ROLEX AIR-KING

During the Second World War, to meet the needs of the soldiers and pilots the Rolex company produced a number of Oyster watches 34mm in diameter, which is slightly larger than the usual 32-33mm. These models, Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, Air-Giant and Air-King were watches with resistance, luminescence and a clearly legible dial. From these models the Rolex Air-King, a favourite with the pilots of the British Royal Air Force, is the only model that still remains on the market, having never been out of production.
The first Air-King (ref. 4925) was produced in 1945 and was made of steel. The following year it was succeeded by the Air-King ref. 4499; this version had the word Precision inscribed on the dial at the 6 o’ clock position and Arabic numerals, giving it an altogether more slender appearance than the previous Air-King. In 1953, the company presented the ref. 6552 with a 1030 calibre and indices in the place of Arabic numerals.

The production of the ref. 5500, also in steel, dates back to 1957; it is characterised by a slightly thicker case and a 1020 calibre movement. This watch was followed by the ref. 5501, made of steel and 14kt gold, with a specially fluted bezel intended only for the British and North American markets.

The Air-King, as well as being the most economical Rolex (being the only model Rolex which does not issue with a COSC certificate), is also the most customised of all the models. For example in 1967 the ref. 5501 appeared with ‘Cotton Bowl Classic’ inscribed on the dial; this was in tribute to the Bowling tournament held at the Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas, Texas. Several of these watches were presented as a prize to the football team of the Georgia Institute of Technology who won the tournament in that year.
The watch is frequently customised with effigies and crests of states or royal families (particularly in the Middle East). Company logos have also been added to the watch such as the supermarket chain Winn Dixies, the petroleum company Intairdrill and the takeaway pizza chain Domino’s.
In these ‘special editions’ the name of the company that has ordered the Air-King watches takes the place of ‘Precision’ on the watch. The writing of Air-King always remains the same, with the letters A and K being slightly rounded.

The list of Air-King models and their references are as follows:

Ref. 5502: steel and 14k gold.
Ref.  5504: with a case diameter of 35mm
Ref. 5506: gold plated steel
Ref. 5520: in production from 1974 to 1986, defined as Goldshell its rolling plating

A particularly rare version of the Air-King Date is ref. 5700 with a 1525 calibre movement never appeared in an Italian Rolex catalogue. The variation in steel/ gold is known as the Air-King Date ref. 5701.
1989 marked the year that Rolex launched the first Air-King in sapphire crystal, a characteristic of references 14000 and 14010, available in a variety of dials, but solely in steel. From 1989 to 2001 the movement calibre 3000 was used, changing to size 3130 in 2001.

To complete the collection the Air-king also exists as ref. 114299 and 114210, both in steel.
Finally, a piece of trivia: John McCain, the former presidential candidate of the United States has been wearing a Rolex Air-King since 1985.

Rolex Air-King References

Legend:

Steel Steel and gold Gold plated steel Gold bezel Sapphire crystal Tropic plexiglass crystal Cyclops plexiglass crystal The colour yellow represents gold in all its variants: Rose, White and Yellow. For more information contact our experts: drg@dellaroccagioielli.com