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Rolex Air King Oyster Perpetual
by kojak123 I'm a huge fan of watches, and this is one of three Rolex watches I've owned over the last 3 or 4 years, swapping and chopping when I get bored. The Air King is basically known as an entry level model. It's a very plain looking 3 hand watch with standard automatic analogue display. There are various dial ... combinations to go for; some very dull, some interesting and eye-catching but discreet dials, and some that look a bit wild (the concentric circles one gives me a headache). I have to say that mine was a fairly standard silver dial similar to the one shown. Before we go much further, I'll just say that I didn't pay the multi-thousand pound asking price for mine, I picked up a beautiful vintage model (1971) for slightly under the 4 figure mark. It was indistinguishable from a new model in all but the bracelet (tapered rather than straight). That's the beauty of Rolex, almost all of their core range of sport and dress watches have remained almost unchanged since original launch. For example, the Air King was branded in the 1950's, coming off the back of the standard Oyster Perpetual watches used during and after WW2. over half a century on, the watch has had 2, maybe 3 slight face-lifts where the glass has been upgraded (now all new Rolex use super strong Sapphire Crystal), the movement has been tweaked and refined and the case has been brought up to date with slightly bulkier dimensions (I believe there is talk of making them all 36mm rather than 34mm) The 'Oyster Perpetual' which graces the dial of all Rolex sport models simply denotes the simple two piece 'Oyster' case which is totally airtight and rated water resistant to 100 meters (and beyond), and perpetual signifies the automatic movement, which keeps the watch fully wound and running 'perpetually' as long as it is in motion. The latest Airking used the incredibly accurate '3130' movement, developed in-house by Rolex themselves and incorporating dozens of ingenious innovations such as parachrom hairspring engineered and built to be shock resistant and anti magnetic rather than conventional wound steel. Rolex are constantly working to improve technology within the watch. Quite often thousands of pounds will have gone into the design of components overlooked by 99% of watch houses! My vintage Airking used a slightly less accurate 1520 movement which produced 19,800 BPH (beats per hour) as opposed to the current offering, which produces 28,800 BPH, but I have to say that even as a 40 year old watch, mine ran withing COSH (chronometer) standards, meaning that it neither gained nor lost more than 6 seconds in a single day. Superb accuracy for any watch, let alone a vintage. While I'd like to say that I enjoyed owning this watch, it was a bit small for my tastes. I foolishly bought it for the name on the dial rather than a feeling that I couldn't live without it. I have to feel a passion before parting with that sort of money now. 34mm is far too small for a modern Gents wristwatch in my opinion, which is why I lean towards Omega watches as a vintage choice - they wear much bigger. Also, while it was fun to show off in the pub it did attract some unwanted attention. The local idiots were far too curious as to its authenticity and more often than not I lied and passed it off as a fake - which most people thought it was anyway. That's a big problem with expensive watches, most people will believe (or want to believe) that it's a cheap fake regardless, which is why I now buy watches for ME, not for them or the prestige I might feel wearing it. I owned this watch for close to a year before selling it on for almost what I paid - and that's one of the few great things about second hand and vintage watches; barely any depreciation! Would I recommend one of these older Rolex watches? Yes I think so, and to a collector definitely. They can still be found around the £1000 mark and that's a great price which the watch will certainly hold - prices are creeping up slowly, but be assured that they'll never go down! Would I recommend someone buying a new one? Probably not. The price tag is now approaching the £4,000 mark and I just think there are other brands which offer a LOT more watch for that sort of money. The depreciation hits these lower end models hard, and you'd be lucky to see half you're money back after buying new, but you could easily wear one 'depreciation free' for a year, and that can't be a bad thing at all! Read the complete review |
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Rolex Oyster Perpetual
by grahamt I have a Rolex Oyster Perpetual wrist watch. I've had it now for around 12 years. And before you start thinking, "Rich B*****d" let me tell you that I didn't buy it: it was given to me. I was awarded this bit of bling by the American software company for which I used to work, as a 10 year long (that IS long in the IT ... industry, believe me) -service award. I was even presented it in New Orleans by the founder of the company at the annual company bash. I have worn it ever since. It looks almost exactly like the one at the top of this page. The big difference is that the back of the watch is engraved with the [then] company logo, as is the bracelet clasp, though that has more or less worn away with use. Were it to be stolen then this alone would make it virtually unsaleable; it also reduces the resale price should you want to dispose of it for spare cash. Nevertheless, a replacement (without the engraving) would currently set you back over £5,000. When I was given it I originally insured it for £3,300, the then going price. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual owes the final word of its name to the internal mechanism which ensures that the watch is always fully wound. It has a semi-circular weight that rotates in sympathy with the movement of your arm and ensures that the spring is always at the optimum tension. From the word, "spring" you will gather than the Rolex is an analogue watch, not a digital one. Rolex, being a Swiss company, made its reputation on the accuracy of its watches, but more of that later. I have to say that I prefer digital watches, with a digital as opposed to an analogue display. It's strange that not that long ago, all the rage was for purely digital watches. Now, even digital watches have gone back to having analogue displays, even if they have, behind the sweeping hands, digital windows for such as date information. Even Seiko Kinetic watches, which constantly recharge their internal battery by a similar means to Rolex, have analogue displays. I don't understand it! The Rolex Oyster comes in a variety of forms and sizes. Mostly they are divided into the gentlemen's and ladies' sizes but the body and the bracelet vary greatly in style and composition. The one I have has, like the photo above, a stainless steel body with a gold bezel. The bracelet is also a mixture of stainless steel and gold links. You can, of course, get versions which are all gold. The face is covered by a crystal which has a bulge over the date window in order to magnify the size of the numbers displayed beneath it. It seems to be very durable as, unlike the rest of the watch, it has never suffered any scratches or other damage. The date window only display the day number, not the day of the week. You can get versions which display both. This, for me, is the biggest drawback to my watch. At my age it's difficult to remember what day it is, let alone what date. Left unused the watch will run down in about three to four days. To adjust the watch you have to unscrew the knob on the side of the case and pull it out. It comes out in several clicks, indicating the point at which you need to twiddle the knob in order to adjust the time or the date number. I have to adjust the date at the end of any month which doesn't contain 31 days as the watch isn't sophisticated enough to know the difference. The watch appears to be water-proof and I have worn it in the water frequently without it suffering any apparent damage. The bracelet has worn considerably over time. The mixture of steel and gold links doesn't work particularly well together. The steel components wear away the much softer gold and I have had links which have snapped apart completely because of this. Which brings us neatly to the quality of Rolex's customer service. I rather get the impression that Rolex and their local agents regard their customers as having money to burn. They obviously think that if you have one of their watches then you must be a millionaire and so fair game for being ripped off. When I took my watch in to have the bracelet repaired I was told, after it had been sent away for examination (few local agents do the work themselves) that it would require a new bracelet and that would be £3,300 thank you very much. Oh, and they would let me have the old bracelet back so that I could recover the value of the gold. I don't think so!!!!! Instead I found a local manufacturing jeweller who repaired the bracelet perfectly satisfactorily for just £60! The watch is now, if not as good as new then good enough as far as I am concerned. The other issue with analogue watches is that they do require regular servicing and this is not the same as installing a new battery in a digital watch! All analogue watches, even Rolex ones, need to be cleaned every now and then, so as to ensure that they continue to keep good time. Rolex recommend that this is done every three years. I've had it done twice so I suppose it's due to be done again. Normally expect to have to pay between £150 and £200 (which is why I haven't had it done too often) for this service and to have to relinquish the watch for a week or two (just to make you feel you've had your moneys-worth). Having said all this, my watch has given reasonably good service over the years. Currently it is running about five seconds a day fast, which is why it needs a service. However, I would still prefer a digital watch for its greater accuracy, with a digital display for all the additional information and features that they offer. So, my suggestion is that unless you are filthy rich, have a very generous employer, a rich uncle or a Sugar Daddy, that a Rolex Oyster Perpetual wrist watch is something you can leave on the "nice to have" Christmas list and not feel to aggrieved if no one buys one for you. Read the complete review |
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Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ladies
by emalexandra86 Rolexes have a reputation for being the best watches and its one they deserve. Absolutely beautiful and completely timeless, the stainless stell bracelet compliments every outfit. Having worn it constantly since recieving it they are tough and reliable, looking just as good with a dress as with t-shirts and ... jeans. The kinetic movement does mean that if you leave it off for a period it can lose time and needs to be wound on, but kept on all the time it is accurate and pretty. The steady swooping of the second hand is something you don't notice immediately but is fascinatingly graceful and makes every watch you subsequently wear noticably clumsy as the second hand ticks round. A gorgeous and classic timepiece which looks amazing on any age and feels great on the skin. The smooth design stops it catching on cuffs as many others I have found do. Brilliant and timeless investment. Read the complete review |
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1 review Brand: Rolex / Watch for: Men |
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1 review Brand: Rolex / Watch for: Men |
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1 review Brand: Rolex / Watch for: Women |
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1 review Brand: Rolex / Watch for: Men |
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1 review Brand: Rolex / Watch for: Men |
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1 review Brand: Rolex / Watch for: Men |
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1 review Brand: Rolex / Watch for: Men |
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