Collecting Rolex watches is, for many, their sole horological pursuit. Few watch companies provide such a satisfyingly complete and ample array of compelling and iconic watches scattered across the planet, from weird little design-forward dress watches like the Rolex King Midas to icons of world-record-setting derring-do like the Explorer, GMT Master, Daytona, and Submariner. But the Air-King is humbler, usually smaller, and far less complicated (mechanically and culturally)—which is exactly why the Air-King is so well suited to the quiet luxury of this post-pandemic moment when even modern Rolex is chilling out and acting like Rolex again. Rolex launched the Air collection in 1945 as a tribute to the pilots of World War II, and as a prescient offering to the soon-emerging jet-set. The Air collection included the Air-King, Air-Giant, Air-Lion and Air-Tiger, but only the Air-King survived this initial launch. Excluding a short interruption in 2014, the Air-King has been continuously produced since 1945, such that there is a seemingly endless..
