Rolex Air King, c. 1997

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

Why We Love It When it comes to "budget" Rolex, there are few watches more attractive than an Air King. The proportions are perfect, the movement robust and the styling timeless . It’s not hard to make the argument that the Air King is one of the most versatile time only watches on the market, as all it takes is a strap change to transform this watch go a tuxedo accoutrement to a field watch or BBQ grill timer. When you factor in that they have been made available in a broad variety of dial color configurations, the appeal grows even more. This U-Serial example dates to circa 1997 and features a crisp black Tritium sunburst dial with stick indices and an excellent case with matching solid link Oyster bracelet, not to mention original papers. If stainless steel and black is your jam, don't hesitate on this one - as black dialed Air Kings with Tritium dials simply don't grow on trees! The Oyster Perpetual Story In Rolex's impressive history, the brand has released a veritable arsenal of models that have become classics. Many of these bear the moniker "Oyster Perpetual." While this name is used on a particular model line, it also finds itself used widely across Rolex’s varied collections. This signifies two things: first, that the watch will have the trademark waterproof Rolex Oyster case. And secondly, that the movement beating inside that Oyster case will be one of Rolex's famed Perpetual (automatic winding) movements. Rolex first patented the Oyster case in 1925, but the quest for a waterproof and dust-proof case began shortly before the First World War. The cases of the Great War and the early 1920s came in two or three pieces with an inner case that shielded the movement (then a manual-wind movement) from the wet, dusty conditions on the battlefield. The Oyster case of 1925 represented the culmination of ten years of development. As with the Oyster case, the Perpetual movement saw many iterations before finally being perfected in the 1930s. Rolex's first automatic movement quietly debuted in 1931, and was met with some consternation from purists who decried the "extreme novelty" of a self-winding watch. Nevertheless, Rolex could see that the future lay in the Perpetual movement. They continued to develop and improve it over the years, establishing a line of dressier watches bearing the “Oyster Perpetual” nomenclature that would stand as an alternative to Rolex's sportier models. These models run the gamut of size, casing material and dial design, and offer a tremendous value for buyers. Meant to be worn every day, the Oyster Perpetual combines elegant looks with rugged dependability, and are very much the backbone of the Rolex brand.