Rolex Air-King Steel 116900 – 2021

Rolex Air-King Reference 116900: The Unconventional Pilot Classic

The Rolex Air-King (Reference 126900) is one of the most distinctive and striking sports watches in the manufacture’s portfolio. With its introduction, it deliberately broke away from the traditional, minimalist design of its predecessors and presented itself as a modern, masculine pilot’s watch that pays deep homage to aviation history and Rolex’s aviation instruments.

A Dial with Instrument DNA

The absolute unique feature of the 116900 is the striking, deep black dial. It breaks with classic conventions and focuses on maximum functionality in the cockpit:

• The Cockpit Look: A unique combination of large, applied 3-6-9 hour numerals in White Gold and a prominent printed 5-minute scale for precise navigation.

• Color Elements as a Statement: As the first and only Rolex watch, it bears the brand name in rich Green and the iconic Rolex crown in radiant Yellow, complemented by a green seconds hand.

• Perfect Case: The 40 mm case made of extremely durable Oystersteel stainless steel gives the watch a powerful, contemporary presence on the wrist, perfectly framed by a smooth, polished bezel.

Invisible Shield Inside

True engineering craftsmanship is hidden beneath the case back. The Air-King shares its technical base with the legendary Milgauss: A soft iron inner case effectively protects the mechanical Automatic caliber 3135 (or in later batches the optimized 3131) from strong magnetic fields, which frequently occur in the cockpit or modern daily life. The blue Parachrom hairspring also ensures maximum stability against shocks and temperature fluctuations.

Robustness and Wearing Comfort

The scratch-resistant Sapphire Crystal protects the dial, while the hands and the distinctive triangle at the 12 o’clock position glow brightly in the dark thanks to the Chromalight luminescent material. The Air-King is worn on the classic, satin-finished Oyster bracelet, equipped with the practical Easylink system – for a comfortable, tool-free extension of the bracelet by 5 mm on warm days.