Reference:5700: Difference between revisions
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Deep audit: ground 5700 chronology, Explorer-Date, movement, suffix and market claims |
Remove remaining promotional and canonical wording after 5700 audit |
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{{#seo: | {{#seo: | ||
|title=Rolex 5700 Air-King-Date — Cal 1525/1535, Explorer-Date Dial Variant | Rolexopedia | |title=Rolex 5700 Air-King-Date — Cal 1525/1535, Explorer-Date Dial Variant | Rolexopedia | ||
|description=The 5700 is the Air-King-Date — 1959 to 1988, 34mm steel Oyster, Cal 1525 or 1535 with date at three. The non-COSC date sister to the 5500. | |description=The 5700 is the Air-King-Date — 1959 to 1988, 34mm steel Oyster, Cal 1525 or 1535 with date at three. The non-COSC date sister to the 5500. Cursive "Explorer-Date" dial variant documented in two auction lots. Sister 5701 is the two-tone steel-and-gold version with fluted bezel. | ||
|keywords=Rolex, 5700, Air-King-Date, Cal 1525, Cal 1535, Explorer-Date dial, 5701 | |keywords=Rolex, 5700, Air-King-Date, Cal 1525, Cal 1535, Explorer-Date dial, 5701 | ||
|image=Ref 5700 hero.webp | |image=Ref 5700 hero.webp | ||
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Several modern histories place the 5700’s introduction around 1959, while Rescapement gives 1958. The article uses the late-1950s date as approximate rather than treating either year as a factory-confirmed launch date. | Several modern histories place the 5700’s introduction around 1959, while Rescapement gives 1958. The article uses the late-1950s date as approximate rather than treating either year as a factory-confirmed launch date. | ||
The active end date is usually placed in the late 1980s. Antiquorum records a 5700/15000 made in the late 1980s and sold in 1989, while specialist guides list N-suffix examples into the early 1990s. These records do not prove a continuous production run or an | The active end date is usually placed in the late 1980s. Antiquorum records a 5700/15000 made in the late 1980s and sold in 1989, while specialist guides list N-suffix examples into the early 1990s. These records do not prove a continuous production run or an assembly policy using unused case heads. | ||
The N suffix appears in late reference codes such as 5700/0N and 5701/3N. The cited sources do not define the suffix or establish that it denotes a sapphire transition; record the case, crystal, and date code on each example. | The N suffix appears in late reference codes such as 5700/0N and 5701/3N. The cited sources do not define the suffix or establish that it denotes a sapphire transition; record the case, crystal, and date code on each example. | ||
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The 5700 uses a 34mm steel Oyster case with a screw-down caseback and crown. The cited dimensions are approximate and should be measured on the individual watch. The bezel is fixed and steel and smooth on the 5700; the 5701 sister carries the reeded/fluted bezel in two-tone steel-and-18k-yellow-gold construction. Lugs are 19mm with drilled spring-bar holes (period-correct for the 1959–1988 production window). | The 5700 uses a 34mm steel Oyster case with a screw-down caseback and crown. The cited dimensions are approximate and should be measured on the individual watch. The bezel is fixed and steel and smooth on the 5700; the 5701 sister carries the reeded/fluted bezel in two-tone steel-and-18k-yellow-gold construction. Lugs are 19mm with drilled spring-bar holes (period-correct for the 1959–1988 production window). | ||
The crystal is acrylic plexiglass with a cyclops magnifier over the date window at three — | The crystal is acrylic plexiglass with a cyclops magnifier over the date window at three — a Datejust-style arrangement. Late-production "N"-suffix examples (5700/0N, 5701/3N c.1987–1991) reportedly transition to sapphire crystals on some examples per Vintage and Prestige dealer copy; primary-source attribution is light on this transition. | ||
The crown and caseback are screw-down Oyster components. The article does not treat a modern water-resistance rating as transferable to an aged example. The case is steel-only on the 5700; precious-metal Air-King-Date variants live on the 5701 reference rather than as 5700 sub-variants. | The crown and caseback are screw-down Oyster components. The article does not treat a modern water-resistance rating as transferable to an aged example. The case is steel-only on the 5700; precious-metal Air-King-Date variants live on the 5701 reference rather than as 5700 sub-variants. | ||
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<span id="airking-date-canonical"></span> | <span id="airking-date-canonical"></span> | ||
=== AIR-KING-DATE PRECISION | === AIR-KING-DATE PRECISION === | ||
The standard dial branch in the cited examples. "OYSTER PERPETUAL AIR-KING-DATE" in two-line dial text above six, "PRECISION" above (or omitted on later production). Date window at three under cyclops magnification. Color palette: silver, white, champagne, black, blue, salmon, linen-finish silver. Applied baton hour markers with luminous dots; some early examples carry alternating arrowhead markers at six and nine. | The standard dial branch in the cited examples. "OYSTER PERPETUAL AIR-KING-DATE" in two-line dial text above six, "PRECISION" above (or omitted on later production). Date window at three under cyclops magnification. Color palette: silver, white, champagne, black, blue, salmon, linen-finish silver. Applied baton hour markers with luminous dots; some early examples carry alternating arrowhead markers at six and nine. | ||
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=== EXPLORER-DATE PRECISION (cursive variant) === | === EXPLORER-DATE PRECISION (cursive variant) === | ||
A less common dial branch in the cited examples. "OYSTER PERPETUAL EXPLORER-DATE" in cursive script replacing the AIR-KING-DATE text on an otherwise standard Air-King dial layout. Not the 3-6-9 Explorer face that runs across the 5504 / 5500 / 1016 lineage — same dial design as the | A less common dial branch in the cited examples. "OYSTER PERPETUAL EXPLORER-DATE" in cursive script replacing the AIR-KING-DATE text on an otherwise standard Air-King dial layout. Not the 3-6-9 Explorer face that runs across the 5504 / 5500 / 1016 lineage — same dial design as the standard 5700, only the script line at six changes. Documented at Antiquorum NY 2008 lot 93 (5700/1500, Cal 1530, 1963) and Antiquorum Geneva 2009 lot 337 (5701/1500 two-tone, Cal 1530, 1963). The cited auction lots are dated 1963. Their sale records do not establish the original market distribution or a relationship to later 1016 naming. | ||
[[File:Ref 5700 dial-variant-explorer-date.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex 5700 with cursive Explorer-Date dial text in place of Air-King-Date|The cursive Explorer-Date dial variant — same Air-King dial layout, only the script line at six changes. Antiquorum New York, 2008, lot 93.]] | [[File:Ref 5700 dial-variant-explorer-date.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex 5700 with cursive Explorer-Date dial text in place of Air-King-Date|The cursive Explorer-Date dial variant — same Air-King dial layout, only the script line at six changes. Antiquorum New York, 2008, lot 93.]] | ||
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The 5700 examples in this article span several decades of production. The dial restoration window of the 1980s–2000s caught many 5700s; original dials with even minor period patina are the originality positive. Date-window cyclops crystals are commonly replaced over decades of service; service-replacement crystals on 5700s do not affect originality elsewhere on the watch. | The 5700 examples in this article span several decades of production. The dial restoration window of the 1980s–2000s caught many 5700s; original dials with even minor period patina are the originality positive. Date-window cyclops crystals are commonly replaced over decades of service; service-replacement crystals on 5700s do not affect originality elsewhere on the watch. | ||
Dial text is one useful authentication point, alongside the case, movement, date works, and provenance. A 5700 with "AIR-KING-DATE" text is | Dial text is one useful authentication point, alongside the case, movement, date works, and provenance. A 5700 with "AIR-KING-DATE" text is the standard dial branch. A 5700 with cursive “EXPLORER-DATE” text needs provenance and dial-period review. The script is a dial distinction; the case and movement do not by themselves prove that the dial left the factory with the watch. Service-replacement Explorer-Date dials applied to standard Air-King-Date cases would be undetectable from the case alone; period documentation is the only way to anchor an Explorer-Date 5700 as factory-original. | ||
A 5700 with “OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER” text should be checked against its movement and provenance. The cited 5700 histories describe Precision wording, but the dial text alone cannot establish when a replacement occurred. | A 5700 with “OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER” text should be checked against its movement and provenance. The cited 5700 histories describe Precision wording, but the dial text alone cannot establish when a replacement occurred. | ||
Revision as of 15:52, 28 September 2026
Air-King › 5700
The 5700 is the date-bearing sister to the 5500 Air-King. Surviving records place it broadly from the late 1950s through the 1980s, with a 34mm steel Oyster case, a date at three, and 1500-family movements described as calibers 1525 or 1535. The cited references describe the 5700 as Precision rather than chronometer grade.
Some auction records show a cursive “Explorer-Date” dial on 5700 and 5701 cases. The layout is different from the 3-6-9 Explorer dial, but the cited records do not establish how many were made, their original sales geography, or a factory production subset. Antiquorum records a 5700/1500 and a 5701/1500 example dated 1963; their sale results are listed below.
Core facts
| detail | value |
|---|---|
| reference | 5700 (sister 5701 = two-tone steel-and-gold with fluted bezel; late codes 5700/0N and 5701/3N from c.1987–1991) |
| family | Air-King |
| common name | "the Air-King-Date," "the date 5500" |
| production | late 1950s–1980s in the cited records; late N-suffix examples are separately documented |
| case | 34mm × ~12mm × 43mm L2L stainless steel Oyster, smooth bezel |
| crystal | acrylic plexiglass with cyclops over date at three; late "N" production transitions to sapphire on some examples |
| crown | Twinlock screw-down |
| movement | 1500-family date movements described as Cal 1525 or 1535; some auction text lists Cal 1520 and requires inspection |
| chronometer | cited references describe Precision dials; verify the individual dial and movement |
| dial text | Air-King-Date and Explorer-Date variants are documented; dial text and grade vary by example |
| bracelet | 19mm Oyster examples include riveted, folded-link, and later solid-link bracelets; fitment needs watch-level checking |
| caseback | screw-down threaded Oyster |
| sister | 5701 — separate reference (not a sub-variant); two-tone steel and 18k yellow gold with reeded/fluted bezel |
| predecessor | no direct date Air-King predecessor; 5700 launches the date complication on the Air-King line |
| successor | no direct Air-King-Date successor is identified in the cited 14000-era records |
Where it sits in the line
The 5700 combines the Air-King’s 34mm steel Oyster case with a date display. Its 1500-family movement descriptions overlap with contemporary Oyster Perpetual Date references, while the cited 5700 records use Precision wording. The 5701 is a separate two-tone reference with a reeded or fluted bezel; its family placement is a catalogue and collecting question.
The 5500 is the closest no-date comparison. The 5500 carries Cal 1530 then Cal 1520 across 1957–1989 without a date complication. The 5700 carries Cal 1525 then Cal 1535 across 1959–1988 with a date complication. Both run the 1500-family base architecture, both are non-COSC, both wear the 34mm steel Oyster case. The two references share case dimensions and movement-family context in the cited sources, but a 5700 should not be treated as a 5500 with a simple module swap without inspecting the movement and case.
The cited 1500-series references include chronometer-rated Oyster Perpetual Date models. That comparison does not prove that every 5700 movement differs only in certification paperwork; the dial, movement, and case should be checked on each watch.
The cited Air-King histories place the 5700 near the end of the 1980s Air-King catalogue. Later Air-King references are no-date models; the sources checked here do not identify a direct Air-King-Date successor.
Production outline
Several modern histories place the 5700’s introduction around 1959, while Rescapement gives 1958. The article uses the late-1950s date as approximate rather than treating either year as a factory-confirmed launch date.
The active end date is usually placed in the late 1980s. Antiquorum records a 5700/15000 made in the late 1980s and sold in 1989, while specialist guides list N-suffix examples into the early 1990s. These records do not prove a continuous production run or an assembly policy using unused case heads.
The N suffix appears in late reference codes such as 5700/0N and 5701/3N. The cited sources do not define the suffix or establish that it denotes a sapphire transition; record the case, crystal, and date code on each example.
No factory production total is cited. The available auction sample is concentrated in Antiquorum records, which is a source-coverage observation rather than a measure of relative production or collector demand.
Movement notes
The cited references associate the 5700 with 1500-family date movements described as Cal. 1525 or 1535. The sources do not provide a dated cutover between those descriptions.
The cited 5700 histories describe Precision dials and distinguish them from chronometer-rated 1500-series date references. Dealer claims of chronometer status should be checked against the dial, movement, and documentation of the individual watch.
Some Antiquorum lot text lists Cal. 1520 on a 5700. Because the 5700 has a date display, the movement and date works should be inspected before treating that catalogue wording as a factory specification or service replacement.
Case and construction
The 5700 uses a 34mm steel Oyster case with a screw-down caseback and crown. The cited dimensions are approximate and should be measured on the individual watch. The bezel is fixed and steel and smooth on the 5700; the 5701 sister carries the reeded/fluted bezel in two-tone steel-and-18k-yellow-gold construction. Lugs are 19mm with drilled spring-bar holes (period-correct for the 1959–1988 production window).
The crystal is acrylic plexiglass with a cyclops magnifier over the date window at three — a Datejust-style arrangement. Late-production "N"-suffix examples (5700/0N, 5701/3N c.1987–1991) reportedly transition to sapphire crystals on some examples per Vintage and Prestige dealer copy; primary-source attribution is light on this transition.
The crown and caseback are screw-down Oyster components. The article does not treat a modern water-resistance rating as transferable to an aged example. The case is steel-only on the 5700; precious-metal Air-King-Date variants live on the 5701 reference rather than as 5700 sub-variants.
Dial map
The cited records show two dial-text branches and several colours. This is not a complete factory dial list:
AIR-KING-DATE PRECISION
The standard dial branch in the cited examples. "OYSTER PERPETUAL AIR-KING-DATE" in two-line dial text above six, "PRECISION" above (or omitted on later production). Date window at three under cyclops magnification. Color palette: silver, white, champagne, black, blue, salmon, linen-finish silver. Applied baton hour markers with luminous dots; some early examples carry alternating arrowhead markers at six and nine.
EXPLORER-DATE PRECISION (cursive variant)
A less common dial branch in the cited examples. "OYSTER PERPETUAL EXPLORER-DATE" in cursive script replacing the AIR-KING-DATE text on an otherwise standard Air-King dial layout. Not the 3-6-9 Explorer face that runs across the 5504 / 5500 / 1016 lineage — same dial design as the standard 5700, only the script line at six changes. Documented at Antiquorum NY 2008 lot 93 (5700/1500, Cal 1530, 1963) and Antiquorum Geneva 2009 lot 337 (5701/1500 two-tone, Cal 1530, 1963). The cited auction lots are dated 1963. Their sale records do not establish the original market distribution or a relationship to later 1016 naming.
The cited 5700 records do not show the 3-6-9 Explorer dial layout. The 5700's dial-language conventions are Datejust-adjacent (date complication, applied baton or arrowhead indices, smooth or sunburst grounds) rather than 1016-Explorer-adjacent (3-6-9 Arabic numerals, baton or dagger indices at the other hours).
The Tiffany & Co.-signed, Cartier-signed, Domino's Pizza, government-crest, and military-issue 5700 configurations are not documented in the auction record. The sources checked for this audit do not document a Domino’s 5700. That absence does not establish the distribution pattern for the broader Air-King commission program.
Bracelets, end-links, and clasps
Bracelet records include 19mm riveted, folded-link, and solid-link Oyster examples. Bracelet and end-link fitment should be checked against the case and dated bracelet, because a clasp or bracelet dates the bracelet rather than the watch head. See the 5500 for shared fitment context.
The 5701 sister carries a Jubilee-style two-tone steel-and-gold bracelet with gold-plated buckle on most documented examples — the period-correct Datejust-adjacent fitment for the two-tone case. Some 5701s also wear the standard Oyster bracelet in mixed steel-and-gold construction.
Special branches
Explorer-Date dial branch
The Explorer-Date dial is a documented variant on both 5700 and 5701 examples. Antiquorum records the 2008 and 2009 lots cited above; their results should be read as individual sales, not as proof of a fixed premium or production share.
Hodinkee mentions the 5700 in its Explorer discussion. That reference is useful context, but it does not change the 5700’s Air-King reference identity.
Authentication on Explorer-Date 5700 / 5701 examples needs careful attention. The dial is a script-text variation of the standard Air-King-Date dial; service-replacement dials applied during restoration could in principle convert a standard Air-King-Date to an Explorer-Date appearance, though the inverse (period-original Explorer-Date converted to Air-King-Date) is more commonly documented. Provenance papers and dial-period verification are essential at this branch tier.
5701 two-tone steel-and-gold sister
Separate reference, not a 5700 sub-variant. The 5701 carries a two-tone steel-and-18k-yellow-gold case with a reeded/fluted bezel and gold-plated clasp. Same Cal 1525 / 1535 movement, same date complication, same dial palette (including Explorer-Date variants). Antiquorum Geneva 2009 lot 337 (5701/1500, Cal 1530, 1963) is the documented anchor. The 5701's bezel finish is variously described as "fluted" (Robb Report, Marcus Siems, Monochrome, plus secondary aggregators) or "engine-turned" (some dealer copy); Antiquorum's lot description uses "reeded," which is closer to fluted. The 5701’s two-tone case and reeded or fluted bezel resemble contemporary Datejust details; catalogue and collector labels vary.
Late "N" suffix codes (5700/0N, 5701/3N)
Late examples with N-suffix codes are documented in specialist guides and an Antiquorum 2015 lot. The sources do not define the suffix or prove a single production window, crystal rule, or factory meaning.
Historical market and auction record
| Sale | Lot | Year | Reference details | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antiquorum NY | 71 | 2008 | 5700/15000 Air-King-Date late 1980s, sold June 1989, Cal 1520 | Hammer USD 4,200 (est. 2,500–3,500) |
| Antiquorum NY | 93 | 2008 | 5700/1500 Explorer-Date 1963, Cal 1530 | Hammer USD 6,600 (est. 2,500–3,500) |
| Antiquorum Geneva | 171 | 2011 | 5700/1500 c.1975, Cal 1520 | Hammer CHF 2,375 |
| Antiquorum Geneva | 337 | 2009 | 5701/1500 Explorer-Date steel-and-gold, 1963, Cal 1530 | Hammer CHF 6,000 |
| Antiquorum HK | 292 | 2015 | 5700N/15000 c.1987 | Hammer HKD 20,000 |
The five listed lots span different currencies, dates, dials, and conditions. They should be compared individually; this small sample does not support a general price range, premium, or scarcity adjustment.
Authentication
The 5700 examples in this article span several decades of production. The dial restoration window of the 1980s–2000s caught many 5700s; original dials with even minor period patina are the originality positive. Date-window cyclops crystals are commonly replaced over decades of service; service-replacement crystals on 5700s do not affect originality elsewhere on the watch.
Dial text is one useful authentication point, alongside the case, movement, date works, and provenance. A 5700 with "AIR-KING-DATE" text is the standard dial branch. A 5700 with cursive “EXPLORER-DATE” text needs provenance and dial-period review. The script is a dial distinction; the case and movement do not by themselves prove that the dial left the factory with the watch. Service-replacement Explorer-Date dials applied to standard Air-King-Date cases would be undetectable from the case alone; period documentation is the only way to anchor an Explorer-Date 5700 as factory-original.
A 5700 with “OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER” text should be checked against its movement and provenance. The cited 5700 histories describe Precision wording, but the dial text alone cannot establish when a replacement occurred.
The case stamp inside the caseback should read 5700 (or 5700/0, 5700/1500, 5700/15000 for the model-and-case-shell combinations), or 5701 / 5701/3 / 5701/1500 for the two-tone sister. Caseback date codes can help date the case, but they do not by themselves date the complete watch or prove original fitment.
Record the movement number, date works, signatures, and service marks. The cited records use 1525, 1535, and occasional 1520 descriptions; the individual movement must resolve whether a catalogue entry is shorthand or a replacement.
A bracelet or clasp dates the bracelet, not necessarily the watch head. Use it as supplementary evidence and record its reference and condition separately.
Related references
- Air-King 5500: 34mm Oyster (1957–1989)
- Air-King 14000M: Cal 3130 'Precision' (2000–2006)
- Air-King 4365
- Air-King 4499
- Air-King 4925
- Air-King 5501
See also the Air-King family index, the Explorer family index, movement reference, bracelet & clasp guide, and serial numbers by year.
Sources
- The Vintage Rolex Field Manual — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
- Tony Traina, "Rolex Air-King History: The Forgotten King", Rescapement
- Tony Traina, "Rolex Explorer History", Rescapement, 2018
- Erik Slaven, "History of the Rolex Air-King, the underrated pilots watch", Monochrome Watches, 2025
- Marcus Siems, "Rolex Air-King Origin History and Design Evolution", Goldammer
- "The Complete Guide to Rolex Air-King Watches From 1945 to Present", Robb Report
- "Rolex 5700/15000 Air-King-Date late 1980s sold June 1989 Antiquorum NY", Antiquorum, 2008
- "Rolex 5700/1500 Explorer-Date 1963 Antiquorum NY", Antiquorum, 2008
- "Rolex 5701/1500 Explorer-Date steel-and-gold 1963 Antiquorum Geneva", Antiquorum, 2009
- "Rolex 5700N/15000 c.1987 Antiquorum Hong Kong", Antiquorum, 2015
- "Rolex Air-King Models Reference Guide", Millenary Watches
- "Rolex Air-King", Watch-Wiki
- Jon Bues, "A Comprehensive Collector's Guide To The Rolex Explorer I", Hodinkee, 2022