Air-King has crown guards for..

[inadeje]

Fake news - the case is not GMT derived…

[Jpccarguy]

Originally Posted by Henrimontgomery

It’s not “oh we have thousand of spare case”.

It’s “we can produce such items because our lines of production and people are trained for it. Thus less variations = more dedicated lines = more profit.

+1

No different from ending the Hulk and the Smurf, and replacing both dials with black. Save money, make more watches, reduce variety & interest. IMHO

[JimSnyder]

I have been a fan of the new Air King since it came out. I like what they did with the dial but I wish they had not changed the case and size.

[underpar]

When we debating the revamping one of the most disrespected references in the history of the brand, is there really of a chance that the new releases were well received?

[askdanny]

They made a mistake. On Hodinkee Insta post they rephrased their comparison to the GMT:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CbxGNAFs...dium=copy_link

[77T]

Shouldn’t believe a Hodinkee article since the AirKing case was never a Milgauss case design - it was an OP derived midcase.

The new design is not the same at a GMT except by saying they both have crown guards.

But one thing is certain…at $7,400 it is the new lowest cost Rolex Tool watch with crown guards.


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[karleone]

It’s not the GMT case and far from it! A complete and new specific case.

[travisb]

Definitely not a GMT case. Regardless, the new AK does nothing for me.
I would have liked to see a return of the 3,6,9 Explorer style dial.

[Gerardus]

I like my 116900 in the MG case, with the old movement and solid WG 3-6-9 (gave also one to my eldest son).
The new release is nice anyway.

[mountainjogger]

Sorry OP, but completely disagree with you. Not the same case.

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by 77T

Shouldn’t believe a Hodinkee article since the AirKing case was never a Milgauss case design - it was an OP derived midcase.

The new design is not the same at a GMT except by saying they both have crown guards.

But one thing is certain…at $7,400 it is the new lowest cost Rolex Tool watch with crown guards.


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Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are saying...but the Air King prior to last week used the exact same case, movement and bezel as the current Milgauss.

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[offrdmania]

Since the Airking case is smaller, I wonder if Rolex is testing the waters to see if people like the smaller crown guard case and if so they might bring out a smaller Sub like how Tudor brought out the BB58

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Since the Airking case is smaller, I wonder if Rolex is testing the waters to see if people like the smaller crown guard case and if so they might bring out a smaller Sub like how Tudor brought out the BB58

Is the new Air King case really significantly smaller than the current Sub? I don't think so and I also don't think Rolex does they type of testing the waters you describe...at least not on an effort to see what people want.
The AK has never really been popular but has been around unchanged for what?...15 years? The bright color OP 41s were huge hits and they stopped making them.

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[offrdmania]

The old Airking used the same case as the Milgauss which technically measures out to 39mm even though they list it at 40. Did the dimensions of this new one change or is it still 39mm?
The 116900 AirKing has only been out since 2016

[jitdc]

I like the overall design and color splash. The crown guards add to improve the sport look overall of the watch as well. I’m still not entirely sure what one would actually use this for as a tool watch. But aesthetically I think it’s a nice looking watch.


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[zengineer]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

The old Airking used the same case as the Milgauss which technically measures out to 39mm even though they list it at 40. Did the dimensions of this new one change or is it still 39mm?
The 116900 AirKing has only been out since 2016

Yes, I was thinking of the Milgauss being 15 years running in it's current form +/- some dial colors.

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[Tdorb32]

Originally Posted by Nikrnic

Isn't it a completely new case and thinner than the Gmt? Looks more like a 5 dgt Sub.

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+1 Spot on!

[Hemdog]

Originally Posted by telesquire

Who says its the same case as the GMT? It has different contoured crown guards.....





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/thread

[CarlOver]

Well, others have already stated the obvious that it’s not the GMT II case. Same block of SS can be machined into both the GMT II and Air King so they get some efficiencies on the production side.

[bradyb]

Always reminds me of this.

[jstan9]

Originally Posted by winst

Honestly, what’s this - Amateur Hour? I think you’ll find it’s to stop the Air Stewardesses’ Bra Straps / Thong Straps catching on the crown of the Pilot’s Air King! (Allegedly)

I knew there was an answer!

[Vesper Lynd]

Whether it has crown guards or not, for me it will remain the ugly duckling of Rolex. I would leave out numbers 3, 6, 9 and I would put 15, 30, 45.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by zengineer

I think it may be the same, that GMT pic is taken at an upward angle .

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I think the thread is a fail.

I’m not sure about the upward angle.

But do you think the lugs are similar?

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by Andad

I think the thread is a fail.

I’m not sure about the upward angle.

But do you think the lugs are similar?

I only spent about 3 seconds looking so probably not.

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[77T]

Originally Posted by zengineer

I only spent about 3 seconds looking so probably not.

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Originally Posted by Andad

I think the thread is a fail.

I’m not sure about the upward angle.

But do you think the lugs are similar?

I rethought the matter - while we agree the AK & GMT crown guards (and possibly lugs) are different, the blanks could be identical stampings.

Then the early machining could be identical. But the AK blanks would get a different final machining step to yield those different midcase crown guards and lugs.

So OP could be right about a cost saving midcase utilization step is in play (noting that 90+% of an AK & GMT midcase is same).


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[dannyp]

Originally Posted by 77T

I rethought the matter - while we agree the AK & GMT crown guards (and possibly lugs) are different, the blanks could be identical stampings.

Then the early machining could be identical. But the AK blanks would get a different final machining step to yield those different midcase crown guards and lugs.

So OP could be right about a cost saving midcase utilization step is in play (noting that 90+% of an AK & GMT midcase is same).


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Are the dials on the two the same size? AK has a narrower bezel, so if the outside dimensions are both a true 40, then the inside would have to be bored out more.

I think it's fair to say that Rolex is moving away from the economies of scale it once availed itself of.

20 years ago, there were basically three 36mm+ case designs: DJ/DD/Exp; Sub/SD/Exp II/GMT/YM; Daytona. OPD, OP TT/PM, and AK all shared the same 34mm case. And the 26-31mm watches shared a single design for each size, across model ranges.

Today, just about every Professional model that once shared the same basic 40mm silhouette has changed sizes/shapes. Larger DJ/DD have been added that are different sizes from one another. Even the Explorer no longer uses the same case as the DJ/OP/DD 36mm.

[77T]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Are the dials on the two the same size? AK has a narrower bezel, so if the outside dimensions are both a true 40, then the inside would have to be bored out more.

I think it's fair to say that Rolex is moving away from the economies of scale it once availed itself of.

20 years ago, there were basically three 36mm+ case designs: DJ/DD/Exp; Sub/SD/Exp II/GMT/YM; Daytona. OPD, OP TT/PM, and AK all shared the same 34mm case. And the 26-31mm watches shared a single design for each size, across model ranges.

Today, just about every Professional model that once shared the same basic 40mm silhouette has changed sizes/shapes. Larger DJ/DD have been added that are different sizes from one another. Even the Explorer no longer uses the same case as the DJ/OP/DD 36mm.

Good questions, for which I don’t have an answer.

The cases could be milled inside for the dimensions needed in either model with spacers used if the movement mounting, dial mounting, etc. required it for the smaller movement.

But the outer dimensions of a case could be the same with different bezel assemblies as long as the bezel was killed to fit the flange on the midcase.

I was really only rethinking the OP’s premise of the same midcase.


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[snyde]

Cosmetic


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[Spartacus]

I don’t see 3 dots on the crown…

[Nav01L]

Originally Posted by Maxy

..a very simple reason. I posted long back when Air-King used the 369 gold markers as Rolex always tries to use parts for multiple watches at same(but many didn't like the post). Once they ran through their stock, they moved to lumed 369 as they did with Explorer . Now, once they ran through the cases for discontinued Milguass, they didn't make new case for Air-King but instead are using the same case GMT Master II and that's how they ended up having crown guards for Air-King. It was not some high design meeting to include crown guards for AirKing but just using the same case from another watch's extra stock and using them here. Wow, this has to be most disappointing reason to see crown guards in Air-King.

I know folks will again think am attacking Rolex but this is stupid to stop using Milguass case and then start using GMT Master II case for a watch not related to them. Rolex again proved that Air-King is not their main focus, making it from leftover parts.

First “new” AK was indeed a parts bin dive, but the new one has a dedicated case, it is not common with any other model.