Got the email. Air-King 126900.

[KeithP]

Ladies and Gents-

This is my first incoming and it's been a loooong time coming indeed. My wife and I like watches. I got this bug around 2013 or so while researching an engagement give I'd receive from my fiancee. Why not a watch? Research... In the range that seemed reasonable an ORIS made sense. Once that genie was out of the bottle many Seikos and Hamiltons and such followed. My wife got interested by being around me, and also through receiving her grandfather's Longines.

We decide to maybe get serious a couple of years ago and get a Rolex, maybe two. The 2016 Air-King 116900 is a watch, believe it or not, that I love. I'm always drawn to pieces "under the radar' and also exclusively appreciate this brand we all love thru its heritage in supremely well made tool watches. I also dig the romanticism, if you will, of having ONE great watch, and wearing it through anything and everything. Patina developed is a feature, not a bug. So that chunky, funky 116900 just did if for me.... Plus that to die for Air-King script. it just gives me the feels.

We have this in mind, and my wife is eying OPs back in late 2019. We have too much wine one day in SoHo in NYC and stumble into the new, at the time, Watches of Switzerland. Two OPs in the case, and virtually nothing else. One 34mm silver 3-6-9 deal, one 36mm steel dial. She takes the 36. I keep joking with the staff about them digging an Air-King out of the safe. As wife is wrapping up the OP36 purchase, manager walks by and says to SA- "we've got one! Just returned" Honestly it kinda stunned us and we hesitated. 10 min later, some strange mumblings about them "not being able to sell it after all". Something about "papers on return not finalized yet". They actually seemed a bit pissed that we didn't leap at it, so pulled the possibility away. Thats how it felt anyway.

3 years later and after visiting many ADs in NYC and MIA, and nearly always getting laughed at when asking if they have ANYTHING, watching the 116900 go up to $13k of the grey market.... screw it, life is short. My 50th Bday is coming up, I like watches, and there's lots of great brands out there. So wife is bugging me, "I'm gonna get you a great watch, what's it gonna be? " Rolex is over- the whole scene is making me sick these last few years. I'm over it. I've been eying an OMEGA Seamaster 300M. My wife, not know this, does her own research. "How about this?" A pic of a 300M on her phone... Kismet, baby.

A month ago, weekend of my Bday, white 300M secured at Watches of Switzerland in Hudson Yards. Awesome piece. Wear it everyday, thru everything. Patina comin' on strong. Life is good. Hang on tho- we have a "relationship" with WoS now! Let's say we're after the new Air-King. Couldn't hurt.

2 weeks later... email from the wonderful SA Diana. Your Air-King is here. Oof. Haha.

Let me tell ya, this thing could hardly be more different, in the metal, from its predecessor. Light and sits very flat on the wrist. Previous version had a matte dial and very flat printed numbers at the "fives". 126900 has an inky, gloss dial and the printed numbers have raised, glossy texture. Lume at 3-6-9, crown guards and raised crown on the clasp. Totally different beast... If you're bummed Rolex took the 39 Explorer away, you'd probably like this thing more than you'd think.

Finally in the club. I have an amazing wife.

[skipstar]

Congrats

[DJFanUK]

Congratulations.... Sold the previous model to fund an SD43, but will be trying my hardest to get the new version. Love the changes.

[JoseR]

Very nice. Congrats. I like the changes, but I will keep my old 116900 since it was my first Rolex. Maybe in the future when things settle down a bit, I may look to pick up the new model. Enjoy.

[PepsiBezel]

Congratulations! Love the new 126900.

[cvz]

Congrats! Fantastic story… thank you for sharing!

[Moose500]

Nice pickup!

[stark1]

Now you have that "relationship" going, be careful it doesn't turn into a slippery slope! I hope you enjoy.

[Danny83]

Congrats Love this one !!

[KeithP]

Originally Posted by DJFanUK

Congratulations.... Sold the previous model to fund an SD43, but will be trying my hardest to get the new version. Love the changes.

I can see why you did that - love the SD43

[KeithP]

Originally Posted by JoseR

Very nice. Congrats. I like the changes, but I will keep my old 116900 since it was my first Rolex. Maybe in the future when things settle down a bit, I may look to pick up the new model. Enjoy.

Thank you! I still want a 116900! Such a personality and sodifferent to this new one.

[KeithP]

Originally Posted by stark1

Now you have that "relationship" going, be careful it doesn't turn into a slippery slope! I hope you enjoy.

Yes I get that feeling myself
Thanks!

[uniqueMR]

Congrats

[importstunna]

First new AK I've seen landing. Congrats and it looks fantastic!

[Purple Hayz]

Great pickup, and even better story, OP. Sounds like we both had the "when you least expected it" experience with the is little gem, and I don't know about you, but I haven't take mine off since I walked out of the store with it.

My "everyday" for the past few months has been a BB58 I picked up in December, and I'd swear this new AK wears even more comfortably.

Congrats again, and enjoy the journey!

[LFFL]

It looks great, congrats! The crown guard completes the watch imo

[CorgiWatcher]

Congrats! Great story!

[KeithP]

Originally Posted by importstunna

First new AK I've seen landing. Congrats and it looks fantastic!

[KeithP]

Originally Posted by Purple Hayz

Great pickup, and even better story, OP. Sounds like we both had the "when you least expected it" experience with the is little gem, and I don't know about you, but I haven't take mine off since I walked out of the store with it.

My "everyday" for the past few months has been a BB58 I picked up in December, and I'd swear this new AK wears even more comfortably.

Congrats again, and enjoy the journey!

Yes, we did, and yes, me too! Thanks again. Congrats again on yours and thx for the kind words

[KeithP]

Originally Posted by LFFL

It looks great, congrats! The crown guard completes the watch imo

I don’t disagree- it all really works. Thanks!

[brandrea]

Congratulations, the changes to this one are spot on! Enjoy it

[JeanValjean14]

great piece OP ,congrats 1

[rmlovett1]

The changes look great on the new one. Congratulations!

[KeithP]

Thanks, Gents!

[Michael1968]

Congrats

[mountainjogger]

Great pic! Congrats.

[garyk]

I think it’s a very cool and unique watch! Congrats…

[mountainjogger]

Love the new AK so much I am bumping this thread.

[KeithP]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Congratulations, the changes to this one are spot on! Enjoy it

Agreed- it’s all grown up now. Less funky, but more will like it now. Thanks!

[KeithP]

Originally Posted by garyk

I think it’s a very cool and unique watch! Congrats…

Agreed- thanks!