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Old 7 August 2013, 11:45 PM   #1
hunkydorie
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Air King Advice

I don't know much about Rolex watches, I just know that I like them...
My next purchase is looking like an air king 5500, before I lay out my hard earned I thought it prudent to run it past the community of experts & enthusiasts...
I could really use your advice, What do you think, should i buy?
The price seems a bit low which makes me wonder.

http://img.inkfrog.com/click_enlarge...&aid=935925137

http://img.inkfrog.com/click_enlarge...&aid=935925137

http://img.inkfrog.com/click_enlarge...&aid=935925137


I really like the dial on this, but secretly i'm planning to buy an aftermarket Explorer 1 dial and get it fitted.
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Old 8 August 2013, 12:01 AM   #2
joe100
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A nice 1978 or 1979ish AK 5500. The bracelet has a lot of wear where it connects to the end links. Excessive even

Please don't butcher it by putting an Explorer dial on it. If you want an Explorer dial AirKing, look at the later reference 14000s. They have a great blue Explorer style 369 dial.
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Old 8 August 2013, 12:16 AM   #3
Concord
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The bracelet appears to be much newer than the watch. If this watch has been worn long enough and hard enough to use up a bracelet (or two), that can be a factor which might give an indication of the amount of wear on the watch itself. If the watch has been maintained with all genuine Rolex parts, it might be a safe purchase. But if it hasn't been maintained, you could be in for some expensive repairs. Find out the return policy of the seller, and have the watch checked out by a watchmaker (not at a kiosk in a shopping mall). Then decide whether you should keep it. When buying a used watch, your don't get what has been used up. You only get what's left!
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Old 8 August 2013, 01:34 AM   #4
joe100
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Concord, the bracelet has a VC clasp code which puts it somewhere around 1978. The silver dial with gold hands and indicies is a late 1970s combination so I'd say it's likely to be the original bracelet.
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