Rolex Air King History and repair

Rolex Air King Date Super Precision

The Rolex Air-King is a watch model that has a rich history, dating back to its introduction in the 1940s. The watch was initially designed as a tribute to the pilots of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) who fought in World War II, and it was intended to be a functional and reliable timepiece that could withstand the rigors of aviation.

The first Rolex Air-King watch was released in 1945 and featured a simple design with a 34mm case, a white dial, and luminous hands and markers for easy reading in low-light conditions. The watch was also equipped with a self-winding movement, which made it more reliable and accurate than other watches of the time.

Over the years, the Rolex Air-King has undergone several design changes and improvements, with the most significant updates occurring in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1957, Rolex introduced the Air-King with a larger 36mm case and a new Oyster Perpetual movement, which increased the watch's accuracy and reliability. The watch also featured a new dial design with large, easy-to-read numerals.

Rolex introduced the Air King Date in 1957/8 under the ref 5700. It was similar in design to the ref 5500.

In the 1980s, Domino's Pizza initiated a program where franchise owners who achieved sales targets were rewarded with Domino's-branded Air-King watches, starting with the Air-King ref. 5500. Today, it may seem unusual to see a watch featuring both the Rolex and Domino's Pizza logos on its dial, as Rolex typically refrains from co-branding its products. It is noteworthy that these watches were produced in-house by Rolex, complete with the Domino's Pizza logo.

At OBR Horology we repair and restore all types of Rolex watches including these models. Reach out to us today if you have any questions.