The Rolex Air King is now fitted with a chronometer rated movement. Without a date or other complications, it is has 34.8mm x 11.2mm Sainless steel screw back case with polished bezel and water resistant to 100 meters. Apparently before WWII Rolex was the favourite brand of long-distance flyers and had become the watch of choice for Battle of Britain fighter pilots. Neutral Switzerland stayed out of the war, but Rolex's founder, Hans Wilsdorf, (who, ironically, was German-born) was so moved by this distinction, he decided to honour these brave men with a new line of manual wind Oysters.
While the Oyster Royal line existed already before the war - and was, at that time, the most expensive manual wind model - Rolex began producing larger watches and baptizing them with names like "Air Tiger," "Air Lion," "Air Giant," and "Air King."
Interestingly enough, what was then considered a "large" dial - 32 to 33 mm diameter - is now small in comparison, as most Rolex sports models feature a 40 mm dial.
The "Air" line of watches remained in production until the early 1960s, but never really took off (forgive the pun). In the end only the Air-King survived and was eventually fitted with an automatic movement.
