Rolex Air King Ref. 14000 34 mm automatic 2000

The short story

The end of World War II approached when Hans Wilsdorf, founder of Rolex, thought of congratulating and honoring the pilots of the Royal Air Force, by offering aviation-related Oyster watches. The very first Air King was presented in 1945 under the reference 4365. It is expressly mentioned, just below the mark surmounted by the crown emblem at the top of the dial. Equipped with a hand-wound mechanical movement, this round, Oyster-type watch on a leather strap displayed all the hour numerals on its dial, except for the 6, which was replaced by a small seconds indicator dial, topped by the inscription Precision.

In 1957, Rolex introduced the Air-King that would define the line for the next 37 years: the reference 5500. A discreet relative of the Explorer, the Air-King would quickly move from being a professional instrument to a sporty, city watch. Elegant and sober, it finds its place in all circumstances. It is adorned with the qualities expected of a Rolex: automatic movement, steel case and bracelet, precision, water-resistance and robustness. It is then the ideal timepiece for sports leisure.

In 1989, Rolex introduced the Ref. 14000, which was an update of the Ref. 5500, which by then had seen few changes in its three-decade reign. In terms of design, it represented a new approach to the Air-King collection, as it featured Arabic numerals at 3-6-9 o'clock, with stick markers in between. The traditional version with stick markers only was also available. It now features a new 3000 caliber movement and sapphire crystal, making much-needed improvements to the watch's hardware.

Getting to know each other

On the wrist, this Air-King is a Rolex classic, with a 34mm diameter and a stainless steel Oyster case. It wears a bit smaller than the 36mm Oyster Perpetuals and Datejusts of that era, but it's still very versatile for all wrist sizes.

The Air-King is a classic, and we like it.

What we like about this model is, above all, its simplicity. We love its Oyster case, its wonderfully attractive tritium dial and its extremely careful finishing. This combination makes it a perfect watch. The watch also lacks some of Rolex's visual signatures, such as the fluted bezel or the cyclops date window. So it is aesthetically very different from the stereotypical ideas of what a Rolex is.

The model we're featuring has just had a makeover: the strap has been satin-finished and the case polished. It's perfect for starting or finishing a Rolex collection!

The Package

This Air-King is in excellent condition. It should be noted that a small scratch on the glass at 12 o'clock is present. It will come to you in a Rolex service case. This 2000 Rolex 14000 will come to you with its papers as well as its COSC certificate. It has been authenticated and controlled by our Rolex approved watchmaker and benefits from the Lepage Vintage 1 year warranty. You can benefit from a free engraving (case back) on simple request.