Rolex
airking vintage - Precision Rivets

Vintage Rolex watch in steel from 1965, Air-King Precision 5500, featuring its rare riveted-link bracelet and brushed silver dial with screw-down crown. A true collector's piece, its story began in 1957 and evolved in the late 2000s with the reference 114200. Still available today, it remains one of Rolex’s oldest continuously produced models, a testament to its enduring success.

A classic watch with simple, efficient lines, it owes its name to a vision from the founder of the brand, Hans Wilsdorf, who wanted to provide Royal Air Force pilots, returning from World War II, with a robust and straightforward watch dedicated to aviation. In 1945, the first Rolex Air-King, reference 4925, was born. As leisure time evolved post-war, the Air-King found its place alongside the Rolex Explorer, targeting outdoor enthusiasts and perfectly matching the casual chic style of travelers and businessmen during the economic boom of the postwar era.

With a compact 34 mm case, the Oyster case already offered, at the time, modest dimensions compared to the existing range. Equipped with a manual-winding mechanical movement, the Rolex caliber 1520 (indicated by the “Precision” inscription at the bottom of the dial), its screw-down crown gave it what we would now call water resistance to splashes — although, due to its age, any amphibious ventures are strongly discouraged today.

A nod to its twin model released at the same time: the Submariner 6536 “James Bond” worn by Sean Connery. The Rolex 5500 Air-King was frequently seen on the wrists of SPECTRE’s famous adversaries, making its first appearance with Dr. Julius No in the 1962 film directed by Terence Young, alongside the stunning Ursula Andress.

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