A Week On The Wrist The 2016 Rolex Air-King

[Degas]

http://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the...ference-116900

[joe100]

I'm glad he liked it in the end, but I can't help but think that one shouldn't learn to like a watch. It should be a Symohony from the beginning. I babble on about the 114300 all the time, but when I saw the rhodium dial, I said that it was the perfect watch, the perfect rolex. Had to have one.

[japenney]

Originally Posted by joe100

I'm glad he liked it in the end, but I can't help but think that one shouldn't learn to like a watch. It should be a Symohony from the beginning. I babble on about the 114300 all the time, but when I saw the rhodium dial, I said that it was the perfect watch, the perfect rolex. Had to have one.

I like everything about the 114300 rhodium except the blue. it is nice tho.

[watchuser]

Wonder if anyone has got a pic of the lume on the 2016 air king ?

Sent from my HUAWEI NXT-L29 using Tapatalk

[Ravager135]

Just my two cents on the new Air King...

If you take the watch for what it is today, it really boils down to if you like its looks or not. It has a substantial upgrade in the case and arguably overall size. The dial is, of course, completely redone and its either a hit or a miss for people.

From a functional and evolutionary standpoint, I can't wrap my head around the changes. If Rolex is trying to make a non-GMT pilots watch (like they claim), the upgrades are counterproductive (sans the anti-magnetic case). For one, the dial is not easily legible when compared to something like the new IWC Mark XVIII. I find the green accents distracting rather than harmonious like on the 116710LN. And while I understand the idea that Rolex is upscaling this model and pulling it in line with the rest of the sport collection by adding the Mercedes hands, I think the reference read better with the straight hands. In essence, the Oyster Perpetual line make better pilots watches than the Air King.

I don't by any means intend to disparage any one who genuinely loves the reference nor do I pretend to believe that the majority of Submariner owners are divers or GMT-Master owners, pilots. I get that the overwhelming majority of people who buy this watch will never use it as a pilot's watch and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In terms of pure aesthetics you either love it or don't. I do believe however that watches should maintain some sort of heritage from which they came. This seems to be a complete redesign with an older reference name thrown on the dial.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by joe100

I'm glad he liked it in the end, but I can't help but think that one shouldn't learn to like a watch. It should be a Symohony from the beginning. I babble on about the 114300 all the time, but when I saw the rhodium dial, I said that it was the perfect watch, the perfect rolex. Had to have one.

Well, if any site was going to make an effort to like the new AK it was going to be Hodinkee.

[Degas]

Originally Posted by joe100

I'm glad he liked it in the end, but I can't help but think that one shouldn't learn to like a watch. It should be a Symohony from the beginning. I babble on about the 114300 all the time, but when I saw the rhodium dial, I said that it was the perfect watch, the perfect rolex. Had to have one.

Not just in the end...

"I mean look, I would love to gratify you but what can I say, I liked the watch. I actually liked it immediately when I saw it at Basel. (Ben thought I was out of my mind.) Then I thought, "you idiot, why would you like a watch like that, just look at it." Then we got it in for review and by golly, I still liked it. People like all sorts of things all sorts of other people find inexpressibly ugly, like hairless cats, Shih Tzus, late Picassos, absolutely every piece of art Jeff Koons has ever produced, and on and on. I suppose I could have lied about actually liking the watch but then I'd be saying I hate a watch I don't, just to get people to read a story . . . which I think would make me the Watch Snob ;) . --JF"

[Lightforce1911]

not a fan of the looks personally.

[jrs146]

I like the look. But I don't love it. I seriously doubt I'd ever buy one. I have always been a fan of the classic 34mm AK. I wish they kept the wording on the dial.

[GradyPhilpott]

That's the worst watch review I've ever read in my life.

If one finds the watch appealing, then there doesn't need to be much rationalization, as it's a Rolex with all the attributes that make Rolex watches desirable.

However, in my judgement no amount of rationalization can make the new Air-King make sense on anything but an aesthetic level.

[Trailblazer]

Those numerals will need a while from me.

[b0rderman]

I'm glad it exists. I don't think it will ever be for me to own, but I've always had a soft spot for the funky and weird. If the Bloodhound ever does hit 1000mph, well then all the more cool.

[Spartacus]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

That's the worst watch review I've ever read in my life.

If one finds the watch appealing, then there doesn't need to be much rationalization, as it's a Rolex with all the attributes that make Rolex watches desirable.

However, in my judgement no amount of rationalization can make the new Air-King make sense on anything but an aesthetic level.

The worst watch review ever? Um, did you see the Daytona-C chat that was previously posted?

Agree, you just can't rationalize the Franken-watch nature of the new Air-King.

I have been disappointed with Hodinkee lately. Half tempted to start a new website for purists, and provide only objective opinions and not a marketing platform.

[tomchicago]

There is just way too much stuff on that dial.

[AS1]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Well, if any site was going to make an effort to like the new AK it was going to be Hodinkee.

ha, well said...

[iAmVice]

way too much yellow

[watchwatcher]

Nice read, thanks for posting.

[LeChefre]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Well, if any site was going to make an effort to like the new AK it was going to be Hodinkee.

The pandering to Rolex (and all the makers, really) is just so apparent now. Classic case of bigger/corporate structure changes work against what everyone used to like about the site, and being scared to death to have access limited/removed.

More on topic, the new AK is probably the ugliest watch in the lineup.

[brandrea]

Interesting read. It's always good to see what others have to say. We can all agree to disagree

[ronricks]

more dial options would be nice.

[KenNethcole]

I'm a big fan of the original ak but can't warm up to this new version. Wish Rolex either went with the 3-6-9 or the increments of 5 instead of mixing them.

[Juantxo]

I learned long ago not to buy a watch before having the opportunity to try it on and see it up close. I got to see the new Air King at a store last week and I wasn't impressed. If the colors of the logo look bright and lively in pictures, that's not the case when you see it in real life. Something similar happened to me when seeing the blue on the bezel of the BLNR GMT. The blue on the GMT seems rather dull and dark, at least at the store.

I believe the new Air King would be appropriate for a young person. Maybe a young man that just graduated with excellent grades from high-school. I like the pictures of the Air King, I don't like it that much in person. I like the Explorer better.

[japenney]

It is literally the first time in modern Rolex history that I have said to myself "how could rolex release a watch this ugly"?

[Quailhunter]

I just do not get the "pilot watch" concept with this watch. I was a very serious private pilot with a lot of actual IFR time. I needed a watch to know the actual time, but no other time keeping function. A stop watch could have been useful to time holding pattern legs as would an alarm clock to remind me to check gas level, but the Air King has neither function. Just don't get the connection.

[Cru Jones]

Personally, I find Jack Forster's writing style to be exhausting, unbearable and generally unpleasant to read.

Oh, and I think the new AK is a pretty cool and eccentric watch, but it's no "Air-King".

[Juantxo]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Personally, I find Jack Forster's writing style to be exhausting, unbearable and generally unpleasant to read.

Oh, and I think the new AK is a pretty cool and eccentric watch, but it's no "Air-King".

I totally agree, especially with your first paragraph.

[aayates]

I like the john deere; I may buy one at some point.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

That's the worst watch review I've ever read in my life.

If one finds the watch appealing, then there doesn't need to be much rationalization, as it's a Rolex with all the attributes that make Rolex watches desirable.

I have to agree...and I'm a big fan of Jack's writing normally.

This was a pretty tortured review...sort of like he *had* to say something nice added the hemming and hawing.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by lightforce1911

not a fan of the looks personally.

x2

[5253Reynolds]

See another review of a "weird" for the times watch.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/re...newman-daytona