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Tkhorsheed · 22 April 2014, 12:41 AM

Hello, this is my first time ever posting a thread (in any forum that is) and I hope someone can help me with some question that I have. I inherited some of my dad's watches and I was wondering if someone can shed some light on this certain Rolex. It was a gift from the police force for my father when he retired. It has the logo or seal of the Public Security of The Ministry of Interior carved inside of it. Can anyone please give me general information about the watch itself. It was given to my father 33 years ago.
Thank you.

Sorry about the picture. I took it with my iPhone.

southtexas · 22 April 2014, 11:33 AM

We can give you more info if you take the bands off and tell us what is written on the case on each side.

Looks nice from first glance. I'm not familiar with the hands, maybe someone more knowledgeable will be along.

soundserious · 22 April 2014, 12:49 PM

Looks like exactly what's printed on the dial...an air-king with a logo dial

34mm, automatic movement in stainless steel case

Nice watch!

joe100 · 22 April 2014, 01:09 PM

It's an AirKing 5500 movement caliber 1520. Judging by the dial, it's an extremely late 1970s through 1980s date. All looks original to me.

Is the dial silver? Silver 5500s tend to photograph a gold color in certain lighting I've noticed. If it's silver the dial code is DL10.

The Rolex Air-King has one of the most complex histories of any Rolex model spanning nearly 70 years of continuous production. During the Second World War, Rolex would supply their SpeedKing or other specified model on credit to British POWs. As the war drew to a close, Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf, chose to honor the RAF pilots of the Battle of Britain with a series of aviation themed watches. The "Air" series included the Air-Lion, Air-Giant, Air-Tiger, and of course the Air-King. Today, only the Air-King remains.

The 5500 was introduced in 1957 and used a caliber 1520 or 1530 movement. The 1520 was either 17 (US market) or 26 jewels. The 1530 had 17, 25 or 26 jewel variants. The movement type was denoted on the dial with the text Precision or no text for the 1520 and Super Precision for the 1530. Many dials were used during the long 37 year production run

NukeMan · 23 April 2014, 04:52 AM

Thanks for the lesson Joe! Another day on TRF, another thing learnt!

22 April 2014, 11:33 AM	#2
southtexas 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Great State of TX Posts: 5,691	We can give you more info if you take the bands off and tell us what is written on the case on each side. Looks nice from first glance. I'm not familiar with the hands, maybe someone more knowledgeable will be along. __________________ Forty six & 2 are just ahead of me. Follow me on Instagram @ccrolex

22 April 2014, 01:09 PM	#4
joe100 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Joe Location: New Mexico Watch: Explorer Posts: 12,753	It's an AirKing 5500 movement caliber 1520. Judging by the dial, it's an extremely late 1970s through 1980s date. All looks original to me. Is the dial silver? Silver 5500s tend to photograph a gold color in certain lighting I've noticed. If it's silver the dial code is DL10. The Rolex Air-King has one of the most complex histories of any Rolex model spanning nearly 70 years of continuous production. During the Second World War, Rolex would supply their SpeedKing or other specified model on credit to British POWs. As the war drew to a close, Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf, chose to honor the RAF pilots of the Battle of Britain with a series of aviation themed watches. The "Air" series included the Air-Lion, Air-Giant, Air-Tiger, and of course the Air-King. Today, only the Air-King remains. The 5500 was introduced in 1957 and used a caliber 1520 or 1530 movement. The 1520 was either 17 (US market) or 26 jewels. The 1530 had 17, 25 or 26 jewel variants. The movement type was denoted on the dial with the text Precision or no text for the 1520 and Super Precision for the 1530. Many dials were used during the long 37 year production run __________________ It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy. -TRF Member 6982-

22 April 2014, 12:49 PM	#3
soundserious "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: usofmfa Posts: 3,157	Looks like exactly what's printed on the dial...an air-king with a logo dial 34mm, automatic movement in stainless steel case Nice watch!

23 April 2014, 04:52 AM	#5
NukeMan "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Real Name: Jonas Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 988	Thanks for the lesson Joe! Another day on TRF, another thing learnt!

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