Rolex Air-King Watch, Reference 5500, Steel and Gold, Champagne Dial, Automatic
Rolex Air-King Watch, Reference 5500, Steel and Gold, Champagne Dial, Automatic
- Dispatch
- Prepared and sent from Tokyo within 7–14 days, often sooner, or as arranged
- Arrival
- Vereinigte Staaten · usually 4–7 days after dispatch, insured and tracked Check the Shipping Flowchart here
- Import
Duties and customs · View the estimate
A guide for this piece: about $502, based on the 10% US charge on the declared value of goods made in Japan.
The final figure is set by US Customs and depends on where the piece was made and the kind of object it is. Many antiques over a century old carry no ordinary duty; most jewellery and leather goods add a single-digit rate.
With EMS, any charge is collected by your postal service on delivery. For pieces of significant value we can often arrange duties prepaid before dispatch.
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Watch
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A vintage Rolex Air-King, reference 5500, in steel with a yellow gold bezel, a champagne dial with gold baton markers and a self-winding movement, on a worn black strap.
The Piece
Rolex was founded in London in 1905 and moved to Geneva in 1919, and its Air-King, introduced in the 1940s, belonged to an aviation-themed range of Oyster watches.
Reference 5500 pairs a steel Oyster case with a yellow gold bezel. The champagne dial carries the Rolex crown, the lines Oyster Perpetual Air-King Precision, gold baton markers and a sweep seconds hand.
The watch is running, with the scratches and marks of age that the photographs show. The black leather strap is worn and frayed at its edges and would be replaced before regular wear. The photographs cover the front, both sides on the strap and the case back.
Details
- Maker: Rolex
- Model: Oyster Perpetual Air-King Precision, reference 5500
- Material: Steel case with a yellow gold bezel; champagne dial with gold baton markers; worn black leather strap
- Movement: Automatic
- Measurements: Not stated
- Water resistance: Not stated
- Colour: Steel and yellow gold; champagne dial; black strap
- Included: Watch on strap, without box or papers
Condition
- Grade B in Japan: fair, with scratches and marks of age; running.
- The black leather strap is worn and frayed at its edges.
Condition grade B (visible signs of use) on the Japanese scale; see Japanese condition ranks, explained.
Authenticity & Care
Case and caseback engravings, dial printing, movement, crown and bracelet are examined together and documented in Japan before dispatch. Every piece carries the Japonista authenticity guarantee. Keep it away from magnets and damp, and have it serviced by a qualified watchmaker before regular wear.
Delivery from Japan
Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Every sale is final; please ask anything before you buy, and see our published policy.
Considered offers are welcome through Send an Offer, and each one is reviewed personally. Pieces over $1,000 may be reserved over several payments with Layaway Privilege™.
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Collectors also search: Rolex Air-King 5500 · vintage Rolex Air-King steel and gold · Rolex 5500 automatic champagne dial · Rolex Air-King Precision vintage · Rolex Air-King yellow gold bezel
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