A Cynical Take On The Air King Dial

[BJHofkin]

Are the white gold, non-lumed 3-6-9 indices exactly the same as with the outgoing Explorer? If so, any chance the Air King's dial can be partly explained by Rolex simply wanting to unload the stock of old Explorer applied numerals? After all, why not use lumed numerals like with the new Explorer, or else have all printed minute markers, as in the Bloodhound (see below)?



The thing is the design is actually really growing on me and I may even consider one when they hit AD's in a few months, but this is something I'm trying to make sense of.

[Old Expat Beast]

The right hand dial design above would have made a great dual-time or sub seconds watch. As well as the 3/6/9 apparently coming from the 114270, the case is also apparently from the Milgauss, which does make the new AK feel somewhat recycled. On the plus side, it is about $1,500 cheaper than the Milgauss, for no obvious (to me anyway) reason.

[KBM]

Interesting theory. Adam is right, the dial on the right in your picture would have made for an awesome small seconds/dual time reference.

[BJHofkin]

Agreed. Had they gone all printed minute numerals I'd be all over it.

I'd also add the question: How can you have a true pilot's piece when only the 12 o'clock index is lumed? Again, give me printed, lumed numerals all around and I'd be ecstatic.

[sickened1]

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=464889

[Boothroyd]

BJ, are you interested in getting one?

[BJHofkin]

Guessing you didn't read my initial post carefully: My point was to question the use of the unlumed 3-6-9 – and to suggest that perhaps Rolex is trying to get rid of its stock of numerals for the outgoing Explorer – not to make the connection to the Bloodhound (which as you point out has already been made on this board).

Originally Posted by sickened1

Posted already.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=464889

[BJHofkin]

There's a chance. Certainly I'll need to see it in person first, though.

Originally Posted by Boothroyd

BJ, are you interested in getting one?

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

The right hand dial design above would have made a great dual-time or sub seconds watch. As well as the 3/6/9 apparently coming from the 114270, the case is also apparently from the Milgauss, which does make the new AK feel somewhat recycled. On the plus side, it is about $1,500 cheaper than the Milgauss, for no obvious (to me anyway) reason.

The price includes the recycling tax credit and the ugly dial discount.

[Ruud Van Driver]

I have a feeling I might pull the trigger if I see one in the flesh. it's really growing on me. So much more aesthetically pleasing on the eye than that ugly YM II monstrosity.

[jrs146]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

The price includes the recycling tax credit and the ugly dial discount.

Lol!!

[Aceldama]

Originally Posted by Ruud Van Driver

I have a feeling I might pull the trigger if I see one in the flesh. it's really growing on me. So much more aesthetically pleasing on the eye than that ugly YM II monstrosity.

+1. Nothing is more fugly than the YM ll...

[Mr. K]

If you are correct, how much do you think Rolex would save on recycled nos dials?

[jshepard]

Sounds like the new AK with the assumed "recycled" parts is the next short handed Explorer with the assumed "recycled" hands from the older model. Especially now since the new 39mm Explorer has longer, thicker hands.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Makaio]

They're probably never going to make a dial like this again. So... There's a chance this is going to become a very collectible watch ;)