Air-King vs. Datejust

[sampd3]

Besides price, what are the differences between the Oyster Perpetual Air-King and the Oyster Perpetual Datejust? And how does the Oyster Perpetual Date compare to those models?

Thank you for your help.

[CPCC]

Welcome, I am not sure but they will be by to answer your questions shortly.

[Thani]

both air-king's and perpetual dates are 34 MM and have just got their new touches to them with the centre polished links and new dials and so on.


on the other hand the datejust is 36 MM and has had its changes for a bit of time now.

the main difference is the size, the air king does not have a date complication aswell..

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Welcome to TRF!

Thani explained it very well!

[vukotab]

Diferent size(AK - 34mm,DJ - 36mm),diferent cases,DJ has date window,AK don`t,AK comes only with oyster bracelet and you can have DJ with Oyster and Jubilee bracelet and with leather strap.You can think now that DJ is much better watch than AK,but it`s not quite true.Altought DJ have COSC certification as chronometer,AK is an essential Rolex too.And for 2008. season there are some very nice new dials on AK.
Whatever you decide to buy,you must know that you buying a real thing - a classic Rolex watch!

[rpryan55]

Well, let me echo a bit what's been said here (that both are fine watches) but let me also warn you that the AK is not an officially certified chronometer. The DJ is. For me, case closed - get the DJ. It looks more substantial than the Date, as well.

[sampd3]

Thank you for your help everyone.

I've got another question now: what does it mean that the Datejust has COSC certification as a chronometer? RPRYAN55, why does that alone lead you to recommend the Datejust?

[rpryan55]

Here's the deal (and I know that the movements are similar, if not the same) - the words, "superlative chronometer officially certified" to me, IMHO, mean that there is a guarantee of accuracy. What does NOT having it on the watch say about the manufacturer's confidence in the air-king?

[OysterDavid]

Originally Posted by rpryan55

Here's the deal (and I know that the movements are similar, if not the same) - the words, "superlative chronometer officially certified" to me, IMHO, mean that there is a guarantee of accuracy. What does NOT having it on the watch say about the manufacturer's confidence in the air-king?

Here's the (real) deal. First, when Rolex revamped the Air King (and non date sub) this past year, (and by the way they share the same movements!), they were offered with COSC specs. So, if you're talking about the '07 AK and non date sub, they are now fully tested and pop out with the COSC nominclature.

Secondly, the process affiliated with a COSC is merely that an uncased movement is sent off for certification, and when it passes the test, it goes back to the assembly line awaiting a case and dial and hands. If it doesn't pass, then Rolex gets it back to re-tweek it for another test. (That said, how would you feel if you knew your new Rolex has flunked the test four or five times before finally passing, while the watch you didn't buy passed the testing on the first run?). However, the nature of new watch movements is such that even though the movement has achieved certification as a naked entity, adding a case, stem, crown, dial and hands tweaks the movement enough that it has to be readjusted anyway before it leaves the factory. So, although the COSC is real, it's not like once tested and certified, the movement isn't touched again.

The fact that non date subs and pre '07 AK's did not have COSC standing did not have ANY bearing on how Rolex, as the manufacturer, felt about potential accuracy issues. That particular movement, when properly oiled and adjusted can match accuracy with any other movement in the Rolex line.

Myth buster's thanks you.

[haakon59]

As several others have already mentioned, the main difference is the size, 34mm vs 36mm. For my taste, I would tend to go with the Datejust because at 36mm it is still a small watch and because it has the date function which I like to have, so that would be my preference. I see the datejust as a nice all around watch you can wear nicely in a variety of settings.

[frostie]

I would go with a datejust too. 34mm is way too small for my wrist. Welcome to TRF

[rpryan55]

Well, here's the true deal, my friend (without being too patronizing to you all): COSCertification means better parts, and a higher standard than most watches without COSC. And, if it was meaningless to the manufacturer, it only makes sense that Rolex would (as they do now) place COSCertifications on all of their watches - but they didn't. The AK, when it was non-COSCertified (yes, they are COSC now), was made with less quality than their other watches. And that is all I was saying. And for that reason, and the fact that COSC gives you a serial number on its movement and a certification number given by the COSC, I would go with a COSC Rolex before I went with a non-COSC AK.

So there's really no myth about it - except common sense, I guess.

[Thani]

FYI

the new air kings are COSC


bye

[FastBurner]

Don't want to start a flame war with you, but I disagree. The AK was not made with inferior parts, nor was the ND Sub. They didn't provide COSC certification with these watches solely to keep the cost down. Everytime a watch goes in for COSC certification it costs $$$. Roles then passes on that cost to the consumer. Ask anyone who owns either of these fine watches; they are spot on. It had nothing to do with quality.

[Thani]

Cosc

[rpryan55]

Originally Posted by FastBurner

Don't want to start a flame war with you, but I disagree. The AK was not made with inferior parts, nor was the ND Sub. They didn't provide COSC certification with these watches solely to keep the cost down. Everytime a watch goes in for COSC certification it costs $$$. Roles then passes on that cost to the consumer. Ask anyone who owns either of these fine watches; they are spot on. It had nothing to do with quality.

I agree with most of what you say - Breguet and several other fine watch makers do not use the COSC - it doesn't affect either their prices or their timekeeping. But, really, Rolex wouldn't want to pass the cost on to us? Puleeeez - look at their prices. They didn't COSC those brands because they could use cheaper parts in them. Do they work as well? Yup. For as long? Well.........

[FastBurner]

Originally Posted by rpryan55

I agree with most of what you say - Breguet and several other fine watch makers do not use the COSC - it doesn't affect either their prices or their timekeeping. But, really, Rolex wouldn't want to pass the cost on to us? Puleeeez - look at their prices. They didn't COSC those brands because they could use cheaper parts in them. Do they work as well? Yup. For as long? Well.........

I don't know, I guess I can e-mail you in 30 years with a status update!

I see your point though. I guess it comes down the what you believe were the company's intentions at the time. I believe they were trying to keep the cost down to make them more affordable. You believe they just had inferior parts. Nothing wrong with that.

[rpryan55]

In thirty years, you'll be e-mailing me and proving me wrong. Unfrotunately for me, it won't be the first time I've been misguided.