Rolex Explorer Air-King 5500

The Rolex Explorer Air‑King ref. 5500 with 3-6-9 Explorer-style dial was produced in extremely limited numbers between 1958 and 1965. This hybrid variant of the standard Air‑King 5500 was manufactured with the same 34 mm stainless steel Oyster case, acrylic crystal, and smooth bezel, but featured a dial more commonly associated with the Explorer ref. 1016. The watch was powered by either the Rolex Caliber 1520 or Rolex Caliber 1530, both robust automatic movements known for their durability. It measured approximately 11 mm thick, had a 42 mm lug-to-lug distance, and used a 19 mm lug width. Dials typically came in matte black with luminous Arabic numerals at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, along with stick markers and Mercedes hands, often with gilt printing and ‘Precision’ or no text below the center pinion. These watches were reportedly produced for select markets such as Canada and were never cataloged officially by Rolex, contributing to their rarity. Today, the Explorer Air‑King 5500 is among the most desirable Air‑King variants due to its crossover identity, understated military styling, and extreme scarcity.