Air King 1002 v 5500

[Gecko10]

Can anyone tell me the basic differences between the Ref. 1002 and 5500 Air Kings? I think the 1002 may use a 1560 cal. while the 5500 uses the 1520. If so, what are the basic differences between those two movements?

Thanks guys!!!

[joe100]

I just happened to see this thread searching for something else. There never was an Air-King 1002. There was only the 5500. The 1002 was called the Oyster Perpetual and used a chronometer certified movement (1560) while the 5500 airking used either a 1520 or less common 1530 caliber.

The watches are both 34mm, essentially use all the same parts, except the 1002 has a 1560 and is COSC, and the 5500 says "Air King" on the dial, uses a 1520 or 30, and isn't COSC. Confusing huh? Basically one is cosc, the other isn't, those are the differences, but only one is an AK, the 5500.

You'll often see the 1002 reference quoted as an AK reference, but it wasn't. The confusion comes from the fact that the 5500 used case backs stamped "1002". Rolex used the 1002 caseback for just about anything using a 34mm case. The exception being the 5500 Explorer which had a 5500 caseback. Now some 5500 AKs have 5500 casebacks, but they're almost always early references, say before 1970, and that's on the late side. I'm not saying that all early AKs had 5500 casebacks, but a handful did, but most said 1002. Same part, just different stampings.

[scotrick]

That's pretty good Joe!

The stampings on mine match up well with your info:

Reference/lower dial marking........Cal......Serial......Ref and Date Inside caseback
5500/..........."Super Precision"..........1530.....419XXX.....5500/ IV 58
5500/..........No "Precision" script.......1520....12XXXXX....1002/ II 65
5500/.............."Precision"................1520...20 XXXXX....1002/ II 69
5501/.............."Precision"................1520....I llegible.....1005/ I 70

Regards,
Rick

Originally Posted by joe100

I just happened to see this thread searching for something else. There never was an Air-King 1002. There was only the 5500. The 1002 was called the Oyster Perpetual and used a chronometer certified movement (1560) while the 5500 airking used either a 1520 or less common 1530 caliber.

The watches are both 34mm, essentially use all the same parts, except the 1002 has a 1560 and is COSC, and the 5500 says "Air King" on the dial, uses a 1520 or 30, and isn't COSC. Confusing huh? Basically one is cosc, the other isn't, those are the differences, but only one is an AK, the 5500.

You'll often see the 1002 reference quoted as an AK reference, but it wasn't. The confusion comes from the fact that the 5500 used case backs stamped "1002". Rolex used the 1002 caseback for just about anything using a 34mm case. The exception being the 5500 Explorer which had a 5500 caseback. Now some 5500 AKs have 5500 casebacks, but they're almost always early references, say before 1970, and that's on the late side. I'm not saying that all early AKs had 5500 casebacks, but a handful did, but most said 1002. Same part, just different stampings.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by joe100

..... Rolex used the 1002 caseback for just about anything using a 34mm case. The exception being the 5500 Explorer which had a 5500 caseback. ....

Yes, the 1002 case back is seen on many 34mm Rolex watches. It's certainly seen on some 5500 Explorers too. I've had two 5500 Explorers, a splendid early gilt example (now sold) and a ratty dress 5500 Explorer (Canadian issue some folk think) that's still with me. Each of these watches has a 1002 stamped case back with a date code that aligns nicely with the case serial number

[joe100]

Originally Posted by Paul

Yes, the 1002 case back is seen on many 34mm Rolex watches. It's certainly seen on some 5500 Explorers too. I've had two 5500 Explorers, a splendid early gilt example (now sold) and a ratty dress 5500 Explorer (Canadian issue some folk think) that's still with me. Each of these watches has a 1002 stamped case back with a date code that aligns nicely with the case serial number

Of course.

If it fit, they used it.

All I was saying is that the 5500 casebacks were typically only seen on the 5500 Explorers

[nboyer]

Thank you for the explanation. Very interesting, if not confusing, but clears up some questions I had about my watch. Cheers. -Norm

Originally Posted by joe100

I just happened to see this thread searching for something else. There never was an Air-King 1002. There was only the 5500. The 1002 was called the Oyster Perpetual and used a chronometer certified movement (1560) while the 5500 airking used either a 1520 or less common 1530 caliber.

The watches are both 34mm, essentially use all the same parts, except the 1002 has a 1560 and is COSC, and the 5500 says "Air King" on the dial, uses a 1520 or 30, and isn't COSC. Confusing huh? Basically one is cosc, the other isn't, those are the differences, but only one is an AK, the 5500.

You'll often see the 1002 reference quoted as an AK reference, but it wasn't. The confusion comes from the fact that the 5500 used case backs stamped "1002". Rolex used the 1002 caseback for just about anything using a 34mm case. The exception being the 5500 Explorer which had a 5500 caseback. Now some 5500 AKs have 5500 casebacks, but they're almost always early references, say before 1970, and that's on the late side. I'm not saying that all early AKs had 5500 casebacks, but a handful did, but most said 1002. Same part, just different stampings.