Vintage Air King identification Help

[Berner_watches]

Hi all,

This is my first post on Rolex Forums and I hope I am posting this in the correct place. I have a friend who has an old Rolex (from Grandfather) that has really been beaten up that I would to help with identifying it.

I think it's real because: it was (allegedly) in the family since it was bought (late 50's, early 60's), and people who are alive now remember it for at least 50 years. It was also supposedly serviced around 25 years ago by official Rolex service center.

The watch was worn for a few years without a crystal before it stopped working, then the crystal was replaced and a new bracelet bought from rolex service centre. There has been some heavy polishing and there are no serial numbers between the lugs.

What I think:
- its a Air King 6552 from late 50's
- or an OP 6565

What concerns me:
- The lack of any printing remnants on the face
- The lack of serial numbers
- I have not seen the combination of the 3,6,9 indices with the oddly shaped other indices
- The dauphine hands rather than stick or alpha hands (may have been changed)

What makes me optimistic (I could be very wrong):
- The story (also that it was supposedly take to rolex for service at one stage)
- the case shape
- the 3,6,9 indices look good
- the second hand looks good for AK 6552

I know it doesn't look great and I have no personal attachment to the watch (it is a friends), I am simply interested in giving him and his father more information on his grandfather's watch.

I would appreciate if anyone more knowledgeable than me has an opinion or could point me in a direction to do more research.

Thanks all

[AJMarcus]

I’ve not seen anything like that dial nor the lack of even partial markings on the case between the lugs where the serial should be. Either everything’s been polished off or it’s some kind of Frankenized OP. I’ll let the experts opine.

[carl5]

Couldn't read all but could have been a nice but its very old and faded already.

[Mbalce]

Can you have someone open it up? A good look at the movement should tell you a lot.


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[77T]

Originally Posted by Berner_watches

Hi all,



This is my first post on Rolex Forums and I hope I am posting this in the correct place. I have a friend who has an old Rolex (from Grandfather) that has really been beaten up that I would to help with identifying it.



I think it's real because: it was (allegedly) in the family since it was bought (late 50's, early 60's), and people who are alive now remember it for at least 50 years. It was also supposedly serviced around 25 years ago by official Rolex service center.



The watch was worn for a few years without a crystal before it stopped working, then the crystal was replaced and a new bracelet bought from rolex service centre. There has been some heavy polishing and there are no serial numbers between the lugs.



What I think:

- its a Air King 6552 from late 50's

- or an OP 6565



What concerns me:

- The lack of any printing remnants on the face

- The lack of serial numbers

- I have not seen the combination of the 3,6,9 indices with the oddly shaped other indices

- The dauphine hands rather than stick or alpha hands (may have been changed)



What makes me optimistic (I could be very wrong):

- The story (also that it was supposedly take to rolex for service at one stage)

- the case shape

- the 3,6,9 indices look good

- the second hand looks good for AK 6552



I know it doesn't look great and I have no personal attachment to the watch (it is a friends), I am simply interested in giving him and his father more information on his grandfather's watch.



I would appreciate if anyone more knowledgeable than me has an opinion or could point me in a direction to do more research.



Thanks all

I think the best information you could give your friend is this: the watch is unlike any Rolex and needs validation at the RSC.

It has been fiddled with, the dial replaced or refinished, and who knows what else inside.


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[offrdmania]

That dial has been washed

[GGGMT]

Washed indeed! Nasty!


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[Thuilln]

Worn without a cristal??

[Widows Son]

Originally Posted by Thuilln

Worn without a cristal??

That's what I was thinking!!! Wonder why the hands weren't torn off!!!?????

[dhknola]

I kind of love it. Definitely washed but cool sterile dial.

[Woody]

If you can have the case back removed (by someone who has a Rolex case back tool) then it will give you the model number and (provided the watch was manufactured before the early 70s) the year and quarter of manufacture (e.g. 68 II = second quarter of 1968). As others have said the reference should also be shown on the movement - that will give you further information to validate the case back info. Good luck.