Rolex Air King

When simple and beautiful is the name of the game, the Rolex Oyster wins it every time.

We all love vintage Rolex for many reasons. The Submariner is the Platonic ideal of a vintage diver. The GMT-Master is our go-to travel watch. And the Daytona, well, it’s hard find a better looking chronograph (but easy to find a cheaper one).

However, there’s so much more to the brand with the crown, and whether you just don’t feel like being the fourth guy at the conference table with a Sub on his wrist or you prefer a watch that was designed to effortlessly dress up with a suit and tie, Datejusts, Oyster Precisions and Air Kings are all you'll ever need.

Built upon the sturdy foundation of a 34mm Oyster Case, the Air King is one of the cleanest Rolex designs with simple stick markers and baton hands. While recent trends have deemed the Air King a bit on the small side, modern manufactures are beginning to re-focus on slimmer, simpler cases, making this svelte, classy vintage design totally en vogue.

When it comes to "budget Rolex", in our opinion there are few watches more pleasing than the Air King. The proportions are perfect, the movement is robust and the styling is timeless. It’s not hard to make the claim that the Air King is the most versatile model out there, as all it takes is a strap change to make this watch go from tuxedo accoutrement to BBQ grill timer. 

This particular example features a rare gold-capped stainless case in near mint condition, a lightly textured silver dial with patinated luminescent plots and gold hour markers, making it a rare beauty all around. This beauty dates from circa 1970 and is an incredible bargain at under $2500, so don't miss it!