008 Rolex Forums post says 2000, and a 2013 forum discussion cites Mondani's 2005 date. Rolex's U.S. catalogues list the reference in 2011 and 2012.

	==Movement notes==		==Movement notes==
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	Rolex lists bracelet refs. 78743 and 78753 for the 168623. Phillips records 78753 on case K280'434.		Rolex lists bracelet refs. 78743 and 78753 for the 168623. Phillips records 78753 on case K280'434.

	Rolex's 2012 catalogue ~~has~~ two ~~different link~~ counts for each bracelet~~. Its~~ model table ~~shows~~ 13 links for 78743 and 14 for 78753; ~~the~~ bracelet table ~~shows~~ 12 and 13~~. The 2011 list gives no link counts~~.		Rolex's 2012 catalogue gives two counts for each bracelet: its model table lists 13 links for 78743 and 14 for 78753; its bracelet table lists 12 and 13, respectively.

	The Phillips lot also included a Rolex presentation box, literature, and guarantee papers.		The Phillips lot also included a Rolex presentation box, literature, and guarantee papers.

Admin: Set the display title for Yacht-Master ref. 168623

2026-10-29T00:17:18Z

Set the display title for Yacht-Master ref. 168623

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:17, 29 October 2026
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			{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Yacht-Master 168623}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Yacht-Master 168623: 35 mm Steel and Gold Reference		\|title=Rolex Yacht-Master 168623: 35 mm Steel and Gold Reference

Admin: Add researched Yacht-Master ref. 168623 coverage

2026-10-29T00:15:41Z

Add researched Yacht-Master ref. 168623 coverage

New page

{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Yacht-Master 168623: 35 mm Steel and Gold Reference
|description=Rolex Yacht-Master ref. 168623: catalog specifications, dial options, bracelet references, and dated examples.
}}
<small>[[Main Page#Yacht-Master|Yacht-Master]] → '''168623'''</small>

<div class="rp-lead">[[File:Ref 168623 hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex Yacht-Master ref. 168623 with a mother-of-pearl dial, diamond and sapphire indexes, and yellow-gold bezel|Phillips, lot 1008.]]</div>

The 168623 is Rolex's 35 mm steel-and-yellow-gold Yacht-Master.

==Core facts==
{| class="wikitable"
! Item !! Catalogued specification
|-
| Reference || 168623
|-
| Model || Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master
|-
| Case diameter || 35 mm in Rolex's 2011 and 2012 U.S. catalogues
|-
| Case and bezel || Stainless steel case; 18 ct yellow-gold rotatable timing bezel
|-
| Crystal || Synthetic sapphire
|-
| Movement || 31-jewel chronometer; Cal. 2235 is named in exact-reference watch records
|-
| Bracelets || Oysterlock refs. 78753 and 78743 listed by Rolex
|-
|}

==Where it sits in the line==
Rolex's 2012 catalogue lists it beside the steel-and-platinum 168622 and all-gold 168628.

==Production outline==
Published start dates vary. ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' gives 1999; a 2008 Rolex Forums post says 2000; a 2013 forum discussion cites 2005 from Mondani's ''100 Years of Rolex''. Rolex's U.S. catalogues list the 168623 in 2011 and 2012.

==Movement notes==
Rolex's 2011 and 2012 catalogues identify a 31-jewel chronometer. Phillips names Cal. 2235 for case K280'434; Bucherer and Dorotheum also list the 2235 for ref. 168623.

Rolex's 1999 technical manual covers Cal. 2235. A 2004 ''Horological Times'' article gives the caliber's diameter as 20 mm, its height as 5.95 mm, and its reserve as about 50 hours.

==Dial map==
Rolex catalogues list mother-of-pearl, black mother-of-pearl, and white mother-of-pearl dials with gem-set indexes. The two gem layouts pair eight round diamonds and a triangular marker with either two baguette sapphires or two baguette rubies. Phillips's circa-2001 watch has the sapphire version. Bucherer lists a white index dial; Gardiner Houlgate and Dorotheum list grey dials.

==Case and bezel==
Phillips describes the bezel on case K280'434 as bidirectional. Rolex specifies a 35 mm diameter; Gardiner Houlgate gives 37 mm for its example.

==Bracelets and accessories==
Rolex lists bracelet refs. 78743 and 78753 for the 168623. Phillips records 78753 on case K280'434.

Rolex's 2012 catalogue has two different link counts for each bracelet. Its model table shows 13 links for 78743 and 14 for 78753; the bracelet table shows 12 and 13. The 2011 list gives no link counts.

The Phillips lot also included a Rolex presentation box, literature, and guarantee papers.
[[File:Ref 168623 historical-example.webp|thumb|right|220px|alt=Rolex Yacht-Master ref. 168623 shown with papers and Yacht-Master literature|Phillips, lot 1008: case K280'434 with its papers and literature.]]

==Auction and CPO records==
{| class="wikitable"
! Date assigned to watch !! Record !! Details
|-
| 2000 || Bucherer Rolex Certified Pre-Owned listing || Ref. 168623, white index dial, Cal. 2235.
|-
| Circa 2001 || Phillips, Hong Kong Watch Auction: NINE, lot 1008 || Case K280'434; Cal. 2235; 35 mm; bracelet 78753; mother-of-pearl dial with diamond and sapphire indexes. The guarantee is dated 8 August 2002. Sold for HK$43,750.
|-
| Circa 2005 || Gardiner Houlgate, 21 September 2022, lot 26 || Serial D601xxxx; grey dial; Oyster bracelet; box and booklet; catalogued at 37 mm.
|-
| Circa 2006 || Dorotheum, 23 May 2025, lot 494 || Case D476282; grey dial; 35 mm; Cal. 2235; accompanied by warranty and service documents.
|}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 168623 hero.webp|Case K280'434, catalogued circa 2001. Phillips, lot 1008.
File:Ref 168623 historical-example.webp|The same watch shown with its papers and Yacht-Master literature. Phillips, lot 1008.
</gallery>

== Sources ==

* [https://www.thewatch.co.il/image/users/190146/ftp/my_files/ROLEX/Rolex-Price-List%20--2011%20-usa.pdf?id=13123755 Rolex USA, "Rolex USA Price List, effective 10 May 2011 — model and bracelet tables", Rolex USA, 2011-05-10]
* [https://www.minus4plus6.com/pdf/Rolex_Price_List_June-1-2012.pdf Rolex, "Rolex U.S.A. price list, effective June 1, 2012 — Yacht-Master models", Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc., 2012-06]
* [https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/0b5fdf83/files/uploaded/1.0%20RolexBook-23Mar.pdf ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra]
* [https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=40684 "Rolex Forums, “The Rolex Yachtmaster,” 19 May 2008", Rolex Forums contributors, 2008-05-19]
* [https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=4078490 "Rolex Forums, “Mid-Size YM 168623 Question,” 10 April 2013", Rolex Forums contributors, 2013-04-10]
* [https://www.clubderelojeria.com/comunicaciones/R/ROLEX/rolex2230%202235/rolex%202230-2235-tech.pdf "Rolex Technical Manual A, Calibres 2230–2235, Technical Information No. 55, 1999", Montres Rolex S.A., 1999]
* [https://www.awci.com/wp-content/uploads/ht/2004/2004-12-web.pdf A Watchmaker, "“Inside the Rolex Caliber 2235,” Horological Times, December 2004", American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute, 2004-12]
* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/134797 "Phillips, Hong Kong Watch Auction: NINE, lot 1008 — Rolex Yacht-Master ref. 168623, case K280'434", Phillips, 2019-11-26]
* [https://www.bucherer.com/us/en/rolex-certified-pre-owned/watches/yacht-master/1489-928-6.html "Bucherer Rolex Certified Pre-Owned listing — Yacht-Master ref. 168623, SKU 1489-928-6", Bucherer]
* [https://www.dorotheum.com/en/l/9553541/ "Dorotheum, 23 May 2025, lot 494 — Yacht-Master ref. 168623, case D476282", Dorotheum, 2025-05-23]
* [https://www.watch-auctions.co.uk/sale/33/26/Rolex-Oyster-Perpetual-Date-YachtMaster-MidSize-gold-and-stainless-steel-wristwatch-reference-no-168623-serial-no-D601xxxx-circa-2005-yellow-gold-bezel-with-grey-dial-Oyster-bracelet-37mm---with-Rolex-green-box-and-outer-cover-YachtMaster-booklet-20012002-calendar-card-and-tag "Gardiner Houlgate, Watches, 21 September 2022, lot 26 — ref. 168623, serial D601xxxx", Gardiner Houlgate, 2022-09-21]

[[Category:Yacht-Master]]

Reference:168623 - Revision history

Admin: Tighten repetitive and generic prose

Admin: Set the display title for Yacht-Master ref. 168623

Admin: Add researched Yacht-Master ref. 168623 coverage