When the Rolex Yacht-Master 40mm Ref. 16622 was introduced in 1999, it represented a new direction for Rolex. Rather than creating another professional tool watch, Rolex refined the concept of luxury sports watches by combining rugged Oystersteel with the elegance of solid platinum. The result was the first-ever Rolesium timepiece—a watch that remains one of the most distinctive and understated luxury sports models in Rolex history.

The Yacht-Master collection first debuted in 1992 with the all-yellow-gold Reference 16628. Unlike the Submariner, which was engineered as a professional diving instrument, the Yacht-Master was designed to celebrate the sophisticated lifestyle associated with sailing and yachting. It retained the robust Oyster case and rotating bezel but placed greater emphasis on precious metals, comfort, and refined aesthetics rather than extreme underwater performance.

At the 1999 Basel Watch Fair, Rolex unveiled the Yacht-Master Ref. 16622. It became the first Rolex to feature the company's proprietary Rolesium construction—a combination of Oystersteel with a solid 950 platinum bezel and matching platinum dial.

This material combination created an entirely different personality compared to other Rolex sports watches. Instead of bold colours or polished ceramic, the 16622 embraced a monochromatic appearance that changed dramatically under different lighting conditions. The sandblasted platinum bezel with raised polished numerals became one of the model's defining characteristics and remains unique within the Rolex catalogue.