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Deep Air-King family audit: qualify chronology and collector claims; add centered family lead image
Deep audit: Air-King family chronology, lead image and market prose
 
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Air-King}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Air-King}}
{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Air-King — Reference Guide to Models and Years | Rolexopedia
|title=Rolex Air-King — Reference Guide to Every Model & Year | Rolexopedia
|description=Reference guide to the Rolex Air-King from the 4925 and 5500 through the 14000 and 114200 sapphire-era models, with movement, case and dial notes.
|description=The Rolex Air-King family spans the 1945 hand-wound references, the automatic 5500, and the later 14000 and 114200 sapphire-era watches.
|keywords=Rolex, Air-King, family, history, references
|keywords=Rolex, Air-King, family, history, references
|image=Air-King family hero.webp
|image=Air-King family hero.webp
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|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}
}}
<small>[[Main Page]] › '''Air-King'''</small>


<div class="rp-lead">
<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Air-King family hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex Air-King family|Rolex Air-King family]]
[[File:Air-King family hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex Air-King family advertisement|Rolex Air-King family advertisement.]]
</div>
</div>


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! Reference !! Production !! Movement !! Notes
! Reference !! Production !! Movement !! Notes
|-
|-
| [[Reference:4925|4925]] / [[Reference:4365|4365]] / [[Reference:4499|4499]] || 1945–1953 || cal 10½ Hunter hand-wound || Originating Air-King generation, associated in secondary histories with a four-name Battle of Britain commemoration. 4925 = centre-seconds Air-King-only. 4365 = sub-seconds with four-name shared-case dial map (Air-King / Air-Lion / Air-Tiger / Air-Giant). 4499 = 1946+ centre-seconds running mate to 4925, 15j→17j running update (Bonhams 2012 documents 1946 15j sub-seconds variant)
| [[Reference:4925|4925]] / [[Reference:4365|4365]] / [[Reference:4499|4499]] || 1945–1953 || cal 10½ Hunter hand-wound || Originating Air-King generation, associated in published histories with a four-name Battle of Britain commemoration. 4925 = centre-seconds Air-King-only. 4365 = sub-seconds with four-name shared-case dial map (Air-King / Air-Lion / Air-Tiger / Air-Giant). 4499 = 1946+ centre-seconds running mate to 4925, 15j→17j running update (Bonhams 2012 documents 1946 15j sub-seconds variant)
|-
|-
| [[Reference:6552|6552]] || 1953–1957 || cal 1030 automatic || First automatic Air-King; Cal 1030 butterfly rotor stamped ROLEX PERPETUAL PATENTED. Caseback duality (6552 between lugs / 6565 inside) period-correct. "Super Precision" dial despite chronometer-grade movement adjustment
| [[Reference:6552|6552]] || 1953–1957 || cal 1030 automatic || First automatic Air-King; Cal 1030 butterfly rotor stamped ROLEX PERPETUAL PATENTED. Caseback duality (6552 between lugs / 6565 inside) period-correct. "Super Precision" dial despite chronometer-grade movement adjustment
|-
|-
| [[Reference:5501|5501]] || 1959–1986 (late stock to 1987) || cal 1530 / 1520 || A documented Rolesor Air-King, with a steel case, solid 18k yellow-gold fluted bezel and gold crown. Distinct from gold-capped 5502/5506/5520 (40-micron plated). Cotton Bowl Classic 1967-1970 + Tiffany champagne marquee branches. Caseback 5501/1102
| [[Reference:5501|5501]] || 1959–1986 (late stock to 1987) || cal 1530 / 1520 || Documented solid-gold-bezel Rolesor branch, with a steel case, 18k yellow-gold fluted bezel and gold crown. Distinct from gold-capped 5502/5506/5520 (40-micron plated). Cotton Bowl Classic 1967-1970 + Tiffany champagne marquee branches. Caseback 5501/1102
|-
|-
| [[Reference:5502|5502]] || 1958–1965 || cal 1530 || Gold-capped 40-micron Super Precision Air-King — US-market distribution channel. Alpha hands. Sister to 5506 (parallel-production Commonwealth-market). Distinct from solid-gold 5501 (5502 = electroplated, 5501 = solid 18k gold) and from later 5520 (5502 = Cal 1530 Super Precision alpha hands; 5520 = Cal 1520 Precision baton hands)
| [[Reference:5502|5502]] || 1958–1965 || cal 1530 || Gold-capped 40-micron Super Precision Air-King, documented in US-market examples. Alpha hands. Sister to 5506 (parallel-production Commonwealth-market). Distinct from solid-gold 5501 (5502 = electroplated, 5501 = solid 18k gold) and from later 5520 (5502 = Cal 1530 Super Precision alpha hands; 5520 = Cal 1520 Precision baton hands)
|-
|-
| [[Reference:5504|5504]] || 1957/58–1963/64 || cal 1530 || 36mm Explorer-case Super Precision, distinct from the 34mm 5500 and the chronometer 1016. Documented examples retain AIR-KING dial text with non-COSC Cal. 1530; 3-6-9 Explorer-style dials are a documented branch.
| [[Reference:5504|5504]] || 1957/58–1963/64 || cal 1530 || 36mm Explorer-case Super Precision; the connective tissue between 5500 (34mm Air-King) and 1016 Explorer (36mm EXPLORER text + COSC). Wears 1016 case but AIR-KING dial text and non-COSC Cal 1530. 3-6-9 Explorer-dial-with-AIR-KING-text is the marquee collector branch
|-
|-
| [[Reference:5506|5506]] || 1958–1964 || cal 1530 || Gold-capped 40-micron Super Precision Air-King — UK/Commonwealth-market distribution channel. Alpha hands. Sister to 5502 (parallel-production US-market). Bonhams 2023 lot 51 records a 78351 bracelet on one example. The same Kessi Frères case family appears in 5502 records.
| [[Reference:5506|5506]] || 1958–1964 || cal 1530 || Gold-capped 40-micron Super Precision Air-King, documented in UK/Commonwealth-market examples. Alpha hands. Sister to 5502 (parallel-production US-market). Same Kessi Frères case + 78351 bracelet as 5502
|-
|-
| [[Reference:5500|5500]] || 1957–1989 || cal 1530 then 1520 || The mainstay. 32-year run. Broadest documented dial map of any Air-King
| [[Reference:5500|5500]] || 1957–1989 || cal 1530 then 1520 || The mainstay. 32-year run. Broadest documented dial map of any Air-King
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| [[Reference:14000|14000]] || 1989–2000 || cal 3000 || First sapphire-crystal Air-King; non-COSC ("Precision" dial), wider dial palette than any prior Air-King (salmon, blue, Roman, Arabic, 3-6-9 Explorer), Domino's second-generation tilted-logo + Tiffany retailer-signed branches
| [[Reference:14000|14000]] || 1989–2000 || cal 3000 || First sapphire-crystal Air-King; non-COSC ("Precision" dial), wider dial palette than any prior Air-King (salmon, blue, Roman, Arabic, 3-6-9 Explorer), Domino's second-generation tilted-logo + Tiffany retailer-signed branches
|-
|-
| [[Reference:14000M|14000M]] || 2000–2006 || cal 3130 || The bridge Air-King — same Cal 3130 the 114200 carries, but pre-COSC ("Precision" dial) and pre-engraved-rehaut (smooth rehaut throughout). Pre-Parachrom (hairspring adoption 2010, after 14000M production ended). Visually nearly identical to 14000
| [[Reference:14000M|14000M]] || 2000–2006 || cal 3130 || The bridge Air-King, using the same Cal 3130 the 114200 carries, but pre-COSC ("Precision" dial) and pre-engraved-rehaut (smooth rehaut throughout). Pre-Parachrom (hairspring adoption 2010, after 14000M production ended). Visually nearly identical to 14000
|-
|-
| [[Reference:114200|114200]] || 2007–2014 || cal 3130 || First COSC-certified Air-King in line history. Engraved rehaut from launch. Concentric "wave" dial palette in silver/black/blue+orange-Arabic/salmon/green/Roman/3-6-9-Explorer/Arabic. Closes the 34mm Air-King chapter before the 2-year hiatus and 116900 40mm redesign
| [[Reference:114200|114200]] || 2007–2014 || cal 3130 || First COSC-certified Air-King in line history. Engraved rehaut from launch. Concentric "wave" dial palette in silver/black/blue+orange-Arabic/salmon/green/Roman/3-6-9-Explorer/Arabic. Closes the 34mm Air-King chapter before the 2-year hiatus and 116900 40mm redesign
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=== Battle of Britain origins (1945) ===
=== Battle of Britain origins (1945) ===


Hans Wilsdorf was in London during the Battle of Britain in the autumn of 1940 and the years that followed. The Air-King and its three sister names — Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, Air-Giant — emerged in 1945 as a commemorative gesture toward RAF pilots, who were already wearing Rolex Oysters as personal purchases (the official-issue military watches went elsewhere). The four names ran on different reference numbers across the late-1940s 4925 / 4365 / 4499 / 4499/2 hand-wound Bubbleback series. Secondary histories repeat the commemoration story, but no primary Rolex document confirming it has surfaced.
Hans Wilsdorf was in London during the Battle of Britain in the autumn of 1940 and the years that followed. The Air-King and its three sister names, Air-Lion, Air-Tiger and Air-Giant, emerged in 1945 as a commemorative gesture toward RAF pilots, who were already wearing Rolex Oysters as personal purchases (the official-issue military watches went elsewhere). The four names ran on different reference numbers across the late-1940s 4925 / 4365 / 4499 / 4499/2 hand-wound Bubbleback series. Many published histories repeat the commemoration story, but no primary Rolex document confirming it has surfaced.


The names did not all survive. Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, and Air-Giant were retired by the early 1950s. Air-King continued, settling onto the 6552 (the first automatic Air-King, 1953–1957) and then onto the 5500 mainstay (1957–1989).
The names did not all survive. Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, and Air-Giant were retired by the early 1950s. Air-King continued, settling onto the 6552 (the first automatic Air-King, 1953–1957) and then onto the 5500 mainstay (1957–1989).
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Across 32 years the 5500 carried the line, a long production span covering several movement and dial changes. Cal 1530 (1957–c.1963) gave way to Cal 1520 (c.1963–1989); both are non-chronometer 1500-family movements. The dial text alternates between AIR-KING / SUPER PRECISION (Cal 1530 era) and AIR-KING / PRECISION (Cal 1520 era), and a minority of 5500s left the factory without AIR-KING text at all. The 5500 shared its case middle with the 1002 Oyster Perpetual, so casebacks across the 1970s-onward run carry an inside "1002" stamp that is period-correct rather than a service replacement.
Across 32 years the 5500 carried the line, a long production span covering several movement and dial changes. Cal 1530 (1957–c.1963) gave way to Cal 1520 (c.1963–1989); both are non-chronometer 1500-family movements. The dial text alternates between AIR-KING / SUPER PRECISION (Cal 1530 era) and AIR-KING / PRECISION (Cal 1520 era), and a minority of 5500s left the factory without AIR-KING text at all. The 5500 shared its case middle with the 1002 Oyster Perpetual, so casebacks across the 1970s-onward run carry an inside "1002" stamp that is period-correct rather than a service replacement.


The 5500 appeared in corporate-gift programs (Domino's Pizza, Pool Intairdril, Circle Bar Drilling, Winn-Dixie, Levi's) and for Middle-East government-crest commissions (Saudi Armed Forces, UAE, Bahrain Al Khalifa, Kuwait Al-Sabah). Phillips catalogued Joyería Riviera retailer-signed gilt Explorer 3-6-9 5500 examples in 2017 and 2019; those lot records are examples of the branch, not a general production or value rule.
The 5500 appeared in corporate-gift programs (Domino's Pizza, Pool Intairdril, Circle Bar Drilling, Winn-Dixie, Levi's) and for Middle-East government-crest commissions (Saudi Armed Forces, UAE, Bahrain Al Khalifa, Kuwait Al-Sabah). Phillips catalogued Joyería Riviera retailer-signed gilt Explorer 3-6-9 5500 examples in its 2017 and 2019 sales; those lots document the signature and dial configuration, not a general value ranking.


=== The sapphire era (1989+) ===
=== The sapphire era (1989+) ===
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== Related families ==
== Related families ==


* [[Reference:explorer|Explorer]] — the close cousin. Compare the 34mm 5500 Explorer-dial watches with the 36mm chronometer Explorer references.
* [[Reference:explorer|Explorer]], the close cousin. Compare the 34mm 5500 Explorer-dial watches with the 36mm chronometer Explorer references.
* [[Reference:bubbleback|Bubbleback]] — the founding line. The 1945 4925 / 4365 / 4499 origination references sit in the same early-Oyster-Perpetual lineage the Bubbleback established.
* [[Reference:bubbleback|Bubbleback]], the founding line. The 1945 4925 / 4365 / 4499 origination references sit in the same early-Oyster-Perpetual lineage the Bubbleback established.
* [[Reference:milgauss|Milgauss]] — the magnetic-resistant line developed for work near strong magnetic fields.
* [[Reference:milgauss|Milgauss]], the magnetic-resistant line developed for work near strong magnetic fields.


== Shared references ==
== Shared references ==


* [[Reference:Serial-numbers|Serial numbers by year]] — serial ranges and the limits of dating
* [[Reference:Serial-numbers|Serial numbers by year]], serial ranges and the limits of dating
* [[Reference:Movements|Movement reference]] — the calibers used across the Air-King line
* [[Reference:Movements|Movement reference]], the calibers used across the Air-King line
* [[Reference:Bracelets|Bracelet & clasp guide]] — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes
* [[Reference:Bracelets|Bracelet & clasp guide]], bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes


== Sources ==
== Sources ==

Latest revision as of 00:50, 29 September 2026


Main Page › Air-King

Rolex Air-King family advertisement
Rolex Air-King family advertisement.

This index follows the early hand-wound Air-Kings, the long-running automatic 5500 and the later 34mm sapphire-crystal references. Case size, bezel and movement specification vary within the family; the 1142xx generation added chronometer certification.

The 5500 article also covers corporate-logo and commissioned dials, including Domino's Pizza and Middle Eastern government crests. A printed logo needs evidence for the individual watch; the design alone does not establish the commission or original delivery.

References in scope

The published Air-King references, in production order:

Reference Production Movement Notes
4925 / 4365 / 4499 1945–1953 cal 10½ Hunter hand-wound Originating Air-King generation, associated in published histories with a four-name Battle of Britain commemoration. 4925 = centre-seconds Air-King-only. 4365 = sub-seconds with four-name shared-case dial map (Air-King / Air-Lion / Air-Tiger / Air-Giant). 4499 = 1946+ centre-seconds running mate to 4925, 15j→17j running update (Bonhams 2012 documents 1946 15j sub-seconds variant)
6552 1953–1957 cal 1030 automatic First automatic Air-King; Cal 1030 butterfly rotor stamped ROLEX PERPETUAL PATENTED. Caseback duality (6552 between lugs / 6565 inside) period-correct. "Super Precision" dial despite chronometer-grade movement adjustment
5501 1959–1986 (late stock to 1987) cal 1530 / 1520 Documented solid-gold-bezel Rolesor branch, with a steel case, 18k yellow-gold fluted bezel and gold crown. Distinct from gold-capped 5502/5506/5520 (40-micron plated). Cotton Bowl Classic 1967-1970 + Tiffany champagne marquee branches. Caseback 5501/1102
5502 1958–1965 cal 1530 Gold-capped 40-micron Super Precision Air-King, documented in US-market examples. Alpha hands. Sister to 5506 (parallel-production Commonwealth-market). Distinct from solid-gold 5501 (5502 = electroplated, 5501 = solid 18k gold) and from later 5520 (5502 = Cal 1530 Super Precision alpha hands; 5520 = Cal 1520 Precision baton hands)
5504 1957/58–1963/64 cal 1530 36mm Explorer-case Super Precision; the connective tissue between 5500 (34mm Air-King) and 1016 Explorer (36mm EXPLORER text + COSC). Wears 1016 case but AIR-KING dial text and non-COSC Cal 1530. 3-6-9 Explorer-dial-with-AIR-KING-text is the marquee collector branch
5506 1958–1964 cal 1530 Gold-capped 40-micron Super Precision Air-King, documented in UK/Commonwealth-market examples. Alpha hands. Sister to 5502 (parallel-production US-market). Same Kessi Frères case + 78351 bracelet as 5502
5500 1957–1989 cal 1530 then 1520 The mainstay. 32-year run. Broadest documented dial map of any Air-King
5520 published dates conflict cal 1520 in catalogued examples 34 mm gold-capped Air-King. Auction catalogues date examples to 1969, circa 1970, 1974 and 1983; Rolex Magazine lists 1974–1986. Antiquorum and Christie's give different dates and case suffixes for the same Domino's-signed case number; Christie's calls its logo later applied.
5700 / 5701 1959–1988 (late "N" codes to 1991) cal 1525 / 1535 Air-King-Date with date at three. Both Precision tier (non-COSC). Marquee curiosity: cursive "Explorer-Date" dial variant. 5701 sister = two-tone Rolesor steel-and-18k-gold with fluted/reeded bezel + gold crown (same Rolesor convention as 5501)
14000 1989–2000 cal 3000 First sapphire-crystal Air-King; non-COSC ("Precision" dial), wider dial palette than any prior Air-King (salmon, blue, Roman, Arabic, 3-6-9 Explorer), Domino's second-generation tilted-logo + Tiffany retailer-signed branches
14000M 2000–2006 cal 3130 The bridge Air-King, using the same Cal 3130 the 114200 carries, but pre-COSC ("Precision" dial) and pre-engraved-rehaut (smooth rehaut throughout). Pre-Parachrom (hairspring adoption 2010, after 14000M production ended). Visually nearly identical to 14000
114200 2007–2014 cal 3130 First COSC-certified Air-King in line history. Engraved rehaut from launch. Concentric "wave" dial palette in silver/black/blue+orange-Arabic/salmon/green/Roman/3-6-9-Explorer/Arabic. Closes the 34mm Air-King chapter before the 2-year hiatus and 116900 40mm redesign

The post-2014 references, the 40mm 116900 and its 126900 successor, fall outside the vintage and discontinued focus here.

Common entry points

Identifying a 5500 mainstay?
5500
The thirty-two-year mainstay across calibers 1530 and 1520, with corporate-logo and commissioned dial variants.
Working from an Explorer-dial Air-King?
5504
A 36mm reference with caliber 1530. The article distinguishes Air-King dial configurations from examples catalogued as Explorers.
Cross-checking a COSC-era Air-King?
114200
First COSC-certified Air-King. Engraved rehaut from launch and the concentric wave dial palette (silver, black, blue with orange Arabic, salmon, green, Roman, 3-6-9 Explorer, Arabic) that closes the 34mm chapter in 2014.

History

Battle of Britain origins (1945)

Hans Wilsdorf was in London during the Battle of Britain in the autumn of 1940 and the years that followed. The Air-King and its three sister names, Air-Lion, Air-Tiger and Air-Giant, emerged in 1945 as a commemorative gesture toward RAF pilots, who were already wearing Rolex Oysters as personal purchases (the official-issue military watches went elsewhere). The four names ran on different reference numbers across the late-1940s 4925 / 4365 / 4499 / 4499/2 hand-wound Bubbleback series. Many published histories repeat the commemoration story, but no primary Rolex document confirming it has surfaced.

The names did not all survive. Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, and Air-Giant were retired by the early 1950s. Air-King continued, settling onto the 6552 (the first automatic Air-King, 1953–1957) and then onto the 5500 mainstay (1957–1989).

The 5500 mainstay (1957–1989)

Across 32 years the 5500 carried the line, a long production span covering several movement and dial changes. Cal 1530 (1957–c.1963) gave way to Cal 1520 (c.1963–1989); both are non-chronometer 1500-family movements. The dial text alternates between AIR-KING / SUPER PRECISION (Cal 1530 era) and AIR-KING / PRECISION (Cal 1520 era), and a minority of 5500s left the factory without AIR-KING text at all. The 5500 shared its case middle with the 1002 Oyster Perpetual, so casebacks across the 1970s-onward run carry an inside "1002" stamp that is period-correct rather than a service replacement.

The 5500 appeared in corporate-gift programs (Domino's Pizza, Pool Intairdril, Circle Bar Drilling, Winn-Dixie, Levi's) and for Middle-East government-crest commissions (Saudi Armed Forces, UAE, Bahrain Al Khalifa, Kuwait Al-Sabah). Phillips catalogued Joyería Riviera retailer-signed gilt Explorer 3-6-9 5500 examples in its 2017 and 2019 sales; those lots document the signature and dial configuration, not a general value ranking.

The sapphire era (1989+)

The 14000 (1989) replaced the acrylic crystal with sapphire, retained PRECISION dial wording and adopted Cal 3000 — Rolex's modern 28,800 vph base movement. The 14000M (2000) updated to Cal 3130. The 114200 (2007) refined the case proportions, added the engraved rehaut around the dial, and introduced concentric "wave" dials and several green / blue / pink configurations across the run.

Where it sits across Rolex

The Air-King shares components with other Oyster references, but an Explorer-style dial does not turn a 5500 into a 1016. The 5500 uses a 34mm case and non-chronometer movements; the 1016 is a 36mm chronometer reference.

A date at three arrived with the Air-King-Date 5700 / 5701 on the same case architecture, their 1535 / 1525 calibers adding a date module to the 1500 base and shifting the dial layout slightly. The Air-King-Date is sometimes treated as a separate sub-line by collectors and sometimes folded back into the Air-King family.

Related families

  • Explorer, the close cousin. Compare the 34mm 5500 Explorer-dial watches with the 36mm chronometer Explorer references.
  • Bubbleback, the founding line. The 1945 4925 / 4365 / 4499 origination references sit in the same early-Oyster-Perpetual lineage the Bubbleback established.
  • Milgauss, the magnetic-resistant line developed for work near strong magnetic fields.

Shared references

Sources

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