Rolex explorer I vs airking

[Sharo]

Hello all
Just want to get your opinion on airking vs explorer I
Which is a better buy and is it hard to get in your place where you live.
I'm keen on either one and would help to hear your expert opinion.
Please share with me.
Much appreciated

[Hkspwrsche]

Explorer is harder to get and generally more desirable.

[1mlee0916]

‘Nuff said.



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[smym18]

Explorer fits me best and is the most comfortable out of any sports model I've worn. Can be dressy or casual. The Airking dial has too much going on for me.

[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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[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.

[jb335]

Explorer. Cleaner looking watching with better pedigree.

[ThatExplorer]

Explorer!


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[upsidedownbelt]

Have and love the Ex. Have never liked anything about the AK.

[jonny deacon]

Explorer, far and away

[mgsooner]

Exp all day

[Tools]

New Air-King.

Has the Milgauss movement so your golden when the apocalypse begins.

[chloebear]

This one comes up from time to time. Most people prefer the Explorer. It's more classic and conservative. The Air-King is a little bigger and thicker. I like them both but struggle with 39mm watches feeling a little undersized for me personally. I've had and flipped the 39mm Explorer twice. I think the Air-King is pretty cool and has a lot going for it. For one, it doesn't seem near as garish in person. The painted Arabic numerals look really cool. And a thicker 40mm Rolex - much like the Milgauss - is pretty a pretty awesome size. Throw in the lower MSRP and you've got a winner.

[juktagt]

Depends on which Air-King.

If it’s the new 116900, then Explorer I. If its a 14000 or 5700 then its a much closer call.

[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.

[Pauln]

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.

[Thuilln]

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.

Post of the year.

[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.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Thuilln

Post of the year.

Thats a matter of opinion surely.

[Navarino]

I'd go with the Explorer in a heartbeat.

Also agree with JacksonStone's remarks above.

[mgsooner]

^^Nailed it

[Marcjvr]

Biased cos I have it, but the Explorer is a timeless beauty. Stunning watch.

The Air king dial is just so busy my eyes don’t know where to go when looking at it.

[watchwatcher]

I'd be hard pressed to make this call...but, push comes to shove, I'm going with the AK.

[SoCal_Batman]

I was in your shoes not too long ago and ended up going with the Air-King. While I like the clean look and lume of the EXP dial, the Air-King just kept putting a grin on my face and I like the combo of colors on the dial.

As for how hard it is to get one, I honestly haven’t seen either in a display case in quite a while. Take it with a grain of salt, but at a recent Daytona event I was invited to, my AD told me that my Air-King was the last one they had gotten in quite some time.

Still probably easier to get than a Sub or GMT, however it may take a short waiting period.

Either way, you can’t go wrong !!

[Marcjvr]

To help your decision...

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by SoCal_Batman

As for how hard it is to get one, I honestly haven’t seen either in a display case in quite a while. Take it with a grain of salt, but at a recent Daytona event I was invited to, my AD told me that my Air-King was the last one they had gotten in quite some time.

FWIW, DavidSW has an unworn one listing for under retail, suggesting demand is not high. Usually that happens because supply is relatively plentiful. If supply of the A-K is scarce, AND you can pick one up for a discount on the gray market, that speaks volumes to the model's desirability.

[SoCal_Batman]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

FWIW, DavidSW has an unworn one listing for under retail, suggesting demand is not high. Usually that happens because supply is relatively plentiful. If supply of the A-K is scarce, AND you can pick one up for a discount on the gray market, that speaks volumes to the model's desirability.

I didn’t pay retail for mine from the AD and got it for less than what DavidSW is selling his for. In fact, I could have gotten either one for less than MSRP, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bust. Just stating that I haven’t seen one in a case in a while, obviously they are mass produced and there’s plenty of them out there.

If the OP can score either one for less than MSRP, I call that a win in my book. Ultimately it’s his wallet and taste, I will congratulate him either way .

[CDNWatchNut]

Definitely the Explorer. The Air King makes the Milgauss (which seems to attract its share of contempt for being eccentric and quirky) look very normal.

[teabags001]

In that price range I’d rather go with the new 39mm OP. Or the explorer ll.


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[JMtimes5]

It’s the Air-King for me. I appreciate its quirks and the combination of colors. The size is also right for my wrist.




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