Reference:5504 - Revision history

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

2026-09-05T01:21:42Z

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]] -> '''5504'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:air-king\|Air-King]] › '''5504'''</small>

	The 5504 is the 36mm version of the Air-King. It launches in 1957 alongside the 34mm 5500 and runs roughly through 1963/64 — about seven years of parallel production where Rolex offered the Air-King in two case sizes side by side. The 5504 wears the same case architecture as the 1016 Explorer and the 6610 that precedes it: 36mm steel Oyster, smooth bezel, acrylic crystal, Cal 1530. What separates the 5504 from its 1016 sister is dial text and chronometer status. The 1016 says EXPLORER on the dial and runs a chronometer-rated Cal 1560/1570; the 5504 says AIR-KING and runs a non-chronometer Cal 1530. Robb Report's framing is exact: "the 36mm Air-King 5504 was basically an Explorer I with a different dial and hands."		The 5504 is the 36mm version of the Air-King. It launches in 1957 alongside the 34mm 5500 and runs roughly through 1963/64 — about seven years of parallel production where Rolex offered the Air-King in two case sizes side by side. The 5504 wears the same case architecture as the 1016 Explorer and the 6610 that precedes it: 36mm steel Oyster, smooth bezel, acrylic crystal, Cal 1530. What separates the 5504 from its 1016 sister is dial text and chronometer status. The 1016 says EXPLORER on the dial and runs a chronometer-rated Cal 1560/1570; the 5504 says AIR-KING and runs a non-chronometer Cal 1530. Robb Report's framing is exact: "the 36mm Air-King 5504 was basically an Explorer I with a different dial and hands."
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)

2026-09-05T00:37:49Z

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

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:37, 5 September 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 5504 Air-King}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 5504 Air-King}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex 5504 Air-King — 36mm Explorer-Case Super Precision \| ~~BezelBase~~		\|title=Rolex 5504 Air-King — 36mm Explorer-Case Super Precision \| Rolexopedia
	\|description=The 5504 is the 36mm Explorer-case Air-King — 1957/58 to 1963/64, Cal 1530, "Super Precision" dial, the connective tissue between the 5500 (34mm) and the 1016 Explorer (36mm). 3-6-9 Explorer dial with AIR-KING text. Tropical, honeycomb, and underline-transitional sub-variants documented at major auction.		\|description=The 5504 is the 36mm Explorer-case Air-King — 1957/58 to 1963/64, Cal 1530, "Super Precision" dial, the connective tissue between the 5500 (34mm) and the 1016 Explorer (36mm). 3-6-9 Explorer dial with AIR-KING text. Tropical, honeycomb, and underline-transitional sub-variants documented at major auction.
	\|keywords=Rolex, 5504, Air-King, Super Precision, Cal 1530, 1016 Explorer sister, 3-6-9 dial		\|keywords=Rolex, 5504, Air-King, Super Precision, Cal 1530, 1016 Explorer sister, 3-6-9 dial

Admin: Fact fix: attribute disputed 5504 case size (36mm vs Watch-Wiki/dealer 35mm) per hard rule 6

2026-08-11T16:23:23Z

Fact fix: attribute disputed 5504 case size (36mm vs Watch-Wiki/dealer 35mm) per hard rule 6

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:23, 11 August 2026
Line 43:		Line 43:
	\|-		\|-
	\| case		\| case
	\| 36mm × ~43mm L2L stainless steel Oyster, smooth bezel		\| 36mm × ~43mm L2L stainless steel Oyster, smooth bezel (Watch-Wiki and one specialist-dealer source instead give 35mm)
	\|-		\|-
	\| crystal		\| crystal
Line 110:		Line 110:
	== Case and construction ==		== Case and construction ==

	36mm × approximately 43mm L2L stainless steel three-piece Oyster — case middle, threaded caseback, threaded crown. The case envelope is shared with the 1016 Explorer and the preceding 6610 Explorer; the 5504's distinctness from those references is dial-side and movement-side rather than case-side. Lug width is 19mm, consistent with the 1016 Explorer / 5500 / 6610 architecture and with the documented period-correct bracelet fitments (7205, 7206, later 78360). Some sources read the 5504's lugs as 20mm — Robb Report and one specialist-dealer listing both note 20mm — but the bracelet-evidence (7206 rivet with 58 end-links is a 19mm fitment, documented on Eric Wind's documented 5504) reads firmly at 19mm. The 20mm reading is an editorial error.		36mm × approximately 43mm L2L stainless steel three-piece Oyster — case middle, threaded caseback, threaded crown. Watch-Wiki's Air-King history reads the case smaller, describing the 5504 as a "larger 35 mm Air-King for export markets" rather than 36mm; one specialist-dealer listing gives the same 35mm figure. The 1016 Explorer case-architecture match and the documented 19mm-lug bracelet fitments support the 36mm reading, so this article treats 36mm as the primary figure and flags the 35mm reading as a documented disagreement. The case envelope is shared with the 1016 Explorer and the preceding 6610 Explorer; the 5504's distinctness from those references is dial-side and movement-side rather than case-side. Lug width is 19mm, consistent with the 1016 Explorer / 5500 / 6610 architecture and with the documented period-correct bracelet fitments (7205, 7206, later 78360). Some sources read the 5504's lugs as 20mm — Robb Report and one specialist-dealer listing both note 20mm — but the bracelet-evidence (7206 rivet with 58 end-links is a 19mm fitment, documented on Eric Wind's documented 5504) reads firmly at 19mm. The 20mm reading is an editorial error.

	The case is steel-only across the production. No precious-metal, gold-capped, or two-tone 5504 surfaces in the auction record. The bezel is fixed and steel and smooth across all surfaced examples — no coin-edge or fluted bezel variant is documented. The crystal is acrylic plexiglass, domed; sapphire-crystal arrives on the Air-King line only with the 14000 in 1989, well after the 5504's retirement.		The case is steel-only across the production. No precious-metal, gold-capped, or two-tone 5504 surfaces in the auction record. The bezel is fixed and steel and smooth across all surfaced examples — no coin-edge or fluted bezel variant is documented. The crystal is acrylic plexiglass, domed; sapphire-crystal arrives on the Air-King line only with the 14000 in 1989, well after the 5504's retirement.

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

2026-08-10T13:25:13Z

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 225:		Line 225:
	* [[Reference:5502\|Air-King 5502]]		* [[Reference:5502\|Air-King 5502]]

	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 244:		Line 244:

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

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 40:		Line 40:
	\|-		\|-
	\| production		\| production
	\| 1957/58 to 1963/64 — Rescapement and ~~Craft + Tailored~~ read 1957 launch alongside 5500; ~~Goldammer (~~primary) and Robb Report read 1958 launch; latest documented examples cluster mid-1963		\| 1957/58 to 1963/64 — Rescapement and Marcus Siems' secondary attribution read 1957 launch alongside 5500; Marcus Siems' primary attribution and Robb Report read 1958 launch; latest documented examples cluster mid-1963
	\|-		\|-
	\| case		\| case
Line 90:		Line 90:
	== Production outline ==		== Production outline ==

	The launch year is contested. Rescapement and Marcus Siems' secondary attribution read 1957; Marcus Siems' primary attribution and Robb Report read 1958. The earliest documented 5504 examples cluster at 1957/58 serials — Sotheby's 2020 lot 364 (case 372,245) is dated c.1958, and Eric Wind's documented 5504 examples ~~(Wind Vintage)~~ sit in the 371,xxx case range with 1958 attribution. 1957/58 is the launch window rather than a single year. The reference launches alongside the 5500 in the broader 1957 Air-King catalogue refresh.		The launch year is contested. Rescapement and Marcus Siems' secondary attribution read 1957; Marcus Siems' primary attribution and Robb Report read 1958. The earliest documented 5504 examples cluster at 1957/58 serials — Sotheby's 2020 lot 364 (case 372,245) is dated c.1958, and Eric Wind's documented 5504 examples sit in the 371,xxx case range with 1958 attribution. 1957/58 is the launch window rather than a single year. The reference launches alongside the 5500 in the broader 1957 Air-King catalogue refresh.

	The retirement is firmer at 1963/64. Documented examples cluster at serial 949,xxx (mid-1963), and Marcus Siems cites case numbers in the 950,xxx range as late-production. No 5504 dated post-1964 has surfaced in the auction record. The retirement is driven by the Cal 1530 phase-out across the Rolex catalogue — Aggregator coverage of the Cal 1530 transition dates the changeover beginning 1963, and the 5504 rolls off in the same window. The 5500 absorbs the Air-King line forward.		The retirement is firmer at 1963/64. Documented examples cluster at serial 949,xxx (mid-1963), and Marcus Siems cites case numbers in the 950,xxx range as late-production. No 5504 dated post-1964 has surfaced in the auction record. The retirement is driven by the Cal 1530 phase-out across the Rolex catalogue — Aggregator coverage of the Cal 1530 transition dates the changeover beginning 1963, and the 5504 rolls off in the same window. The 5500 absorbs the Air-King line forward.
Line 103:		Line 103:
	Dial text on most 5504s reads "SUPER PRECISION" — the Cal-1530-era marketing tier that sits below the chronometer-rated OYSTER PERPETUAL OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER text the 1016 Explorer carried. Some 5504s carry the simpler "PRECISION" designation, typically on movements adjusted to a lower grade. The 5504's "Super Precision" line is the most-cited example of the Air-King-era marketing distinction: the same Cal 1530 movement, adjusted to the same Bienne or Geneva Observatory standard, gets either chronometer paperwork (1016 → "OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER" dial) or sub-chronometer paperwork (5504 → "SUPER PRECISION" dial). The mechanical hardware is the same; the catalogue tier is different.		Dial text on most 5504s reads "SUPER PRECISION" — the Cal-1530-era marketing tier that sits below the chronometer-rated OYSTER PERPETUAL OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER text the 1016 Explorer carried. Some 5504s carry the simpler "PRECISION" designation, typically on movements adjusted to a lower grade. The 5504's "Super Precision" line is the most-cited example of the Air-King-era marketing distinction: the same Cal 1530 movement, adjusted to the same Bienne or Geneva Observatory standard, gets either chronometer paperwork (1016 → "OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER" dial) or sub-chronometer paperwork (5504 → "SUPER PRECISION" dial). The mechanical hardware is the same; the catalogue tier is different.

	A small number of late-production 5504 examples are catalogued with Cal 1560 in dealer copy ~~(Collectors Square aggregate~~ notes both Cal 1530 and Cal 1560 across the run). This may reflect service-replacement movements rather than factory-original Cal 1560 5504s — the Cal 1560 is the chronometer-rated 1016 Explorer caliber, and a 5504 with an original Cal 1560 movement would be unusual. A documented Cal-1560 5504 is suspect for service-replacement until factory documentation surfaces.		A small number of late-production 5504 examples are catalogued with Cal 1560 in dealer copy, which notes both Cal 1530 and Cal 1560 across the run. This may reflect service-replacement movements rather than factory-original Cal 1560 5504s — the Cal 1560 is the chronometer-rated 1016 Explorer caliber, and a 5504 with an original Cal 1560 movement would be unusual. A documented Cal-1560 5504 is suspect for service-replacement until factory documentation surfaces.

	The 5504 was never COSC chronometer rated. Even the Super Precision examples carry the "Super Precision" line rather than the chronometer text, and no 5504 is documented in the auction record with the Officially Certified Chronometer designation. The architectural choice to keep the 5504 at the sub-COSC tier, despite the Cal 1530 being the same architecture as the chronometer-rated 1016 Cal 1560 sibling, is the central catalogue-positioning decision that defines the reference.		The 5504 was never COSC chronometer rated. Even the Super Precision examples carry the "Super Precision" line rather than the chronometer text, and no 5504 is documented in the auction record with the Officially Certified Chronometer designation. The architectural choice to keep the 5504 at the sub-COSC tier, despite the Cal 1530 being the same architecture as the chronometer-rated 1016 Cal 1560 sibling, is the central catalogue-positioning decision that defines the reference.

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

2026-08-04T00:21:19Z

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=2026-05-02T03:26:37Z		\|published_time=2026-05-02T03:26:37Z
	\|modified_time=2026-07-~~18T12~~:52:~~47Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-08-04T00:12:48Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

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

2026-08-04T00:12:48Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:12, 4 August 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 5504 Air-King}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 5504 Air-King}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex 5504 Air-King — 36mm Explorer-Case Super Precision \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex 5504 Air-King — 36mm Explorer-Case Super Precision \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 5504 is the 36mm Explorer-case Air-King — 1957/58 to 1963/64, Cal 1530, "Super Precision" dial, the connective tissue between the 5500 (34mm) and the 1016 Explorer (36mm). 3-6-9 Explorer dial with AIR-KING text. Tropical, honeycomb, and underline-transitional sub-variants documented at major auction.		\|description=The 5504 is the 36mm Explorer-case Air-King — 1957/58 to 1963/64, Cal 1530, "Super Precision" dial, the connective tissue between the 5500 (34mm) and the 1016 Explorer (36mm). 3-6-9 Explorer dial with AIR-KING text. Tropical, honeycomb, and underline-transitional sub-variants documented at major auction.
	\|keywords=Rolex, 5504, Air-King, Super Precision, Cal 1530, 1016 Explorer sister, 3-6-9 dial		\|keywords=Rolex, 5504, Air-King, Super Precision, Cal 1530, 1016 Explorer sister, 3-6-9 dial
Line 9:		Line 9:
	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-05-02T03:26:37Z		\|published_time=2026-05-02T03:26:37Z
	\|modified_time=2026-06-~~29T01~~:20:~~08Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-07-18T12:52:47Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Klaudiusz: Internal linking: related references + component links

2026-07-18T12:52:47Z

Internal linking: related references + component links

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:52, 18 July 2026
Line 214:		Line 214:

	The bracelet usually doesn't help. Most surviving 5504s wear bracelets that post-date the 5504's own production window. Authentication should focus on the dial, the case stamp, and the movement; the bracelet is supplementary evidence at best.		The bracelet usually doesn't help. Most surviving 5504s wear bracelets that post-date the 5504's own production window. Authentication should focus on the dial, the case stamp, and the movement; the bracelet is supplementary evidence at best.


			== Related references ==

			* [[Reference:4365\|Air-King 4365]]
			* [[Reference:4499\|Air-King 4499]]
			* [[Reference:4925\|Air-King 4925]]
			* [[Reference:5500\|Air-King 5500]] — 34mm Oyster (1957–1989)
			* [[Reference:5501\|Air-King 5501]]
			* [[Reference:5502\|Air-King 5502]]

			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

2026-06-29T01:21:30Z

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=2026-05-02T03:26:37Z		\|published_time=2026-05-02T03:26:37Z
	\|modified_time=2026-06-~~04T04~~:41:~~02Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-06-29T01:20:08Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

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

2026-06-29T01:20:08Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:20, 29 June 2026
Line 5:		Line 5:
	\|keywords=Rolex, 5504, Air-King, Super Precision, Cal 1530, 1016 Explorer sister, 3-6-9 dial		\|keywords=Rolex, 5504, Air-King, Super Precision, Cal 1530, 1016 Explorer sister, 3-6-9 dial
	\|image=Ref 5504 hero.webp		\|image=Ref 5504 hero.webp
	\|image_alt=Rolex 5504 Air-King 36mm ~~Super Precision~~		\|image_alt=Rolex 5504 Air-King 36mm
	\|type=Article		\|type=Article
	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
			\|published_time=2026-05-02T03:26:37Z
			\|modified_time=2026-06-04T04:41:02Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}