Rolex Air King Ref. 5501

The Rolex Air-King was introduced in 1945 with a specific target audience: pilots. Of course, we all know the GMT-master which is a legendary pilot’s watch, but the Air King wasn’t built as the functional friend to pilots on intercontinental flights. It was a watch that was often given to pilots as a token of appreciation when they retired or if they had successfully completed a certain challenge. Over the years the Air-King has evolved, but it always has been the Rolex whose simplicity is its primary charming character.

This example is rather special. It features a yellow gold fluted bezel and gold-tone dial. Paired with a nice leather strap this makes for a warmer, more formal aesthetic as compared to the more minimalist full steel variants.