The Rolex AirKing was one of Rolex's most enduring models, but like some of Rolex’s wristwatch models such as the Turn-O-Graph, the model came to an end in 2014. Seen as a simple beauty with its three hands, solid color watch face and smaller 34mm size, the Rolex AirKing was and still is a favorite to many.

The Rolex AirKing has a long a storied history spanning back to the mid-1930.

Prior to World War II, British pilots utilized Rolex Oyster Perpetual wristwatches as they were slightly larger than British standard issue at the time, and were much more reliable.

Rolex learned of the pilot’s preference for Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches and during the late 1930’s and into the war, Rolex created wristwatches such as the “Air Lion,” “Air King,” “Air Tiger,” and “Air Giant.”

The first actual Air King was born in 1945 and acted to conglomerate all the “Air” watches into one watch.

The Rolex AirKing remained relatively untouched going into the 1950-1960’s with the exception of some visual refinements.

Staying at 34MM, the AirKing was available in gold plating, and two tone bracelets and bezels.

Without a date mechanism and being 2mm smaller, the AirKing did not compete with the ever-popular Rolex Datejust. In 1989/2000 the AirKing received a movement improvement

In 2007 became a fully certified COSC chronometer ^[12]like the majority of the Rolex watch line.

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COSC is Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, which is the institute responsible for certifying the accuracy and precision of wristwatches in Switzerland.

In 2016, Rolex introduced the Air-King reference 116900.

Rolex became, in 1985, the first watchmaking brand to use 904L steel, a highly corrosion-resistant alloy that acquires an exceptional sheen when polished.