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The Complete Guide To The Rolex Air-King
With Rolex being such a staple luxury brand, they have come out with some famous watch models, such as the Air-King. The oldest name in their catalogue, the Rolex Air-King is the homage to aviation. Created to be an aviator’s tool watch with a a beautifully constructed dial that resembles cockpit instruments, this iconic watch sits high in the collectors’ minds and within the realm of dress watches. Within this guide to the Rolex Air-King we take a look at these watches' in-depth history, as well as some famous models and why they are the watch to have, as well as some questions about this watch. For an in-depth Air-King review, read on, just don’t forget to put on your seat belt before take-off!Rolex Air-King Watches
What Is The Rolex Air-King?
The Rolex Air-King watch was originally made as a pilot’s watch as a tribute to the RAF pilots during World War II. The dial was made to be easily read while in flight, however, doesn’t feature any additional capabilities like a timing bezel or a dedicated GMT like other pilot’s watches. The latest Air-King model ref. 116900 was released as a proper aviation timepiece. Not only acting as a homage to aviation but with a 40mm case in Oystersteel, solid-link Oyster bracelet, black dial and more, this Rolex watch offers a highly legible display and an anti-magnetic case.Is Rolex Air-King Discontinued?
No, Air-King isn’t discontinued and Rolex is still making these watches. However, the Rolex Air-King was temporarily discontinued and removed from the catalogue for about 2 years in 2014 with the ref. 114234 being the last model. But then the Air-King was redesigned, revived, and re-released at Baselworld in 2016 with the ref. 116900, which got rid of the traditional Air-King styling and the 34mm case and introduced a 40mm case with magnetic protection, a bold black dial with Rolex signature green and yellow accents. Today, the Air-King is still going strong, and despite the brief halt in production, you can still find and buy the older models.
The History Of The Rolex Air-King
Making its first appearance in 1945 as part of a larger collection of Rolex watches to honour the World War II British RAF pilots in the Battle of Britain, the Air-King joined the Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, Air-Giant and other Air-themed watches. However, unlike the other Rolex Air watches, the Air-King is the only model that remains in production.The first models that bore the Air-King name boasted a classic sporty look with an elegant steel case. The first models were ref. 4925, ref. 4499 and ref. 6652 and are all now considered to be rare and very sought out by collectors.
However, Rolex doesn’t consider these early models to be the official start of the collection, and instead classifies them as standard Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches. This is because Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf originally only rolled out the Air-King as a tribute to the pilots, not knowing that it would become one of the brand’s popular collections. And not all those models included the Air-King name on their dials, but despite this, the Rolex Air-King history spans nearly eight decades with five important references.
Rolex Air-King 5500 (1958-1989)
Rolex considers ref. 5500 to be the official start of the Air-King collection, which launched in 1958 and was the fourth generation of the model. The long production history between the first 3 models and this one is what made a serious lasting impact, with a 34mm case, an austere dial design, and plain stick hands. The style and design were simple – it didn’t even feature Rolex’s signature date display.
Over the next few decades this reference of the Air-King was still at large and didn’t change much except for two different movements that were fitted. First, the cal. 1530 was fitted followed by the cal. 1520 in 1963. Despite the movements fitted, none of the Air-King ref. 5500 watches were chronometer-certified since the watch was always seen as more of a first model.
Rolex Air-King 14000 (1989-2006)
Still featuring a 34mm stainless steel case and minimalist designs, the Rolex Air-King ref. 14000 launched in 1989 with the introduction of a new movement – the Caliber 3000, which gave the watch a frequency of 28,8000VPH (Vibrations per Hour) making it powerful and reliable. We also saw the roll-out of the new synthetic crystal face. This was a big win for the Air-King, as it could now be used casually without the fear of damaging the crystal.
You could also have different dial colour options such as blue, white, black and even salmon. Although the Air-King 14000 brought some quality aspects, it still wasn’t COSC-rated, meaning even with the new movement didn’t promise the same high-standard timekeeping as some of the other Rolex watches.
Rolex updated this reference with ref. 14000M in the year 2000, the start of the new era. The Air-King 14000M featured a stronger movement – Caliber 3130, which added a Breguet over the coil and a full balance bridge. However, this new movement didn’t obtain the certification because of the production costs of submitting it for testing.
Rolex considers ref. 5500 to be the official start of the Air-King collection, which launched in 1958 and was the fourth generation of the model. The long production history between the first 3 models and this one is what made a serious lasting impact, with a 34mm case, an austere dial design, and plain stick hands. The style and design were simple – it didn’t even feature Rolex’s signature date display.
Over the next few decades this reference of the Air-King was still at large and didn’t change much except for two different movements that were fitted. First, the cal. 1530 was fitted followed by the cal. 1520 in 1963. Despite the movements fitted, none of the Air-King ref. 5500 watches were chronometer-certified since the watch was always seen as more of a first model.
Rolex Air-King 14000 (1989-2006)
Still featuring a 34mm stainless steel case and minimalist designs, the Rolex Air-King ref. 14000 launched in 1989 with the introduction of a new movement – the Caliber 3000, which gave the watch a frequency of 28,8000VPH (Vibrations per Hour) making it powerful and reliable. We also saw the roll-out of the new synthetic crystal face. This was a big win for the Air-King, as it could now be used casually without the fear of damaging the crystal.
You could also have different dial colour options such as blue, white, black and even salmon. Although the Air-King 14000 brought some quality aspects, it still wasn’t COSC-rated, meaning even with the new movement didn’t promise the same high-standard timekeeping as some of the other Rolex watches.
Rolex updated this reference with ref. 14000M in the year 2000, the start of the new era. The Air-King 14000M featured a stronger movement – Caliber 3130, which added a Breguet over the coil and a full balance bridge. However, this new movement didn’t obtain the certification because of the production costs of submitting it for testing.
The Modern Air-King 114200 (2007-2014)
In 2007, Rolex released the Air-King ref. 114200, which moved the Air-King collection into the 21st century. This new release kept most of the classic styling of the vintage sports watch but added a polished contemporary look and size to match the modern trend for larger watches.
With a more modern feel, the Air-King 114200 had a 34mm case, wider lugs and a larger dial on the wrist. This also brought a larger selection of colours for the dial, for the first time you could choose an 18k white gold fluted bezel. Alongside this, Rolex redesigned the 904L Oyster bracelet and clasp with solid links. Another big update for the 21st century – the ref. 114200 was finally COSC-certified which gave the Air-King the high quality that the rest of the Rolex watches had.
The Latest Generation: Rolex Air-King 116900 (2016-today)
Looking at the timeline of Rolex Air-King, we have a gap of 2 years, this is because Air-King was temporarily discontinued in 2014 but shortly was reimagined with a fresh new design and re-released. This new model, the Air-King 116900, kept the traditional sporty look and block numbering but gave it a modern twist with bold colour combinations.
Boasting a 40mm case and the Cal. 3131 movement, the Air-King 116900 took inspiration for its structure from the Rolex Milgauss, giving this latest generation the same anti-magnetic properties. However, this new era of the Air-King brought a black dial with striking green and yellow accents, and it’s the only piece to have the Rolex crown logo and name in two different colours.
The face of the Air-King 116900 was the perfect pilot’s watch, legible with features like Arabic 3/6/9 hour marks in 18k white gold, and the remaining hour marks in prominent white markers. With this modern twist and backed with their latest movement and technology, the Rolex Air-King ref. 116900 holds the brand's power of creating stylish tool watches that last a lifetime.
In 2007, Rolex released the Air-King ref. 114200, which moved the Air-King collection into the 21st century. This new release kept most of the classic styling of the vintage sports watch but added a polished contemporary look and size to match the modern trend for larger watches.
With a more modern feel, the Air-King 114200 had a 34mm case, wider lugs and a larger dial on the wrist. This also brought a larger selection of colours for the dial, for the first time you could choose an 18k white gold fluted bezel. Alongside this, Rolex redesigned the 904L Oyster bracelet and clasp with solid links. Another big update for the 21st century – the ref. 114200 was finally COSC-certified which gave the Air-King the high quality that the rest of the Rolex watches had.
The Latest Generation: Rolex Air-King 116900 (2016-today)
Looking at the timeline of Rolex Air-King, we have a gap of 2 years, this is because Air-King was temporarily discontinued in 2014 but shortly was reimagined with a fresh new design and re-released. This new model, the Air-King 116900, kept the traditional sporty look and block numbering but gave it a modern twist with bold colour combinations.
Boasting a 40mm case and the Cal. 3131 movement, the Air-King 116900 took inspiration for its structure from the Rolex Milgauss, giving this latest generation the same anti-magnetic properties. However, this new era of the Air-King brought a black dial with striking green and yellow accents, and it’s the only piece to have the Rolex crown logo and name in two different colours.
The face of the Air-King 116900 was the perfect pilot’s watch, legible with features like Arabic 3/6/9 hour marks in 18k white gold, and the remaining hour marks in prominent white markers. With this modern twist and backed with their latest movement and technology, the Rolex Air-King ref. 116900 holds the brand's power of creating stylish tool watches that last a lifetime.
List Of Rolex Air-King References
The history of the Air-King is a bit complicated since it first appeared in 1945 but wasn’t officially launched in 1958. Because of this the first 3 models ref 4499, ref. 4925 and ref. 6652 are technically Air-King watches but Rolex doesn’t consider them part of the collection. These are the references that you are most likely to find and came out after the official launch of the Air-King:
- Air- King Ref. 14000 (34mm, smooth bezel)
- Air-King Ref. 14010 (34mm, engine-turned bezel)
- Air-King Ref. 114200 (34mm, smooth bezel)
- Air-King Ref. 114210 (34mm, engine-turned bezel)
- Air-King Ref. 114234 (34mm, flited bezel)
- Air-King Ref. 116900 (40mm, smooth bezel)
Rolex Air-King Features
Throughout the history and with the exception of a few vintage Air-Kings, this collection has always been straightforward with the design. Although dial styles have ranged, the core functionality has remained mostly unchanged since launching. Here we’re covering some of the different features and options available with the Air-King collection.
Rolex Air-King Materials
The Air-King has always been made out of stainless steel, except for a small handful of vintage models. During the long production of the Air-King 5500, the watches were forged out of solid gold, two-tone and were even gold-capped. Then much later with the modern models like Air-King ref. 114200 saw an upgraded fluted bezel in 19k white gold. Today, Rolex uses their staple 904L stainless steel in their Air-King watches, which is extremely durable and highly corrosion-resistant.
Rolex Air-King Bezels
At first, the Air-King embraced the simple smooth bezel, and for decades smooth and some gold-fluted bezels were all that you could get. Eventually, with the Air-King ref. 14000 era we saw a change in the bezels, featuring an engine-turned bezel in addition to the 19k white gold fluted bezel. These new bezels are like marmite to collectors, either you love them or hate them. On today’s current Air-King ref. 116900 you can only get a smooth, stainless steel bezel.
Rolex Air-King Size
The Air-King was rocking the standard 34mm case sizing that was used from the official launch in 1958 until 2014. This is because when the new modern watch was released, Rolex wanted to get more in line with the 21st-century trend of things getting bigger, phones, screens, watches, etc. They released the ref. 116900 which boasted an impressive 40mm, which is large compared to the 34mm. However, even when the 34mm was used it was still considered to be large for a watch. Now, the 40mm has become the norm and many even see 36mm watches like the Rolex Datejust or the Rolex Day-Date watches to be small.
The Air-King has always been made out of stainless steel, except for a small handful of vintage models. During the long production of the Air-King 5500, the watches were forged out of solid gold, two-tone and were even gold-capped. Then much later with the modern models like Air-King ref. 114200 saw an upgraded fluted bezel in 19k white gold. Today, Rolex uses their staple 904L stainless steel in their Air-King watches, which is extremely durable and highly corrosion-resistant.
Rolex Air-King Bezels
At first, the Air-King embraced the simple smooth bezel, and for decades smooth and some gold-fluted bezels were all that you could get. Eventually, with the Air-King ref. 14000 era we saw a change in the bezels, featuring an engine-turned bezel in addition to the 19k white gold fluted bezel. These new bezels are like marmite to collectors, either you love them or hate them. On today’s current Air-King ref. 116900 you can only get a smooth, stainless steel bezel.
Rolex Air-King Size
The Air-King was rocking the standard 34mm case sizing that was used from the official launch in 1958 until 2014. This is because when the new modern watch was released, Rolex wanted to get more in line with the 21st-century trend of things getting bigger, phones, screens, watches, etc. They released the ref. 116900 which boasted an impressive 40mm, which is large compared to the 34mm. However, even when the 34mm was used it was still considered to be large for a watch. Now, the 40mm has become the norm and many even see 36mm watches like the Rolex Datejust or the Rolex Day-Date watches to be small.
Rolex Air-King Dials
The early references of the Air-King collection feature exclusively black, silver, blue or grey dials. But over time we saw new coloured dials available, like the ref. 14000 era bringing salmon and white alongside the classic colours. And today with the latest ref. 116900 we see a modern twist on the classics, with this Air-King only available with a black dial but featuring a yellow crown and green Rolex text.
Rolex Air-King Bracelets
The Air-King bracelets always match the Oyster case and are forged out of the same durable and reliable alloys. With every model in the collection being fitted in the classic 3-piece Oyster bracelet with the exception of some older models being found with the dressier Jubilee bracelet. The latest Air-King kept the same Oyster case look but made it more modern with the latest Oysterclasp with a solid link.
Rolex Air-King Movements
The Air-King movements have changed quite a bit within the different models in the collection. Since its launch in the 1950s Rolex started with the Caliber 1530, and 1520 with the earlier ref. 5500. Then moved to the Caliber 3000 in their ref. 11400 era, interestingly enough these movements weren’t COSC certified, so these watches were marked with ‘Super Precision’ or ‘Precision’ since they lacked the chronometer certification. It wasn’t until the ref. 114200 which housed the cal. 3130 that they finally got certified, and then finally came the Caliber 3131 in their latest model.
The early references of the Air-King collection feature exclusively black, silver, blue or grey dials. But over time we saw new coloured dials available, like the ref. 14000 era bringing salmon and white alongside the classic colours. And today with the latest ref. 116900 we see a modern twist on the classics, with this Air-King only available with a black dial but featuring a yellow crown and green Rolex text.
Rolex Air-King Bracelets
The Air-King bracelets always match the Oyster case and are forged out of the same durable and reliable alloys. With every model in the collection being fitted in the classic 3-piece Oyster bracelet with the exception of some older models being found with the dressier Jubilee bracelet. The latest Air-King kept the same Oyster case look but made it more modern with the latest Oysterclasp with a solid link.
Rolex Air-King Movements
The Air-King movements have changed quite a bit within the different models in the collection. Since its launch in the 1950s Rolex started with the Caliber 1530, and 1520 with the earlier ref. 5500. Then moved to the Caliber 3000 in their ref. 11400 era, interestingly enough these movements weren’t COSC certified, so these watches were marked with ‘Super Precision’ or ‘Precision’ since they lacked the chronometer certification. It wasn’t until the ref. 114200 which housed the cal. 3130 that they finally got certified, and then finally came the Caliber 3131 in their latest model.
How Much Is A Rolex Air-King?
Depending on where you go, you can find Air-King watches from a retailer or secondary markets. You can buy a brand new Rolex Air-King for between £4,000 and £12,000, this all depends on the reference model you are looking at buying. The Air-King ref. 5500 running up to the more modern ref. 11400 era are the cheaper options, averaging around £6,000. It’s the newer latest ref. 116900 which can range to be the more expensive option.Once you get into the older and vintage models, there are a lot of cheaper options and choices, such as the ref. 5500, which is the cheapest Air-King available. And with the older models, there is a lot of choice regarding style and design.
The reason why many people sought after a Rolex Air-King watch is the affordability, although still a couple thousand, it’s cheaper than most Rolex watches. It’s deemed as the ‘entry-level’ Rolex watch for buyers and collectors alike, and a good way to get in the market is to buy second-hand rather than new. Here at Ramsdens Jewellery, we offer a wide range of pre-owned Air-King watches from older references to the latest in the collection.
Collecting Rolex Air-King Watches
Because of the intricate designs and history the Air-King has, it’s a popular watch for collectors. However, the first 3 references of the Air-King are so rare to find, and since they are so sought after these are usually the hardest and most expensive models to collect.
The official first model of the collection, the Air-King 5500 is a great watch to get for collectors. This is because it’s both the least expensive Air-King reference and the most inexpensive vintage Rolex watch. The pricing of this watch makes it a great timepiece to start a Rolex collection, alongside it’s classic and timeless look.
The next watch model is the Air-King 14000 and 14000M, these watches offer a great opportunity when collecting. Because of the upgraded movements and sapphire crystals, these models are more expensive than the ref. 5500. But you have more options in terms of dial colours which makes collecting this Air-King model worth it. And you can still get a great deal on this reference when compared to other Rolex watches.
Introducing the more modern Air-King 114200 and its later models the ref. 114210 and ref. 114234, these make great collectors’ items. Mainly because these had a short run compared to the other models in the collection, and they are still affordable and easy to find on the market. There is potential for this Air-King model to rise in value, especially because this was the last generation of 34mm Air-Kings before Rolex temporarily discontinued it after 70 years in 2014.
Collecting the newest and latest model, the Air-King 116900 is easy as these are the newest and still in production, however, these will be more expensive due to the striking branded colours. After being discontinued, this Air-King made a comeback and is a great watch to collect alongside the other models.
Is the Rolex Air-King A Good Investment?
Yes, the Rolex Air-King is a great investment. Whether you are collecting the older generations or the more modern and newer references, you can get the Rolex Air-King at a reasonable price, both retail and second-hand. Some of these watches are bound to rise in value, especially the Air-King 114200 and some of the older and rarer models. And the least expensive ref. 5500 is bound to increase which will raise the return on investment. And if you buy a pre-owned Rolex watch, it’s even better for investment.
Collecting the newest and latest model, the Air-King 116900 is easy as these are the newest and still in production, however, these will be more expensive due to the striking branded colours. After being discontinued, this Air-King made a comeback and is a great watch to collect alongside the other models.
Is the Rolex Air-King A Good Investment?
Yes, the Rolex Air-King is a great investment. Whether you are collecting the older generations or the more modern and newer references, you can get the Rolex Air-King at a reasonable price, both retail and second-hand. Some of these watches are bound to rise in value, especially the Air-King 114200 and some of the older and rarer models. And the least expensive ref. 5500 is bound to increase which will raise the return on investment. And if you buy a pre-owned Rolex watch, it’s even better for investment.
How To Verify A Rolex Air-King
With buying any luxury watch it’s right to be dubious and over-cautious, especially with spending so much money. When shopping for a Rolex Air-King, always look at the details to verify that the watch is genuine and you’re not going to end up with a fake Rolex.
Look for the serial number, which is engraved on every Rolex watch and is usually on the side of the case. Other signs to look out for are the Rolex logo, the metal case back, movements, date display, design and dial quality, as well the box and papers. Rolex spends so much time making and testing that watches so a real Air-King would be up to their high standards.
Our biggest advice is to make sure you do your research and buy from a trusted and reputable seller. At Ramsdens Jewellery, all our a Rolex watches, like the Air-King, are tested for quality and verified by our watch experts before even available to buy, so you know you are getting a genuine timepiece. As well, most of our watches come with their original box and papers for that extra piece of mind. For any questions you may have about Rolex or Air-King, feel free to contact us, we’d love to help.