Sorry if this is adumb question but I don't know a lot about Rolexes. They are both old model lines, and comparing verious models from different eras the most obvious difference seems to be that the Explorers have 3,6,9 and Air Kings have baton markers only.
Anything else?
Meine Bratwurst has a first name,
It's F-R-I-T-Z,
Meine Bratwurst has a second name,
It's S-C-H-N-A-C-K-E-N-P-F-E-F-F-E-R-H-A-U-S-E-N
Currently, the fundamental difference is about 2mm! historically, or perhaps more accurately mythically, one was designed for pilots, who might not know whether they were going to need a dress watch or a survival watch. While the explorer was for, well, explorers who needed a watch with no compromise. There is an even smaller, model, the speed king, but Rolex don't currently make it. The prosaic reality is that the Air King has been Rolex's entry level model for a while. Beyond that, who knows, there have been 34 mm explorers and 369 air kings over the years, and so there is no clear boundary. For all my moaning, I went looking for an explorer and ended up choosing an air king. I have never regretted it. Of all the Rolex models it has to be the most low profile, and yet...
Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Thanks Matt. So, do both use similar case construction? Do both have the triplock crown? I guess what I am getting at is... are both as rugged as each other?Originally Posted by M4tt
Meine Bratwurst has a first name,
It's F-R-I-T-Z,
Meine Bratwurst has a second name,
It's S-C-H-N-A-C-K-E-N-P-F-E-F-F-E-R-H-A-U-S-E-N
well you can get Airkings with the 3 6 9 dial. size 34mm AK and 36 for exp 1( new Exp 1 is now 39mm.)
Exp1 only comes in black. Airking 15 plus dials
AK only became possible with COSC in 2009- not sure about Exp 1.
twin lock crowns not triplock
not sure if there is much more i can tell you ....
Last edited by toph; November 11th, 2010 at 05:10.
Both of these watches are built to the same standards and share the same movement. Neither have a Triplock crown, both use the Twinlock..
The Air-King was named as a tribute to early British pilots who needed a reliable watch. Out of the many names Rolex used on their 34mm models (Speed-King was one), Air-King is the only one that has remained in the line-up.
The Explorer was marketed as an outdoors-man time-piece and most of it's ads used the early Everest Expeditions (Rolex provided these watches to the climbers) to make this claim..
As mentioned, the Air King is a 34mm watch, and the Explorer was a 36mm watch until this year when it was increased in size to 39mm.
The Explorer only comes in a black dial; the Air King has several different dials available.........
(edit: Looks like I was typing while toph was posting ;)
Chill, it's just a watch forum...
Thanks again!
Meine Bratwurst has a first name,
It's F-R-I-T-Z,
Meine Bratwurst has a second name,
It's S-C-H-N-A-C-K-E-N-P-F-E-F-F-E-R-H-A-U-S-E-N
I have a 36mm Explorer and an Air-King with a white, Explorer-type dial. Some subtle differences include:
- The Air-King's bezel is domed, the Explorer's is not.
- The Explorer's crystal sits higher above the bezel than the crystal on the Air-King.
- The rehaute on the Air-King is deeper or taller than the Explorer's so that the dial appears farther down in the watch (a nice effect).
- The Air-King's case is more square.
- The Air-King's hands are plain and straight while the Explorer utilizes mercedes hands.
- The bracelet and clasp of the Air-King are solid and more substantial than the Explorer's hollow center links and tinny clasp.
I prefer the Air-King's case, bezel, white dial, and bracelet, but not it's 34mm size. Those 2mm are significant. And telling the time is quicker with the Explorer. Both great watches. Choosing which one to wear each day is a nice problem to have.
They're are alot of small differences but the main one is 2mm.
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