1989 ROLEX Oyster Perpetual Air-King Watch Ref. 5500 Cal. 1520 Swiss Automatic Wristwatch

ROLEX Air-King

 

During and after World War II, Rolex made several “Air” models to honor the Royal Air Force. These included the Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, Air-Giant, and Air-King. Today, the Air-King is the only one still made.

 

The first Air-King came out in 1945. It was a reference 4925 with a 34mm case. That was a large size at the time. Rolex later released other versions, like reference 4499. Early Air-Kings used manual-wind Hunter movements. They looked like other steel Oyster models from that period.

 

The Air-King started to stand out in 1953 with reference 6652. This model used the caliber 1030 movement. It also introduced the creamy silver dial and stick markers. That look became a signature style for later models, like the reference 5500.

 

The 5500 and other 550X references kept the 34mm case. They took design ideas from the Explorer. The 550X number also appeared on some Explorer and Oyster Perpetual models. But collectors mostly link it to the Air-King. It became the longest-running Air-King series. A true Rolex essential.

 

One of Rolex’s oldest and longest running watch models, still in production today, the Air-King.

 

ROLEX

Oyster Perpetual

Air-King

 

“Introducing Air-King – The new Rolex Oyster Perpetual.”

 

We are proud to offer this authentic 1989 ROLEX Oyster Perpetual Air-King watch, reference 5500, a finely crafted timepiece that blends timeless style with reliable engineering. This vintage piece with classic and elegant style is powered by an original Rolex caliber 1520 automatic movement and made in Switzerland. It is in very good condition perfect for collectors or enthusiasts who appreciate quality and history.

 

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

·        Brand: Rolex

·        Type: Wristwatch

·        Model / Reference: 5500

·        Year / Era: 1989

·        Gender: Men’s

·        Country of Manufacture: Switzerland

·        Dial: Analog, black dial with silver-tone baton hour marks, luminous dots, white minute/second track and luminous silver-tone hands. The Rolex Crown logo is at 12:00. Signed Oyster Perpetual and Air-King on top.

·        Movement Type: Automatic

·        Caliber: 1520

·        Jewels: 26

·        Movement Features: Self-winding, central hours, central minutes, central sweeping seconds, hacking seconds, ~42-hour power reserve and a frequency of 19,800 vibrations per hour.

 

CASE/BAND:

·        Material: Silver-tone stainless steel

·        Case Size: 34mm

·        Case Shape: Round, polished finish

·        Bezel: Smooth, Fixed

·        Back: Screwback

·        Crown: Original signed screw-down crown

·        Crystal: -

·        Water Resistance: -

·        Band: Brand-new black leather two-piece strap

 

ADDITIONAL INFO

·        Box & Papers: NO

·        Other Accessories: None

·        Extra information: This dress watch is in lovely condition. Runs very well and keeps great time! 

 

EXTENDED DETAILS

Movement: Montres ROLEX S.A. 26 Jewels Geneva Swiss Unadjusted Cal. 1520 Swiss

Case Back Markings: Montres Rolex S.A. Geneva Switzerland Stainless Steel 1002

Measurements (mm):   Case Diameter 34 Case Diameter w/Crown 36.4 Case Lug to Lug 39 Case Thickness 12 Lug Width 19 Band Width 19

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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