Air‑King

Navigating time

With its 40 mm case in Oystersteel, solid-link Oyster bracelet, and distinctive black dial, the Air‑King perpetuates the aeronautical heritage of the original Rolex Oyster.

Distinctive
black dial

The name “Air‑King” has featured on the dial since its launch in 1958, in lettering that makes the model immediately recognizable.

Since 2016, the Air‑King has had a distinctive black dial with a combination of large 3, 6 and 9 numerals marking the hours and a prominent minutes scale for optimal navigational time readings.

Since 2022, the watch’s display is perfectly balanced and offers enhanced legibility, thanks to the addition of a “0” before the “5” on the minutes scale.

The green seconds hand echoes the brand’s emblematic colour.

Bracelets and clasps

: The Air‑King is fitted with an Oyster bracelet. Developed at the end of the 1930s, this three-piece link bracelet remains the most universal bracelet in the Oyster Perpetual collection and is known for its robustness.
: The Oyster bracelet on this watch features the Rolex-designed, patented Oysterlock folding safety clasp, which prevents accidental opening.
: It is also equipped with the Easylink comfort extension link, developed by the brand, which allows the wearer to easily adjust the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm.

Chromalight display

The Air‑King offers great legibility in all circumstances, even in the dark, thanks to its Chromalight display. The hands and triangular hour marker at 12 o’clock are filled or coated with a luminescent material that provides a longer-lasting intense glow. Since 2022, the 3, 6 and 9 numerals, which were previously made entirely from 18 ct white gold, are also visible in the dark thanks to this innovative material, which is exclusive to Rolex.

Oyster case

A paragon of robustness and reliability, the 40 mm Oyster case of the Air‑King is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet). Its middle case is crafted from a solid block of Oystersteel, a particularly corrosion-resistant alloy.

The case back, edged with fine fluting, is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement. The Twinlock winding crown, fitted with a double waterproofness system and protected by an integral crown guard, screws down securely against the case.

The crystal is made of virtually scratchproof sapphire and benefits from an anti-reflective coating. The waterproof Oyster case provides optimum protection for the watch’s movement.

Calibre 3230
A superlative movement

: The Air‑King is equipped with calibre 3230, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex that was released in 2020 and is fitted on this model from 2022. At the forefront of watchmaking technology, this self-winding mechanical movement led to the filing of several patents, and offers outstanding performance in terms of precision, power reserve, resistance to shocks and magnetic fields, convenience and reliability.
: Calibre 3230 incorporates the patented Chronergy escapement, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel-phosphorus, it is also insensitive to magnetic fields.
: The movement is fitted with the blue Parachrom hairspring, manufactured by Rolex in a paramagnetic alloy. The blue Parachrom hairspring is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring the calibre’s regularity in any position.
: The oscillator is fitted on the Rolex-designed, patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, increasing the movement’s shock resistance.
: Calibre 3230 is equipped with a self-winding module via a Perpetual rotor. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of calibre 3230 extends to approximately 70 hours.