A Pilot Explains the Rolex Air-King

 By Capt. DANNY CRIVELLO

           

I bought the Rolex Air-King in December 2016, the year the watch came out. Though it was my first new Rolex, I waited until January 13, 2017, to put it on my wrist. I woke up that morning in a Hilton downtown Portland, Oregon. And I opened the watch box. The plastic protective cover was still on the shiny bezel. In an hour, I would be picked up from the hotel and driven to PDX airport.

I waited until that day because I'd be crossing the Pacific for the first time in my life as the First Officer of a Delta Air Lines Boeing 767. I had flown to Honolulu multiple times before, but this 10h46 flight from Portland to Tokyo would be my first transpacific, the crossing of the largest ocean in the world. And the first flight for my Air-King. I strapped it on my wrist, and smiled.

As I review my logbook today, I can see that we pushed back at 1202 local and landed at 1548 on January 14. I then flew from Narita to Singapore after a 24-hour layover in Tokyo, a flight that took 7h52. My rotation lasted 10 days. I would cross the Pacific many more times with an Air-King on my wrist before I'd decide to switch to the Atlantic theater and its many beautiful European destinations.

The Air-King is an important tool watch for a pilot: The Air-King has a minute dial, which is a very rare find on a watch. It is the first Rolex with such a dial. Those dials were usually found in ships, particularly in the radio rooms for wireless operators and in the cabins of early military aircraft.

For an airline pilot, whose departure time changes with every leg, the Air-King is a great piece of equipment. A departure rarely starts exactly on the hour. If our pushback time is at minute 26, we can easily spot it by looking at the 5, 10, 20, 25, etc., markings of the dial. The Air-King makes it so easy to spot minute 26 that there will be no errors... it is a precise indication. And it is very useful when you fly multiple legs a day with different departure times.

No watch emphasizes the minute marking like the Air-King. And for pilots preparing for departure and arrival times, that is key. We need to spot quickly where we are in the departure sequence. From check-in to preflight to the loading of fuel, cargo and the boarding of passengers, every departure is a ballet orchestrated to the minute. 

The dial's white-on-black contrast, which is typical on all military pilot watches, also helps with excellent readability as I fling my wrist to look at the time between checklists, flight plan and weather reports, aircraft and systems configuration manuals. In the departure sequence, every minute counts and should be easily spotted. 

After we push back, we are often assigned an Expected Departure Clearance Time (EDCT), or "wheels-up" time to the minute. That slot is our sequence in the crowded controlled airspace, and I pace my taxi accordingly. It means we have to be at the end of the runway ready for takeoff before that minute or we lose our departure clearance. 

In short, to complain that the Air-King's dial is too busy is to not understand the Air-King. It would be like complaining that the Submariner's dial has no numbers. Still, if you look at the 12, 3, 6, 9 of the Air-King, it is also an hour watch.

 

Finally, as cockpits today are no longer equipped with round dials but are filled with electronics that tend to create magnetic fields, the Air-King is as anti-magnetic as the Milgauss. My Rolex Submariner 16613 was magnetized twice in the cockpit. I never had a problem with the Air-King; it has the most anti-magnetic properties available by Rolex.

The Air-King is a unique piece of horology, the kind of purpose-driven tool that has helped cement Rolex's reputation in the past. In this pilot's opinion, it is the best innovation and the best tool watch to be made by Rolex in the last 20 years. 

And once my destination reached, the watch's 100m water resistance is perfect for a quick swim in the Pacific!

BaselWorld 2016 Introduction... The Return of The Rolex Air King

...BaselWorld 2016 Introduction...

The Return Of 

The Rolex Air King

40MM Stainless Steel: Reference 116900

Rolex seems to have really done well with all the Amazing watches introduced at BaselWorld 2016. Everybody thought Rolex had permanently discontinued the Air-King, several years ago, when they stopped making it, but sure enough, like with many other Rolex watches it has returned—and arguably for the better. Michael Bublé is pictured below sporting the all-new Rolex Air King model.

So let's take a closer look at the all-new Rolex Air King. It has a number of interesting details. For one, it is kind of retro-futuristic in the sense Rolex decided to re-use their "Air-King" typeface logo from the 1950s version of the same watch. This model also represents the first time Rolex has made a watch that is available to the public with the green and gold Rolex logo combo on the dial, but NOT the first time it has used it to keep time. More on that at the end of this article :-)

The Air King was originally introduced in 1945 as the Rolex Reference 4925 which used a Caliber 10.5' movement. The Rolex Air-King evolved from a previous Rolex named the Speed-King. At one time in the 1940s Rolex had many Airplane themed models including the Rolex Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, and Air Giant. 

The Rolex Speed-King was based upon Sir Malcom Campbell, who thought the 1920s and 1930s set one world land speed record after another, all while wearing Rolex watches.

On April 3, 1933 The Royal Air Force Squadron was the first to fly over Mount Everest. Pictured below is Flight Lieutenant David McIntyre who, with his squadron members flew into history as first men to fly over Mt. Everest, with their trusted Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches keeping their time.

The photograph below is the first photograph ever taken from above Mount Everest, from the 1933 Royal Air Force expedition that was famously equipped with Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches.

Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf was obsessed with achievement and supported many teams of explorers who tried to push the envelope.

So at this point, you are probably wondering what all this has to do with the all-new Rolex Air King!? 

The user-interface for the new Rolex Air-King was inspired by the Bespoke Rolex Clock Rolex made for the Bloodhound SSC, which you see in the cockpit photo below on the right.

What exactly is the Bloodhound SSC? It is a special vehicle designed to set break the all-time speed record and set a new speed record by driving faster than the speed of sound!!! And Rolex is not only custom made the speedometer and clock, but is also a sponsor of the Bloodhound project.

In conclusion the all-new Rolex Air-King looks like it is on its way to becoming a mega-hit. I say this because everybody I have talked to loves it, both women and men alike. A female friend of mine saw it and said "Wow!!! That's a really cool looking watch! I love the colors. Is it for woman?" 

Another friend of mine who is a hardcore watch nut said he loved it and can't wait to get one, and he is a serious watch snob. He also said that he really liked the dial because it reminded him of the The Rolex California dial. He said, "There is just something about that dial that is so cool, and I can't quite place it? It has to do with the contrast between the  large and bold 3, 6, and 9 markers, in juxtaposition with the digital looking other typeface. And I LOVE how Rolex setup the Rolex coronet and 'ROLEX' logo in the colors of their brand print logo. It just looks so instantly iconic and cool. I also love how it is bigger than the Rolex Explorer at 40MM v. 39MM, but its also 2MM thicker, so it is kind of like a Rolex Explorer on steroids."

The Complete History Of The Rolex Air King

The Complete History Of The Rolex Air-King

by Joseph Lavender

Editors Note: Joseph Lavender is a reader of Jake's Rolex World and a big fan of the Rolex Air King. He put together this historical overview of the Rolex Air King for your reference and enjoyment.

Rolex Air-King Photo Appears Courtesy of Hannes from R-L-X.com

The Rolex Air-King has one of the most complex histories of any Rolex model spanning nearly 70 years of continuous production.  During the Second World War, Rolex would supply their SpeedKing or other specified model on credit to British POWs. As the war drew to a close, Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf, chose to honor the RAF pilots of the Battle of Britain with a series of aviation themed watches. The "Air" series included the Air-Lion, Air-Giant, Air-Tiger, and of course the Air-King. Today, only the Air-King remains.

The first true Air-King was introduced in 1945 with the 4925. The 4925 was the follow-on to the 4365 series of "Air" models. For the international market the progression was from the 4925/4365 (sub-seconds), 4499, 6552, 5500, 14000, 14000m, then finally the super cased 114200. In 1958, however, a separate line evolved independently for specific markets. These included the Air-King-Date and the 550X models for the Commonwealth market. At the same time the 5504 Explorer 35mm case was used for the Air-King as well. This reference being the only 35mm Air-King to date. To make matters more complex, the 5500 case was used for both the Air-King and Explorer. This, of course, isn't the end of the Air-King/Explorer connection but for the sake of clarity we will leave that for another discussion. 

The models preceding the 5500, with the exception of the 6552, used Hunter movements. Rolex continuously issued new reference numbers as they refined the Air-King line. The 6552, introduced in 1953, can be considered a transitional model to the 5500 as they appear very similar. 

1963 Rolex Air-King Advertisement Pictured Above

The 5500 was introduced in 1957 and  used a caliber 1520 or 1530 movement but due to import laws, the jewels were reduced in the 1520. The 1520 was either 17 (US market) or 26 jewels. The 1530 had 17, 25 or 26 jewel variants. The movement type was denoted on the dial with the text Precision or no text for the 1520 and Super Precision for the 1530. Many dials were used during the long 37 year production run. Today, some are extremely rare, including the double red. This dial was an early production dial with the words Air-King and Super Precision in red. 

After the 5500s long and mostly unchanged 37 year run, the Air-King line was upgraded to a sapphire crystal and new cal 3000 movement. This new Air-King was rechristened with the reference number 14000.  Refreshed versions of the 5500 dials carried on with new 3/6/9 Explorer style dials following shortly after. This reference also marked the introduction of the engine turned bezel , reference 14010. The 14000 series received the cal 3130 movement in 2000 and the change was noted in the reference number with the letter M for Modified.

Rolex Air-King Photo Appears Courtesy of Hannes from R-L-X.com

The 14000 series gave way to the 1142XX in 2007. This reference series was a full face lift for the AirKing. New concentric dials were added, the case became thicker at the lugs, and a brand new machined Oyster bracelet replaced the 78350. The engine turned bezel was retained but dropped only a couple of years later. A white gold fluted bezel became an option for the first time. Also, the 1142XX was the first Air-King to receive COSC certification. These changes took the Air-King line firmly into the modern Rolex range before most of the more famous Rolex cousins such as the Submariner. 

The photo below shows a modern Rolex Air-King with a 34mm white dial side by side with a standard black dial 36mm Rolex Explorer. 

Rolex Air-King Photo Appears Courtesy of Hannes from R-L-X.com

List Of All Rolex Air-King Models

34mm Standard Air-King

4925 Introduced in 1945 Cal 10.5'
4365 Introduced in 1945 Cal 10.5'
4499 Introduced in 1946 Cal 10.5'
6552 Introduced in 1953 Cal 1030
5500 Introduced in 1957 Cal 1520/1530
14000 Introduced in 1989 Cal 3000
14010 Introduced in 1989 Cal 3000 (Engine Turned Bezel)
14000M Introduced in 2000 Cal 3130
14010M Introduced in 2000 Cal 3130 (Engine Turned Bezel)
114200 Introduced in 2007 Cal 3130 (Smooth Bezel, COSC)
114210 Introduced in 2007 Cal 3130 (Engine Turned Bezel, COSC, Discontinued)
114234 Introduced in 2007 Cal 3130 (White Gold Fluted Bezel, COSC)

550X for the US, UK, and Commonwealth Markets

5520 Introduced in 1974 until 1986 34mm Gold Filled Case, Steel Case Back Cal 1520
5504 Introduced in 1958 Cal 1530 (35mm)
5501 Introduced Appx 1958 Cal 1530 (Two-Tone Fluted Bezel 14k)
5502 Introduced Appx 1958 Cal 1530 (Gold Plated 40 Microns)
5506 Introduced Appx 1958 Cal 1530 (Gold Plated 40 Microns)

Air-King-Date Commonwealth Markets (Production lasting into the 1980s)

5700 Introduced in 1958 Cal 1525/1535
5701 Introduced in 1958 Cal 1525/1535 (Two-Tone)

Studio Shot Of The Day: David's Rolex AirKing

Studio Shot Of The Day

David's Rolex Air-King

[Reference 14000]

James Bond Wears Rolex The Man With The Top-Secret Job Wear A Rolex...

James Bond Wears Rolex

The Man With The Top-Secret Job Wears A Rolex

New Scientist: September 12, 1963

This ad is another fascinating piece in the James Bond puzzle. The very first James Bond movie named Dr. No was released in 1962 and Sean Connery wore a Rolex Submariner. This is the first Rolex ad I know of that appears to play on the appeal of a James Bond persona. It was published in England in 1963 and I just added it to The Complete History Of James Bond Watches story on Jake's Rolex World.

The photo below is a screen capture from the 1962 James Bond movie, Dr. NO and we see Sean Connery testing his Rolex Submariner with a geiger counter. If you look closely the geiger counter looks similar the machine in the British Rolex Top-Secret ad above.

I just update The Complete History Of James Bond Watches story on Jake's Rolex World with the Top-Secret ad.

Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: Air King by Hannes...

Rolex Air King

Hannes, the co-owner of the German Rolex Forum R-L-X.de took this great shot of his Rolex Air-King.

Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: Rolex Air King By Kyle...

Rolex Air King By Kyle

Kyle is one of our youngest readers at 14, and he took this photo of his younger brother Mathew's Rolex Air King. Mathew is 12. Thanks for sharing the superb photo Kyle!!!

Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: Rolex Air King...

Rolex Air King

Hannes, the co-owner of the German Rolex forum located at R-L-X.de took this great shot of his Rolex Air King.

Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: Hannes' Explorer v. Air King...

Black & White Rolex

Hannes, the co-owner of the German Rolex forum (R-L-X.de) took this stunning shot of his Rolex Explorer next to his Rolex Air King. I can't figure out which one I like better!?!

Rolex Wrist Shot of the Day: Air King

Rolex Air King Wrist Shot

Photo Credit: Bespoke