Reference:air-king - Revision history

Klaudiusz: Internal linking: shared-reference component links

2026-07-18T12:59:51Z

Internal linking: shared-reference component links

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:59, 18 July 2026
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	* [[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback]] — the founding line. The 1945 4925 / 4365 / 4499 origination references sit in the same early-Oyster-Perpetual lineage the Bubbleback established.		* [[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback]] — the founding line. The 1945 4925 / 4365 / 4499 origination references sit in the same early-Oyster-Perpetual lineage the Bubbleback established.
	* [[Reference:milgauss\|Milgauss]] — the parallel non-flagship. Both lines run as quiet, non-sport, technically distinctive Rolexes through the 1960s and 1970s — Air-King at the entry tier, Milgauss at the specialist tier.		* [[Reference:milgauss\|Milgauss]] — the parallel non-flagship. Both lines run as quiet, non-sport, technically distinctive Rolexes through the 1960s and 1970s — Air-King at the entry tier, Milgauss at the specialist tier.


			== Shared references ==

			* [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|Serial numbers by year]] — date any Air-King from its serial
			* [[Reference:Movements\|Movement reference]] — the calibers used across the Air-King line
			* [[Reference:Bracelets\|Bracelet & clasp guide]] — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

Admin: SEO: clickable title (imageless page)

2026-06-29T01:26:30Z

SEO: clickable title (imageless page)

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:26, 29 June 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Air-King}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Air-King}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Air-King — ~~family hub, references, history~~ \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex Air-King — Reference Guide to Every Model & Year \| BezelBase
	\|description=The Rolex Air-King has been in the catalogue since 1945 — the post-Battle-of-Britain piece that became Rolex's longest-running line. From the 4925 Bubbleback through the 5500 mainstay to the 14000 / 114200 sapphire era. Family hub for every published Air-King reference.		\|description=The Rolex Air-King has been in the catalogue since 1945 — the post-Battle-of-Britain piece that became Rolex's longest-running line. From the 4925 Bubbleback through the 5500 mainstay to the 14000 / 114200 sapphire era. Family hub for every published Air-King reference.
	\|keywords=Rolex, Air-King, family, history, references		\|keywords=Rolex, Air-King, family, history, references

Admin: SEO: capitalize schema.org @type to "Article" for rich-result eligibility

2026-06-04T04:42:22Z

SEO: capitalize schema.org @type to "Article" for rich-result eligibility

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:42, 4 June 2026
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	\|image=Air-King family hero.webp		\|image=Air-King family hero.webp
	\|image_alt=Rolex Air-King family		\|image_alt=Rolex Air-King family
	\|type=~~article~~		\|type=Article
	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large

Admin: Remove Category:Working Draft — published pre-2020 in-scope reference

2026-05-31T02:08:11Z

Remove Category:Working Draft — published pre-2020 in-scope reference

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:08, 31 May 2026
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	[[Category:Air-King]]		[[Category:Air-King]]
	[[Category:Family Hub]]		[[Category:Family Hub]]
	~~[[Category:Working Draft]]~~

Admin: Add DISPLAYTITLE: drop NS_REFERENCE prefix from H1 (SEO/UX, site-wide pass)

2026-05-31T01:44:56Z

Add DISPLAYTITLE: drop NS_REFERENCE prefix from H1 (SEO/UX, site-wide pass)

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:44, 31 May 2026
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			{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Air-King}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Air-King — family hub, references, history \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex Air-King — family hub, references, history \| BezelBase

Admin: Replace prescriptive Start-here with goal-led Common-entry-points block

2026-05-24T00:15:01Z

Replace prescriptive Start-here with goal-led Common-entry-points block

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:15, 24 May 2026
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	The post-2014 references (116900, 126900) sit outside the BezelBase pre-2020 scope and are not covered.		The post-2014 references (116900, 126900) sit outside the BezelBase pre-2020 scope and are not covered.

	== ~~Start here~~ ==		== Common entry points ==

	~~If you only read three articles in the line, read these.~~

	{\| style="width:100%; border-collapse:separate; border-spacing:8px 0; margin:1em 0 1.5em 0;"		{\| style="width:100%; border-collapse:separate; border-spacing:8px 0; margin:1em 0 1.5em 0;"
	\|-		\|-
	\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| '''[[Reference:5500\|5500]]''' — the ~~mainstay. Thirty~~-two-year ~~production run — the longest single Rolex reference —~~ across calibers 1530 and 1520, with the broadest documented dial map of any Air-King and the canvas for ~~every~~ major corporate-gift ~~programme~~ and Middle-East ~~government-crest commission~~.		\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| ''Identifying a 5500 mainstay?''<br/>'''[[Reference:5500\|5500]]''' — the thirty-two-year mainstay across calibers 1530 and 1520, with the broadest documented dial map of any Air-King and the canvas for the major corporate-gift and Middle-East commissions.
	\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| '''[[Reference:5504\|5504]]''' — ~~the~~ Explorer-case ~~Air-King~~. ~~Thirty-six millimetres of~~ Cal 1530 ~~Super Precision in a 1016 case~~, ~~with~~ AIR-KING dial text ~~instead of EXPLORER~~ — the connective tissue between the 5500 mainstay and the 1016 itself.		\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| ''Working from an Explorer-dial Air-King?''<br/>'''[[Reference:5504\|5504]]''' — thirty-six-millimetre Explorer-case Super Precision. Cal 1530, AIR-KING dial text on a 1016 case — the connective tissue between the 5500 mainstay and the 1016 itself.
	\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| '''[[Reference:114200\|114200]]''' — ~~the~~ first COSC Air-King. Engraved rehaut from launch, the concentric wave dial palette (silver, black, blue with orange Arabic, salmon, green, Roman, 3-6-9 Explorer, Arabic)~~, and the reference~~ that closes the 34mm ~~Air-King~~ chapter in 2014.		\| style="width:33%; padding:14px; background:#f8f8f6; border-left:3px solid #555; vertical-align:top;" \| ''Cross-checking a COSC-era Air-King?''<br/>'''[[Reference:114200\|114200]]''' — first COSC-certified Air-King. Engraved rehaut from launch and the concentric wave dial palette (silver, black, blue with orange Arabic, salmon, green, Roman, 3-6-9 Explorer, Arabic) that closes the 34mm chapter in 2014.
	\|}		\|}

Admin: Conversion funnel: Start-here card block + Related-families bridges to reduce family-page bounce rate

2026-05-24T00:07:47Z

Conversion funnel: Start-here card block + Related-families bridges to reduce family-page bounce rate

@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 The post-2014 references (116900, 126900) sit outside the BezelBase pre-2020 scope and are not covered.
 == History ==
@@ Line 72: / Line 83: @@
 The Air-King-Date 5700 / 5701 carry a date at three under the same case architecture; their 1535 / 1525 calibers add a date module to the 1500 base and shift the dial layout slightly. The Air-King-Date is sometimes treated as a separate sub-line by collectors and sometimes folded back into the Air-King family.
 == Sources ==

Admin: Air-King hub: 4365 + 4499 rows linked + foundational Battle of Britain cluster characterisation expanded with sister-name + 15j contradiction notes

2026-05-02T04:54:13Z

Air-King hub: 4365 + 4499 rows linked + foundational Battle of Britain cluster characterisation expanded with sister-name + 15j contradiction notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:54, 2 May 2026
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	! Reference !! Production !! Movement !! Notes		! Reference !! Production !! Movement !! Notes
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Reference:4925\|4925]] / 4365 / 4499 \|\| 1945–1953 \|\| cal 10½ Hunter hand-wound \|\| Originating Air-King — the only Air-~~name to survive past 1953.~~ Air-Lion / Air-Tiger / Air-Giant ~~ran on shared sister refs~~ (~~4365, 4444, 4647~~) ~~rather than dedicated reference numbers~~. Battle of Britain commemoration narrative (primary-source unverified)		\| [[Reference:4925\|4925]] / [[Reference:4365\|4365]] / [[Reference:4499\|4499]] \|\| 1945–1953 \|\| cal 10½ Hunter hand-wound \|\| Originating Air-King generation — the four-name Battle of Britain commemoration. 4925 = centre-seconds Air-King-only. 4365 = sub-seconds with four-name shared-case dial map (Air-King / Air-Lion / Air-Tiger / Air-Giant). 4499 = 1946+ centre-seconds running mate to 4925, 15j→17j running update (Bonhams 2012 documents 1946 15j sub-seconds variant). Battle of Britain commemoration narrative is universally repeated but primary-source unverified
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Reference:6552\|6552]] \|\| 1953–1957 \|\| cal 1030 automatic \|\| First automatic Air-King; Cal 1030 butterfly rotor stamped ROLEX PERPETUAL PATENTED. Caseback duality (6552 between lugs / 6565 inside) period-correct. "Super Precision" dial despite chronometer-grade movement adjustment		\| [[Reference:6552\|6552]] \|\| 1953–1957 \|\| cal 1030 automatic \|\| First automatic Air-King; Cal 1030 butterfly rotor stamped ROLEX PERPETUAL PATENTED. Caseback duality (6552 between lugs / 6565 inside) period-correct. "Super Precision" dial despite chronometer-grade movement adjustment

Admin: Air-King hub: 5502 and 5506 rows linked + corrected production spans + parallel-production-paired-references characterisation

2026-05-02T04:38:49Z

Air-King hub: 5502 and 5506 rows linked + corrected production spans + parallel-production-paired-references characterisation

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:38, 2 May 2026
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	\| [[Reference:5501\|5501]] \|\| 1959–1986 (late stock to 1987) \|\| cal 1530 / 1520 \|\| The only true Rolesor Air-King — steel case with solid 18k yellow gold fluted bezel and gold crown. Distinct from gold-capped 5502/5506/5520 (40-micron plated). Cotton Bowl Classic 1967-1970 + Tiffany champagne marquee branches. Caseback 5501/1102		\| [[Reference:5501\|5501]] \|\| 1959–1986 (late stock to 1987) \|\| cal 1530 / 1520 \|\| The only true Rolesor Air-King — steel case with solid 18k yellow gold fluted bezel and gold crown. Distinct from gold-capped 5502/5506/5520 (40-micron plated). Cotton Bowl Classic 1967-1970 + Tiffany champagne marquee branches. Caseback 5501/1102
	\|-		\|-
	\| 5502 \|\| ~~1959+~~ \|\| cal 1530 ~~/ 1520~~ \|\| Gold-capped ~~sibling~~		\| [[Reference:5502\|5502]] \|\| 1958–1965 \|\| cal 1530 \|\| Gold-capped 40-micron Super Precision Air-King — US-market distribution channel. Alpha hands. Sister to 5506 (parallel-production Commonwealth-market). Distinct from solid-gold 5501 (5502 = electroplated, 5501 = solid 18k gold) and from later 5520 (5502 = Cal 1530 Super Precision alpha hands; 5520 = Cal 1520 Precision baton hands)
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Reference:5504\|5504]] \|\| 1957/58–1963/64 \|\| cal 1530 \|\| 36mm Explorer-case Super Precision; the connective tissue between 5500 (34mm Air-King) and 1016 Explorer (36mm EXPLORER text + COSC). Wears 1016 case but AIR-KING dial text and non-COSC Cal 1530. 3-6-9 Explorer-dial-with-AIR-KING-text is the marquee collector branch		\| [[Reference:5504\|5504]] \|\| 1957/58–1963/64 \|\| cal 1530 \|\| 36mm Explorer-case Super Precision; the connective tissue between 5500 (34mm Air-King) and 1016 Explorer (36mm EXPLORER text + COSC). Wears 1016 case but AIR-KING dial text and non-COSC Cal 1530. 3-6-9 Explorer-dial-with-AIR-KING-text is the marquee collector branch
	\|-		\|-
	\| 5506 \|\| ~~1958+~~ \|\| cal 1530 ~~/ 1520~~ \|\| Gold-capped 40-micron~~, US/~~UK/Commonwealth ~~markets~~		\| [[Reference:5506\|5506]] \|\| 1958–1964 \|\| cal 1530 \|\| Gold-capped 40-micron Super Precision Air-King — UK/Commonwealth-market distribution channel. Alpha hands. Sister to 5502 (parallel-production US-market). Bonhams 2023 lot 51 (USD 2,550) is the strongest standalone hammer record. Same Kessi Frères case + 78351 bracelet as 5502
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Reference:5500\|5500]] \|\| 1957–1989 \|\| cal 1530 then 1520 \|\| The mainstay. 32-year run. Broadest documented dial map of any Air-King		\| [[Reference:5500\|5500]] \|\| 1957–1989 \|\| cal 1530 then 1520 \|\| The mainstay. 32-year run. Broadest documented dial map of any Air-King

Admin: Air-King hub: 5520 row linked + corrected production span (1974-1986 catalog) + spec-tells distinguishing from 5502/5506 + Domino's Golden Egg branch

2026-05-02T04:30:00Z

Air-King hub: 5520 row linked + corrected production span (1974-1986 catalog) + spec-tells distinguishing from 5502/5506 + Domino's Golden Egg branch

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:30, 2 May 2026
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	\| [[Reference:5500\|5500]] \|\| 1957–1989 \|\| cal 1530 then 1520 \|\| The mainstay. 32-year run. Broadest documented dial map of any Air-King		\| [[Reference:5500\|5500]] \|\| 1957–1989 \|\| cal 1530 then 1520 \|\| The mainstay. 32-year run. Broadest documented dial map of any Air-King
	\|-		\|-
	\| 5520 \|\| ~~1960s–1970s~~ \|\| cal 1520 \|\| ~~Gold~~-capped Precision ~~sibling~~		\| [[Reference:5520\|5520]] \|\| 1974–1986 \|\| cal 1520 \|\| The longest-running gold-capped Air-King — 40-micron yellow gold electroplate over steel base. "Precision" dial (NOT Super Precision — distinguishes from earlier 5502/5506 pair). Baton/stick hands and markers (vs alpha on 5502/5506). Domino's "Golden Egg" marquee branch from 1980s Domino's Olympic Award. Caseback 5520/1024
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Reference:5700\|5700]] / [[Reference:5701\|5701]] \|\| 1959–1988 (late "N" codes to 1991) \|\| cal 1525 / 1535 \|\| Air-King-Date with date at three. Both Precision tier (non-COSC). Marquee curiosity: cursive "Explorer-Date" dial variant. 5701 sister = two-tone Rolesor steel-and-18k-gold with fluted/reeded bezel + gold crown (same Rolesor convention as 5501)		\| [[Reference:5700\|5700]] / [[Reference:5701\|5701]] \|\| 1959–1988 (late "N" codes to 1991) \|\| cal 1525 / 1535 \|\| Air-King-Date with date at three. Both Precision tier (non-COSC). Marquee curiosity: cursive "Explorer-Date" dial variant. 5701 sister = two-tone Rolesor steel-and-18k-gold with fluted/reeded bezel + gold crown (same Rolesor convention as 5501)