AK widely available?

[jackminny15]

I've read several recent posts on TRF that the Air King is not hard to get at an AD. I've been on a list at all three of my local ADs here in the Minneapolis area for months and nada, zilch, zippo. So is it really that easy to find the the AK or are my ADs just holding out on me?

[APPRF]

Depends on the country or which city in big countries. In the UK all steel models are difficult to find or up to 2-3 months wait for some. In the USA I think someone posted it's easy to find in California. In the Arabian Gulf they used to be easy to find from AD, but not now in some countries like Kuwait. They are becoming harder to find or are being kept at the back like Subs and GMTs. Who knows.

[365DAS]

Was out in Naples a few weeks back and one of the AD shops had one.

My UK AD hadn’t had one for a while but they’ve now got one in for me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bazin]

*****
Prices of the 116900 AKII are on the rise for some time already......a couple of months ago 5-10% below MSRP..........and now MSRP to plus 10% on MSRP.....plus the approx. 5% price increase that will be applicable from Jan. 1st.
It has moved as a wallflower to the dance floor.......
More and more people that have seen it before start to consider it as a "one of a kind" Rolex model; not comparable with any other toolmodel.....it certainly is....
......"there is just something about it, it’s like this totally one off Rolex"......
It is the only Rolex tool watch with one/double digit figures on the dial.....the 3, 6 and 9 are white gold.

As a true flight/instrument watch it shares the anti magnetic features (and the case) of the Milgauss without its $ 1,5k higher price.
The AK history starts in 1945 as a honor of Rolex to the English RAF pilots fighting in WW II.
This AK II is sold up till now in limited quantities and probably will not been produced for a long time any more imo......it is also possible that during Basel 2020 model changes are presented or even an production stop ....
It is the only Rolex with the Rolex crown in yellow and the Rolex name and sec. pointer in green....both synonymous for the 2 Rolextrademark colours and up till now it is produced in very low/minor numbers!!!
Altogether ingredients for a valued future classic .........?

[cdubg21]

Was in a AD over the weekend. He had a Milgauss GV black dial in the case which had been there a week. Told me he also had an AK which survived all but 3 hours

[jackminny15]

OK, so it sounds like you're all confirming that the AK isn't as widely available as many have made it out to be!

[VonDutch]

The Bloodhound *AK* is a very interesting watch, designed as a special edition (but not a special edition) for the LandSpeed record attempted. Rolex was a sponsor and the dial based on the ones used in the car... now pulled!

I cant see this lasting this years Basel tbh, its not very popular and the now defunt... so time to wave goodbye?

Hence the price increasing... maybe!

[Yess]

There was one in the Singapore Hilton AD a week ago... I liked it less in person than I do in the wonderful picture Okami posted above.

[APPRF]

Actually the Air King is one of these watches you have to wear to appreciate. Looks better in real than in pictures too.

[AJMarcus]

Definitely try before you buy. You either like it or don’t. No middle ground here. . Also, has the weakest resale if you flip.

[Gimoozaabi]

The 116900 AK was one of the models that was readily available a year ago - now it is hard to get. The local AD shared that they received a relatively low numbers of the watch (compared to othe SS except the 'Unicorns') and now used to stay on the shelves now it is 'hot' commodity and is immediately allocated and hardly gets to the shelves. They don't believe it will be discontinued since it was introduced just a few years ago in 2016 but I think that they are wrong, let's not forget that the SD4k was being sold only 3 short years. The AK has very unusual dial and is priced quite low compared to other SS watches. This year it had a significant price increase compared to the similar style SS watches (eg. Explorer) and I believe the AK will be discontinued after Basel 2020.

[Monty22]

I love to see how the narrative on this reference is changing to something universally positive. I love mine and was able to get mine within a month of asking for one from my AD


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AK797]

Hard to find in the UK now, selling for 20% plus premiums, I remember when I was offered 5% off a couple of years ago but I wanted 10% to think about it.

[gfcp1230]

Bought it last year this time for 10% under retail. Great watch!

[Daddyshark]

I bought it in Melbourne in January. isn't as easy to get from AD recently it seems. enquired a few places only my Ad that I had a prior purchase history called.

and yes I do reckon they might discontinue in Basal 2020 it since it's no longer working with the current bloodhound project anymore.

might be a classic in the future once its discontinued?

[encarter13]

Recently saw one at an AD in Atlanta.

[RyanO]

If you’re open to purchasing from another AD, pm me, My AD has one in stock as of this afternoon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Nikrnic]

I have and had an AK, Milgauss and an Expll. All bought in the last 2 yrs. All on display, all with discounts. They're just not there anymore, just like any SS unless it's great timing you won't normally just see one sitting around. Happy Hunting!! Don't give up. You'll find one.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[dbluevette]

I like the AK. But part of me can't stop thinking that the only reason they came up with this specific design was because of all the extra white gold 3,6, and 9's they had left over from the upgrading of the explorer lume numerals in the mk2.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by dbluevette

I like the AK. But part of me can't stop thinking that the only reason they came up with this specific design was because of all the extra white gold 3,6, and 9's they had left over from the upgrading of the explorer lume numerals in the mk2.

...and the spare Milgauss cases.

[APPRF]

Originally Posted by dbluevette

I like the AK. But part of me can't stop thinking that the only reason they came up with this specific design was because of all the extra white gold 3,6, and 9's they had left over from the upgrading of the explorer lume numerals in the mk2.

Why don't you think of it in this way. They needed a new design for the Air King (older history than Explorer, and an exciting story) , so they decided to use white gold in the Air King as they felt it should be special, and give it an anti magnetic case which is great for pilots . The problem then was what to do with the Explorer, so they just decided to stick to the old boring design of filling 3,6,9 with white luminous paint, and while they are at it someone said lets make the hands longer to make some explorer fans happy. So you got the exciting Air King, and the boring dial of Explorer (which looks like many lesser regular watch brands). I like the Explorer too by the way, but I just think it's nothing special when comparing it to the Air King, Milgauss, or DJ which are the entry level Rolex as some like to refer to them.

[APPRF]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

...and the spare Milgauss cases.

Not spare as the Milgauss is still in production. The Air King is a pilot watch so antimagnetic is good. It's good that they used the Milgauss case as it feels more substantial on the wrist. A lot of references share the same cases, nothing wrong about that.

[dbluevette]

Originally Posted by APPRF

Why don't you think of it in this way. They needed a new design for the Air King (older history than Explorer, and an exciting story) , so they decided to use white gold in the Air King as they felt it should be special, and give it an anti magnetic case which is great for pilots . The problem then was what to do with the Explorer, so they just decided to stick to the old boring design of filling 3,6,9 with white luminous paint, and while they are at it someone said lets make the hands longer to make some explorer fans happy. So you got the exciting Air King, and the boring dial of Explorer (which looks like many lesser regular watch brands). I like the Explorer too by the way, but I just think it's nothing special when comparing it to the Air King, Milgauss, or DJ which are the entry level Rolex as some like to refer to them.

Being that the AK was a discontinued piece only to be brought back after the redesign of the explorer gives me reason to view it the way i do over the way you described.

[APPRF]

Originally Posted by dbluevette

Being that the AK was a discontinued piece only to be brought back after the redesign of the explorer gives me reason to view it the way i do over the way you described.

They were both introduced together at Baselworld 2016. The new designed Air King, and the new Explorer mk2

[bezler]

Originally Posted by Okami

I never really thought about the AK, but that picture makes me wonder why. It's really a very attractive watch.


Sent from my SM-J327P using Tapatalk

[brucethemanlee]

Easy to get


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Manu74]

Originally Posted by Okami

*****
Prices of the 116900 AKII are on the rise for some time already......a couple of months ago 5-10% below MSRP..........and now MSRP to plus 10% on MSRP.....plus the approx. 5% price increase that will be applicable from Jan. 1st.
It has moved as a wallflower to the dance floor.......
More and more people that have seen it before start to consider it as a "one of a kind" Rolex model; not comparable with any other toolmodel.....it certainly is....
......"there is just something about it, it’s like this totally one off Rolex"......
It is the only Rolex tool watch with one/double digit figures on the dial.....the 3, 6 and 9 are white gold.

As a true flight/instrument watch it shares the anti magnetic features (and the case) of the Milgauss without its $ 1,5k higher price.
The AK history starts in 1945 as a honor of Rolex to the English RAF pilots fighting in WW II.
This AK II is sold up till now in limited quantities and probably will not been produced for a long time any more imo......it is also possible that during Basel 2020 model changes are presented or even an production stop ....
It is the only Rolex with the Rolex crown in yellow and the Rolex name and sec. pointer in green....both synonymous for the 2 Rolextrademark colours and up till now it is produced in very low/minor numbers!!!
Altogether ingredients for a valued future classic .........?

Great pic!

[dbluevette]

Originally Posted by APPRF

They were both introduced together at Baselworld 2016. The new designed Air King, and the new Explorer mk2

That was my point. A previously discontinued piece introduced and brought back the same year as the newly designed Explorer.

[APPRF]

The newly designed Explorer was the mk2. The Air King is a better Explorer if you insist on looking at it your way. I was just giving you another scenario. I like both, but I had to choose one to buy which I liked better.

[APPRF]

Originally Posted by brucethemanlee

Easy to get


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes still easy to get in some parts of the world. That was the case for me.