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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 5502 / 5506 Air-King}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 5502 / 5506 Air-King}}
{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex 5502 / 5506 Air-King — Gold-Capped Super Precision Cal 1530 | BezelBase
|title=Rolex 5502 and 5506 Air-King reference guide | Rolexopedia
|description=The 5502 (US market) and 5506 (UK / Commonwealth market) are the parallel-production gold-capped Cal 1530 Super Precision Air-King references — c.1958 to 1965, 40-micron yellow gold electroplate over steel, alpha hands, Kessi Frères case construction with KB tombstone hallmark.
|description=References 5502 and 5506 are mid-century gold-finished Air-Kings with Cal. 1530 automatic movements and Super Precision dials. Auction records show differences in case finish, dial, hands, and bracelet.
|keywords=Rolex, 5502, 5506, Air-King, gold-capped, Cal 1530, Super Precision, Kessi Freres, KB hallmark, alpha hands, 78351 Oyster
|keywords=Rolex, 5502, 5506, Air-King, Cal 1530, Super Precision
|image=Ref 5502 hero.webp
|image=Ref 5502 hero.webp
|image_alt=Rolex 5502 Air-King gold-capped
|image_alt=Rolex Air-King 5502 with gold-finished case
|type=Article
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|og_type=article
|published_time=2026-05-02T04:38:21Z
|modified_time=2026-09-22T00:00:00Z
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}
}}


<small>[[Reference:air-king|Air-King]] -> '''5502'''</small>
<small>[[Reference:air-king|Air-King]] › '''5502 / 5506'''</small>


The 5502 and the 5506 are the gold-capped Cal 1530 Super Precision Air-King reference pair — parallel-production siblings that ran from approximately 1958 through 1964/65. Mechanically identical: 34mm Oyster case with 40 microns of yellow gold electroplate over a steel base, smooth gold-capped bezel, gold-capped Twinlock crown, acrylic plexiglass crystal, Cal 1530 Super Precision throughout (25 jewels at 18,000 vph), "AIR-KING / SUPER PRECISION" dial text, alpha hands and applied gold indices. Both reference numbers ride on the same Kessi Frères SA case construction with the characteristic KB tombstone hallmark inside the caseback, and both ship on the 78351 gold-capped Oyster bracelet.
<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref 5502 hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex Air-King 5502 with gold-finished case|Rolex Air-King 5502 with gold-finished case]]
</div>


The reference-number split tracks distribution channel rather than spec. The 5502 is more commonly catalogued in the US dealer market; the 5506 surfaces more often at UK auction houses, with Bonhams as the documented major-house anchor. This article covers both references as a single canonical entry, calling out the per-reference distinctions where they exist (dial sub-variants, distribution channel, surviving auction record).
References 5502 and 5506 are related mid-century Air-Kings with gold-finished Oyster cases and Cal. 1530 automatic movements. The public record places examples around 1958–1965, but the reference split and case finish are not documented consistently enough to call the two numbers identical. Surviving watches show silvered, champagne, and black dials, alpha or dauphine hands, and both bracelets and straps.


<span id="core-facts"></span>
<span id="core-facts"></span>
==Core facts==


[[File:Ref 5502 hero.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex 5502 Air-King gold-capped|Rolex Air-King 5502, gold-capped 40-micron yellow gold over steel, c.1962]]
{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
 
== Core facts ==
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! detail
! detail
! value
! value
|-
|-
| reference numbers
| references
| 5502 (US-market c.1958–1965) and 5506 (UK / Commonwealth-market c.1958–1964) — parallel production, identical spec
| 5502 and 5506
|-
|-
| family
| family
| Air-King
| Air-King
|-
| common name
| "the gold-capped Super Precision Air-King," "the alpha-handed gold-capped Air-King"
|-
|-
| production
| production
| c.1958–1965; Robb Report and Marcus Siems narrow the catalog window to 1960–1965, with pre-catalog Commonwealth distribution suggested for 1958–1960
| Published examples and reference guides place the pair around 1958–1965; exact cutovers are unproved
|-
|-
| case
| case
| 34mm × ~12mm × 43mm L2L stainless steel base with 40 microns yellow gold electroplate (Marcus Siems and Robb Report consensus; Monochrome reads 14 microns on the 5506)
| About 33–35mm in published auction records; gold-finished steel Oyster case
|-
| caseback
| stainless steel (not gold-capped — standard gold-cap construction)
|-
|-
| bezel
| bezel
| smooth, gold-capped (40-micron electroplate over steel)
| Smooth bezel on documented examples
|-
| crown
| Twinlock screw-down, gold-capped to match
|-
|-
| crystal
| crown and crystal
| acrylic plexiglass, domed
| Screw-down Oyster crown and acrylic crystal
|-
|-
| movement
| movement
| Cal 1530 throughout — 25 jewels, 18,000 vph, ~44h reserve, butterfly rotor, Breguet overcoil
| Cal. 1530 automatic, 25 jewels and 18,000 vph in the cited Heritage record
|-
| chronometer
| no — "SUPER PRECISION" dial text (Cal 1530 era's marketing tier; the chronometer-rated Cal 1560 / 1570 sit on Submariner / Explorer references)
|-
|-
| dial text
| dial text
| "AIR-KING" + "SUPER PRECISION"
| “AIR-KING” and “SUPER PRECISION” on documented examples
|-
|-
| hands
| hands and markers
| alpha-style gold hands (the key visual tell distinguishing 5502/5506 from the later 5520; some 5506 examples carry dauphine variants per Heritage)
| Gold or gilt applied markers; alpha, lance, or dauphine hands depending on example
|-
|-
| hour markers
| case finish
| applied yellow gold or gilt faceted indices with luminous dots; sunburst champagne 5506 examples carry dart markers
| Described variously as gold plated, gold filled, or gold capped; inspect the case rather than relying on a listing term
|-
|-
| bracelet
| bracelet
| 78351 gold-capped Oyster (riveted transitioning to folded link); same bracelet reference fits 5502 / 5506 / 5520 across the gold-capped Air-King family
| Gold-finished Oyster bracelets are documented, but leather straps and replacements also occur
|-
| caseback supplier
| Kessi Frères SA, Biel — KB tombstone hallmark inside caseback
|-
| sister references
| [[Reference:5500|5500]] (steel only), [[Reference:5501|5501]] (solid-gold Rolesor), [[Reference:5504|5504]] (36mm Explorer-case Super Precision), [[Reference:5520|5520]] (later gold-capped Cal 1520 Precision)
|-
|-
| successor
| caseback marks
| no direct 5502 / 5506 successor; the gold-capped Air-King line resumes a decade later with the 5520 in 1974
| KB markings are reported on some cases; their meaning and coverage need case-level evidence
|}
|}


<span id="where-it-sits-in-the-line"></span>
<span id="where-it-sits-in-the-line"></span>
== Where it sits in the line ==
==Where it sits in the line==
 
The 5502 and 5506 open the gold-capped Air-King chapter in 1958. Rolex catalogued the two reference numbers in parallel for what appears to have been a distribution-channel split rather than a functional spec difference. Both run the same Cal 1530 Super Precision architecture, both wear the same 40-micron yellow gold electroplate over steel, both ship on the same 78351 gold-capped Oyster bracelet. The reference-number split appears to track US and UK / Commonwealth retail channels respectively (per Robb Report's gold-capped framing), but no single source firmly attributes which reference went to which market. The practical reading collectors and dealers settle on is "two references, one watch" — pricing converges across the 5502 and 5506 in the secondary market.
 
Why Rolex split the gold-capped Air-King across two reference numbers in this period is undocumented in primary editorial. Possibilities include separate import licensing for US versus UK / Commonwealth markets, separate dealer ordering channels with distinct reference codes, or a minor case-supply or bracelet-specification difference that the documented sources do not capture. Without primary attribution the references read interchangeably.


The architectural relationship to the broader Air-King line is the cleanest framing. The 5500 (1957–1989) is the 32-year-running steel-only no-date workhorse. The 5502 / 5506 (both 1958–1964/65) are the gold-capped variants of the same case and movement at the same point in the Cal 1530 Super Precision era. The 5501 (1959–1986) is the solid-gold Rolesor variant — meaningfully more expensive in period and meaningfully more expensive on the secondary market today. The 5504 (1957/58–1963/64) is the 36mm Explorer-case Super Precision sister. The 5520 (1974–1986) is the gold-capped successor on the later Cal 1520 Precision architecture, separated from the 5502 / 5506 pair by a roughly decade-long gap in gold-capped Air-King production.
The 5502 and 5506 sit beside the steel 5500 in the Cal. 1530 Air-King generation. Reference 5504 is the larger Explorer-case relative, while 5520 belongs to a later gold-finished Air-King generation with a different movement and dial wording. The Air-King family index summarizes 5502 as a US-market reference and 5506 as a UK/Commonwealth reference. The direct lot sample does not establish that assignment as a universal rule, so it remains a distribution hypothesis rather than a factory statement.


The 5502 / 5506 references run on the Cal 1530 era's Super Precision marketing tier — the same Cal 1530 that powers the early 5500, the early 5504, and the early 5512 / 5513 Submariner. The chronometer-rated equivalent in this generation is the Cal 1560 (Submariner / Explorer chronometer), not a gold-capped Air-King. The 5502 / 5506 stay on the Air-King's sub-COSC tier despite the gold-capped trim's price premium; the chronometer paperwork sits with the Datejust line in this era.
[[File:Ref 5502 crown.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex 5502 case flank and crown|Rolex 5502 case flank and crown]]
The watches are time-only Air-Kings with center seconds. Their gold-finished cases and “SUPER PRECISION” dials distinguish them from many steel or later “PRECISION” Air-Kings, but those features do not prove the original delivery configuration of an individual watch.


<span id="production-outline"></span>
<span id="production-outline"></span>
== Production outline ==
==Production outline==
 
The introduction year is contested. RolexMagazine and Monochrome push the 5502 / 5506 introduction back to approximately 1958, consistent with pre-catalog distribution to Commonwealth retailers in advance of formal catalog entry. Robb Report and Marcus Siems narrow the formal catalog window to 1960–1965. The most defensible reading: pre-catalog Commonwealth distribution from approximately 1958, formal catalog presence from 1960 onward, retirement around 1964 for the 5506 and 1965 for the 5502. 1958–1965 is the active window for the pair, with the 1958–1960 segment as pre-catalog distribution.


The retirement is firmer at approximately 1964/65. No documented 5502 dated post-1965 has surfaced in the auction record, and no documented 5506 dated post-1964. The Cal 1530 Super Precision movement begins phasing out across the broader Air-King line around 1963; by 1965 the 5500 is firmly on Cal 1520, and the 5502 / 5506 references retire alongside the broader Cal 1530 era retirement rather than continuing onto the Cal 1520. The gold-capped Air-King line then sits dormant for approximately a decade until the 5520 picks it up in 1974.
The Vintage Rolex Field Manual lists 5502 and 5506 with Cal. 1530 and a 1958 date. Other modern histories place formal catalogue coverage nearer 1960–1965. The evidence supports a late-1950s to mid-1960s range; the exact start and end depend on the source and on each watch's case and movement.


Total production output is not published. Both references are meaningfully scarcer at major-house auction than the contemporary 5500 or the later 5520. The gold-capped catalog-tier positioning narrowed the buyer base in period, and the parallel reference-number split divided production further. Direct 5502 lot essays at Phillips, Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonhams, and Antiquorum are scarce in the auction record through 2025; Bonhams is the documented major-house anchor for the 5506.
No published source reviewed gives a factory production total. The auction sample is much smaller than the 5500 record, but that does not establish a scarcity percentage or a complete serial range. Case numbers, movement numbers, and dial details should be recorded per watch.


<span id="movement-notes"></span>
<span id="movement-notes"></span>
== Movement notes ==
==Movement notes==
 
Both references run Cal 1530 throughout — no Cal 1520 era on either. The 1530's spec sheet is covered under [[Reference:5500#movement-notes|the 5500 movement notes]] (25 jewels, 18,000 vph, ~44h, butterfly rotor, Breguet overcoil, Microstella from 1959); the 5502 / 5506 carry the same caliber as the early 5500, the early 5504, the early 5512 / 5513 Submariner, and the early 1016 Explorer.


The dial reads "AIR-KING" + "SUPER PRECISION" — the Cal 1530 era's marketing-tier text, sub-chronometer. Same convention as the 5500 era and the 5504 wear in their early Cal 1530 production. The 5502 / 5506 are not COSC chronometer rated. The chronometer-rated equivalent in the 1500-family generation is the Cal 1560 / 1570, which sits on the Submariner and Explorer references rather than on the Air-King line.
Heritage’s circa-1959 5506 records Cal. 1530, automatic winding, rhodium plating, and 25 jewels. The movement family is consistent with the “SUPER PRECISION” Air-King generation, but that dial wording should be checked against the movement because service replacements occur.


The catalog window does not extend into the Cal 1520 era. Rolex retired the 5502 around 1965 and the 5506 around 1964 rather than transitioning either onto Cal 1520 the way the 5500 was transitioned. The mechanical hardware is identical across the 5502, 5506, and the early 5500 — no 5506-specific Cal 1530 variant was developed for the gold-capped or Commonwealth-market positioning. The gold-capped Air-King line then sits dormant until the 5520 picks it up in 1974 with the Cal 1520 Precision architecture and baton hands.
Cal. 1530 is not the same as the later Cal. 1520 used in many “PRECISION” Air-Kings. The 5502/5506 page should not promise a fixed reserve, regulator, rotor detail, or shock-protection configuration without inspecting the movement. Later service work can change visible parts.


<span id="case-and-construction"></span>
<span id="case-and-construction"></span>
== Case and construction ==
==Case and construction==
 
34mm × approximately 12mm × 43mm L2L. Stainless steel base case with 40 microns of yellow gold electroplated over the bezel, crown, and exterior surfaces. The caseback remains stainless steel — same standard gold-cap construction as the later 5520 inherits. The bezel is fixed and smooth, gold-capped to match. Lugs are 19mm with drilled spring-bar holes. The crown is Twinlock screw-down, gold-capped. Water resistance is rated at 100m, period-standard.
 
The case is supplied by Kessi Frères SA in Biel. The KB tombstone hallmark inside the caseback is the supplier mark and is consistent across documented examples of both references per Marcus Siems' case-supplier research. The hallmark is a useful authentication anchor across the 5502 / 5506 pair; counterfeit cases are unlikely to carry the period-correct KB stamp.


The 40-micron specification is documented across Marcus Siems, Robb Report, and secondary aggregators for the gold-capped Air-King line. Monochrome cites a 14-micron figure for the 5506, contradicting the 40-micron consensus. The 40-micron figure is the canonical specification across documented examples; the Monochrome 14-micron reading sits against the consensus. The 40-micron thickness is meaningful: thicker than standard gold plating (typically a few microns), thin enough to wear through over decades of service, and the standard for Rolex's gold-capped catalog line.
Auction records describe steel cases with gold on the upper surfaces, around 33–34mm wide, screw-down backs, and acrylic crystals. The terms “gold plated,” “gold filled,” and “gold capped” are used inconsistently in dealer and editorial sources. They are not interchangeable technical descriptions, so record the metal test, wear pattern, and case construction for each watch.


The crystal is acrylic plexiglass, domed. Sapphire arrives on the Air-King line only with the 14000 in 1989, well after the 5502 / 5506 retirement.
The KB tombstone marking is reported on some cases and may identify a case supplier, but the reviewed sources do not establish that every 5502 and 5506 case carries the same stamp. A missing or unclear mark deserves inspection; it is not by itself proof of a counterfeit or a genuine case.


<span id="bracelets-end-links-and-clasps"></span>
<span id="bracelets-end-links-and-clasps"></span>
== Bracelets, end-links, and clasps ==
==Bracelets, end links, and clasps==


19mm Oyster across the production. The standard delivery configuration is the 78351 gold-capped Oyster bracelet — riveted construction on early production transitioning to folded-link on later examples. Same bracelet reference fits the 5502, the 5506, the later 5520, and (across the production gap) the gold-capped Air-King line as a whole. Rolex's gold-capped 19mm Oyster bracelet platform stayed consistent across the references and the production gaps.
Gold-finished Oyster bracelets appear in the period record. Heritage’s 5506 lot was fitted to a black leather strap, and the Bonhams 5502 records describe both a gold-finished bracelet and a leather strap. Those examples show why bracelet originality must be established from the clasp, end links, and case fit rather than from the reference number.


Most surviving examples wear bracelets that have been serviced, replaced, or refitted over decades. Bracelet originality on a 5502 or 5506 needs case-and-clasp-date verification rather than relying on the bracelet reference number alone. Bonhams's c.1960 5506 (auction 29125 lot 51) sold on a brown leather strap, which is a later replacement — leather is not the period-correct delivery configuration for a gold-capped Air-King. Gold-capped expansion bracelets surface on a small subset of early examples (parallel to the Antiquorum 5516 lot description), but the standard period-correct configuration is the matching gold-capped Oyster.
A bracelet or clasp date dates that component. It does not date the watch head or prove original delivery. Record later replacements separately from period-correct parts.


<span id="dial-map"></span>
<span id="dial-map"></span>
== Dial map ==
==Dial map==


[[File:Ref 5506 hero.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex 5506 Air-King gold-capped sunburst champagne|Sunburst champagne 5506, c.1960 — Bonhams 29125/51 anchor for the dart-marker sub-variant]]
Documented examples include silvered dials with applied gold markers, sunburst champagne dials with dart markers, black gilt dials, and at least one silvered 5506 with dauphine hands. These are observed configurations, not a complete factory catalogue.


The dial palette across the 5502 / 5506 pair is narrow. Four documented configurations across the references:
[[File:Ref 5506 hero.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex 5506 Air-King champagne dial|Rolex 5506 Air-King champagne dial]]
Heritage’s circa-1959 5506 has a silvered dial, applied gold markers, outer luminous dots, and gold luminous lance hands. The lot was not sold. Bonhams catalogues a champagne 5506 and black and champagne 5502 examples; those lots remain individual case and movement records.


<span id="silvered-superprecision"></span>
[[File:Ref 5502 dial-variant-black-gilt.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex 5502 black gilt dial|Rolex 5502 black gilt dial]]
=== Silvered AIR-KING SUPER PRECISION ===
Black gilt, champagne, and dauphine-hand examples should be judged from the dial printing, marker feet, hands, lume, and movement together. A rare-looking colour or hand set is a lead for inspection, not proof of a separate reference branch.


The production-volume dial across both references. Silvered or matte-grey ground, applied yellow gold or gilt faceted hour indices with luminous dots, alpha gold hands. "AIR-KING" + "SUPER PRECISION" text. Standard configuration on much of the 5502 and 5506 production.
The reviewed sources do not document retailer-signed, Domino’s, or government-crest 5502/5506 examples. Absence from this small sample is not proof that none existed.


<span id="sunburst-champagne-dart"></span>
<span id="auction-record"></span>
=== Sunburst champagne with dart markers ===
==Auction record==


Bonhams auction 29125 lot 51 (May 2023, c.1960 5506) catalogues a sunburst champagne dial with applied gilt dart hour markers and gilt dagger or dart hands. The champagne configuration pairs naturally with the gold-capped trim and reads more directly toward the dress-watch end of the catalog tier than the silvered standard. Documented on the 5506 specifically; less commonly encountered on the 5502 but consistent with the broader gold-capped configuration logic.
The direct auction sample is small and mixed. The Heritage record provides the clearest movement and case data in the cited set; the Bonhams entries remain catalogue leads until their lot text and images are checked against the watches.
 
<span id="black-gilt"></span>
=== Black gilt with applied gilt indices ===
 
Black ground with applied gilt indices and "Air-King" in large script above six (Monochrome). The black-gilt configuration is rarer than the silvered version on both references and trades at a premium to the standard. Documented examples sit primarily on the 5502 in the surfaced auction record; uncommon on the 5506.
 
<span id="silvered-dauphine-1959"></span>
=== Silvered with dauphine hands ===
 
Heritage Auctions lot 5294-54248 catalogues a c.1959 5506 with silvered ground, applied gilt indices, and dauphine rather than alpha hands. The dauphine-handed sub-variant is the alternate hand-style configuration sitting against the alpha-handed standard. Documented on the 5506 at the early end of the catalog window.
 
The 3-6-9 Explorer, Roman, Arabic, and tropical dial configurations that surface elsewhere on the Air-King line are not documented on the 5502 / 5506 pair.
 
<span id="special-branches"></span>
== Special branches ==
 
The 5502 / 5506 pair carries no documented retailer-signed (Tiffany / Cartier / Beyer), corporate-gift (Domino's), or government-crest configurations in the surfaced auction record through 2025. The Domino's program (1977 onward) post-dates the production window entirely. The Tiffany retailer-signed program existed across 1958–1965 but no Tiffany 5502 or 5506 has surfaced. The narrow catalog visibility plus the gold-capped pricing premium kept both references outside most of the corporate-gift and retailer-signing programs that defined other Air-King references.
 
The reference-number split itself is the closest "branch" the pair has. Same architecture, parallel production, distinct reference number tracking distribution channel — the 5502 surfacing more often in US dealer markets and the 5506 surfacing more often at UK auction houses. Beyond the reference-number split and the geographic distribution, the two references are mechanically identical.
 
<span id="auction-record"></span>
== Auction record ==


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Sale !! Lot !! Year !! Reference !! Configuration !! Result
! Venue
! Lot
! Date
! Reference
! Documented configuration
! Result
|-
| Bonhams New York
| 30
| 2023
| 5502, circa 1959
| Case 478525; champagne dial; Cal. 1530; gold-finished bracelet
| USD 3,520 (catalogue record)
|-
|-
| Bonhams (auction 29125) || 51 || 2023 || 5506 c.1960 || case 634350, sunburst champagne dial with applied gilt dart markers, gilt dagger/dart hands, brown leather strap (later replacement) || Sold USD 2,550 with premium
| Bonhams London
| 101
| 2024
| 5502, circa 1959
| Case 478779; black dial; Cal. 1530; leather strap
| GBP 3,072 (catalogue record)
|-
|-
| Heritage Auctions || 5294-54248 || (c.2010s) || 5506 c.1959 || Super Precision automatic, silvered ground with applied gilt indices, dauphine / alpha hands || Sale price login-gated; details accessible via Heritage browse
| Bonhams
| 51
| 2023
| 5506, circa 1960
| Case 634350; champagne dial; Cal. 1530; leather strap
| USD 2,550 (catalogue record)
|-
|-
| Antiquorum (NY) || 240-49 || 15 September 2010 || 5516 (sister-cousin reference, included as price proxy) || Super Precision gold-capped — same Cal 1530 architecture, separate reference || Hammered USD 1,250 against estimate USD 1,000–1,500
| Heritage Auctions
| 54248
| June 2017
| 5506, circa 1959
| Case 506405; silvered dial; Cal. 1530, 25 jewels; leather strap
| Not sold
|-
| Antiquorum New York
| 240-49
| September 2010
| 5516, related reference
| Gold-finished Super Precision Air-King, included only as context
| Hammered USD 1,250
|}
|}


Direct 5502 auction-house lots are scarce in the auction record. The Bonhams 5506 lot is the cleanest standalone hammer record across the pair; the Heritage 5506 lot anchors the silvered + dauphine sub-variant; the Antiquorum 5516 lot is included as the closest sister-cousin reference price proxy (the 5516 is a separate reference, not a 5502 or 5506 — the inclusion is for valuation context only).
The Heritage lot directly supports a circa-1959 5506, 33mm case, Cal. 1530, 25 jewels, silvered dial, and leather strap. The Bonhams entries remain catalogue leads until the lot descriptions and images can be checked again. The 5516 is a separate reference and should not be used as a 5502/5506 price equivalent.


The pair trades primarily through dealer markets at the USD 2,000–4,500 band depending on dial configuration and condition. Standard silvered Cal 1530 examples in clean condition sit at the lower end (USD 2,000–3,000); sunburst champagne and black-gilt examples push into the USD 3,000–4,500 range with provenance. Phillips, Sotheby's, Christie's have no documented standalone 5502 or 5506 essay-grade lots through 2025; Bonhams and Heritage are the documented major-house anchors.
The sample does not support a market band, average, or ranking of dial variants. Keep the result, currency, condition, and bracelet configuration with each lot.


<span id="authentication"></span>
<span id="authentication"></span>
== Authentication ==
==Authentication==


Both references are 60–65 years old. The dial restoration question applies the standard Air-King-era restoration window (1980s–2000s); original dials with even minor period patina are the originality positive.
Start with the case reference, case number, movement, dial printing, hands, and metal construction. A Cal. 1530 and “SUPER PRECISION” dial fit the documented generation, but either part can be replaced.


The case-trim authentication is the cleanest single anchor across both references. The bezel and crown should be 40-micron gold electroplate over steel — not solid gold (which would put the watch on the 5501 reference). Hallmark stamping on the underside of the bezel (where accessible) confirms gold-cap construction. Gold-cap wear-through on heavily-worn examples reveals the steel base underneath at the bezel edges and crown — a service-or-restoration consideration but not a counterfeit flag.
Check the gold finish at worn edges and on the underside of the case, the crown, and the bezel. A case described as gold capped, gold filled, or plated should be tested and photographed rather than identified from seller language. Steel showing through wear can be consistent with a gold-finished case; it is not enough on its own to authenticate the watch.


The KB tombstone hallmark inside the caseback is a strong authentication anchor — Kessi Frères SA case construction is documented across both 5502 and 5506 production. A 5502 or 5506 caseback without the KB stamp is unusual and worth examining.
Check the dial for refinishing, moved text, loose markers, and relumed dots. Alpha, lance, and dauphine hands are all reported in the sample, while a later “PRECISION” dial or Cal. 1520 needs an explanation as a service replacement or a misidentification.


The dial text should match the caliber: "SUPER PRECISION" on the Cal 1530 era is correct. A 5502 or 5506 with "PRECISION" dial text (no "Super") is service-replacement (likely a 5520 dial swap applied during service) or a misattribution; one with "OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER" text is service-replacement and is not original.
Bracelet and clasp evidence belongs to the bracelet. A leather strap or later Oyster bracelet does not, by itself, disprove a 5502 or 5506 head.


The hands should be alpha — distinct from the 5520's baton/stick hands. Some 5506 examples carry dauphine hands per Heritage, which is documented as an alternate sub-variant rather than a counterfeit flag. A 5502 or 5506 with baton/stick hands is service-era replacement. The applied yellow gold or gilt faceted indices should sit flat against the dial without lift; refinished dials sometimes betray themselves at the index baseplates.
==Related references==


The movement should be Cal 1530 with 25 jewels at 18,000 vph. A 5502 or 5506 with Cal 1520 (5520-era variant) is service-replacement and is not original-delivery. The Cal 1530's butterfly rotor and Breguet overcoil are visible inside the case and provide cleaner architectural authentication than the dial-text reading alone.
* [[Reference:4365|Air-King 4365]]
* [[Reference:4499|Air-King 4499]]
* [[Reference:4925|Air-King 4925]]
* [[Reference:5500|Air-King 5500]]
* [[Reference:5501|Air-King 5501]]
* [[Reference:5504|Air-King 5504]]
* [[Reference:5520|Air-King 5520]]


The bracelet should be 78351 gold-capped Oyster. All-steel bracelets and leather straps on a 5502 or 5506 are service-era refits; the original retail configuration was always gold-capped Oyster matching the case construction.
See also the [[Reference:air-king|Air-King family index]], [[Reference:Movements|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets|bracelet and clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers|serial numbers by year]].
 
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
Ref 5502 hero.webp|5502 Air-King
Ref 5502 crown.webp|5502 crown and case
Ref 5506 hero.webp|5506 champagne dial
Ref 5502 dial-variant-black-gilt.webp|5502 black gilt dial
</gallery>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* [https://jewelry.ha.com/itm/timepieces/wristwatch/rolex-air-king-ref-5506-oyster-perpetual-super-precision-automatic-wristwatch-circa-1959/a/5294-54248.s Heritage Auctions, ref. 5506, lot 54248]
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29125/lot/51/rolex-a-gold-plated-automatic-wristwatch-air-king-ref-5506-c1960/ Bonhams, ref. 5506, lot 51]
* [https://images1.bonhams.com/original?src=Images/live/2014-04/30/S-21663-0-1.pdf Bonhams catalogue, ref. 5506, circa 1961, 25-jewel Cal. 1530]
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28398/lot/30/rolex-a-gold-plated-automatic-bracelet-watch-air-king-ref-5502-c1959/ Bonhams New York, ref. 5502, lot 30]
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29887/lot/101/rolex-a-gold-plated-stainless-steel-automatic-wristwatch-air-king-ref-5502-circa-1959/ Bonhams London, ref. 5502, lot 101]
* [https://www.rolexmagazine.com/2013/07/the-complete-history-of-rolex-air-king.html Rolex Magazine, Air-King history]
* [https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/lists/complete-guide-to-the-rolex-air-king-1945-to-present-1235881849/ Robb Report, Air-King guide]
* [https://goldammer.me/blogs/articles/rolex-airking-origin-history-and-design-evolution Marcus Siems, Air-King history]
* [https://www.watch-wiki.net/doku.php?id=rolex_air-king Watch-Wiki, Air-King reference notes]
* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
* [https://www.rescapement.com/blog/rolex-air-king-history Tony Traina, "Rolex Air-King History: The Forgotten King", Rescapement]
* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-of-the-rolex-air-king-the-underrated-pilots-watch/ Erik Slaven, "History of the Rolex Air-King, the underrated pilots watch", Monochrome Watches, 2025]
* [https://goldammer.me/blogs/articles/rolex-airking-origin-history-and-design-evolution Marcus Siems, "Rolex Air-King Origin History and Design Evolution", Goldammer]
* [https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/lists/complete-guide-to-the-rolex-air-king-1945-to-present-1235881849/ "The Complete Guide to Rolex Air-King Watches From 1945 to Present", Robb Report]
* [https://www.rolexmagazine.com/2013/07/the-complete-history-of-rolex-air-king.html Jake Ehrlich, "The Complete History Of The Rolex Air-King", Rolex Magazine, 2013]
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29125/lot/51/rolex-a-gold-plated-automatic-wristwatch-air-king-ref-5506-c1960/ "Rolex Air-King Ref 5506 Gold-Plated c.1960 Bonhams", Bonhams, 2023]
* [https://jewelry.ha.com/itm/timepieces/wristwatch/rolex-air-king-ref-5506-oyster-perpetual-super-precision-automatic-wristwatch-circa-1959/a/5294-54248.s "Rolex Air-King Ref 5506 Oyster Perpetual Super Precision c.1959 Heritage", Heritage Auctions]
* [https://www.watch-wiki.net/doku.php?id=rolex_air-king "Rolex Air-King", Watch-Wiki]


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

Latest revision as of 08:04, 29 September 2026


Air-King › 5502 / 5506

Rolex Air-King 5502 with gold-finished case
Rolex Air-King 5502 with gold-finished case

References 5502 and 5506 are related mid-century Air-Kings with gold-finished Oyster cases and Cal. 1530 automatic movements. The public record places examples around 1958–1965, but the reference split and case finish are not documented consistently enough to call the two numbers identical. Surviving watches show silvered, champagne, and black dials, alpha or dauphine hands, and both bracelets and straps.

Core facts

detail value
references 5502 and 5506
family Air-King
production Published examples and reference guides place the pair around 1958–1965; exact cutovers are unproved
case About 33–35mm in published auction records; gold-finished steel Oyster case
bezel Smooth bezel on documented examples
crown and crystal Screw-down Oyster crown and acrylic crystal
movement Cal. 1530 automatic, 25 jewels and 18,000 vph in the cited Heritage record
dial text “AIR-KING” and “SUPER PRECISION” on documented examples
hands and markers Gold or gilt applied markers; alpha, lance, or dauphine hands depending on example
case finish Described variously as gold plated, gold filled, or gold capped; inspect the case rather than relying on a listing term
bracelet Gold-finished Oyster bracelets are documented, but leather straps and replacements also occur
caseback marks KB markings are reported on some cases; their meaning and coverage need case-level evidence

Where it sits in the line

The 5502 and 5506 sit beside the steel 5500 in the Cal. 1530 Air-King generation. Reference 5504 is the larger Explorer-case relative, while 5520 belongs to a later gold-finished Air-King generation with a different movement and dial wording. The Air-King family index summarizes 5502 as a US-market reference and 5506 as a UK/Commonwealth reference. The direct lot sample does not establish that assignment as a universal rule, so it remains a distribution hypothesis rather than a factory statement.

Rolex 5502 case flank and crown
Rolex 5502 case flank and crown

The watches are time-only Air-Kings with center seconds. Their gold-finished cases and “SUPER PRECISION” dials distinguish them from many steel or later “PRECISION” Air-Kings, but those features do not prove the original delivery configuration of an individual watch.

Production outline

The Vintage Rolex Field Manual lists 5502 and 5506 with Cal. 1530 and a 1958 date. Other modern histories place formal catalogue coverage nearer 1960–1965. The evidence supports a late-1950s to mid-1960s range; the exact start and end depend on the source and on each watch's case and movement.

No published source reviewed gives a factory production total. The auction sample is much smaller than the 5500 record, but that does not establish a scarcity percentage or a complete serial range. Case numbers, movement numbers, and dial details should be recorded per watch.

Movement notes

Heritage’s circa-1959 5506 records Cal. 1530, automatic winding, rhodium plating, and 25 jewels. The movement family is consistent with the “SUPER PRECISION” Air-King generation, but that dial wording should be checked against the movement because service replacements occur.

Cal. 1530 is not the same as the later Cal. 1520 used in many “PRECISION” Air-Kings. The 5502/5506 page should not promise a fixed reserve, regulator, rotor detail, or shock-protection configuration without inspecting the movement. Later service work can change visible parts.

Case and construction

Auction records describe steel cases with gold on the upper surfaces, around 33–34mm wide, screw-down backs, and acrylic crystals. The terms “gold plated,” “gold filled,” and “gold capped” are used inconsistently in dealer and editorial sources. They are not interchangeable technical descriptions, so record the metal test, wear pattern, and case construction for each watch.

The KB tombstone marking is reported on some cases and may identify a case supplier, but the reviewed sources do not establish that every 5502 and 5506 case carries the same stamp. A missing or unclear mark deserves inspection; it is not by itself proof of a counterfeit or a genuine case.

Bracelets, end links, and clasps

Gold-finished Oyster bracelets appear in the period record. Heritage’s 5506 lot was fitted to a black leather strap, and the Bonhams 5502 records describe both a gold-finished bracelet and a leather strap. Those examples show why bracelet originality must be established from the clasp, end links, and case fit rather than from the reference number.

A bracelet or clasp date dates that component. It does not date the watch head or prove original delivery. Record later replacements separately from period-correct parts.

Dial map

Documented examples include silvered dials with applied gold markers, sunburst champagne dials with dart markers, black gilt dials, and at least one silvered 5506 with dauphine hands. These are observed configurations, not a complete factory catalogue.

Rolex 5506 Air-King champagne dial
Rolex 5506 Air-King champagne dial

Heritage’s circa-1959 5506 has a silvered dial, applied gold markers, outer luminous dots, and gold luminous lance hands. The lot was not sold. Bonhams catalogues a champagne 5506 and black and champagne 5502 examples; those lots remain individual case and movement records.

Rolex 5502 black gilt dial
Rolex 5502 black gilt dial

Black gilt, champagne, and dauphine-hand examples should be judged from the dial printing, marker feet, hands, lume, and movement together. A rare-looking colour or hand set is a lead for inspection, not proof of a separate reference branch.

The reviewed sources do not document retailer-signed, Domino’s, or government-crest 5502/5506 examples. Absence from this small sample is not proof that none existed.

Auction record

The direct auction sample is small and mixed. The Heritage record provides the clearest movement and case data in the cited set; the Bonhams entries remain catalogue leads until their lot text and images are checked against the watches.

Venue Lot Date Reference Documented configuration Result
Bonhams New York 30 2023 5502, circa 1959 Case 478525; champagne dial; Cal. 1530; gold-finished bracelet USD 3,520 (catalogue record)
Bonhams London 101 2024 5502, circa 1959 Case 478779; black dial; Cal. 1530; leather strap GBP 3,072 (catalogue record)
Bonhams 51 2023 5506, circa 1960 Case 634350; champagne dial; Cal. 1530; leather strap USD 2,550 (catalogue record)
Heritage Auctions 54248 June 2017 5506, circa 1959 Case 506405; silvered dial; Cal. 1530, 25 jewels; leather strap Not sold
Antiquorum New York 240-49 September 2010 5516, related reference Gold-finished Super Precision Air-King, included only as context Hammered USD 1,250

The Heritage lot directly supports a circa-1959 5506, 33mm case, Cal. 1530, 25 jewels, silvered dial, and leather strap. The Bonhams entries remain catalogue leads until the lot descriptions and images can be checked again. The 5516 is a separate reference and should not be used as a 5502/5506 price equivalent.

The sample does not support a market band, average, or ranking of dial variants. Keep the result, currency, condition, and bracelet configuration with each lot.

Authentication

Start with the case reference, case number, movement, dial printing, hands, and metal construction. A Cal. 1530 and “SUPER PRECISION” dial fit the documented generation, but either part can be replaced.

Check the gold finish at worn edges and on the underside of the case, the crown, and the bezel. A case described as gold capped, gold filled, or plated should be tested and photographed rather than identified from seller language. Steel showing through wear can be consistent with a gold-finished case; it is not enough on its own to authenticate the watch.

Check the dial for refinishing, moved text, loose markers, and relumed dots. Alpha, lance, and dauphine hands are all reported in the sample, while a later “PRECISION” dial or Cal. 1520 needs an explanation as a service replacement or a misidentification.

Bracelet and clasp evidence belongs to the bracelet. A leather strap or later Oyster bracelet does not, by itself, disprove a 5502 or 5506 head.

Related references

See also the Air-King family index, movement reference, bracelet and clasp guide, and serial numbers by year.

  • 5502 Air-King
    5502 Air-King
  • 5502 crown and case
    5502 crown and case
  • 5506 champagne dial
    5506 champagne dial
  • 5502 black gilt dial
    5502 black gilt dial

Sources

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