The King gets an upgrade - Rolex Air-King 126900 

Just got the call and picked up from my AD 2 days ago! To me this watch has it all. I always loved the Explorer I (made the mistake of selling mine years ago) but this model takes the category to the next level. Anti reflective coating, flip lock clasp, raised crown on lock, thin, large crown, 70 HR power reserve, only watch in the collection with corporate colors, anti- magnetic technology without the faraday cage, 21mm lug width, modern dial, 4 point lume, and 05 added for perfect dial balance. This watch is set for years to come. The only thing I would add is a date option but other than that this watch is the second coming and will probably be around for decades without change. I also have the previous version and no plans of letting it go as it is the original Bloodhound version. Could not be happier with this engineering!

Totally agree. This is fantastic. Love the thinner case, the crown guards.. it's gorgeous

I like it. I like the crown guards especially. Adding a “zero” before the first five doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. Also the clasp… I understand some people like this clasp better, the regular clasp works just fine. Most people still seem to dislike this watch and I don’t know why. I think it’s one of the nicest ones in Rolex catalog.

Bruce, my brother, did you just say you stupidly flipped it for the Vacheron Constantin Overseas? One of the most beautiful watches there is from a trinity brand and perhaps the best blue in watches? C'mon man... ;-)

I’m a little partial to the last AK. I just don’t think crown guards belong on the AK. I do appreciate the ‘0’ in front of the 5 thought. That’s a good ‘fix’. I love lume also and could you imagine ALL the numerals being lumed 🤯🤯 Great video

Got mine yesterday. Random pick up at Amsterdam Airport. Pure luck and Tax Free!!!!

I got mine last month, and I am so lucky I got it at exactly 44 days. I have a lot of compliments from my friends.

I love your enthusiasm, production and presentation. Great watch. I'm not a fan of crown guards, but these look fine.

Just a heads up the new 36mm explorer from last year also gets antireflective treatment. I do think this is an improvement and I wish they lumed the minute arabics. I don’t think Rolex has done printed lumed indexes since the 4-digit cases. Still a cool update though and looks much better with the lumed 3-6-9

Great vid as usual Bruce. Just love your positive enthusiasm. Definitely another great air king with improvements but arguably different purpose watches. The new model is more sports focused and love the movement upgrade, however is it anti-magnetic like the last model which justifies the thickness difference. I think the old model is arguably more dress focused for professionals that work near machinery or electrical equipment.

Just picked up one from my AD. Awesome watch. Loving it!

Hi Bruce. The Fliplock is the 26mm extension you will find in the Sea-Dweller and the Deepsea. The Air King now comes with the Oysterlock clasp normally reserved for the professional watches, with the little clamshell.

Pretty cool. I'm indifferent to the new case (btw, is it 41mm or still 40mm?) and I think new movement. I'm more pleased by the updated dial. Getting the 05 was a good choice and I think making the 369 lumed was a good choice and it looks much more cohesive and less mix and match parts bin of the prior gen. Plus, u get more usable lume in the dial than before.

Does the new one appear to have a weird gap between the bezel and endlink? The old one is kind of rounding and doesn't appear as stacked. @2:45

Top content, as ever, and agree it would be great to get a white dial or two-tone. Guess it helps take the pressure off the other models, especially now the turqoise OP is gone. Maybe next year its the turn of the milgauss. Would love to hear your comments on the day-date.

New new suite buddy! Yeah- the new Air King looks killer.

picking mine up 18th May from AD in the UK, can't wait!!

AK is the a step above Exp 1 and Milly. Always loved my AK 40!

Just watched Oleg’s review and you have very different opinions 😀 Would love to own one in the future.

I just picked this bad boy up from my AD last Friday.... Simple but elegant and I like it!

Getting mine on Wednesday. I'm a sucker for the green and the yellow.

I like the new Air-King. And I like the BW stamp at the end of the video!

I think the new one is SO MUCH better than the last one. Just due to the lume and the 05. Could have done without the crown guards, but whatevs.

Hope they do the AR coating and lume on the Explorer 1 as well.

I was a fan of the old air king but if I had them both side by side I think I’d go with the new one. I approve of all the changes made, it has the better movement, and it’s thinner. I think they dropped the ball a little bit on an opportunity to change up the air king dial. If they did a white dial with a Tiffany blue second hand it would have been the colors of the sky/clouds and people would have went bananas for it.

I agree. This is the pick of all the Rolex releases. Even the old AK was better in person than any photo or video. It's a top sports watch all be it a little quirky. It's also refreshing to hear Bruce being honest about his regret for flipping it for a VC.

I love all the changes they made to the AK as they fixed almost all the issues of the previous version. Not luming all the numerals is a head scratcher for a sports watch.

i like this too.. great causal watch

Really like it. Asked my AD already 🙂🤞🏻

The AirKing Is Awesome👏🏻🤩😎!

I own a Zenith Daytona and the first BATMAN ( which is to heavy for everyday use ) and just bought the new AK. I love the watch better that the other two and it starts sinking in to you. One thing ; when Rolex uses the color green in their dials something happens that the prices start going up.

They finally lumed the other numerals. If you go back to in time I said 6 years ago this was deal breaker for a lot of people.

Hi Bruce, what about the antimagnetic case of the old model?

Is that the one that went for a ride?

Always thought it was a dud until I saw one in person, it’s my favourite now especially with this new design.

Rolex’s answer to the discontinued 39 mm Explorer. The case size, lumed arabics, and symmetry ought to scratch that itch for some, as, eyes crossed, it comes off as a colorful, pimped out version with crown guards. Either way, definitely an improvement from the previous version.

This new Air-King is actually the only Rolex I'm planning to add to my collection.

This will be my first Rolex. Once I’ve made it to the dealers to join the register.

The new Subs, Explorer II and Explorer have the inner AR coating as well

I’m hoping to get one too. My AD says he hasn’t gotten any yet. And I haven’t seen pics online of anyone who has gotten one.

I’ve just got one. It’s a very fantastic timepiece.

looks like the Longines Conquest

I love the fluted bezel on the platinum day date. But I don't know if I'll ever to afford one

I like it a lot.

I've got this 126900 and it's perfect now. The case fits better on my 6.5inch wrist and the 3,6 and 9 with lumes looks better imho. The crownguards and the new movement makes the watch better then the previous one. Greetings from the Netherlands ✌️

It feels more unique yet is now more like many other models!

What people haven’t caught on just yet is that the new Air King is essentially a beefed up Explorer 1 with a modern look, case and movement. The current Explorer 1 is a bit too small when they discontinued the 39mm version.

I love the air king!!

The new styling is prepping for the 40mm Explorer.

With the upgrades to the air king does the old air king become less desirable and maybe go down in price?

You should buy one and put it on top of your car 🤣 Love your channel Bruce! Keep up the great work!

Wasn't the AirKing originally created as a collab with a car company, but it's called the AirKing as if it's related to aviation? Rolex needs to work a little harder IMO.

Air King 114210 with white dial and steel engine tuned bezel is the best version of the Air King. I wish Rolex had upgraded this version by making it 39 mm or 40 mm. That would be a killer AK! IMHO.

The new Air King is what the new Explorer 36 should have been. I always liked the Air King but the lack of lume on the dial made it less desirable for me so I gravitated to the Explorer 39. Low and behold it became unobtanium. The updated lume still isn't quite up to snuff, but it's good enough for me. Personally I think the crown guard wasn't necessary since so much of Rolex's lineup is saturated with them, but it's not the worst thing in the world.

Definitely Dialed in, not in left field like the gmt.

How much

What brand is this? There are no watches on display all the times and need to pay above retail to get one. I stick to Seiko.

We need to keep this Air King 👑 on the QT 🤫

air king 😍👌

The added naught now alters the face from the original Rolex designed Bloodhound dial.......glad I have my 116900.

.....and of course, wait for it, CROWN GUARDS!

$7,000. That's just too much in my mind. But, I don't think it's a particularly good looking watch. So, I'm biased. The Explorer is around that price if one fancied the crown, and I must prefer the design. Although, the price is still a bit much for me. Anyway, take all my thoughts with a grain. I'm not the biggest Rolex fan. I do like the Explorer and the OP though. I just find that the brand is great, but their dominance is due to their incredible brand image and marketing ability, more so than anything else. Hans was a marketing genius.

No matter what you do to improve the dial, it’s still a mess.. but if you like it good for you..

I bought one last week from the AD (not the new model). Its a great watch but no one likes them for some reason. I think its pretty cool

Hi Bruce, make a video of your Air King you accidentally damaged please, and wow thats some damage ! There's a hidden side to you that we don't see or know about ! Thanks

I don’t even know you, but every time I see an AirKing I think of your mishap. Anyways, thank you for your channel.

While I think some of the changes are good, the crown guards look all wrong on this model. There's a reason no previous Rolex model with a smooth bezel has had crown guards....because it looks off! Crown guards belong on a serious sport model with a rotating bezel like the Sub or GMT but not on the air king. The older case looked much more classic, classy, refined, and elegant. This new case looks like it's trying to be something it's not. Imagine a Datejust ll with crown guards. It would look silly just like this does. Hey, just my opinion. YMMV.

0:17 wtf happened to that watch:D?

Just bring back the explorer 1 in a mens size!

I love it. Haters gonna' hate.

I agree. Myself and a buddy were talking about this way more than the GMT. I always liked the dial but not the case. The 05, the lume, slimmer case, killer movement...... Now she's ready for primetime. A very tempting proposition.

2022 is the last year of the Air King.

Personally, I find the new Air King the only good looking Rolex. Nice!

This watch is one modification short of perfection...open the crystal, remove all the numerals except 3,6,9 and you get a 40mm Explorer 1 - perfection! 🙂

I love the air king. I think the new one is even better.

if it didnt say rolex on the dial, nobody would be talknig about it

I think the oyster case was better. The Explorer is considered the quintessential sports watch and doesn’t have crown guards. I think this new case is too large and overdone for this watch and dial. Lastly, I don’t see why they didn’t just lume all the numerals. Obviously just my opinion though, as I’m biased and content with my Explorer 124270 for the long term. Hope you get it soon, glad you’re happy with the release!

I simply don't get it. It looks like a parts bin special to my eyes.

The new Airking is really an Upgrade to the previous model. However, personally I prefer the old model with the curved case, it was nice that not all the sports models had the slab like case of the submariner. And really.... a zero before the five? Not cool, it's not only about design and balance, it is also about legibility and the crisp white numerals are super legible (with the proper light). How does the zero help legilibility? It does not. So thumbs down on the zero from me. But it's such a great watch, well done!

5 is fine. 05???

You stupidly flipped an Air King to an overseas! You are really a madman. seriously!

As a pilot I'd prefer they ditch the 3-6-9 and add the 15-30-45 in their place.

"I stupidly traded in an AK for a VC Overseas" 🤔

Has Bruce finally found his keeper?

Yes the King gets an upgrade. But Milgauss deserves an upgrade even more. Shame on you Rolex!

Wait, did we ever hear the story of the trashed Air King??

Gotta love the various comments. I just landed the new version and traded in the older version for a Submariner. The new version of the Air King is far better than the older version; it wears better; the case is better looking; the dial is very unique on either version; clasp is better; movement is better…….all you haters; what could be worse on the newer style? Yes the older version is also unique, but having both, hands down the newer version is an overall better choice.

Bruce, stick to your guns man. That watch is far from ugly. That’s why you like it. You think outside the box and you’ve got taste. Not sure about the Presidential gold you purchased. That puts a bullseye on your back. Be carefull…

"original re-introduction" - typical Rolex move ))

Never will find one

Risk of appearing petulant, who really cares, considering they’ll not be on the open market.

I like the changes, but it’s still fugly

Don't buy it Bruce, stay away from the Air King. If you do it will only bring you misfortune... LOL jk

Sorry Bruce I think this watch is a mess and doesn't know what it is. diver case, field watch handset...b uhr dial with 3, 6 and 9 Crown guards like a tactical watch. Urghh sorry I think it's god awful....it's nowhere near a pilots watch.

Yes...the airking is better...but still, Rolex is a big dud...boring. More watches we can't buy at retail. Sure, it'll be a flippers paradise. All I hear is blah blah blah when Rolex is speaking. Tudor was more interesting, but still pretty boring...except the incorporation of the flip lock clasp...the most exciting release I've seen to date! If Tudor put a ceramic bezel on the rootbeer, the watch market would have melted down.

Idk … to me it’s seems like they didn’t do enough..the dial is still trash. It just looks cheap and lazy

it is the same stupid looking watch. They didnt discontinued the milgauss and now it is the only line with old movement. I guess I will wait for the surprise

The Air King the uglist watch in the Rolex line-up!