Airking why so little respect?

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by codecow

Boring entry level piece.

Don’t hold back Louis, tell us what you really think of the Air King.

[jimcameron]

The "best buy" in pre-owned Rolex, along with the DJ36. Best aspect is that it does not appeal to the showboat hipsters. ;-)

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by ajas

Connection on photo

We know Rolex used the Bloodhound instrument design as the inspiration for the dial of the Air-King. The question is why Rolex chose the Air-King for that design. There is no intrinsic connection between the watch and the car, and the name "Air-King" is not evocative of a supersonic car driven on land. Indeed, as pointed out, one of the worst-case scenarios is if the car goes airborne during the run.

[eco8gator]

The ssc clock has a local time sub dial and the main dial is supposed to be a 60min chronograph...

The watch has a min and a seconds hand so that counts as the continuously running chrono hands, the hour hand is the low budget replacement for the sub dial. I did not research if the chrono had a start stop and reset feature but one would assume it starts timing when you start the run. If you consider the hacking feature of the watch one would say they fully implemented the chronograph as well:) though the local time is lost.

I think this watch is actually made in the spirit of the car instrument...so I give rolex a pass on this one.

I'd say this car does have aero properties since I'm sure that a lot of RD the aero tech keepung it pasted to the ground while at speed.

Be open minded!

[Thuilln]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

Yet another indication Rolex was grasping at straws here. They took an interesting visual concept from a very cool automotive concept, then screwed up the design and stuck it in a model that has no relation to the thing from which the dial design was derived.

Thanks for clarifying what I’ve been thinking from day one.

[Thuilln]

Originally Posted by Polarbears

The Air King. What do you dislike about this watch?

I’ve seen them in practically every AD display. Always available and I’ve been offered significant discount on one nearly every time.

Help me understand as I seem to like quirky watches.

What I dislike about the Air King?

- The ugly, illogical dial;
- The green and yellow elements. These are two colours I would totally avoid to have on any of my watches; the association with a Supercar is just ridiculous.
- The size; a true Air King is 34mm . A 6mm increase is beyond the imagination.

Mr. Wildorf would probably throw away his last meal if he could see what this iconic reference has become...

[Tommygio]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

We know Rolex used the Bloodhound instrument design as the inspiration for the dial of the Air-King. The question is why Rolex chose the Air-King for that design. There is no intrinsic connection between the watch and the car, and the name "Air-King" is not evocative of a supersonic car driven on land. Indeed, as pointed out, one of the worst-case scenarios is if the car goes airborne during the run.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[zaydans]

I like it and that’s all that matters.




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[ajas]

Originally Posted by zaydans

I like it and that’s all that matters.




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Great shot. Congratulations

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[ras47]

The shiny 3-6-9 destroy it for me. If Rolex ever releases it with the pure Bloodhound face I’m in immediately.

[Etschell]

i dont know why others arent a fan. i am not a fan because the 3 6 9.

[topfuel25]

hate to be blunt but it’s one of cheapest sports model alongside the explorer for those who are on a budget for a Rolex sports model

[ajas]

Originally Posted by topfuel25

hate to be blunt but it’s one of cheapest sports model alongside the explorer for those who are on a budget for a Rolex sports model

Ok. Nothing with Rolex on the dail shall be called cheap.

At least for 99.99 % of population it is beyond imagination to spend over 500 USD on the watch.

We can argue about design, ascetic but speaking to friends who are not into watches most of them points that Airking is least one which looks like traditional gold and steel jubilee old man watch. This fact only makes this model very interesting for them.

Personally if Rolex would change taken from old Explorer 3,6,9 numbers and change them to full lume 15, 30 and 45 I would buy it without hesitation. Maybe they will update reference next year.
Cheers.

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[watchwatcher]

It looks better on the wrist than in pics, IMO.

I don't dislike it, but it just doesn't quite work for me. With straight, non-mercedes hands and a tweak or two to the dial, I would be all over it.

[codecow]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Don’t hold back Louis, tell us what you really think of the Air King.

Lol... sorry.

It's better than it used to be, I like the green; however to me it seems like a piece that you end up with instead of one you covet and set out to get.

[CRM114]

It's bad mojo to base the design of a watch called the Air King on a car speedo, or name a car speedo-inspired watch the "Air King".

A car doesn't become an airplane just because it's fast and/or jet-powered, and if a car that fast does get airborne it'll come down not to land, but to ball-up then scatter in shredded pieces of smoking scrap metal.

[morimotom]

Originally Posted by OJONES

Airking also has the same anti magnetic properties as the Milgaus. Someone called it a “try hard” design. I feel the opposite, it looks like it was thrown together late on a Friday afternoon. It’s just lacking any cohesion.

Exactly.

[ian6988]

I don’t like the new Air King and prefer the older models like the 14000 reference. Rolex should have just called the OP39s the new Air King, they look more similar to the 14000 reference than the current AK.

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by codecow

Boring entry level piece.

IMO level status has nothing to do with it. The Ex1 is one of the best looking watches round.

With the AK, It’s the dial. It’s all about the dial. It looks like it was photoshopped as a joke. You’ve got Arabic minute markers , Arabic hour markers, it’s super busy. The design looks like one big after thought.

Otherwise it’s a nice piece, the size is incredible and feels great.

[rebel_1]

I like the new AK dial colors. If the case was not as thick and the dial had lume, I’d buy one.

[RoyalOac]

call me crazy but once this model is gone for good it'll be one of the most collectible.

[Rolexavidfan]

There’s something on Air King that you kinda frown initially but when put on the wrist the watch kinda grown quickly. Love the changes in this model.


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[zaydans]

I’ve had mine for nearly a year now and to be honest they should have lumed the 3,6, and 9. I wear it in rotation so not too bothered but if it was my daily I think it would irk more.

[TarponGeorge]

I like the 34mm Air-Kings. They are classics.

[Cibbersicks]

They should have killed off the Air King name in 2014 when they discontinued the last one.

To me it would have been a better move to wait until the Bloodhound reached it’s Land Speed Record goal, dropped the large 3,6,9 and released it with a new (reborn) name...

The Rolex Speed King

Job done, would be selling like hot cakes.


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[Simon_e]

Originally Posted by codecow

Boring entry level piece.

I agree totally.

[adg31]

Originally Posted by eco8gator

I'd say this car does have aero properties since I'm sure that a lot of RD the aero tech keepung it pasted to the ground while at speed.

Be open minded!

So call it the GroundKing then


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[locutus49]

Entry level Rolex. Every brand has entry-level models.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by topfuel25

hate to be blunt but it’s one of cheapest sports model alongside the explorer for those who are on a budget for a Rolex sports model

For me, price isn't the concern. I think the Explorer is one of Rolex's greatest designs. The fact that it is also one of their more affordable models is a bonus, not a reason not to get it, imo. My reasons for disliking the Air-King are based solely on its own merits, or lack thereof.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by Cibbersicks

They should have killed off the Air King name in 2014 when they discontinued the last one.

To me it would have been a better move to wait until the Bloodhound reached it’s Land Speed Record goal, dropped the large 3,6,9 and released it with a new (reborn) name...

The Rolex Speed King

Job done, would be selling like hot cakes.

Excellent idea. Rolex's own ad copy makes it clear they intended the A-K's release to coincide with the expected date of the Bloodhound run in 2016, so it even fails in that regard.

If they had gone pure Bloodhound, do you think they should have used the Bloodhound hands, or do the Mercedes hands work?