Rolex explorer I vs airking

[JayHantz]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

Explorer = classic, perfected in 2016.

Air-King = confused mess, an attempted and ultimately misguided marketing tie-in with the Bloodhound SSC*. Its idiosyncrasies may endear it to some, but that doesn't mean it isn't an aesthetic jumble that will likely go down in history as one of Rolex's more head-scratching design forays.


* The Air-King debuted the year the Bloodhound SSC was supposed to make its record-breaking run, and was intended to be a nice bit of cross-promotion. The Bloodhound run still hasn't happened, leaving Rolex nothing to show for its efforts but a quirky watch that most people don't even recognize as being related to the car.

Originally Posted by Thuilln

Post of the year.

<slow clap>

Well, that sums it up perfectly. Mods, you may now close this thread.

[HogwldFLTR]

I guess it depend on what you need for your SEALs collection!!!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Thuilln

Post of the year.

Thats a matter of opinion surely.

[maxbelg]

While I do appreciate the appearance of the Air King as something different, I can't get rid of the feeling that it was designed to use up the Gold 3,6,9 markers of the EX and the cases of the Milgauss.

I think the Milgauss wasn't selling well after Omegas even-more-antimagnetic offerings and the EX was perfected in 2016, leaving the 3,6,9 markers and the Milgauss cases to be disposed of elsewhere ........so obviously I'd choose the EX.

[Carondelet]

Originally Posted by edyu

I think both of those dials are for people who like them. Generally speaking explorer is more conservative and air king more progressive. Which are you?

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This. This is the perfect explanation!

I have an Air King, but I like both dials a lot. I went with what I fell in love with and I don't regret it.

That's what's important - don't let anyone tell you that the Air King is too jumbled or ugly or mismatched, and don't let anyone tell you that the Explorer is too plain or traditional or boring. Buy the one that tugs at your heart strings and you won't regret it.

[encarter13]

I am probably in the minority here, but I vote AK.

[Watch This]

Air King = Different, funky, contemporary,cool.
Explorer I = Traditional, simple, boring.

AK clear winner in my opinion.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by jb335

Explorer. Cleaner looking watching with better pedigree.

Well the first Airkings were made many decades ago 19 43/45 ish some say the first Airkings were particularly designed for pilots as such but IMHO they were definitely not, but world war 11 did have a part to play with the Airkings development while Explorer1 was introduced 1950s.Today many Airking models are now becoming
collectible especially the Airking dates and especially the red date roulette ones.Now before World War 11 Rolex was always popular with many in the armed forces in the UK and commonwealth.Now old Hans being a good business man saw there was a market for a slightly larger watch.Now watches at these times were quite small 30m was the average size.Now Rolex started producing 33m models under the names of Air Lion,Airtiger,AirGiant and the Airking.They all used then a 15 jewel manual wind movement,then came in steel even a TT plus all gold but mainly in those days 9ct gold.And they were in production from the mid 1940s to early 1950s when they were all suddenly dropped,except for the Airking.Now over the next few years the Air king gained a auto movement and now the same size as OP,and today some of the most sort after Airkings are models like the 1960s 5504 with the honeycombed dial this was a Rolex first.Now the very first Airking date arrived on the scene late 1960s Ref 5700 and then were only sold in Commonwealth countries like Canada and the UK at these times Rolex was not very strong in the USA market.But they did make a 5700n Explorer Date but that was only sold in the USA.Later 1970s 5701 Airking dates had the cal.1525/35 movements,and they made a TT version of the 5701 quite rare today, but again for the Canadian only market but the Airking date faded out of production in the 1980s. IMO a shame the Airking has quite a lot of real Rolex watch history, and IMHO is now a very very underrated watch.

[Nikrnic]

I chose the AK It's fun character, colors and interesting dial made it the winner for me. I wore mine almost daily for a year then traded it on a new Polar. Gone for now but I'm still a big fan. Happy Choosing....

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[zjd168]

buy what you like more, if can't decide then I would say the AK has better chance to become a future collectible price.

[jb335]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well the first Airkings were made many decades ago 19 43/45 ish some say the first Airkings were particularly designed for pilots as such but IMHO they were definitely not, but world war 11 did have a part to play with the Airkings development while Explorer1 was introduced 1950s.Today many Airking models are now becoming
collectible especially the Airking dates and especially the red date roulette ones.Now before World War 11 Rolex was always popular with many in the armed forces in the UK and commonwealth.Now old Hans being a good business man saw there was a market for a slightly larger watch.Now watches at these times were quite small 30m was the average size.Now Rolex started producing 33m models under the names of Air Lion,Airtiger,AirGiant and the Airking.They all used then a 15 jewel manual wind movement,then came in steel even a TT plus all gold but mainly in those days 9ct gold.And they were in production from the mid 1940s to early 1950s when they were all suddenly dropped,except for the Airking.Now over the next few years the Air king gained a auto movement and now the same size as OP,and today some of the most sort after Airkings are models like the 1960s 5504 with the honeycombed dial this was a Rolex first.Now the very first Airking date arrived on the scene late 1960s Ref 5700 and then were only sold in Commonwealth countries like Canada and the UK at these times Rolex was not very strong in the USA market.But they did make a 5700n Explorer Date but that was only sold in the USA.Later 1970s 5701 Airking dates had the cal.1525/35 movements,and they made a TT version of the 5701 quite rare today, but again for the Canadian only market but the Airking date faded out of production in the 1980s. IMO a shame the Airking has quite a lot of real Rolex watch history, and IMHO is now a very very underrated watch.

Ah. I did not know all of this. Thank you for the education!

I still prefer the Explorer but it looks like I was wrong to minimize the history of the AK.


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[peterrr]

I love the colors of the AirKing but went with the Explorer. I prefer its size for a watch I wear daily.

[ThatExplorer]

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[Duke of Dulwich]

I absolutely love the Air King. Its size, weight, use of colours, art-deco Air-King font and case height are just fantastic. I own one and it is my beater.

More importantly, try both on and buy what sings to you to avoid buyer’s remorse.

[Stevec14]

I’d go with the AK here. I like the pop of colour between the 2. If I was actually spending my own money, I’d probably go with a blue or rhodium OP and pocket the change however.....


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[Duke of Dulwich]

Originally Posted by Duke of Dulwich

I absolutely love the Air King. Its size, weight, use of colours, art-deco Air-King font and case height are just fantastic. I own one and it is my beater.

More importantly, try both on and buy what sings to you to avoid buyer’s remorse.

A photo to demonstrate its magnificent beauty!



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[AQBill]

Explorer...

[ThatExplorer]

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[bellesdad0417]

Originally Posted by Rolex fan 61

I personally would purchase the explorer.

Ditto

[icemandl6]

Explorer for sure, the size and thickness are perfect for my wrist.

[reddog4063]

the explorer is a classic, elegant and beautiful in its simplicity.

the AK is kinda fucnky, its different, i kinda love that so many people here seem to have them. Ive never seen another in the wild besides my own.

OP - what is your personal style like? How old are you?

[Redadmiral2]

So pleased I chose the air king it took a couple of days to get used to it’s unusual looks.
When I put it on I think why don’t I wear it all the time.
Problem with having more than one watch I suppose.
I was also torn between the two models but they are so different I don’t see why either choice wo be wrong.

[Rocket launcher]

You need to see the Air-King in the flesh to understand it
Other than its anti magnetic protection the best thing about the Air-King is the dial.

Which comes into its own depending which of the numbers you look at
Look at the quarter past..half past and quarter to
You see the 3.6.9 which have a 3D effect and you don't notice the 5.10.20 etc you see it as an hour watch

Focus on the 5.10.20 etc you do not see the 3.6.9 and it becomes a minutes timer busy dial yes...but brilliantly designed..definitely with the added green and yellow for that sparkle of colour

It is one of the best watches for pilots and persons who need a minute dial





This wonderful dial is housed in a milgauss case ..with a milgauss bracelet without the polished center links ..and £1500 cheaper than the milgauss
What's not to like

I went into an AD to buy an explorer 1 or a blue dialed milgauss...
The AD went out to get both watches

I had both watches on the table in front of me but I had seen the Air-King in the shop while waiting loved it.bought it and it's superb ...
Get the watch that shouts

[liu_watch]

Every Rolex has its admirer, including the leopard dial Daytona, which I prefer it to the AirQueen.

[timeisfathaoftruth]

I see a lot of strongly written words in favor of the Explorer and I see a lot of cool pics of the Air King. Interestingly, no pics of the Explorer have been posted.

I started out wanting to vote Explorer but I'm finding the cool pics of the AK more convincing than the strong words for the Explorer.

I wonder which way the OP is leaning??

[tlbarrs]

I can’t lie I find myself very drawn to the Air King and in person it’s way less in your face than In blown up pictures ��

[Mwilsey103]

Tough decision. All I can say is every time I look at my AK it is just fun and interesting to gaze at. Want to just see what time it is ? Explorer I is for you.

[SoCal_Batman]

Originally Posted by timeisfathaoftruth

I see a lot of strongly written words in favor of the Explorer and I see a lot of cool pics of the Air King. Interestingly, no pics of the Explorer have been posted.

I started out wanting to vote Explorer but I'm finding the cool pics of the AK more convincing than the strong words for the Explorer.

I wonder which way the OP is leaning??

Here’s another cool pic of the Air-King in action...

It makes for a great wake boarding companion.

[hannibal80]

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[scheneider]

Air king for sure. Get ExpII if u want exp