When Rolex presented its new releases at the end of March 2022, nobody was really expecting a new Rolex Air-King. In fact, all signs were pointing to a discontinuation of the relatively unpopular timepiece. Just as surprising was that with the new Air-King release, the brand with the crown changed just about nothing to the appearance of this watch, which always has had a unique design. The dial of the predecessor model drew its design from the dashboard of the Bloodhound SSC supersonic land vehicle, which was canceled in 2020 due to a lack of funding. So instead of a completely new design, Rolex decided to release basically the exact same watch as before.
But is the new Rolex Air-King ref. 126900 really just a nearly unchanged new edition of this (allegedly) unpopular Rolex? Or is it maybe worth taking a closer look at this timepiece? That’s what I did with both the previous and new models of this Rolex pilot’s watch. Having seen the small, fine details and differences, I’ll tell you why what look like nearly two identical watches are in fact a pair of timepieces that are entirely different from one another.
The 2022 Rolex Air-King: Same Case Size, Slimmer Dimensions
When looking at the dimensions of both Rolex Air-King references, I’m once again reminded that a watch’s size is anything but the sole factor that determines its presence on the wrist. Although both of these pilot’s watches have the same 40-mm case width, they couldn’t be any more different from one another. The “old” Rolex Air-King has a substantial 49-mm lug-to-lug, and a healthy thickness of 13.3 mm. That’s why it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that this Rolex Air-King is one of the less popular models in the brand’s catalog: it’s got the same case as the Rolex Milgauss, putting it on the larger and bulkier side of things. And the new Rolex Air-King? Well, that’s where enthusiasts are in for a pleasant surprise. This watch with its lug-to-lug of 47.6 mm and 11.6-mm case thickness is now thinner, meaning it’s going to wear considerably better on the wrist than its more brawny predecessor. The Rolex new release will slip better under the shirt cuff; this thinning-down of the Air-King really has done this timepiece a world of good. Its new dimensions are sure to turn the heads of watch fans, hopefully encouraging them to give the latest model a closer look.
