Oystersteel
Rolex uses Oystersteel for its steel watch cases. Specially developed by the brand, Oystersteel belongs to the 904L steel family, alloys most commonly used in high-technology and in the aerospace and chemical industries, where maximum resistance to corrosion is essential. Oystersteel is extremely resistant, offers an exceptional finish once polished and maintains its beauty even in the harshest environments.
Black Dial
The Air-King dial features a distinctive black dial with a combination of large 3, 6 and 9 numerals marking the hours and a prominent minute scale for navigational time readings. It bears the name Air-King in the same lettering that was designed specially for the model in the 1950s.
The Oyster bracelet
The Oyster bracelet is a perfect alchemy of form and function, aesthetics and technology, designed to be both robust and comfortable. It is equipped with an Oysterclasp and the Easylink comfort extension link, also exclusive to Rolex. This ingenious system allows the wearer to increase the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm, providing additional comfort in any circumstance.
3131 Movement
The Air-King is equipped with calibre 3131, a self-winding mechanical movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Like all Rolex Perpetual movements, the 3131 is a certified Swiss chronometer, a designation reserved for high-precision watches that have successfully passed the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) tests. Its architecture, in common with all Oyster watch movements, makes it singularly reliable.
Conquering the Sky
The new Air-King epitomizes Rolex’s privileged ties with the world of aviation during its golden age in the 1930s. It was a period when spectacular progress in aircraft performance constantly ex-panded humanity’s capacity to conquer the skies, and led to the introduction of long-distance flights. One of the pioneers of this era, English aviator Charles Douglas Barnard, set a number of flight records. Of the Oyster, he said: “The peculiar qualities of this Rolex watch render it eminently suitable for flying purposes and I propose to use it on all my long-distance flights in the future”.
Specifications
- Model case
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Model caseOyster, 40 mm, Oystersteel
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Oyster architectureMonobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown
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Diameter40 mm
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MaterialOystersteel
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BezelSmooth
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Winding crownScrew-down, Twinlock double waterproofness system
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CrystalScratch-resistant sapphire
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Water-resistanceWaterproof to 100 metres / 330 feet
- Movement
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MovementPerpetual, mechanical , self-winding , with a magnetic shield to protect the movement
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Calibre3131, Manufacture Rolex
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Precision-2/+2 sec/day, after casing
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FunctionsCentre hour, minute and seconds hands. Stop-seconds for precise time setting
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OscillatorParamagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring
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WindingBidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor
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Power reserveApproximately 48 hours
- Bracelet
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BraceletOyster, flat three-piece links
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Bracelet materialOystersteel
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ClaspFolding Oysterclasp with Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link
- Dial
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DialBlack
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DetailsHighly legible Chromalight display with long-lasting blue luminescence
- Certification
- Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casing)
