Rolex
airking precision vintage - White Dial

Vintage 1981 Rolex watch in stainless steel, Oyster Perpetual Air-King Precision reference 5500, with a brushed white dial and screw-down crown. A collector's model whose history began in 1957, paused in 1994, and resumed in the late 2000s with reference 114200. Still available today under reference 116900, it remains one of the oldest Rolex models still in production, a testament to its enduring legacy.

A heritage timepiece with clean and efficient lines, it owes its name to Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf’s initiative to provide military aviators of the Royal Air Force with a simple and robust watch. In 1945, the first Rolex Air-King with reference number 4925 left the manufacture. Post-war changes brought new needs, and alongside the Explorer model—dedicated to adventurers—the Air-King met the demands for reliability and discretion of 1960s travelers. This best-seller was often spotted on the wrists of actors, such as Roy Thinnes, known for his role as David Vincent in the series *The Invaders*.

With a 34 mm case, the Oyster case offers all the comfort of a compact classic watch. Powered by a self-winding Rolex caliber 1520 mechanical movement (marked "Precision" at the bottom of the dial), its Oyster case and screw-down crown made it water-resistant—what we would now call splash-resistant.

Visit our watch history page to discover stories and anecdotes about famous watch brands and the models worn by celebrities.