The Rolex Air King (Past and present)

[scotrick]

Originally Posted by speelat

Had this in my family from new, have receipt to show it was bought in 1959 for £54, this conflicts with what I read regarding the 5700 not being produced until the 1960s. I have never seen one like it with the same face. I have the original side riveted bracelet too.

Showing up now, beautiful watch!

[kbonde]

Hi all,
Can anybody help me out with some info on this?
i was told its from the 60's, and 5700 ref, but i cannot find any information regarding this type.
It seems to be in mint condition, so i figure most have been replaced / refurnished but i am no expert in that, so any help will be appreciated. ( also it doesnt say Oy P as most of the air kings do that i have googled )

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by kbonde

Hi all,
Can anybody help me out with some info on this?
i was told its from the 60's, and 5700 ref, but i cannot find any information regarding this type.
It seems to be in mint condition, so i figure most have been replaced / refurnished but i am no expert in that, so any help will be appreciated. ( also it doesnt say Oy P as most of the air kings do that i have googled )

More likely a 5701. You can find the model number on the side of the case if you take off the strap on the top side of the case. It should say Air-King-Date, and Oyster Perpetual, so that looks to be a refinished dial.

Here's a correct one: https://www.rolexforums.com/showpost...&postcount=248

[kbonde]

Thank you very much for the help!
Is it still possible to buy the dials for the 5701 then? Where to look?

[balveren]

Can anyone tell me about the Air King with the Dominos TM on the dial?
Was it part of a dominos rewards scheme?
They don't seem to sell for a discount but surely the trademark lowers the value?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by balveren

Can anyone tell me about the Air King with the Dominos TM on the dial?
Was it part of a dominos rewards scheme?
They don't seem to sell for a discount but surely the trademark lowers the value?

Here you go . . . https://www.thrillist.com/gear/the-s...-dominos-rolex

[Old Expat Beast]

The Air-King-Date is quite uncommon so finding a dial would be difficult. Try eBay. Did you check the model number on the side of the case? There should be serial number on the other side, too, which can give you a rough idea of age.

[kbonde]

Okay, to bad, i think i might have overpayed then, but i really like the way it looks. How much do you think it mathers price wise that it is not the real dial?
It actually says 5700, and its says something like 858910 or something bit difficult to see for me, the first number might be something else 5 or 3..

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by kbonde

Okay, to bad, i think i might have overpayed then, but i really like the way it looks. How much do you think it mathers price wise that it is not the real dial?
It actually says 5700, and its says something like 858910 or something bit difficult to see for me, the first number might be something else 5 or 3..

The 5700 was the all-steel version of the steel and gold 5701 Air-King-Date (and Explorer Date, but that's another story), so someone has probably added the gold bezel and crown to your case. The dial is maybe about a third the value of the watch, broadly speaking, in this case. If you like it, just keep it and wear it, and enjoy it. Can't help you with the serial number without more accuracy.

[kbonde]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

The 5700 was the all-steel version of the steel and gold 5701 Air-King-Date (and Explorer Date, but that's another story), so someone has probably added the gold bezel and crown to your case. The dial is maybe about a third the value of the watch, broadly speaking, in this case. If you like it, just keep it and wear it, and enjoy it. Can't help you with the serial number without more accuracy.

Ok, thank you again for the help, appriciated

[carlsid]

Here is my Air King. Classy, elegant and timeless. I'm a big fan!

rsz_11img_2687.jpg

rsz_1img_2686.jpg

rsz_3img_2732.jpg

[JJCPT7]

Originally Posted by carlsid

Here is my Air King. Classy, elegant and timeless. I'm a big fan!

Attachment 878549

Attachment 878550

Attachment 878551

Wow! That is classy. I am looking for the same one with a date. What year is this model? Where did you purchase it?

Thanks!

[JJCPT7]

Hi,

First post!

I am looking for the watch that Tom Cruise wore in the 1988 movie "Cocktail". I believe it was a Rolex Air King Date, silver with silver dial. 36mm. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank

[Birky101]

My 14000 circa 1997 says hello

Sent from my Harrier Tab from EE using Tapatalk

[scotrick]

Nice watches all around lads!

Birky are you a fan of the new 116900?

JJCPT7, take a look at the 5700 if you like the classic Air King look.

Cheers,
Rick

[Birky101]

Originally Posted by scotrick

Nice watches all around lads!

Birky are you a fan of the new 116900?

JJCPT7, take a look at the 5700 if you like the classic Air King look.

Cheers,
Rick

Hi @scotrick I think the new 116900 is imo the worst watch Rolex have produced
To me the 14000 has it all

Sent from my Harrier Tab from EE using Tapatalk

[scotrick]

It is certainly a departure from the old Air King and I don't blame you for thinking so!

[Birky101]

Originally Posted by scotrick

It is certainly a departure from the old Air King and I don't blame you for thinking so!

Yes they should have given that model a different name and left the Air King as it was after all it's one of the oldest models and is so classic
With mine I had the explorer minute and hour hands fitted and to me makes it perfect

Sent from my Harrier Tab from EE using Tapatalk

[scotrick]

Yes that looks great Birky!

The 39 mm Explorer is also nice in the new watch line-up,retains more of the classic look than the new AK.

Cheers,
Rick

[Tommygio]

Birky,

How did you go about doing the explorer hands? I have a 114200 and love it. However, i wear it when i fly and i have a tough time reading it at night. The explorer hands might solve that problem for me. Also, does retrofitting the hands do anything to the serviceability from Rolex?

Thanks

[Birky101]

Originally Posted by Tommygio

Birky,

How did you go about doing the explorer hands? I have a 114200 and love it. However, i wear it when i fly and i have a tough time reading it at night. The explorer hands might solve that problem for me. Also, does retrofitting the hands do anything to the serviceability from Rolex?

Thanks

My watchmaker supplied and fitted them but I've kept the original hands just in case

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk

[Michael Star]

My 114200 ref is a bit different than most.

[BBL]

Originally Posted by Michael Star

My 114200 ref is a bit different than most.

I really like your watch, terrific arabic numbers!

Your first post! Welcome to TRF.

[Michael Star]

Originally Posted by BBL

I really like your watch, terrific arabic numbers!

Your first post! Welcome to TRF.

Thanks!!

[joe100]

[scotrick]

That's a great old 5500 Joe. The alpha hands and Precision script dial combination is unusual, would it be mid 60's?
Cheers,
Rick
1965 No-Precision script dial with alpha hands

[joe100]

Yep, 1.3m serial, 1963.

[scotrick]

Originally Posted by joe100

Yep, 1.3m serial, 1963.

Hi Joe I wonder if that might be from 66? I I have three 65's with 1.2 m serials and 65 stamped in the case back including the 5500 pictured above without "Precision" scripted in the lower hemisphere. This is of particular interest to me because I am curious as to the time span of the 5500 dials that did not have "Super Precision" or "Precision" printed on the lower half of the dial.

Cheers,
Rick

[joe100]

Originally Posted by scotrick

Hi Joe I wonder if that might be from 66? I I have three 65's with 1.2 m serials and 65 stamped in the case back including the 5500 pictured above without "Precision" scripted in the lower hemisphere. This is of particular interest to me because I am curious as to the time span of the 5500 dials that did not have "Super Precision" or "Precision" printed on the lower half of the dial.

Cheers,
Rick

Oh sorry, I mistyped that! It is a 1966.

The Super Precision on the dial means it has a cal 1530 and the Precision or lack of Precision means 1520 calibers. The P or non P dials were market dependent. Lower jewel count USUALLY had non P, not always. Higher jewel movements had the Precision text. It gets more deep than that because it seems that different markets at different times had different dials, or maybe rolex used P dials for non-P service dials, who knows.

To really get to the heart of it, you’d have to get a sample of non P dials and see which version of the caliber 1520 is in there. A rolex watchmaker can comment on how many versions of the 1520 there are but I think there were 6.

[scotrick]

Originally Posted by joe100

Oh sorry, I mistyped that! It is a 1966.

The Super Precision on the dial means it has a cal 1530 and the Precision or lack of Precision means 1520 calibers. The P or non P dials were market dependent. Lower jewel count USUALLY had non P, not always. Higher jewel movements had the Precision text. It gets more deep than that because it seems that different markets at different times had different dials, or maybe rolex used P dials for non-P service dials, who knows.

To really get to the heart of it, you’d have to get a sample of non P dials and see which version of the caliber 1520 is in there. A rolex watchmaker can comment on how many versions of the 1520 there are but I think there were 6.

Thanks Joe you are a wealth of Air King knowledge! If I read you correctly the Precision and no-Precision script dials were produced over the same time period, which I did not realize.

Cheers,
Rick