Rolex Air-King, one of the most underrated watches in the world?

[slus]

The mix of printed minutes and the applied 3, 6 and 9 turns me off big time. Looks like an afterthought watch to me.

[juktagt]

Not so sure on the new one, but I love my 14000-

[007timer]

The air-king has never grown on me. And it reminds me of Dominos Pizza.


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[Swashplate]

To me the styling looks like it was made for sale at Costco....

[Jetski]

I really like the older 34mm. The new one just seems cheap to me. I would like it more if it had PCL.

14000 AK percision is the play IMO

[Willows]

When I first saw the air-king, I hated it. What is going on with that dial I thought. What? No lume? What nonsense.

But for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Then I saw one in person! It just clicked. The size, the case shape, the brushed finish... it's an amazing looking watch on the wrist.

I can't wait to own one!

This thread needs more pics, please, air-king owners

[Superbri22]

Love the pop in color of the crown and the green!


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[Superbri22]

Another pic, because I love it that much.


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[captainron62]

Owner and fan here, I love mine. I would make a few changes to the dial if I were allowed, but I love the quirkiness of the piece and I love that it is different. In a sea of SUBS be a KING! I also got mine in the sweet spot before the prices went goofy. I paid below retail and no tax so I got out the door for like $5200 or $5400 I can't properly recall. I think it was deal on this watch for sure. As a Florida resident I live in bermuda shorts, Sperry's and polo shirts, the watch is a perfect casual accessory and goes well with my lifestyle.

[FreshPrince14]

Seriously considering one. Love the splash of colour

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[jlovda]

Originally Posted by juktagt

Not so sure on the new one, but I love my 14000-

This is the Air-King I remember and admire.

[RKTINC1]

I ordered mine some time ago. Waited 3 months and was a little shocked at its size and heft, I still think it is a bit thick for me but I just love it now. It looks really good with a black sweater and jeans. Fantastic casual watch.

I HOPE with all my heart they discontinue this watch once they upgrade the Milgauss. I would love for it to become a short run collectible oddity. I suspect they will replace it with something a bit sleeker at some point.

P.S. If Rolex product planning is reading these: Please build a 39mm Turn-O-Graph with a thin ceramic bezel inspired by the 1950's TOG. The current Exp1 case would be perfect for that non-date complication retro TOG.

[rbox]

better get one quick if you like the splash of color.


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[Saint-Tropez]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

Wow, this thing is getting killed in the polls. And I can see why.

"Air-King" text looks chintzy. Minute numerals every five minutes is way too busy. I don't even mind the yellow and green that much. But the big numbers and text look lame. But if you love it, then good for you!

The 'Air-King' text is an exact copy of the original font for this model....proper for this watch to say the very least. If you had not already, now you know the origin of it and its value in the Rolex line; personal preferences aside.

[Andad]

No option for:

I like it and am considering purchasing.

[Shoffma1999]

I love the Air-King and made it my first Rolex purchase this year. I love the uniqueness of it. It also looks better in person than in the stock photos. The green elements really pop. If they discontinue the 116900 I could definitely see it being a collector. It is the first Rolex to ever sport the trademark Gold Crown-Green Rolex Text on the dial. You get the anti-magnetism of the Milgauss, a perfect size 40 mm dial that will never fall out of fashion (not too small not too big), and a beautiful contrast between the brushed Oyster bracelet and the polished bezel. To me, the Air-King is the bang-for-the buck Rolex. This isn't to say I don't love the other more popular model Rolexes, but the Air-King is underrated in my opinion, and I'm loving mine. I'm definitely glad I went this direction for my first Rolex purchase rather than a Submariner, Submariner Date, or Explorer I, all of which I like, but don't possess the same individuality of the Air-King. Just my two cents.

[peterp]

Nice but to big for my wrist.

[Garmin935]

Originally Posted by SoTaxLaw

Is ok to repost this poll after John Mayer buys an Air King and effectively promotes it on someone’s watch site through an interview?

As an owner of the AK, I’d love to see this happen.

[CNDguy]

A 5500 or 14000 sure but I would not be interested in the current reference no.

[Nikrnic]

It's a great piece. I love the dial numbers and colors. I wore mine as a daily for a year but had a chance for a good deal on trading it to my AD for a new Polar.

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[Duke of Dulwich]

I absolutely love it and it is my daily beater. Despite the polished bezel, it has withstood everything I have put it through from desk diving, to sea diving, to sky diving. As for the dial, what’s not to love? The ‘unconventional’ green Rolex text and seconds hand, and yellow coronet are stunning and add some colour to the black dial. The beautiful Art Deco ‘Air King’ font pays homage to the original reference design. And then there are the minute markers which give the watch a sporty and fun look. I also love the updated size and heft of the watch, and its anti-magnetism due to the Faraday cage.

If I did have one very very minor criticism of the watch, it would be the lack of lume. I wish they had used the lumed 3, 6 & 9 markers on the Exp 1 or used luminous paint for the minute markers.

I think this is a mechanical watch for up and coming, young watch enthusiasts and will become more popular with time. I really do wish Rolex discontinue this reference and it blows up after it is gone. Then again, this is just playful thinking and I love my watch just for what it is, a stunning piece of craftsmanship and engineering. I am really glad Rolex have broken the mould for once and been daring with a design.

[maylebox]

It looks better in person than pics.

It's growing on me a bit.

It would likely get zero wrist time given my preference for the others that I own.

[Paul H]

I do agree with many criticisms of the current Air King, busy, rather cartoonish etc. but it remains that I feel that it is a refreshening alternative to many of the alternative Rolex models. Personally if the watch did replace the 3 6 9 with 15, 30, 45 I would buy it without hesitation.

[uncle_paul_hargis]

Originally Posted by Paul H

I do agree with many criticisms of the current Air King, busy, rather cartoonish etc. but it remains that I feel that it is a refreshening alternative to many of the alternative Rolex models. Personally if the watch did replace the 3 6 9 with 15, 30, 45 I would buy it without hesitation.

I absolutely agree with this. I think it would look incredible. And because it’s supposed to be an aviation watch, it should have SOME lume other than just the 12 marker and the hands.


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[Macnavara]

My partner has the previous air king.....white dial 3-6-9 dial....she loves it its now discontinued and bit curiously hasn’t increased in price so to answer your question my guess is no it wouldn’t particularly soar in price or collectibility

[Pilliam]

I own one and absolutely love it. It's supremely comfortable and understated. I understand why it's polarizing; although I think many who hate it, if they tried it on, would find they like it. Not only is it unique within the Rolex line, it's unique to any other watch in the market - period. The Daytona was once among the bastard children, yet look at it now. If one day Rolex discontinues the AK, the haters will become lovers, clamoring to get their hands on one.

I agree that it should have more lume, and I also get why some wish that, in place of the 3, 6, and 9, Rolex had simply continued with the white Arabic numerals. Yes, this would have given the AK greater symmetry, but it also would have crowded the dial. In its present state, there is something about the WG 3, 6, and 9, that makes them disappear juxtaposed to the white numerals, and this allows the dial to "breathe" more, if that makes sense.

And I do wish that it had the folding safety clasp for added security. Rolex cheaped-out in that regard. Why give it an Easylink and not a folding clasp??? They should do the same with the Sky-Dweller, too, IMO, especially given its top-heavy design.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by juktagt

Not so sure on the new one, but I love my 14000-

[Toivonen]

Do you think Rolex will ‘upgrade’ it with luminous 369 index as he did in the Explorer?

[icnbne]

Nope not for me

Give me an original any day though

[VegasMilgauss]

Just way too busy for my taste, I do love the Rolex in green and coronet in yellow though.