1979 Rolex Air King Oyster Perpetual 5500 Cal. 1520 34mm ALL S.S. - In Box

Watch Overview

Originally introduced after World War II to honor Royal Air Force pilots, the Rolex Air-King became the longest-running model of Rolex’s historic “Air” series. With its clean design, 34mm Oyster case, and timeless dial layout perfected in the legendary reference 5500, it remains one of Rolex’s most enduring and essential classic watches.

We are proud to offer this classic Rolex Oyster Perpetual Air-King wristwatch, reference 5500, produced in 1979 — Accompanied by the original Rolex inner and outer presentation boxes (no original papers).

This timepiece is powered by the automatic Rolex Caliber 1520 movement, featuring 26 jewels, a smooth sweeping seconds hand, an approximate 42-hour power reserve, and operating at 19,800 vibrations per hour.

The original black dial is designed for excellent legibility, showcasing silver-tone applied baton hour markers, a crisp white minute/seconds track, and luminous matching hands. The dial is signed “Rolex Oyster Perpetual Air-King” and “Precision,” reflecting Rolex’s high-grade movement configuration of this era.

Housed in a 34mm stainless steel Oyster case with a smooth fixed bezel, this watch is fitted with the original Rolex stainless steel Oyster bracelet (Ref. 78350). Presented in very good pre-owned condition with light wear consistent with age and use, it has been fully inspected and authenticated by our in-house watchmaker and is running accurately — ready to wear and enjoy.

Product Details

General Specifications

• Brand: Rolex
• Type: Wristwatch
• Model: Oyster Perpetual Air-King
• Reference: 5500
• Year / Era: 1979 - Vintage
• Gender: Men's
• Country of Manufacture: Switzerland

Dial & Display

• Display: Analog
• Color: Black
• Features: Hour markers, minute/second track, luminous hands

Movement

• Type: Self-winding
• Caliber: Rolex 1520
• Jewels: 26
• Some Functions:
  • Sweep seconds
• Power Reserve: 42 hours
• Frequency: 19,800 vph

Case & Band

• Material: Stainless Steel
• Case Shape: Round
• Bezel: Fixed, smooth
• Back: Screw
• Crown: Signed, screw-down
• Band Type: Rolex Oyster bracelet (Ref. 78350). It will fit to a wrist up to 7 1/4" (18.14cm)
• Case Back Markings: Montres Rolex S.A. Geneva Switzerland Patented Stainless Steel 1002

Case Measurements (mm)

• Case Size: 34
• Case Diameter w/Crown: 37.5
• Case Lug to Lug: 40
• Case Thickness: 11.5
• Lug Width: 19
• Band Width: 19

Additional Info

• Box & Papers: YES - includes the original Rolex inner and outer boxes; no original papers.
• Condition: Very good pre-owned condition, showing light wear consistent with age and use. The case, bezel, dial, and bracelet remain well preserved.
• Extras: Fully inspected and authenticated by our in-house watchmaker, confirming that it runs accurately.

About Second Hand Horology

At SECOND HAND HOROLOGY, we offer a curated selection of watches ranging from vintage to modern, including both brand-new and pre-owned timepieces. We’re committed to quality, accuracy, and integrity. Our listings feature:

Professional, unedited photography and clear, transparent descriptions. Every watch is thoroughly inspected and securely packaged to ensure a confident, seamless buying experience.

We also warmly invite you to visit our physical shop and explore the collection in person.

Contact Us

We appreciate you checking out our listing! Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, offers, or just to talk watches — we love what we do and enjoy connecting with fellow enthusiasts.

Thank you for your business—we truly appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again in the future!

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