Rolex Air-King 5520

The Rolex Air‑King ref. 5520 was produced from 1958 to 1962 and stands out as one of the few gold-filled references in the Air‑King line. Primarily intended for the North American market, the 5520 offered an affordable alternative to solid gold models by combining a stainless steel case base with gold-filled components, often marked by case maker C.R.S. It retained the 34 mm Oyster case with a domed acrylic crystal and smooth bezel, along with a classic no-date display. Powering the watch was the automatic Rolex Caliber 1530, a non-chronometer movement known for its dependability. The case measured approximately 11–12 mm thick, with a 42 mm lug-to-lug distance and 19 mm lug width. Dials typically came in silver or champagne, with baton hour markers and ‘Precision’ or ‘Super Precision’ text, depending on production year. Today, the 5520 is considered a rare collectible due to its short production run and unconventional case composition within the Rolex catalog.