The Oyster Perpetual Air-King is one of Rolex’s most overlooked models, as it is often overshadowed by the more popular and illustrious sports watches like the Submariner and Daytona. But in this year’s Baselworld, Rolex is trying to change this mindset with the new Air-King.
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Air-King.
The new Air-King is probably one of the most eye-catching Rolex models in Baselworld 2016, after the new Daytona that features the ceramic bezel. It is not surprising though, considering the aesthetics of the Air-King. Its dial features a combination of hour markings (3,6,9) and minute scales for navigational time reading. While it is pretty much unlike most of the Rolex watches that we have seen so far, but we reckon that its aesthetics might have been partly inspired by the devices that Rolex produced for the Bloodhound SSC project.
The timing device that Rolex created for the Bloodhound SSC project. Picture (C) Rolex
The timepiece, notably, is fitted with Rolex’s legendary Oyster case. This case is produced from a solid block of 904L steel, and it is waterproof to a depth of up to 100m. There are several other waterproof measures in place too, such as a hermetically screwed down caseback and the Twinlock double waterproofness system that secures the crown against the case without allow any space for water to seep through. In addition, the case is also fitted with a shield to protect against magnetic fields as well.
In terms of movement, the Air-King is powered by Rolex’s Calibre 3131. The self-winding movement boasts a power reserve of around 48 hours. Furthermore, it features several Rolex innovations such as the blue Parachrom hairspring and the Rolex overcoil. To top it off, the watch is Superlative Chronometer certified, and that means the watch is able to perform up to a certain expectation after being put through a series of tests.
A solid, simple and functional timepiece. A quintessential Rolex.
Finally, the Rolex Air-King is fitted with a solid-link Oyster bracelet that is produced from 904L steel. It is accompanied by a steel folding Oysterclasp, which features a Rolex-patented Easylink rapid extension system that allows the bracelet to be lengthened by 5mm.
For more information, please check out Rolex’s website here.
3 Comments
Is this its a Milgauss with a different dial?
No.