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rolex-oyster-perpetual-air-king-ref-5500-dated-1962-wzrakp-M
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rolex-oyster-perpetual-air-king-ref-5500-dated-1962-wzrakp-v10
rolex-oyster-perpetual-air-king-ref-5500-dated-1962-wzrakp-v08
rolex-oyster-perpetual-air-king-ref-5500-dated-1962-wzrakp-v11

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Air-King Ref.5500 dated 1962 | steel automatic wristwatch with original guarantee booklet

Rolex launched their first Air-King models in the mid 1940s and, in 1957, the Ref. 5500 was introduced. Until the mid 1960s, the Ref. 5500 was manufactured with a variety of different dial designs. The present example has a silk matt finished silvered dial which is distinct in appearance and differs from the satin, sunburst silvered dials of later versions of the model. The dial has a numeral configuration rarely seen on the Air-King: twin indexes at the quarters with multi-faceted surfaces and pointed tips, interspersed with multi-faceted triangular indexes. These early 5500s had the designation ‘Super Precision’ printed to the dial above the 6 o’clock position – on later examples, this would be shortened to ‘Precision’. The dial retains a good lustre and there is light oxidation spotting to the surface and a small scratch to the centre. The Alpha-shaped hour and minute hands have oxidation spotting to their surfaces. Cased in stainless steel, the watch incorporates the typical Rolex Oyster screw-down crown and case back; there are scuffs and scratches to the case. The original, detachable steel Rolex Jubilee bracelet was made in England under licence from Rolex – there is stretch to the links and the bracelet has been refreshed and re-satined.

This Air-King wristwatch is date stamped for the year 1962 and the original guarantee booklet notes that the watch was not sold until August, 1966. The watch number noted within the booklet is 1023 which is the designation code given to the Ref. 5500 Air-King in the UK issued Rolex catalogues of the period (an extract from a mid-1960s catalogue is shown below (please note that the catalogue is not included with this watch).

Extract from mid-1960s Rolex UK catalogue (not included with watch)

Specifications

[M] Rolex calibre 1530 automatic movement, lever escapement, 26 jewels, compensation balance, 18,000 BPH, Kif shock absorber
[D] silvered dial, raised twin pointed indexes at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, multi-faceted triangular indexes at the intervening hours, luminescent dots above, raised Rolex crown emblem at 12 o’clock, luminescent Alpha-shaped hands (please note that luminescence has naturally dulled with age), centre seconds, outer black track for minutes/seconds
[C] stainless steel Rolex Oyster case with polished finish, the tops of the lugs and centre of the case back with satin finish, smooth chamfered bezel, screw-down Rolex crown and case back
[B] stainless steel Rolex riveted Jubilee bracelet made in England
[S] case, dial, movement and crown signed

Measurements

34mm diameter excluding winding crown
41mm length including lugs
9.5mm depth to centre of crystal
19mm lug gauge/strap width

Accompaniments

Original Rolex guarantee booklet
One Year guarantee – this watch has been fully serviced
Black Bough leather watch pouch & Black Bough certificate

SKU: WZRAKP Categories: , Brand:

Description

with papers
case 844306
pvt purchase 15 sept 2021

Rolex launched their first Air-King models in the mid 1940s and, in 1957, the Ref. 5500 was introduced. Until the mid 1960s, the Ref. 5500 was manufactured with a variety of different dial designs. The present example has a silk matt finished silvered dial which is distinct in appearance and differs from the satin, sunburst silvered dials of later versions of the model. The dial has a numeral configuration rarely seen on the Air-King: twin indexes at the quarters with multi-faceted surfaces and pointed tips, interspersed with multi-faceted triangular indexes. These early 5500s had the designation ‘Super Precision’ printed to the dial above the 6 o’clock position – on later examples, this would be shortened to ‘Precision’. The dial retains a good lustre and there is light oxidation spotting to the surface and a small scratch to the centre. The Alpha-shaped hour and minute hands have oxidation spotting to their surfaces. Cased in stainless steel, the watch incorporates the typical Rolex Oyster screw-down crown and case back; there are scuffs and scratches to the case. The original, detachable steel Rolex Jubilee bracelet was made in England under licence from Rolex – there is stretch to the links and the bracelet has been refreshed and re-satined.

This Air-King wristwatch is date stamped for the year 1962 and the original guarantee booklet notes that the watch was not sold until August, 1966. The watch number noted within the booklet is 1023 which is the designation code given to the Ref. 5500 Air-King in the UK issued Rolex catalogues of the period (an extract from a mid-1960s catalogue is shown below (please note that the catalogue is not included with this watch).

Extract from mid-1960s Rolex UK catalogue (not included with watch)

Specifications

[M] Rolex calibre 1530 automatic movement, lever escapement, 26 jewels, compensation balance, 18,000 BPH, Kif shock absorber
[D] silvered dial, raised twin pointed indexes at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, multi-faceted triangular indexes at the intervening hours, luminescent dots above, raised Rolex crown emblem at 12 o’clock, luminescent Alpha-shaped hands (please note that luminescence has naturally dulled with age), centre seconds, outer black track for minutes/seconds
[C] stainless steel Rolex Oyster case with polished finish, the tops of the lugs and centre of the case back with satin finish, smooth chamfered bezel, screw-down Rolex crown and case back
[B] stainless steel Rolex riveted Jubilee bracelet made in England
[S] case, dial, movement and crown signed

Measurements

34mm diameter excluding winding crown
41mm length including lugs
9.5mm depth to centre of crystal
19mm lug gauge/strap width

Accompaniments

Original Rolex guarantee booklet
One Year guarantee – this watch has been fully serviced
Black Bough leather watch pouch & Black Bough certificate

£2,995.00 [sold]