Rolex Air King

[bobrhess]

I bought a Rolex Air King around 1985 at the SCI Convention in Las Vegas,NV at a highest bidder log in auction. I paid about $900 for this watch (the 1st Rolex I have ever owned/purchased)and would like this membership to give me an estimate of it's value. I have had one cleaning done on this watch and even after that, the watch runs about 12 seconds fast a day. So I am looking for someone in this membership of Rolex owners/lovers to help me find a good Rolex repair shop in which I may use to send in my GREAT watch for cleaning and repair(if necessary) to get it in absolute tip top shape for another 20+ years and to keep perfect time (within 2 seconds a month)! The last repair (so
called!) station cost me over $650 and couldn't give me a plus time of better than 12s a day! I will not tell it's name , but it is still in operation in Glendale,CA
and after two returns there to get my Beautiful Rolex Timepiece to show the correct time, it still is gaining time of over 12 seconds a day!
The Rolex is a AK stainless with bracelet # 78350 and another number of 19 after it and it has a number 557 on the inside of the bracelet. I do not know the serial number of the watch, as I have never been able to see it!

Any help from you Rolex membership would be extremely helpful and appreciated!

bobrhess
bobrhess@yahoo.com

[Tools]

There are plenty of reputable shops in the LA area. You even have a Rolex Service Center in Beverly Hills and a Boutique Rolex Dealer at the Southcoast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

Our own Vanessa works out of Newport Beach. http://www.jewelersontime.com/service.html

However, nobody will get your Air King to be accurate within 2 seconds a month.. 2 seconds a day is more likely.

[RollieVerde]

I'd send it to an AD, where they will make it perfect and warranty it for 2 years. My father's Air King was purchased new in 1979, and was just passed on to me after his death. My AD sent it to RSC in NYC, and they did an excellent job w/ a 6 week turnaround (and this was last Xmas). It will be costly, but the watch should last you another couple of decades. I also, based on what I've read and a brief interaction where she answered a question for me, would think Vanessa mentioned about would be a good choice as well.

[Old Expat Beast]

Got a photo we can see? Even if you send it in to Rolex for servicing, it will likely come back running around 2 to 4 seconds a day fast or slow.

[Sublover2166]

Send to Rikki in Florida. He is a magician and will perform magic on your watch for a reasonable price and fast turnaround.

[Rolexmarc]

Originally Posted by Tools

There are plenty of reputable shops in the LA area. You even have a Rolex Service Center in Beverly Hills and a Boutique Rolex Dealer at the Southcoast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

Our own Vanessa works out of Newport Beach. http://www.jewelersontime.com/service.html

However, nobody will get your Air King to be accurate within 2 seconds a month.. 2 seconds a day is more likely.

The website only states "warranty our work for one year". ??

[joe100]

A one year warranty is about standard. We don't do valuations here btw. Vanessa will take care of you and she's close

[77T]

Bob - there won't be a way to achieve that level of accuracy in a mechanical movement that's almost 30 years old. Even new ones couldn't do it.

Quartz movements will be much closer to that - so maybe a vintage Rolex Oysterquartz is in your future

[joe100]

My 1985 5500 is within Cosc secs but just barely and that's an oddity. Within a couple seconds a month? You'll need a thermocompensated quartz for that