The Rolex Air King (Past and present)

[scotrick]

Earlier on faked 78350 clasp and endlinks:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=114930

Originally Posted by joe100

No worries, but there is no such thing as a fake 70190 bracelet with the engraved clasp. No is there a fake 78350. There is a fake 78360 but the 19mm bracelets are ignored it seems, thankfully. At least outright fakes. Now someone could put a generic clasp on a 19mm oyster. That's possible, and I've seen it happen.

Also, fake 557 end links do appear every now and then

[joe100]

I stand corrected then. Damn, they get to everything

[furnacehouse]

Does this look hooky too?
http://www.chrono24.com/rolex/bracel...-id3104368.htm

Shouldn't a 557B endlink have a cutout?

[furnacehouse]

Joe, does the bracelet in #213 look suspect to you?

[joe100]

Originally Posted by furnacehouse

Joe, does the bracelet in #213 look suspect to you?

I'm on vacation so all I have is my iphone6 screen, the stamps are different than mine.

Buy a gently used one and save 40%

[chloebear]

Does Rolex still make the Air-King? My AD has two of them (blue face and white) at a considerable difference. At 34 mm they look a little small for me and a little big for my wife, but I really like them. I might go back tomorrow and try it on. I say it looked small, but maybe because I just tried on a Milgauss. Any thoughts on the size for a man?

[powerfunk]

No, they no longer make any watches with "Air-King" on the dial, but they do still make 114200's without that text on them. They're simply the 34mm size of the Oyster Perpetual lineup now.

Anyway, my wife and I both have Air-Kings and we both like them a lot. I think it's a gloriously classy and understated watch. Perfectly suitable for a gentleman, but yeah it's smaller than average nowadays.

[chloebear]

Thanks for the feedback Rob. I'm going to go try them on tomorrow. Perhaps instead of getting a Milgauss for myself I could get 2 Air-Kings. One for me and one for my wife. To be honest it didn't look that small in the store. I'd love to see more pictures if anyone feels like sharing....especially wrist shots.

[joe100]

34mm is fine, the only people who have a problem with it are the self-conscience types. You could have 1.5 114200s for what a Milgauss costs. Buying one for the other half would be the gentlemanly thing to do. A hell of a gesture, and you'll treasure the watch even more.

I've found 34-39mm is my sweet spot. Anything bigger and I start to notice the watch, and I don't like that.

[joe100]

And for no reason at all, my 5500 on a Phoenix NATO

[racingdave88]

Here's my Air King

[joe100]

Well found sir!

[Jon L]

HELP ! I am new to this forum and wondered if through a great expanse and knowledge of like minded people that you could shed some light on my Rolex Air King......

The history....It was given to me by my father recently, in a bit of a sorry state I have had a sympathetic restoration keeping all the original parts. I believe it is from the 3rd quarter of 1964 however I have a serial number on the case of 81339 which dates to 1936 ? I have attempted to find a similar dial but haven't seen many with full numerical.

Any help is greatly appreciated I have included some before and after pictures for your perusal.

Regards

Jon

[joe100]

It all checks out for an early-to-mid-1960s AirKing. The serials reset in the mid-50s so unless you know a thing or two about Rolex, the online charts will date your watch a few decades off. Your serial might be missing a digit somewhere. Also there should be a 4 number reference opposite the serial. Check these and report back, and I'll have more information.

[Kauder]

I still remember the 1990ies, when some people looked down on AKs as "entry model" or "cheap".

I think that both the 5500 and the 90ies model have a very understated charme. With so much restrain, could we call the AK the Calatrava of Rolex's model range?

[joe100]

Originally Posted by Kauder

I still remember the 1990ies, when some people looked down on AKs as "entry model" or "cheap".

I think that both the 5500 and the 90ies model have a very understated charme. With so much restrain, could we call the AK the Calatrava of Rolex's model range?

Nowadays in this post recession world, understated is back in vogue thankfully.

[Loui]

My first Post, My first Rolex, and today is the day that i buy my second one! Hello all :)

[scotrick]

Originally Posted by Jon L

HELP ! I am new to this forum and wondered if through a great expanse and knowledge of like minded people that you could shed some light on my Rolex Air King......

The history....It was given to me by my father recently, in a bit of a sorry state I have had a sympathetic restoration keeping all the original parts. I believe it is from the 3rd quarter of 1964 however I have a serial number on the case of 81339 which dates to 1936 ? I have attempted to find a similar dial but haven't seen many with full numerical.

Any help is greatly appreciated I have included some before and after pictures for your perusal.

Regards

Jon

Nice dial on that one Jon. Lots of interesting variations on the 5500's, I recently found this 58 5500 with an arrowhead dial.

Rick

[bvlaurence]

Air King 114200... White Roman dial...Serial no. says mfg date was between 2011 and present. I love the size...understated, I think...Lest you think I am deformed, I am left handed and wear it on my right wrist. Sorry about the focus

[cwfritz]

What reference numbers are appropriate for a S/S Oyster bracelet and end pieces to fit an Air King 5500? Thanks.

[AirKing57]

I really don't care for the large watch trend and I am "big" guy at 6' ft. 4" and 250 lbs., but I have relatively thin wrists. I did try a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms at 42mm, but I found it too large, so I find the my AK to be just right for dress and everyday. I have a '72 1675 GMT that is 40mm and I think that is as large as I can go. I really liked the comment about the AK being like the old PP Calatrava, although it now comes in 36mm, which I also really like. I recently bought a Hamilton Intra-matic in gold and even it seems a bit large at 38mm, but I am getting used to it.
Cheers to all Air King fans.

[scotrick]

Originally Posted by cwfritz

What reference numbers are appropriate for a S/S Oyster bracelet and end pieces to fit an Air King 5500? Thanks.

Cwfritz I have the following S/S oyster bracelets on Air King 5500s:

A 1959 Super Precision 5500 with a 7205 rivet bracelet; 57 end pieces.
A 1967 Precision 5500 with a 7835 folded link bracelet; 357 end pieces.

I also have a 6635 rivet flex bracelet with 57 end pieces on an Oyster Date that is extremely comfortable and would work very nicely on an early Air King.

Cheers,
Rick

[scotrick]

Originally Posted by cwfritz

What reference numbers are appropriate for a S/S Oyster bracelet and end pieces to fit an Air King 5500? Thanks.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=73646

[Luxurywatchvn]

Air king is nice but look so old

[scotrick]

Originally Posted by Luxurywatchvn

Air king is nice but look so old

Personally I am a fan of the 5500's; but if that's not your style what do you think of the newest one?


http://www.rolex.com/watches/baselwo...6900-0001.html

[Officer42]

I hope it's okay to bump this thread but I haven't seen an AK quite like this here.
It's very similar to one with a black dial in post 191.

The stamp inside the case back puts it 3rd quarter, 1959. Yet the serial #453xxx gives a varied date depending on where I look: The chart on this forum says 1959, bobswatches.com reckons 1960, & another website (I forget which) said 1961. The strap isn't original - I chucked this one one on just to get the watch back on the road.

Here's a pic (the camera really picked up the scratches). IRL the dial looks more silver.


And, as an afterthought, the obligatory wrist shot.

[modee]

This is the only Air King I have. I got it because of the orange dial. I actually haven't even worn it yet, but like most of my watches, I buy, only occasionally sell.

[Pawpurr]

http://www.rolexforums.com/attachmen...1&d=1467037377

[Birky101]

Hi mine is a 1996 14000 I had a 5500 but much prefer this one

Sent from my Harrier Tab from EE using Tapatalk

[joe100]

Niiiice!