Reference:5500 - Revision history

Admin: site-wide: layout classes (core-facts card, breadcrumb, entry-point cards)

2026-09-05T01:21:39Z

site-wide: layout classes (core-facts card, breadcrumb, entry-point cards)

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:21, 5 September 2026
Line 13:		Line 13:
	}}		}}

	<small>[[Reference:air-king\|Air-King]] -> '''5500'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:air-king\|Air-King]] › '''5500'''</small>

	The 5500 is the longest single Rolex reference run — 32 years on the catalogue from 1957 to 1989, replaced only by the sapphire-crystal 14000 at Baselworld 1989. The workhorse Air-King ran a 34mm steel Oyster case with a smooth bezel, acrylic crystal and Twinlock crown, on the caliber 1530 and then the caliber 1520. It filled the gap between the sport catalogue and the dress catalogue without belonging to either. That generic role gave the 5500 the broadest dial map of any single Air-King reference, and made it the canvas for Rolex's corporate-gift and government-crest programs across three decades.		The 5500 is the longest single Rolex reference run — 32 years on the catalogue from 1957 to 1989, replaced only by the sapphire-crystal 14000 at Baselworld 1989. The workhorse Air-King ran a 34mm steel Oyster case with a smooth bezel, acrylic crystal and Twinlock crown, on the caliber 1530 and then the caliber 1520. It filled the gap between the sport catalogue and the dress catalogue without belonging to either. That generic role gave the 5500 the broadest dial map of any single Air-King reference, and made it the canvas for Rolex's corporate-gift and government-crest programs across three decades.
Line 25:		Line 25:
	== Core facts ==		== Core facts ==

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable rp-facts"
	\|-		\|-
	! detail		! detail

Admin: site-wide: domain move BezelBase → Rolexopedia (rolexopedia.net)

2026-09-05T00:37:47Z

site-wide: domain move BezelBase → Rolexopedia (rolexopedia.net)

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:37, 5 September 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 5500 Air-King}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 5500 Air-King}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Air-King 5500 — 34mm Oyster, 1957–1989 \| ~~BezelBase~~		\|title=Rolex Air-King 5500 — 34mm Oyster, 1957–1989 \| Rolexopedia
	\|description=The 5500 is the long-running Rolex Air-King — 32 years in production from 1957 to 1989, 34mm steel Oyster, caliber 1530 then 1520. The longest single Rolex reference run, with the broadest dial map of any Air-King.		\|description=The 5500 is the long-running Rolex Air-King — 32 years in production from 1957 to 1989, 34mm steel Oyster, caliber 1530 then 1520. The longest single Rolex reference run, with the broadest dial map of any Air-King.
	\|keywords=Rolex, 5500, Air-King, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 5500, Air-King, specifications, reference guide

Admin: Explorer cross-categorisation: dual-category Explorer alongside existing family, add Explorer family index link

2026-08-10T13:25:12Z

Explorer cross-categorisation: dual-category Explorer alongside existing family, add Explorer family index link

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:25, 10 August 2026
Line 132:		Line 132:

	The Explorer 3-6-9 5500 splits further by dial finish: gilt-on-glossy (early production through c.1963, paired with the Cal 1530) versus matte black (later production with the Cal 1520). Gilt examples carry a substantial premium.		The Explorer 3-6-9 5500 splits further by dial finish: gilt-on-glossy (early production through c.1963, paired with the Cal 1530) versus matte black (later production with the Cal 1520). Gilt examples carry a substantial premium.

			Hodinkee's Explorer I collector's guide gives the 34mm 5500 Explorer a section of its own, and the example it photographs is a 1966–67 watch with a glossy gilt dial, later than the c.1963 gilt cutoff the dial-finish split implies. The same guide flags the configuration as one of the most frequently faked Explorer-likes: the donor case is a common and affordable Air-King, so a counterfeit Explorer dial dropped into an honest 5500 reads as something far rarer than it is. Dial-side verification carries the authentication weight on this variant.

	<span id="underline-and-exclamation"></span>		<span id="underline-and-exclamation"></span>
Line 310:		Line 312:
	* [[Reference:5501\|Air-King 5501]]		* [[Reference:5501\|Air-King 5501]]

	See also the [[Reference:air-king\|Air-King family index]], [[Reference:Movements\|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|serial numbers by year]].		See also the [[Reference:air-king\|Air-King family index]], the [[Reference:explorer\|Explorer family index]], [[Reference:Movements\|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|serial numbers by year]].

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
Line 327:		Line 329:
	* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/fine-jewels-watches-cologne/air-king-reference-5500-a-stainless-steel "Air-King Reference 5500 silvered dial 1965", Sotheby's, 2023]		* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/fine-jewels-watches-cologne/air-king-reference-5500-a-stainless-steel "Air-King Reference 5500 silvered dial 1965", Sotheby's, 2023]
	* [https://beckertime.com/blog/rolex-caliber-15201530/ "Rolex Caliber 1520 and 1530", Beckertime]		* [https://beckertime.com/blog/rolex-caliber-15201530/ "Rolex Caliber 1520 and 1530", Beckertime]
			* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/rolex-explorer-reference-points Jon Bues, "A Comprehensive Collector's Guide To The Rolex Explorer I", Hodinkee, 2022]
	* [https://www.luxurybazaar.com/grey-market/rolex-government-logo-dials/ "Rolex Government Logo Dials", Luxury Bazaar]		* [https://www.luxurybazaar.com/grey-market/rolex-government-logo-dials/ "Rolex Government Logo Dials", Luxury Bazaar]

	[[Category:Air-King]]		[[Category:Air-King]]
			[[Category:Explorer]]

Admin: Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

2026-08-09T21:14:55Z

Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

Show changes

Admin: Rule 5: remove dealer names from body prose; re-attribute to named authors

2026-08-08T18:01:38Z

Rule 5: remove dealer names from body prose; re-attribute to named authors

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:01, 8 August 2026
Line 223:		Line 223:
	=== UAE Armed Forces ===		=== UAE Armed Forces ===

	A 1989-dated 5500 with a champagne dial and 18k yellow-gold applied markers carries the UAE Armed Forces commemoration. Late-production, scarce~~. Documented via Amsterdam Vintage Watches editorial~~.		A 1989-dated 5500 with a champagne dial and 18k yellow-gold applied markers carries the UAE Armed Forces commemoration. Late-production, scarce.

	<span id="bahrain-al-khalifa"></span>		<span id="bahrain-al-khalifa"></span>

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-08-04T00:21:10Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:21, 4 August 2026
Line 9:		Line 9:
	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-30T03:20:40Z		\|published_time=2026-04-30T03:20:40Z
	\|modified_time=2026-07-~~18T12~~:52:~~45Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-08-04T00:12:39Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-08-04T00:12:39Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:12, 4 August 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 5500 Air-King}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 5500 Air-King}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Air-King 5500 — 34mm Oyster, 1957–1989 \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex Air-King 5500 — 34mm Oyster, 1957–1989 \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 5500 is the long-running Rolex Air-King — 32 years in production from 1957 to 1989, 34mm steel Oyster, caliber 1530 then 1520. The longest single Rolex reference run, with the broadest dial map of any Air-King.		\|description=The 5500 is the long-running Rolex Air-King — 32 years in production from 1957 to 1989, 34mm steel Oyster, caliber 1530 then 1520. The longest single Rolex reference run, with the broadest dial map of any Air-King.
	\|keywords=Rolex, 5500, Air-King, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 5500, Air-King, specifications, reference guide
Line 9:		Line 9:
	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-30T03:20:40Z		\|published_time=2026-04-30T03:20:40Z
	\|modified_time=2026-06-~~29T01~~:19:~~59Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-07-18T12:52:45Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Klaudiusz: Internal linking: related references + component links

2026-07-18T12:52:45Z

Internal linking: related references + component links

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:52, 18 July 2026
Line 300:		Line 300:

	Aftermarket Saudi or UAE crest dials circulate widely. Without provenance papers tying the dial to the original commission, any government-crest 5500 is suspect. The Kuwait Al-Sabah signature is the only government-crest 5500 with major-house auction anchoring; the other crests appear in dealer and editorial coverage only.		Aftermarket Saudi or UAE crest dials circulate widely. Without provenance papers tying the dial to the original commission, any government-crest 5500 is suspect. The Kuwait Al-Sabah signature is the only government-crest 5500 with major-house auction anchoring; the other crests appear in dealer and editorial coverage only.


			== Related references ==

			* [[Reference:5700\|Air-King 5700]] — 1959–1988
			* [[Reference:14000M\|Air-King 14000M]] — Cal 3130 'Precision' (2000–2006)
			* [[Reference:4365\|Air-King 4365]]
			* [[Reference:4499\|Air-King 4499]]
			* [[Reference:4925\|Air-King 4925]]
			* [[Reference:5501\|Air-King 5501]]

			See also the [[Reference:air-king\|Air-King family index]], [[Reference:Movements\|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|serial numbers by year]].

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-06-29T01:21:21Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:21, 29 June 2026
Line 9:		Line 9:
	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-30T03:20:40Z		\|published_time=2026-04-30T03:20:40Z
	\|modified_time=2026-06-~~28T23~~:38:~~20Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-06-29T01:19:59Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-06-29T01:19:59Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:19, 29 June 2026
Line 9:		Line 9:
	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-30T03:20:40Z		\|published_time=2026-04-30T03:20:40Z
	\|modified_time=2026-06-~~04T04~~:40:~~56Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-06-28T23:38:20Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}