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Rolex Airking Ref.5500

The joy of a vintage Air-King is that it does not try to impress you too quickly. This Rolex Air-King Ref. 5500 from 1974 is clean, compact and quietly confident, exactly the kind of Rolex that becomes better the more you wear it.

At 34 mm, the steel Oyster case sits neatly on the wrist, with a smooth bezel and acrylic crystal giving it that soft vintage profile. The steel bracelet keeps the watch practical and easy, while the whole design stays beautifully understated. No rotating bezel, no date, no extra lines of text that do not need to be there. Just a simple Rolex doing simple Rolex things very well.

The silver dial is calm. Applied baton hour markers, slim hands, the Air-King signature and “Precision” text at six give the watch a balanced, almost no-nonsense look. It is not flashy, but it certainly is not boring. The charm is in the restraint.

The Ref. 5500 is one of the key vintage Air-King references, loved for exactly this kind of purity. It carries the aviation-linked name, but in practice it became one of Rolex’s most versatile everyday watches: light, reliable, easy to read and just smart enough under a cuff.

A silver-dial Air-King with classic proportions, a steel bracelet and all the quiet appeal of a vintage Rolex that knows exactly what it is. Understated, charming and very easy to enjoy. Come see it for yourself at Reestraat 3, Amsterdam.

Year

1974
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€ 5.500

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Brand Rolex
Movement Automatic
Model Air-King
Diameter 34 mm
Reference 5500
Bracelet/strap: Steel
Year of production (circa) 1974
Lug Width 19 mm
Material Steel
Set Content Watch only
Crystal Acrylic
Warranty 2 year (AWCo)
Dial color Silver

Rolex is well known for its watches aimed at specific professionals. As such, it is no wonder that the house has a long history in specialist pilot’s watches. From the 1930’s onwards, several variations of the Oyster Perpetual bubble-back were made with names like Air-Lion, Air-Giant and Air-Tiger. These were commonly bought by RAF pilots during WWII, as an upgrade to their issued watches.

In 1945, a single pilot’s line was launched to replace all of these predecessors: The Rolex Air-King.

Interestingly, the Air-King does not feature too many true aviation features. The archetypal pilot’s watch is big, with a matte black dial and white numerals and preferably a soft iron cage to protect from magnetism. The older Air-Kings have none of that. It is, however, a beautiful and versatile line of watches that is worth considering.

The most popular vintage Air-King is undoubtedly the Ref. 5500. A dual-reference that was also assigned to an Explorer model. To complicate things further, the Ref. 5500 was identical to the Ref. 1002 Oyster Perpetual, except for the dial. The Ref. 5500 was introduced in 1957 and lasted a whopping 37 years, making it the longest-running Rolex reference ever.

Rolex discontinued the Air-King in 2014, only to bring it back in 2016 with the Ref. 116900. A bit of an odd duck in the collection, with its busy dial with yellow and green details. It is, however, a fan favorite in the modern lineup, together with the equally quirky Milgauss.

At AWCo we put the safety of our shipments upfront at all times. Therefore, we ship all our packages insured.

We strive to promptly handle packages to minimize delays. Delivery times begin from the day of dispatch. While we make every effort to ensure smooth delivery, we cannot be held responsible for delays caused by destination customs, local duties, taxes, or lost items during transit.

Certainly, we understand that overloaded mail-order companies can also contribute to potential delays in the delivery process. Despite our best efforts, external factors beyond our control may affect shipping times. Rest assured, we remain committed to providing timely service and will work diligently to ensure your order reaches you as promptly as possible. For any inquiries or updates, feel free to reach out to us at info@awco.nl. Your satisfaction is our priority.