Rolex Chronometer Origins - How Rolex Dominated Fine Swiss Watches
It will probably come as a surprise to some regular readers of this blog to hear me say it, but I don’t really believe it was the
Tool Watch that
entirely made the Rolex reputation. They played a crucial role to be sure, but it was something that came before that line of professional watches that truly established Rolex as an innovator in the field.
Everyone seriously interested in Rolex knows the waterproof Oyster case was instrumental in making Rolex a leader in the watch industry in the 1930s and beyond. What is not so well known is the importance placed upon highly accurate, chronometer-rated watches by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf. The wily director of Rolex—besides being a marketing genius with a sure grasp of what the public wanted—knew instinctively that the only way he would ever get the public to accept the newfangled wristwatches was to prove their accuracy as well as dependability.
Military Rolex Watches
One of the more interesting aspects to Rolex history, at least in the humble opinion of yours truly, is the connection between the company’s watches and to the military history of the past century. Long before Rolex became synonymous with uber watch in the luxury market, the watches were trusted by military men who needed the toughest, most water-resistant and dustproof watches available. For many years, Rolex watches were the benchmark for rugged, dependable quality. They were never cheap, but that didn’t prevent generations of military men and women from paying the asking price to have the best. Sometimes, the best could mean the difference between life and death. Most watch aficionados have heard of the famous British military issue Submariners of the 1960s and 1970s, but few realize the Rolex connection to the military services goes back much farther than that, and continued after that.
Watch Books - Part Two
In this installment of watch books, I’ll look at an old standby Rolex reference book and a “wild card” book that is more of a history and “big picture” watch book.
First up: the book Vintage Rolex Sports Models by Martin Skeet and Nick Urul...
Why I Love My Rolex Reference 1680 Submariner
Let’s face it, everybody isn’t into vintage. Some of us just naturally gravitate to older examples of collectibles for any number of reasons. Maybe we like classic cars because we want the car we lusted after when we were a kid or a young adult, the one we couldn’t afford back then. Maybe we’re into old school stereos and vinyl records because the warmth of the sound can’t be duplicated by the more sterile digital recordings and players of today. I’d say a little bit of both reasons accounts for my interest in vintage Rolex. The Rolexes I wanted as a younger guy aren’t being made any more, at least in the form of those days—and I think the older models have a soul and a character you just don’t find in a brand new watch.
Take for instance my Reference 1680 Sub. The watch is a circa 1978 production Submariner Date according to its serial number, and at quick glance looks little different from a 16610 made last year. That continuity of design is one of the strong suits of the Rolex brand. Upon closer inspection however, one quickly perceives that some subtle changes have been made in the past thirty-plus years. This article isn’t really a history of the Submariner or even the 1680, but rather why your humble correspondent likes his 1680 so much.
So, let’s get back to those subtle changes. If you hold a 1680 from 1978 and a 16610 from 2008 side by side (and I do this sometimes since I happen to have a Submariner which is a 16610 made in, you guessed it, 2008) the first thing you notice is the much thicker crystal of the 1680. Back in those days, Rolex watches were fitted with acrylic crystals. They were very, very tough and were pretty much shatter proof, but scratched easier than modern sapphire crystals which are virtually scratch proof. The 1680 in particular is known for its extra thick crystal, which was made necessary because the magnifier or “Cyclops” for the date window needed to be a certain height from the date wheel to be in proportion. This gives the watch a unique look, even among vintage Rolex sports models. I like that.
Another thing quickly noticed about the 1680 in comparison to the newer 16610 is the matte dial of the 1680 and the plain dot minute markers instead of the gloss dial and white gold surrounds of the newer watch. Now don’t get me wrong, the newer look is more polished, and has more “pop” to it, no doubt about it. But I must admit to liking the simpler, less refined look of the older watch. It harkens back to the Tool Watch era that really made the Rolex reputation, in my humble opinion. In other words, my old 1680 looks more like a real diver’s watch and less like a piece of jewelry than the modern Sub. I like that.
The 1680 is the Submariner I remember lusting after as a kid while reading those incredible Rolex ads in National Geographic. Robert Redford even wore one in the classic 1976 movie All the President’s Men. Finally, I have to admit I like the fact that when I wear my older 1680 Submariner, I usually don’t have to worry about seeing another one on somebody else’s wrist. Sure, if I’m in a busy metropolitan area I am very likely to encounter other Rolex models and other luxury watches galore in upscale shopping districts and restaurants. However, I can count the times on one hand that I have ever seen a vintage 1680 “in the wild” on somebody else’s wrist. I like that, too.
Incredible Prices for Vintage Rolex Watches
Anyone who follows vintage watch prices would probably agree the market took a noticeable down turn last year along with the rest of the world economy. This was particularly apparent in the vintage Rolex market, which historically had only known one direction of travel: up. But even the mighty Rolex brand was not immune to global economic forces. Just as sales dipped last year for new watches, the classic vintage market followed suit in a change that shocked long-time industry watchers. Does that mean that vintage Rolex watches stopped selling, or bringing large price tags? Hardly!
Last year saw the sale of one of the neatest, most iconic Rolexes ever. Legendary Hollywood movie star Steve McQueen’s Rolex Submariner went up for auction in June, 2009 at the famed Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York. The Reference 5512 No-Date Submariner had often been photographed on the wrist of the incomparably cool actor–his right wrist, Steve was a lefty—from the late 1960s until his death in 1980. When the feverish bidding ended, the “King of Cool’s” watch had sold for $234,000, a record for the 5512 reference. This was many times its pre-auction estimate of around $40,000, and many, many times what an “average” 5512 without the McQueen connection can expect to realize upon its sale.
Speaking of Steve McQueen, just consider the classic movie The Great Escape from 1963 that that largely cemented his screen persona as the King of Cool. The film tells the true story of a mass escape by allied prisoners of war from a German Prisoner of War Camp during World War II. But what does that have to do with the sale of vintage Rolex watches, you ask? Ah, there hangs an interesting tale.
During World War II, many allied officers who became prisoners of war had their watches “confiscated” by the Germans upon capture. A little known bit of trivia is that Rolex would send these gentlemen a replacement with payment only expected after the successful conclusion of the war. Talk about faith in allied victory. One of these watches went to a prisoner named Clive James Nutting, who was one of the organizers of the “Great Escape” from Stalag Luft III, later immortalized in the motion picture starring McQueen. Although Nutting was only a Corporal at the time of the escape, Rolex President and founder Hans Wilsdorf sent Nutting an expensive Reference 3525 Rolex Oyster Chronograph as requested, along with a signed apology for taking so long in processing his order. Today it’s theorized that the wily Corporal used the chronograph to time the German guards making their rounds. Nutting paid £15 for the watch after the war, and would go on to be a consultant for the movie. The watch and correspondence with Wilsdorf sold at auction in May 2007 for £66,000.
I tried to save the best for last, because as far as I can tell, the highest price 
ever paid for a vintage Rolex was this one of Eric Clapton’s. What, you didn’t know “Slow Hand” was a Rolex collector? He is, and has the budget to afford only the best. The watch in question was a so-called “Albino Daytona” because the subsidiary dials as well as the dial were all one color, unlike the usual contrasting examples. In 2008 at the famous Sotheby’s auction house in London, the Clapton Albino Daytona Chronograph sold for $505,000 including buyer’s premium. Not a bad sum for a watch that probably languished on the dealer’s shelf—you almost couldn’t give a Daytona away back then—and sold for less than $400 back in 1971 when it was made.
What is a Tool Watch?
Sometimes when new owners of
Rolex Watches are asking questions about their new watch on one of the various watch forums, they are stumped when their watch is referred to as a “
Tool Watch” and wonder where that term came from. I thought it might be interesting for newer owners to learn a little bit about the Tool Watch concept, how it came about, and why it is so important in the history of Rolex and the brand’s eminence in the marketplace.
In their excellent book
Vintage Rolex Sports Models, authors Martin Skeet and Nick Urul provide an excellent overview of how the Tool Watch came into existence. They point out that the crucial element in the development of the Tool Watch was the Rolex perfection of the waterproof watch case in the 1920s, the beginning of the famous Oyster series that continues to this day. This opened up new horizons of possibilities for the innovative watch company. This eventually led to one of the first purpose-built Tool Watches, the diving watches Rolex made in the 1940s for the Italian Panerai company for the Italian Navy.
But it was probably the work of Rolex Director Rene P. Jeanneret in the 1950s that firmly committed Rolex to the goal of becoming the King of Tool Watches. As a passionate sportsman and amateur diver, Jeanneret saw the marketing possibilities for a civilian model of diving watch like the one Rolex had made for the Italian Navy. This civilian model became the Uber-Watch, the famous
Submariner. He further perceived the potential for sales if Rolex could establish themselves as the top watch maker of all manner of watches for serious professionals who demanded the highest standards for their equipment. This led the company to develop the super tough, highly accurate Explorer line of watches. These watches were on the equipment list—and the wrists—of the first successful team led by Sir Edmund Hillary that conquered Mt. Everest in 1953.
Following up the
Explorer and Submariner were the GMT pilot’s watch for tracking a separate time zone and the unique
Milgauss for scientists and engineers who needed a watch that resisted strong magnetic fields. Rolex historian Jeffrey Hess perceptively noted in a recent interview that it was this Rolex preoccupation with
Tool Watches in the 1950s that helped make the company the industry leader it is today. When everybody and their brother wanted to make pretty dress watches, Rolex went its own way to make hyper-tough, accurate watches suitable for the toughest conditions imaginable. It was a design and marketing decision that was at once bold and nearly impossible for the completion to follow.
It could be argued that the Tool Watch truly established the Rolex reputation for excellence that continues to this day.
Why Going Vintage Doesn’t Have To Be Scary
Anyone who has read many of my posts on the various watch forums or here at
Timeandgems probably knows I really have a thing for vintage Rolex. I don’t know how to explain it exactly, but the subdued luster of that older steel really does it for me from an aesthetic standpoint. And then there is the history. When I’m wearing one of my favorite Rolexes, a 1967-vintage GMT-Master, it is easy for me to imagine what the original owner—a Vietnam War-Era pilot—thought of the ruggedly handsome watch. (They cost $202 at the PX back then. Talk about appreciation!) Or, sometimes I think of the classic TV show, “Magnum, P.I” in which actor Tom Selleck wore the same kind of GMT. Of course, I also like the bright and shiny, newer
Rolex models as well. That’s the curse of being watch-addicted, for which there is no known cure.
And I’m not the only one that likes vintage. Not by a long shot. It has become fashionable in recent years to collect and to be seen wearing vintage Rolex. An article in the UK’s hip, online
Gaurdian newspaper a few years ago reported that many people were now turning to the older watches, “their dull patina considered a sign of class.” It’s not too surprising then that celebrities like Rock-icon Eric Clapton and pop stars and actors like John Mayer and Daniel Craig- James Bond- have been seen sporting old Rolexes while they’re out and about and doing the town. In Craig’s case, it was while sporting a vintage Submariner, ref: 6538…which is appropriate, since Sean Connery wore one of those in the early Bond films.
Besides their cool, less “blingy” aspect, vintage Rollies have some other advantages. You can always save money when you buy pre-owned in the Rolex market, and this is especially true in the vintage arena. Watches like the classic Datejust and Presidential Day-Date can be found for really substantial savings versus what the same watches cost today when bought new. This represents an incredible value for the buyer. Mechanical watches are designed to last for generations with only a little basic care and service. You can take advantage of this and check out what is available in the vintage models and save a great deal of money. That’s all good in anybody’s book.
But how does one go about buying one of those vintage beauties with their understated elegance? Isn’t there a danger of buying a beat-up, poorly-functioning watch? Or even worse, couldn’t you buy a fake? Well, there is a danger in buying anything that is “pre-loved” or used from an unknown or questionable source. That danger pretty much goes out the window when you purchase from a reputable dealer. If you’re looking for vintage Rolex, that means a dealer like
Timeandgems, who stand behind what they sell with a great one-year, no hassle Warranty. Try getting that from the guy on Craig’s List. Furthermore, the watches they sell are refurbished by Rolex-certified watchmakers to like-new function, so you don’t have to worry.
So just relax and consider going vintage like many of us already have. The water’s fine; come on in!
Evolution of the Rolex Day-Date
The
Rolex Day-Date was introduced in 1956 and has seen various technical updates during the ages. Here is a small summary of those updates:
The Rolex Day-Date was the first watch to sport a date feature and the week day spelt out in FULL (comes in 26 languages).
The first model, the reference 6511, only lasted a year.
1957: The Day-Date receives its first update and became the model 6611 due to the cal. 1055 with a free-sprung balance with MicroStella adjusting screws. This made the watch much more accurate, and the chronometer designation on the dial was therefore changed to "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" instead of "Officially Certified Chronometer".
1959: Introduction of the Cal. 1555 in model 1803 with 18,000 bph (beats per hour).
1965: Launch of the Cal. 1556 (still in model 1803) with 19,800 bph.
1972: Hack feature of the seconds hands (stop seconds hand by unscrewing and pulling the crown out into its last position).
1977 / 78: New movement: The Cal. 3055 with Quick-Set of the date (but not the day). Model 18038. Introduction of a sapphire crystal on the Day-Date, as well. This increased water resistance for the original 50 metres (165 feet) to 100 metres (330 feet) and also made for a slimmer appearance of the Day-Date.
1988 / 89: The Cal. 3055 is updated and becomes the Cal. 3155 with Double Quick set of both day and date (model 18238).
2000: Various updates to the Day-Date models. Updates include:
Solid centre links and flush fitting endlinks (which makes the new Day-Date approx. 35% heavier than 18238 models). Although the centre links on the Day-Date 18238 appeared solid, in fact they weren't.
Polished lugs.
Very slightly domed sapphire crystal.
Lume added to "sticks" (hour markers) on the stick dial.
Laser etched coronet on crystal at 6 o'clock.
2003: Updated clasp (more solid in structure).
2006: Engraved "ROLEXROLEX" on the rehaut (i.e.: angled ring along the dial).
2008: Day-Date II in 41mm with Cal. 3156, sporting the new inhouse Paraflex© shock protection system.
Uniqueness Of The Rolex Milgauss
The
Rolex Milgauss 116400, launched at the BaselWorld Watch Fair 2007, continues the Milgauss history that seemed to have been brought to an end in 1988 when the predecessor Milgauss (ref. 1019) was discontinued.
The current model comes in three versions: White dial, black dial (both called ref. 116400) and black dial with orange 3-6-9 markers (ref. 116400GV. The designation "GV" stands for glace verte; French for green crystal.
Unlike the Milgauss ref. 1019, the first Milgauss models (ref. 6541 and 6542) sported a "Lighting Bolt" hand; a design that Rolex has chosen to re-introduce in an orange colour.
Some features of the Milgauss set this watch apart from ANY other Rolex watch in the current range:
Unlike ANY other Rolex manufactured after 2001, the Milgauss GV does not sport any laser etched coronet in the crystal at six o' clock. It is said that this is due to the green edge that tends to glow up quite a bit in certain light condition, resulting in the laser etched coronet being too obvious if it had been etched on the crystal.
The Milgauss is the only current reference having a so-called "Faraday" case which consists of a "case inside the case", the inner case made of soft iron which leads magnetic influence away from the movement inside. It is the only current Rolex that is anti-magnetic to 1,000 Gauss.
The diametre of the Milgauss case (40mm) is not shared with any other Rolex reference.
A special movement was developed for the Milgauss, unique for the reference: The Rolex cal. 3131. It not only features the in-house Parachrom Bleu hairspring but also an escapement made out of a paramagnetic material.
The Milgauss comes in stainless steel only, but is not classified by Rolex as a "sports" Rolex. However, it does feature a caseback inscription; a feature that has hitherto only been seen on sports Rolex watches (Deepsea Sea-Dweller and the Sea-Dweller 4000 ref. 16600.
A special bracelet is made for the Milgauss watches, too: the bracelet ref. 72400. NO other Rolex watch uses this bracelet.
The winding crown is unique to the Milgauss, as well. Although it is a TwinLock crown, with its 7mm diametre it is larger than the standard TwinLock crown.
The Submariner Is Still In a Class by Itself
First produced in 1953 and unveiled to the public at the famous Swiss Basel Watch Fair in 1954, the Submariner has gone on to become perhaps the most storied watch in the long history of Rolex. The
Datejust may be the most popular and best-selling Rolex for a host of good reasons, but few other than watch collectors and dealers would know it by that name. The
Submariner on the other hand is not only well known, but downright famous. Even people who are not hardcore collectors or ‘watch guys’ have heard of the Rolex Submariner. The story of how it came to be seen as the quintessential,
ultimate sports watch is interesting and calls for a bit of history.
In the early 1960s the Submariner would have been known to a relative handful of professional and amateur divers as the best divers’ watch on the market. The sport of SCUBA diving was new and Rolex had answered the call for a reliable, waterproof watch with the Submariner to aid divers in timing their dives. In the UK the Royal Navy already issued the watch to its salvage divers and Special Boat Squadron (SBS) Commandos. This was many years before the advent of the digital dive computers that divers rely on today. Then in 1962 something happened that can be summed up in two magical words: James Bond.
That was when Dr. No, the first Bond film starring the incomparably cool Sean Connery as British secret agent 007, hit the big screen. Author Ian Fleming had originally outfitted Bond with an un-named Rolex with “big phosphorous numerals” in his novels, but the Connery film was the first time a specific model was associated with the super-spy. The choice of the film company—the Submariner—was the starting point of the Submariner legend and the rest as they say is history.
Since the days of those early Bond films, many heroes in both Reel and Real life have used the Submariner.
Steve McQueen, the once and future King of Cool, wore a Submariner in his personal life as well as in the movie
The Hunter. Robert Redford wore one in All the President’s Men, and more recently Nicholas Cage used one in National Treasure, and that’s just scratching the surface of the Submariner’s celluloid usage. More importantly to some, the watch was a favorite of US Navy SEALS and US Army Special Forces (the so-called Green Berets) as well as other globe-trotting adventurers and explorers during the Vietnam War period. In his ground-breaking anthropology work, Norwegian scientist Thor Heyerdahl used his ever-reliable Submariner in the sea-going Ra II expedition of 1970. The expedition proved that ancient mariners could have traversed the Atlantic using the Canary Current. Through it all, the Submariner was there.
Today the Submariner survives in a form that is remarkably similar to the Sub of the 1950s. I own two Subs; one made in 1978, the other in 2008. Externally they are almost identical, and that continuity of design is a big part of the Sub’s appeal and helps them hold their value so well. When you buy a Submariner you don’t have to worry about it looking outdated next year. That timelessness makes the Submariner a true watch for the ages. It looks just as at home with a tuxedo and a dry martini as it does with a wet suit and an underwater torch. Sometimes I’m asked which Rolex a first-time buyer should consider and I usually advise the buyer to get the one that appeals to them the most…but the Submariner is never a bad choice!
Rolex Serial Number Guide
Hitherto, owners and collectors of Rolex watches have been able to fairly accurately "date" their Rolex watches due to a case serial number system that has been compiled over the years by Rolex enthusiasts. The serial number tells you when (i.e. what year(spans) a watch is made, however not when it was sold.
Although never officially offered by Rolex, the list over serial numbers on Rolex cases provided Rolex owners with good info as to dating their watch(es).
The serial number can be found between the lugs at six o' clock on all Rolex models except the Deepsea Sea-Dweller and/or the rehaut (angled ring along the dial).
Until mid January 2010, the list comprised the following Rolex serial numbers:
| Year |
From: To: |
| 1927 |
20190 |
21691 |
| 1928 |
23969 |
24747 |
| 1929 |
28290 |
|
| 1930 |
29312 |
|
| 1931 |
|
|
| 1932 |
29312 |
|
| 1933 |
29312 |
|
| 1934 |
30823 |
|
| 1935 |
34336 |
35365 |
| 1936 |
36856 |
37569 |
| 1937 |
40920 |
|
| 1938 |
43793 |
|
| 1939 |
71224 |
|
| 1940 |
99775 |
|
| 1941 |
106047 |
|
| 1942 |
143509 |
202026 |
| 1943 |
230878 |
|
| 1944 |
269561 |
|
| 1945 |
302459 |
|
| 1946 |
367946 |
387216 |
| 1947 |
529163 |
|
| 1948 |
628840 |
|
| 1949 |
|
|
| 1950 |
|
|
| 1951 |
709249 |
710776 |
| 1952 |
726639 |
840396 |
| 1953 |
793930 |
973830 |
| 1954 |
976195 |
43325* |
| 1955 |
|
1297** |
| 1956 |
139400 |
217821 |
| 1957 |
216821 |
358*** |
| 1958 |
353343 |
426510 |
| 1959 |
399*** |
502683 |
| 1960 |
511687 |
642993 |
| 1961 |
6469** |
702*** |
| 1962 |
763663 |
894*** |
| 1963 |
95**** |
1021800 |
| 1964 |
997436 |
1195238 |
| 1965 |
1193*** |
1259699 |
| 1966 |
1289727 |
1557*** |
| 1967 |
1554*** |
186**** |
| 1968 |
1720977 |
2477152 |
| 1969 |
2060*** |
22927** |
| 1970 |
2504211 |
2959*** |
| 1971 |
2728*** |
3037*** |
| 1972 |
305**** |
3478400 |
| 1973 |
3523678 |
3741300 |
| 1974 |
3761535 |
4194183 |
| 1975 |
3886050 |
4267100 |
| 1976 |
4155863 |
4538000 |
| 1977 |
5008000 |
5367817 |
| 1978 |
5238376 |
5737030 |
| 1979 |
5952834 |
6122790 |
| 1980 |
6434000 |
|
| 1981 |
6594*** |
6910000 |
| 1982 |
7129351 |
7437845 |
| 1983 |
7862000 |
8085072 |
| 1984 |
8338000 |
|
| 1985 |
8624000 |
8734*** |
| 1986 |
9290000 |
9764478 |
| 1987 |
9863279 |
|
After 1987, a system with a LETTER in front of six numbers was introduced:
| Year |
Letter |
| 1987 |
R |
| 1988 |
L |
| 1990 |
E |
| 1991 |
X |
| 1991 (Nov) |
N |
| 1992 |
C |
| 1993 |
S |
| 1995 |
W |
| 1996 |
T |
| 1997 (Aug) |
U |
| 1998 (Nov) |
A |
| 2000 (Jan) |
P |
| 2001 (Sep) |
K |
| 2002 (Sep) |
Y |
| 2003 (Sep) |
F |
| 2005 (Apr) |
D |
| 2006 (May) |
Z |
| 2007 (Aug) |
M |
| 2008 (Aug) |
V |
| 2010 (July) |
G |
UPDATED: July 28, 2010 - G serial for 2010
As stated, a change to the serial number system came in mid January 2010. Now, the numbers do not run from 000000 to 999999 anymore but are made totally at random. Furthermore, there can be two letters in the serial number.
Consequence of this change is that collectors can now no more "date" new Rolex watches since only Rolex has records of the new serial numbers.
Whereas one would initially think that counterfeiters would now have a hard time since there are now not be any lists over serial numbers that can be misused, the fact that the random serial numbers are only known to Rolex offers a new chance for forgerers. They can now just "make up" any number and laser etch that number onto the fake cases. This calls for more frequent checking back with Rolex Service Centers (or Rolex headquarters in Geneva) to verify serial numbers BEFORE buying a new Rolex.
A Little Rolex Air King History
The
Rolex Air King is a perennial favorite in the Rolex line, and has always been a handsome watch at an even more handsome price. What is not so well known is its history and how it first came about. It’s an interesting story and bears repeating here at the
Time and Gems Blog.
Rolex was a popular watch among pilots in England in the 1930s and was the watch among British RAF pilots, the heroic “Few” that Churchill immortalized during the Battle of Britain in 1940. They appreciated the tough, accurate watches with the burgeoning Rolex reputation for durability and water resistance. After World War II, the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf, recalled the favor Rolex had been shown by the British pilots. According to eminent Rolex historian James Dowling, it was then that Wilsdorf introduced the first
Rolex watches with high-flying names: names like the Air Tiger, Air Lion, Air Giant and the Air King. These were all initially hand-wound watches featuring the classic 10.5 ligne hunter movement. In later years after the other models were dropped from the line, the Air King was upgraded to an Oyster Perpetual or automatic movement.
So when you’re wearing a Rolex Air King, you’re carrying on a proud tradition. It’s a tradition that recalls the dark days of 1940 when England stood alone against the forces of darkness in Hitler’s Nazi Germany. On August 16, 1940 Winston Churchill visited RAF 11 Group’s operations room during the height of the battle. Listening to the sounds of the bitter battle on the radio and viewing it overhead in the skies above, he could only say: “Don’t speak to me. I have never been so moved.” A few minutes later he looked up and spoke the immortal words, “Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.” That’s what the Air King recalls, in a very special way. It’s history on your wrist.
