Air King - Rugged?

[entropydave]

In my opinion (and as an AK owner) I think it is the most "honest" Rolex out there too - after all - how many owners of YMs actually attend yatch regattas so frequently they need the 10 minute count down - or indeed divers who actually NEED a Rolex sub or SD these days. Most buy their watch because they like the look of them (which is totally fair enough) - I am lusting so badly for a sub or SD but it would look totally ridiculous on my wrist - I am 5' 6" with skinny wrists and have absolutely NO intention of ever going diving - doesn't stop me wanting one, but it does stop me buying one - I';d rather spend the £5000 on a guitar which I would use and appreciate.
I absolutely love the timeless quality of the AK, and it's size and movement and accuracy to about 1/2 sec per day. There is no pretention about it at all.
A true "tool watch" for the majority of us that need to measure "time", accurately, discreetly and reliably for our workaday lives

[Downing]

There's not a lot of published info on the AK, and what Zac said above pretty much sums it up.

Rolex beefed up the AK bracelet and clasp last year.

[Tony-GB]

I love the AK. It's just too small for me. I always think of it as a Porsche 944- Generally perceived as not quite the real McCoy unless you are educated in that field.

[entropydave]

Originally Posted by Tony-GB

I love the AK. It's just too small for me. I always think of it as a Porsche 944- Generally perceived as not quite the real McCoy unless you are educated in that field.

Ouch... have to disagree with this one! For me it is very much "the real thing" and also if anyone spots you wearing one they know it's the real thing as replicas onlty seem to be made of other models.
I would liken it to the original 911!!

[buz-lh]

Originally Posted by Tony-GB

I love the AK. It's just too small for me. I always think of it as a Porsche 944- Generally perceived as not quite the real McCoy unless you are educated in that field.

Well, the 944 didn't have a Porsce drivetrain. The A/K is definitely Rolex through and through.

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by gmt 16750

I think you'll find people either love or hate the AK mainly due to the size but I'd bet a lot of 'haters' have never even tried one on - the watch may be 'only' 34mm but it wears very well on the wrist and along 99.9% of AK owners - I love mine

Nice Watch, Neil.Especially the Date Model, which I think is quite rare.

Are they not 36mm?

[Widows Son]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

I love the look of the old-style AK:


(Pic from my Photobucket).

That's my baby right there!!!!! Mine's a 1991 model.

[Dalton]

Originally Posted by buz-lh

Well, the 944 didn't have a Porsce drivetrain. The A/K is definitely Rolex through and through.

what drivetrain did it have? Was it Audi? I'm not sure but I think it was built by Porsche. The car was originally designed and built for Audi, by Porsche, and it's often perceived as a half breed, but I dont think it got the Audi Drivetrain since they backed out at the last minute. If you're refererring to the Porsche Flat 6 then, you're right, the 944 didn't get that, but the 4 cylinder in it and transmission, were Porsche all the way. I should check this info again.

[Wolfgang427]

Originally Posted by buz-lh

Well, the 944 didn't have a Porsce drivetrain. The A/K is definitely Rolex through and through.

I agree with you on the Air-King , but disagree on the 944. Having owned one back in the early 80's I can tell you that it was indeed 100% Porsche engine.(half the engine of a 928 to be precise). You must be thinking of the 924 which had the VW/Audi engine and was the Porsche wanabee.

[entropydave]

..and just realised another thing... are they not the longest production-line model from Rolex? The sub came in in 1953 but AKs came into the market in the 40s?

[Marrk]

I owned a 1991 944 S2. My brother owns a 944, as well.

With all due respect, you gentlemen are confused. The 944 was a front engine, inline 4 cylinder liquid cooled Porsche — all Porsche. The similar-looking 924 was marketed with an Audi engine.

The 944 gained little respect among hardcore Porsche-philes because — for want of a better way to say it — it was not a 911 (rear engine, air cooled, etc.).

Originally Posted by Dalton

what drivetrain did it have? Was it Audi? I'm not sure but I think it was built by Porsche. The car was originally designed and built for Audi, by Porsche, and it's often perceived as a half breed, but I dont think it got the Audi Drivetrain since they backed out at the last minute. If you're refererring to the Porsche Flat 6 then, you're right, the 944 didn't get that, but the 4 cylinder in it and transmission, were Porsche all the way. I should check this info again.

[gmt 16750]

Originally Posted by Hammer

Nice Watch, Neil.Especially the Date Model, which I think is quite rare.

Are they not 36mm?

Hi Hammer, the AKD is around 35mm diameter if I remember correctly. (I'm far too lazy to go and measure it )
Cheers - Neil.

[f16570]

The AK is awesome when you see it.

[Numismatist]

For some reason I can't disconnect Air-King from AirStream trailers and that image connection ruins it for me. I do acknowledge that it is a fine looking watch.

[Tony-GB]

Originally Posted by entropydave

Ouch... have to disagree with this one! For me it is very much "the real thing" and also if anyone spots you wearing one they know it's the real thing as replicas onlty seem to be made of other models.
I would liken it to the original 911!!

Hi Dave

As I said, "I always think of it as a Porsche 944- Generally perceived as not quite the real McCoy unless you are educated in that field."

The AK is all Rolex, I didn't mean otherwise. But it has the reputation of being a "poor man's" Rolex. The Porsche 944 is the same: a "poor man's" Porsche. I suspect because of it's conception is based on the 924.

A few years ago I had a 944 Turbo S, a very rare car & whenever anyone, & I mean everyone that asked me about it always without fail they would say "...but it's not a proper Porsche though, is it...?"

The AK is all Rolex, but I don't think the public sees it that way.

I suppose I have confused the issue by using a car analogy, but I was trying to illustrate the AK public image.

[Tony-GB]

Originally Posted by buz-lh

Well, the 944 didn't have a Porsce drivetrain. The A/K is definitely Rolex through and through.

When Porsche bought the 924 project from the VW/Audi group it developed the straight four engine. The early 944's had the 924 engine, but the 944 quickly became all Porsche.

[Tony-GB]

Originally Posted by Dalton

what drivetrain did it have? Was it Audi? I'm not sure but I think it was built by Porsche. The car was originally designed and built for Audi, by Porsche, and it's often perceived as a half breed, but I dont think it got the Audi Drivetrain since they backed out at the last minute. If you're refererring to the Porsche Flat 6 then, you're right, the 944 didn't get that, but the 4 cylinder in it and transmission, were Porsche all the way. I should check this info again.

VW wanted to build a sports car & commissioned Porsche but found the costs were too prohibitive. They allowed Porsche to use the VW/Audi parts bin & the 924 originally had an Audi van engine. When the project was aborted, Porsche bought the project from VW & intended to use the 924 as a launch pad for affordable Porsche ownership. So someone buys a 924, then as they earn more, a 944 & then a 928. This was because at the time the MD's at Porsche wanted to kill off the air cooled 911. But the public wouldn't let the 911 die & instead the 928 was killed off.

The 944 eventually became the 968, but was a sales flop as it was launched in the recession of the 90's & was basically a 944 with a nosejob (and a butt tweak) & people thought it was overpriced, so Porsche designed the Boxster as it's replacement, still trying to kill off the air cooled engine.

Other Porsche/VW collaborations were the 914 (VW) & 916 (Porsche) and of course the Toureg (VW) & Cayenne.

Porsche also have just bought a 20% stake in VW/Audi & I understand there is a power struggle as Porsche tries to buy the whole VW/Audi group which would include Seat; Skoda & Bentley.

Oh yeah, the Rolex Air King is a superb watch, but I just think it a wee bit small. It should be available in 39mm!!!