Even when a brand has so many iconic watches like Rolex does, a few of them still stand out of the crowd. The Rolex Air-King pays full tribute to the pioneers of aviation, and it’s design is still perfect for exploring the sky. As a no-nonsense, elegant daily wear – the Air-King’s simplicity is easy to love.
The Inspiration behind the Rolex Air-King
Everything about the Air-King screams 1930’s aviation. The Oyster Perpetual case was front and center as the pilot’s choice for reliability in the air. The 30’s were a time of massive progress in the aviation world. As pilots reached new heights (literally), they needed an accurate and resilient watch that consistently performed.
The Air-King was routinely worn by Charles Douglas Bernard, an important figure in aviation’s history that set multiple flight records throughout his career. He vowed to make the Rolex Oyster his watch of choice on all of his long distance flights.
Features
Overall look
The Air-King is a great mix of modern and vintage. It has all of the feel of a retro Rolex, with modern amenities like the easy link comfort extension system that allows wearers to extend the bracelet up to 5mm without assistance from a jeweler. It’s also extremely accurate with it’s 3131 movement (detailed below).
This watch is a solid daily wear for anyone that likes a classic look. This is not a “flashy” Rolex, but it will definitely be noticed by watch lovers.
The Dial
Designed for great visibility, the Air-King’s dial is solid black with large 3, 6, and 9 hour references. The “Air-King” writing is a direct throwback to the 1950’s model. The watch also features a green second hand and Rolex logo, along with the iconic yellow Rolex crown.
904L Steel
An exclusive blend made by Rolex in their own Foundry – 904L stainless steel is extremely resistant to corrosion and wear. This metal is typically used in aerospace, high-tech, and chemical industries for it’s reliability.
3131 Movement
Redesigned in 2015, the 3131 is an absolute gem. The self-winding movement is produced in-house by Rolex and maintains a “Superlative Chronometer” rating by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute.
Technical Specs
Oyster, 40 mm, steel
Monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown
40 mm
904L steel
Smooth
Screw-down, Twinlock double waterproofness system
Scratch-resistant sapphire
Waterproof to 100 metres / 330 feet
Perpetual, mechanical , self-winding , with a magnetic shield to protect the movement
3131, Manufacture Rolex
-2/+2 sec/day, after casing
Centre hour, minute and seconds hands. Stop-seconds for precise time setting
Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring
Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor
Approximately 48 hours
Oyster, flat three-piece links
904L steel
Folding Oysterclasp with Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link
Black
Highly legible Chromalight display with long-lasting blue luminescence
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a reliable, easy to read daily wear – give the Air-King a look. Like many of the Rolex sport watches, the Air-King is backed up by a ton of history and will give you plenty of talking material among watch lovers!
If you are interested in purchasing your own Rolex Air-King, give us a call or fill out the contact form below. Check out our Facebook page for box openings and watch reviews by our in-house watch expert Sergio Nuncio!
