In the 1930s, aircraft performance made great strides, enabling long-haul flights. Several pilots set records with an Oyster on their wrist. Others used a Rolex watch as a cockpit chronometer, such as Owen Cathcart-Jones and Ken Waller who, in 1934, completed a record-breaking flight from London, Great Britain, to Melbourne, Australia, and back, aboard the twin-engine De Havilland Comet.
Rolex Air-King
Ready for take-off
The Oyster Perpetual Air-King celebrates the aeronautical heritage of the original Oyster. It pays tribute to those for whom the sky represented a new frontier of adventure, exploration and unprecedented achievement, a launchpad for new ideals.The Air-King, a testament to the privileged relationship between Rolex and aviation since its golden age in the 1930s, pays homage to the pilots of that era and to the role of the first Oyster watches in the aerial epic.
Unmistakable aesthetics
The Air-King stands out with its black dial that combines large numerals at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock with a prominent minute scale for optimal navigation time reading. On the dial, the combination of the iconic crown’s yellow and the seconds hand’s green, along with the "Rolex" signature, recalls the brand's emblematic color code. Since the watch's launch in 1958, the name "Air-King" has been inscribed on the dial with specific typography, making the model easily identifiable.
The Air-King ensures excellent legibility in all circumstances, even in the dark, thanks to its special Chromalight display: the numerals 3, 6, and 9, the triangular index at 12 o'clock, and the hands are filled or coated with a long-lasting luminescent material (blue emission color).
Reliability and performance
The Air-King’s 40 mm Oyster case, guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet), is a paragon of robustness and reliability. The middle case is crafted from a solid block of Oystersteel, a particularly corrosion-resistant alloy.
The Air-King is fitted on a three-piece link Oyster bracelet in Oystersteel. This bracelet features a Rolex-designed and patented Oysterlock folding safety clasp, which prevents accidental opening. It is also equipped with the Easylink comfort extension link, which allows the wearer to easily adjust the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm.
Calibre Perpetual 3230
The Air-King is powered by the calibre 3230, a self-winding mechanical movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. It offers outstanding performance in terms of precision, power reserve, convenience and reliability. This movement features the exclusive blue Parachrom hairspring and a patented Chronergy escapement. It has a power reserve of approximately 70 hours.
Superlative Chronometer Certification
Like all Rolex watches, the Air-King carries the Superlative Chronometer certification. This designation guarantees that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. The status of Superlative Chronometer is symbolised by the green seal that accompanies every Rolex watch, together with a five-year international guarantee.
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