Introduction
First released in 1945 in honor of the British RAF following their efforts in WWII, the Air-King has become one of the longest-serving members of Rolex’s catalog, with its official debut as a standalone collection, as we know it today, tracing its origins a little bit more recently to 1958. Since then, the collection has become one of Rolex’s most unique collections, with its design and construction often used as a means to push aesthetic boundaries and experiment with design in a way that few other collections within the Rolex family could. As such, the Air-King collection has been found to sport a vast expanse of dial colors and set-ups, with different bezel configurations and a large variety of sizes.
Loupe This Scorecard
Grade
V 8
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Watch Only
Est. value range
$2,000 – $3,000
The Details
Brand
Rolex
Dimensions
34mm
Model
Air-King
Movement
Automatic cal. 1520
Reference
5500
Bracelet
Stainless Steel Oyster bracelet
Year
1971
Condition
Good
Material
Stainless steel
Included
Watch only
Dial Color
Blue
THE DIAL
Of all the dial variants launched under the Air-King umbrella this example's blue dial is universally appealing with its stepped applied indices, sword hands, rich color and impressive legibility.
THE CONSTRUCTION
Featuring the Air-King's no-frills construction, the ref. 5500's aesthetic is defined by its flat polished bezel, lack of crown guards and Rolex's signature Oyster bracelet.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
Watch is in good vintage condition. Case exhibits moderate wear with lugs that are worn down and with some surface scratches and marks. There is some porosity visible between the lugs but the numbers are intact and legible. Original blue dial in excellent condition, with some oxidation visible from the indexes. Luminous dots are intact but darkened. Bracelet has 13 links with moderate stretch.
Our Perspective
A Rolex true to the brand's ethos as a tool watchmaker, the Air-King ref. 5500 strips away needless design details in lieu of being supremely legible, intensely robust and simply timeless.
Justin Gruenberg
Co-founder
