Vintage Air King auto vs Precision hand wind

[Jim Soloway]

As I continue to look at vintage Rolexes, I have pretty much settled on either an older Air King or it's hand wind brother: the Precision. (I wear a modern Air King as my daily watch, so I'm very comfortable with the size). I'd really like to hear from those who know much more than I do about their preference between the two and especially about how robust (or not) the Precision may be. I've always liked hand wind, non-date watches, but since Rolex has been predominantly a maker of automatic watches, I have just a little concern about going with their hand wind model. Any comments?

[andypandy]

Welcome to the Forum Jim ! I am , this very day, wearing 6422...which is a 1942 Oyster Precision " hand wind ". I have owned it for 25 yrs. and I had it serviced once.
It keeps terrible time..why sometimes it can lose 2 or 3 seconds a day. Rubbish Huh ?
Mr. Rolex does make exceedingly good watches....don,t you think ?

[adam78]

Other than having to wind the watch daily, there should be little appreciable difference in style for the '50s-60s watches.

The earlier manual wind Oysters tend to be smaller (30-32mm), and can have a greater variety of dial styles.

Here are a few of my Oysters ('40s-60s) and one Air-King (1958):



]

[jdc]

My 1956 Oysterdate, manual wind, I would recommend anyone to own one

[Jim Soloway]

Beautiful watches. Thanks for the feedback. How hard is it to get service or parts for a 6426?

[mywifespissed]

The only difference that matters is the tube and crown will wear out faster on a hand wind since it's screwed out and in every day. The steel stem will also wear (expand) the hole in the brass plate where the stem turns in the movement more rapidly, but the wear is slow and minimal as long as the watch is periodically serviced. The watch quality is exactly the same. I have had both the watches you are considering. The older Air King 1530 calibre is more common since relatively few hand winds were sold compared to the automatics.

[Balboa]

Either is great. IMO, you should have at least one old manual wind. Some find it "inconvenient", but I find it pleasant and satisfying to wind my watch in the morning. Not really much of a big chore.

Here is my 1953 Oysterdate Precision. Roulette calendar wheel and the last of the models before the cyclops came out in late 1953.






Mark

[mywifespissed]

That's a sexy watch, Balboa. With the hobnail dial and rivet band...

[Balboa]

Originally Posted by mywifespissed

That's a sexy watch, Balboa. With the hobnail dial and rivet band...

Thanks. I really love it. It is not particularly rare or valuable. My dad got it in the 1950's and wore it for years. In 1987 I rescued it from his dresser drawer, had it serviced and have worn it ever since.

Keeps excellent time and seems to have a bulletproof movement.

Mark

[sam.]

This is my 6246,good luck with your choice!

[mywifespissed]

Chiming in with my 6426. Rolex at it's perfect essence.

[crombie]

Originally Posted by mywifespissed

Chiming in with my 6426. Rolex at it's perfect essence.

I have a model very similiar to yours (which looks great!), I've been trying to convince myself to thin the herd, but I just can't get rid of it! My opinion, this style of precision really is the class representation of a Rolex

[skalis]

Originally Posted by mywifespissed

Chiming in with my 6426. Rolex at it's perfect essence.

Beautiful watch. I have the similar one - Oysterdate Precision 6694 and now it is my daily wearer. I like manual winding, it gets me closer to the watch and morning winding of several timepieces (while drinking my favourite tea) is the best way to start a day .

[gpateesq]

Originally Posted by Balboa

Either is great. IMO, you should have at least one old manual wind. Some find it "inconvenient", but I find it pleasant and satisfying to wind my watch in the morning. Not really much of a big chore.

Here is my 1953 Oysterdate Precision. Roulette calendar wheel and the last of the models before the cyclops came out in late 1953.






Mark

Mark,

I love the watch and the Gullwing behind it!

Now for the next question: When did Rolex start making 36-38mm watches. I've always wanted one from my birth year (1965) but they're all too small for my fat wrist.

Oh well, at least I can dream.

Greg

[Balboa]

Originally Posted by gpateesq

Now for the next question: When did Rolex start making 36-38mm watches. I've always wanted one from my birth year (1965) but they're all too small for my fat wrist.

My wrist is a little over 8". The 6294 is 34mm and looks fine to me. Remember, it is only current fashion that seems to dictate wearing an anvil on one's wrist.

For 1965, you should be able to find any number of Rolex models that are 36mm. They might suit you better.

Mark

[av455]

I wear my wife's 1977 Air King all the time. The size doesn't bother me if I have sleves on. I would go automatic (says the hand wound Panerai fan).

It is nice to wear the silver dial as all my othe watches are black or blue dialed.

[knaing]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dagonit...in/photostream

[GeoGio Greece]

I have the experience of both. To my oppinion go for the Airking, just because its NOT manual wind.

[gregorpal]

manual winding 34mm rolex, such as ref 6694 (date) and non date ref 6426 & 6424 are really one of the nicest and classy Rolex ever made. And let's support the 34mm watches, soon they'll be back replacing those horrible big/ watches of nowdays!

[Time Exposure]

I like the idea of an automatic Rolex Oyster, so I'm all for the Air-King. I like the idea of not threading a delicate crown and tube every day. The fact remains for me, however, that I end up putting automatics in the rotation after they have wound down. This effectively makes my automatics manual-wind! (yes, I have heard of the device called a watch winder, and no thanks). I guess if I had to choose along those lines I would opt for a no-date perpetual chronometer: all Rolex is known for except the distracting date-cyclops.

[Brushpup]

You know, I think it would be a matter of which watch I like the looks of in choosing, no matter the Auto wind or Manual.

In the case of Martin's OD, there are a lot of DJ, Airking, and others I would pass up. (He knows how I love that watch.)

To the rest of you, those are all some gorgeous and timeless classics. So much more classy looking than ones being made today. Love em all.

[joe100]

Autos sure are nice, but it comes doesn't to what you like the most ultimately. There aren't huge differences between an AirKing, Oyster Perpetual, Ouster etc. it's all down to the age and the dial.

Can't go wrong with any of them really.


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[Gugnunc]

Originally Posted by gregorpal

manual winding 34mm rolex, such as ref 6694 (date) and non date ref 6426 & 6424 are really one of the nicest and classy Rolex ever made. And let's support the 34mm watches, soon they'll be back replacing those horrible big/ watches of nowdays!

My opinion and my opinion only - but anything bigger than 40mm is just plain ugly.

[frank32]

the 6426 was my first rolex bought it in 1988,the year my daughter was born.have a 2002 k serias sub now love this watch,and it gets better,my daughter got married last week in kos,and i gave her my old rolex.birth year for her she,s so happy with it.

[brkanand]

Air King on a strap is gorgeous

[Blue Lantern]

Since you already have an Air-King, I'd suggest getting a vintage manual wind. That way, it'll be easy to keep them both going--one from wearing and one from winding.

And with regular service, I'd say the wind-up movement is possibly more robust, since it has fewer moving parts!