Love that airking! I reckon it's now time to send it to Rolex for a full service and would also recommend their case and bracelet re-finishing. Like most watch nerds was always anti polishing but just got my sub back from the Rolex spa and I'm so impressed with how sharp it is.
As much as I've invested in relatively expensive Swiss automatic watches in the past, as enjoyable as they are, I've recently realized that for me affordable solar quartz watches are the easiest to manage, no hassle. Love your channel, please continue to make great videos, always thumbs up, cheers from Japan
I’ve just bought one of these for my wife. It’s from 1995, is running a little fast but other than that seems in good shape. What’s the timescale when sending to Rolex for service? Also, what kind of price do you think I’ll be looking at?
@@RustyLongPipe Price will depend on what needs to be replaced/fixed, they'll give you an estimate before they start working on it. Budget $500-$1000. Time wise expect about 1-2 months.
HI. This is an interesting experience getting the real watch on the cheap and then spent time and money to have it fixed. The watch looks great on your wrist anyway so I believe you think it's worth all the while. I bought an Air King 14000 Black Dial from an AD back in 1997 in Hong Kong. (exactly the same model in this video). Got it serviced once when I found it didn't wind up very well. The local Rolex service center replaced a spring, oiled the movement and sent back to me just like brand new. I think they charged my HK$500 for the workmanship. Until now I am still wearing it day in day out. Just sharing.
I purchased my 1984 Air King Date off Ebay about five years ago BIN for £1500 (with box and papers). It was running five minutes slow per day even though the auction description stated it was working properly. I took it to an authorised Rolex repairman and paid £385 for the service. Apparently quite a few parts needed replacing, including the acrylic crystal. It has been on my wrist every day since and I must say I'm really happy with it.
Four years later end it's still going strong having been worn every day. The current prices on eBay are about twice what I paid, so it has not lost any value taking inflation into account. It has cost me about £1.25/day to own so far. If I sold it tomorrow, it would be the cheapest watch I have ever owned!
Spending dollars to save pennies isn’t the way to go! Send it to Rolex. They don’t supply oem parts to watchmakers anymore. Your guy probably put random parts in it. This story is a bummer but your honesty is refreshing. Best of luck man 👍🏼
My old Timex also keeps perfect time, the hands dont move, nailing 7:32pm for years whilst my Swiss watch have these hands that move around a lot, showing me a different time every second, useless.
Those old bracelets are ugh but the clasps are just awful. I’ve replaced every preceramic with newer Rolex. Some people just love vintage and some of us hate it.
Bought a 1983 seiko 7123 quartz that was broken, absolutely loved the orange candied dial and smaller size. Blew a good chunk of money to get it going again. 2 years later and I’m still enjoying it. That’s all that matters.
I just picked up my 1996 air king 14000 with the silver dial for about $2050. I was hesitant at first thinking it might be too small but I think the dimensions are great as the bracelet tapers a bit. Sorry to hear about your experience but at the end of the day you still got a fantastic watch that you can wear daily and not stress too much about. I wear this one for almost any occasions followed by my 39mm Explorer and the watch I baby is the HULK which I really should wear more often, but being it's the most recent purchase.
I own a white face Air-King of this model,and at first I thought it was a wee bit too small for me...but once I got used to it...I LOVE it as my daily wear watch. I had scared wrist syndrome with my Submariner,and hardly ever wore it...then I thought..."Why did I buy it? Just to sit in a box,and look at it from time to time?" Now I rotate the two watches weekly. GREAT VIDEO!
*I know how you feel. BEEN THERE... DONE THAT!!!* *Greatly SIMPLIFIED MY LIFE and my relationships.* *I just wear a simple analog TIMEX... and my SUPER DUPER SOLAR G-SHOCK.... (also love my first generation Seiko Black Monster Diver...)* *Life is too short, to be overly concerned with watches...* *However, as evidenced by my visit to your EXCELLENT CHANNEL, old habits die hard... 😂😂😂LOL*
I have the new Air-king. It's a pretty watch but it's not worth the money. Still, it's better value than the Hulk, Batman, Daytona, at premium price. As for the 2000++ for vintage hi-beat, you can get the real 36,000 hi-beat, fully serviced and functional, and you can get 5 of them and more - GS 6146 8000 ( $600), KS 4502 7000 ($430), Lord Marvel 60M gold linen ($240) Lord Marvel 60M Silver linen ($240), Queen Seiko 1944 ($100). With the balance, you can get a 28,800 hi-beat presmatic 5146 5011 ($200) and low beat 35 jewels Sportsmatic 6128 8950 ($150). In all you can get 7 great watches for the money you paid. If you have been collecting watches, you would have watch makers' friends who have seen and serviced these watches, and they would be able to tell you that even the Sportsmatic has a more high class mechanism than the Air-king, and the finishing of the indices and hands are comparable to the GS.
Buying my first Rolex tomorrow and will be here by Wed. A black dial explorer ii from 05 it's near mint and couldn't pass up the deal. Stoked about it's the classic 40 mm size to .
Strongly advise getting it serviced now. When an auto stops winding outside of hand winding it is only a matter of time before the hand winding stops working too.
Thanks for the video! Reminds me of what they say, "There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Porsche." (or boat, airplane, house, and now Rolex)! I've tried to keep that in mind after my similar experience owning a used boat. It's so easy to get drawn in to a "good deal" on an expensive item.
I agree with you on not taking it too seriously and still enjoy the watch. I have a hand me down 70s Omega Constellation. I've had it serviced twice and it runs reasonably well, but the power reserve is no where near what it should be...with that said, it is still a joy to own.
For those who love the look of this watch but don’t have the budget to support purchasing it, there are several Seiko 5 models with a very similar look (SNXS, SNX, etc). Can be had for around $100 and have similar dimensions. They look great.
Getting my Air King, purchased 19 year ago, serviced by Rolex this week. Never had any problem until this past weekend and was instructed at time of purchase by Ben Bridge (sales person) not to service or have the case opened until it stops working. Rolex takes pride in its product and services, whereas independent watch makers take pride in return customers. Always send a Rolex to Rolex for servicing. Just my thoughts
Thanks for a great video! I’m about to buy my first vintage watch, and this one is 70 years old! This very well could be adventure, though I’m hoping it works OK. You’re great attitude about this is the most important part. 👍
If the watch runs much too fast, it is the hairspring whose windings stick together. This was caused a hundred years ago by magnetism, but never on a modern watch from the 70 latest years. The reason is a very tiny excess of oil on hairspring, making the turns sticking together. The hairspring just needs to be cleaned carefully, sometimes ten times in a row, until it's completely oil-free.
I like old watches; I don't go for the expensive ones though. I have a Certina Certidate circa 1962, just 4 sec slow a day. And a Seiko Skyliner (1968), less accurate at 20 seconds off per day. Smaller cases at around 34 and 36 mm respectively. Well maintained, in my watch rotation. I'm very pleased with them.
Hey mate. Just started watching this video. Before I completely watch it to the end, I wanted to give you one tip from a videographer perspective. If that is OK. The lighting is pretty contrasty in the shot in which we can see you. A simple and cost effective solution is some white cardboard or plate of Styrofoam to give a bit of light fill from the bottom. That way the shadows underneath your eyes aren't that deep. It's a really cost efficient and easy way to get a shot slightly better. OK now I will continue watching the video. 😉
Good Video Andrew. Yeah they can be finicky sometimes , like any other mechanical device of that age hopefully it gets ironed out soon and then its pure enjoyment. Its a beauty of a piece
New to your channel.I watch no pun alot but love the honesty and reality of this video.Had similar issues with a very old Seiko recently.Never ever again! Luckily I don't take myself too seriously .Good stuff ,cheers,Len.
Great video and good lessons for collectors. I like that Air King reference. Have you considered a Seiko SARB033? A close comparison video would get a lot of clicks. Both have sapphire crystal, both have black dials. The SARB has solid end links, signed crown, and milled steel clasp extensions. Cheers.
It is a really nice watch after all. The only 20 year old watch that I have is a Rado DiaStar (I know what a great comparison) but still, I treasure it because of the memories. When I buy watches though I usually go with new ones so that I can be sure that all is well. I salute you for takeing the risk.
I love these older Air-Kings. And I just hate what Rolex have done with the current model (i.e. the one with the clunky oversized case and the messed up dial.) I hope they'll go back to the classic minimalist approach sooner rather than later!
About a year ago I got my 34mm Date factory Rolex serviced which I purchased new in the 90's. It was returned like new (except patina on dial) for $1100. Rarely will it gain or lose more than 30 seconds in a month (that's when it gets magnetized somehow) and one month it was absolutely perfect not gain or lose one second. Keeping for life than pass down to family.
Rather pricey for a crystal, gears and mainspring. I wonder why it was so damaged internally on the movement. After the service a demangnetise is not a big issue to resolve. It could have also been a sticky hairspring. Again not a big issue to resolve. I feel you just had a bit of bad luck. By all means send it to Rolex but the turn around time will be many months before you see your watch back. Good luck in the future though. Enjoying your stories😀
I didn't listen to the whole story but it seems you bought a cheap watch on ebay, sent it to a non authorized repairer and it doesn't work very well....two very important lessons right there my friend!
Been there as well. Love the design of the watch. I bought a Date new way back which I think is 34mm. Might be small by today's standard but still love to ware it.
I had a similar experience with my Omega Seamaster 2531.80. Bought it used and it was perfect for a year until it wouldn't run. Had it serviced (not by Omega) and all was well for a bit. Now it doesn't seem to wind very well when wearing it. Manual wind works just fine though. Which means if I dont wind it by the crown the power reserve is only like 24 hours after wearing it for 10 hours during the day.
I love vintage watch but I never meet a vintage collector who don't have sad stories to tell... I always tell them to go for re issue, recrafted etc. As long as you will keep buying old Rolexes the new Rolexes will keep rising in prices, because people will be still buying them cause of their resell value and we all know they make more then a fair profit already. Secondly it's never a good idea for using vintage Mercedes for buying grocery and dropping kids to school. You collect them and keep them safe and buy some other affordable NEW car for every day use. There is alot more to it in my opinion. You make great videos and this video tells me alot about you as you discussed your experience and how you feel, usually it's all about products that's why I am commenting for the first time on your channel. You are a cool guy And it's just my opinion I am not offended with others opinion and I am sorry if I make you feel that
We've all tried to save some money (which is a good thing) and had it go pear shaped. It happens sometimes, but a lot of times it works. (and it evens out in the long run) Enjoy your watch!
I had a similar problem with an Air-King here in the UK. Spent bad money after good. That's why I now wear my peerless IWC Flieger Chrono - a perfect runner with no probs at all.
Thanks for your honest tale of getting this watch, and sorry you’ve had the hassles along the way. For me, watches at this price level just aren’t worth it, regardless of brand. Too expensive to begin with and too expensive to look after. But each to their own of course. Hope you get yours properly sorted soon so you can then enjoy it for years to come.
You bent or broke the isolating shaft. A knock will do that every time. I just had my 1993 date just serviced for the first time with no issues. Had full service and pins replaced on the jubilee band. Come out perfect for 350 and got back in 2 weeks. Good video.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm looking forward to finally buying my first Rolex and needed something like this to ground my expectations. Hope I don't get a dog, even from a reputable dealer.
I got a previously owned submariner for High school graduation..it had issues & the local AD Rolex dealer ( Dallas) wanted $100. to fix it ( a lot$$ in 1969) so i returned it & got a Hamilton diver which i wore for decades .still wish i had the Rolex repaired
No horror story for me. I dug out my rarely worn, 25 year old, GMT II. I decided to get it serviced. Flew to LAX and dropped it at the Service Center and four weeks later I picked it up. They replaced the crystal, insert, crown, and gave light polish. Looks like new and runs perfect with a two year warranty. It was a great experience. Thanks for your honest review.
Thanks for sharing the story of your Rolex, Andrew. I was somewhat surprised to learn that you’d bought it on eBay. Given that Rolex is one of the most counterfeited brands, I would be wary of purchasing a Rolex from an online source. Is there a good way to authenticate a Rolex from afar?
It's definitely a risk but I was confident having previously owned this watch to be able find an authentic example. there's lots of great research distinguishing authentics from fakes online too. Cheers!
Thanks- lesson for me is to stay within my budget... yes, I’ll buy used to stretch that budget, but “new used”. But will stay away from more vintage pieces ( Except a birth year Timex)
never buy a used Rolex that needs work right off the bat. you never save any money trying to fix it yourself. in most cases it costs more than what you expected if you don't personally know a reputable watchmaker that's trustworthy.....you better send it to Rolex for service and get it done right there's a LOT of slimey vintage watch dealers and rip offs. be careful!!! I've seen them all. from guys switching parts, using wrong parts, selling the parts separately for more money, using non OEM Rolex parts, watchmakers that claim to be qualified but aren't if possible buy the watch from someone you personally know and trust, that has a full service record of the watch. never take someone's word for anything. there's too many dishonest people I don't trust anyone!! send it to Rolex just for the peace of mind that it's done right, with genuine Rolex parts and a one year guarantee. they'll replace any non Rolex parts with the original parts......if your watch is full of non Rolex parts they won't work on it unless you authorize them to put the watch back to factory original condition. they won't give you back any parts neither
Several years ago in Hong Kong, a Rolex owner took his Roles to an AD for servicing. After he got the watch back he noticed something not right. It was not keeping time properly. He was not comfortable with the people there again, so he sent the watch to the factory for better servicing. To his astonishment, the factory told him there were a few parts inside the watch that was not in the manufacturer's parts list. That brought embarrassment to both the factory and the service center in Hong Kong. Forgot how that story ended.
Nice to hear all that you went through. It is unfortunate that it was not fixed the first time but you gambled and you lost. Sometimes you gamble and you win. It is only money though. They way I see it is that there is a cost in terms of time that I am willing to pay to avoid going back and forth with servicing issues but if you are patient than it is worth saving the money. There is a balance and it is cool that you figured out the market in a way. Lots of people do not and simply just buy a new one with a warranty and deal with the dealer when things go wrong. Hopefully the watch is not cursed and gives you more trouble in the future. I must say it looks classic and timeless on your wrist and lots of people that are not into watches would think it is a new Rolex anyways.
This is good to know. I just started becoming enamored with mechanical watches via a fascination with classic clothing style. I know a bunch of mistakes are ahead of me. Videos like these can help those who are new to the culture.
Great titling on this one, keying off the “I bought the cheapest .... on wherever” meme. It is also great story, reminding everyone that every now and then even a well considered , well thought out decision might not be correct. Thanks for sharing.
This makes me think that Rolex isn't all that good quality, my grandpa's watch is over 50 years old and still works fine probably never serviced as well
It's just as well that you took the approach you did. Full-priced Rolexes are crap too. The only one I ever owned that I actually wanted to keep is a manual winding Precision model from the 1960s that I got for $1000 less than you paid, although there were no problems. Well, none other than the fact that it's a damn Rolex.
Well, I don't mean crap, exactly, and sorry if I offended anybody who actually likes Rolexes. I meant mass produced and not dramatically better from the perspective of initial quality or durability than any number of other marques. I'm glad I still have the manual winding one, but it needs a new acrylic crystal, as it is now pretty smashed up from wearing it so much, everything I wrote about it being "a damn Rolex" notwithstanding.
The only thing I would have changed from your course is I would have de-magnetized it myself. It is easy to do and risk free. Good luck getting it squared away.
Best compromise is to pay extra for a vintage model that's been freshly serviced. I did this with my birth-year Seiko Turtle (if you want vintage horror stories, dip into vintage Seiko. Countless junkers, out of production parts, and 2-3 people ON EARTH who are specialized in servicing)
I have a vintage Tudor where the rotor is held with these crazy little clips and they came loose. It also ended up needing a new case clamp. I bought it from an independent watch shop as restored with a warranty so I didn't pay a penny more for any of the fixes.
Thanks for the info. Ebay is just getting lucky. I bought a old 1960's era oyster perpetual (1005 model) on ebay in 2007 for $1650 winning bid. It was basic with an after market leather band but, has the fluted gold bezel and crown. It runs great no problem, even though the service history is unknown. However it has the acrylic crystal. The crystal was perfect when I bought it but, it now has a few very faint scratches. I guess when you wear a watch sometimes that happens. I would like to have the crystal upgraded to the sapphire type.
Interesting. I've had good experience with crown and caliber. A bit more expensive but warrantied, still reasonable prices, and no issues. The used speedy on my wrist has been issue free since purchased more than a year ago
Great video Andrew ! But it sounds like you simply hit it to hard and the rotor screw came loose. This can happen at any point of a watch’s life, most likely after the 2nd service it was in perfect order. I but it sounds like you’ve been winding it and wearing it and it’s running fine witch makes me assume it’s the screw in the rotor. If you continue to wear it the screw is loose and can scratch up your movement and cause other issues, I recommend taking it to get opened and checked even just by your local watchmaker just the find out. This is just an educated guess I would love to see an update video!
You had just bad luck with your Airking. In 2013 I bought a 2002/03 Rolex Sub Date 16610 full set for 4065 Euros in great condition. Never had any trouble with it. It still runs great. In 2014 I bought a 1975 Rolex Day-Date 1803 with president bracelet (hidden clasp) with box for 5400 Euros. Never had any problems with that watch. The same year I also bought a 1978 made Rolex Datejust 1601 with two tone Jubilee bracelet and 1570 movement for 1825 Euros. Also no problems with that watch. I bought all these watches on ebay. You had just bad luck I guess.
A magnetized watch is not unusual and easy to correct with a cheap demagnetizer. Winding manually an automatic watch every three days or so is also not unusual according to most sources online. In fact giving it a boost wind from time to time tightens the mainspring and leads to greater accuracy especially if you're not that active.
I would 9/10 always take the watch to the manufacture to get serviced, at least then your have peace of mind that watch has been serviced with correct parts by someone who was trained to work on that specific brand it’s just not worth the risk to save a bit of money. I would prefer to buy a 15 year old watch with that has never been serviced, than one that’s been serviced by some random watchmaker I have never met.
@555 Gear Have you opened it up? I’ve had a couple watches with the same problem. I opened the back and found the loud rotor, was just a loose rotor. A couple times it worked and a couple times it didn’t, but I found most of the time the screw holding the rotor was just loose... I tightened it back up and good to go. Just a thought Good luck
I got my airking last year for 2800 euro and it has the more desirable pearl gold sunburst dail. It was freshly serviced from a reputable German watch maker and it runs perfectly one year later. You need a watchmaker that has the right tools and accurately can measure it's time keeping, that person you had obviously doesn't have the right tools. Make sure you buy a Rolex from a proper watch maker.
I have been searching for a Rolex off and on for years now, but have yet to pull the trigger on anything. Also, not sure about 36 mm or smaller watches. Lastly, I have not had to send in any of my watches for service yet, so have not had the pleasure of experiencing that.
![[Watch Party] RoV Pro League 2024 Winter | with Moowan ( Bacon Time Vs Talon )](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CCEDhu6dPN8/mqdefault.jpg)
Gave a thumbs-up and subscribed because of this honest purchase
Thank you!
Same!
Love that airking! I reckon it's now time to send it to Rolex for a full service and would also recommend their case and bracelet re-finishing. Like most watch nerds was always anti polishing but just got my sub back from the Rolex spa and I'm so impressed with how sharp it is.
Sounds good Kev, thanks for stopping by!
As much as I've invested in relatively expensive Swiss automatic watches in the past, as enjoyable as they are, I've recently realized that for me affordable solar quartz watches are the easiest to manage, no hassle. Love your channel, please continue to make great videos, always thumbs up, cheers from Japan
TLDW: get your Rolex serviced by Rolex. They will issue a new two year warranty on watches serviced by them.
Yep
Cost but worth it.
I’ve just bought one of these for my wife. It’s from 1995, is running a little fast but other than that seems in good shape. What’s the timescale when sending to Rolex for service? Also, what kind of price do you think I’ll be looking at?
@@RustyLongPipe Price will depend on what needs to be replaced/fixed, they'll give you an estimate before they start working on it. Budget $500-$1000. Time wise expect about 1-2 months.
Where in the hell did you find a 98 air king for 1600$
They're everywhere, I saw one go for 1,300 once
Not on ebay...
Following
If you keep an eye out and bid low on some ebay rolex, can get a deal.
There all north of 3k
Hey guys had to repost this after 20 minutes of being live when I realized that I had first posted an unedited version of this accidentally. LOL.
(No offense intended.) Your well told story reminds me of CarTalk's Tom
Magliozzi line, "it's the stingiest man who pays the most."
HI. This is an interesting experience getting the real watch on the cheap and then spent time and money to have it fixed. The watch looks great on your wrist anyway so I believe you think it's worth all the while.
I bought an Air King 14000 Black Dial from an AD back in 1997 in Hong Kong. (exactly the same model in this video). Got it serviced once when I found it didn't wind up very well. The local Rolex service center replaced a spring, oiled the movement and sent back to me just like brand new. I think they charged my HK$500 for the workmanship. Until now I am still wearing it day in day out.
Just sharing.
I purchased my 1984 Air King Date off Ebay about five years ago BIN for £1500 (with box and papers). It was running five minutes slow per day even though the auction description stated it was working properly. I took it to an authorised Rolex repairman and paid £385 for the service. Apparently quite a few parts needed replacing, including the acrylic crystal. It has been on my wrist every day since and I must say I'm really happy with it.
Four years later end it's still going strong having been worn every day. The current prices on eBay are about twice what I paid, so it has not lost any value taking inflation into account. It has cost me about £1.25/day to own so far. If I sold it tomorrow, it would be the cheapest watch I have ever owned!
Spending dollars to save pennies isn’t the way to go! Send it to Rolex. They don’t supply oem parts to watchmakers anymore. Your guy probably put random parts in it. This story is a bummer but your honesty is refreshing. Best of luck man 👍🏼
I have Seiko automatics from the 70's and 80's that have never been serviced and still keep perfect time. Go figure....
Wich one
My old Timex also keeps perfect time, the hands dont move, nailing 7:32pm for years whilst my Swiss watch have these hands that move around a lot, showing me a different time every second, useless.
No automatic watch keeps perfect time. Even modern Seiko automatics lose/gain at least 5 -6 seconds a day.
J A C C not true. If you regulate them they can be very accurate. My automatic seiko is at less than 1 sec per day.
James Franko my statement is true. Yours does not keep perfect time and I was describing the general rule not if you regulate them. But interesting.
2024, just bought my first Rolex I was dreaming about many years. It is Air Kim 5500 from 1973 (for 2500$) and it works VERY well. Love it! ❤
Old school Rolex bracelets are... yeah
Maybe a fourth category for you after ugly?
Nick Shabazz I like em because you can beat them up with out felling bad
I wanted a pre ceramic sub until I tried one on. Then ehhhh.... bracelet sucks. I think I’ll save my pennies for a modern sub.
Josef Young same thing with a middle aged hooker, amiright?
Those old bracelets are ugh but the clasps are just awful. I’ve replaced every preceramic with newer Rolex. Some people just love vintage and some of us hate it.
Great, honest information. Anyone looking at pre owned Rolex and other high end watches should view this. Thank you for sharing.
same problems with my Oyster... oiling by myself and a bit of playin with regulator- it runs smoothly. good luck and enjoy
Bought a 1983 seiko 7123 quartz that was broken, absolutely loved the orange candied dial and smaller size. Blew a good chunk of money to get it going again. 2 years later and I’m still enjoying it. That’s all that matters.
Thumbs up. Appreciate the honesty. This video gives you a great idea of what to expect when you get an old or vintage watch.
I just picked up my 1996 air king 14000 with the silver dial for about $2050. I was hesitant at first thinking it might be too small but I think the dimensions are great as the bracelet tapers a bit. Sorry to hear about your experience but at the end of the day you still got a fantastic watch that you can wear daily and not stress too much about. I wear this one for almost any occasions followed by my 39mm Explorer and the watch I baby is the HULK which I really should wear more often, but being it's the most recent purchase.
I own a white face Air-King of this model,and at first I thought it was a wee bit too small for me...but once I got used to it...I LOVE it as my daily wear watch. I had scared wrist syndrome with my Submariner,and hardly ever wore it...then I thought..."Why did I buy it? Just to sit in a box,and look at it from time to time?" Now I rotate the two watches weekly. GREAT VIDEO!
*I know how you feel. BEEN THERE... DONE THAT!!!*
*Greatly SIMPLIFIED MY LIFE and my relationships.*
*I just wear a simple analog TIMEX... and my SUPER DUPER SOLAR G-SHOCK.... (also love my first generation Seiko Black Monster Diver...)*
*Life is too short, to be overly concerned with watches...*
*However, as evidenced by my visit to your EXCELLENT CHANNEL, old habits die hard... 😂😂😂LOL*
I have the new Air-king. It's a pretty watch but it's not worth the money. Still, it's better value than the Hulk, Batman, Daytona, at premium price.
As for the 2000++ for vintage hi-beat, you can get the real 36,000 hi-beat, fully serviced and functional, and you can get 5 of them and more -
GS 6146 8000 ( $600), KS 4502 7000 ($430), Lord Marvel 60M gold linen ($240) Lord Marvel 60M Silver linen ($240), Queen Seiko 1944
($100). With the balance, you can get a 28,800 hi-beat presmatic 5146 5011 ($200) and low beat 35 jewels Sportsmatic 6128 8950 ($150).
In all you can get 7 great watches for the money you paid. If you have been collecting watches, you would have watch makers' friends who
have seen and serviced these watches, and they would be able to tell you that even the Sportsmatic has a more high class mechanism than
the Air-king, and the finishing of the indices and hands are comparable to the GS.
Life's too short to write TH-cam comments as long as yours.
And I thought this video would never end. But then of course, stories never end.
nice comments:)
@@canonyeo4286 in what way possibly is it better value
Buying my first Rolex tomorrow and will be here by Wed. A black dial explorer ii from 05 it's near mint and couldn't pass up the deal. Stoked about it's the classic 40 mm size to .
That's a great watch hope it works out for you!
Strongly advise getting it serviced now. When an auto stops winding outside of hand winding it is only a matter of time before the hand winding stops working too.
This illustrate how powerful branding is, if it was any other brand you would have sold it ages ago....
Thanks for the video! Reminds me of what they say, "There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Porsche." (or boat, airplane, house, and now Rolex)! I've tried to keep that in mind after my similar experience owning a used boat. It's so easy to get drawn in to a "good deal" on an expensive item.
Great video, shame you had issues. Love the setting, reminds me of a lovely home I stayed in a few weeks ago in Wiscasset, ME.
I agree with you on not taking it too seriously and still enjoy the watch. I have a hand me down 70s Omega Constellation. I've had it serviced twice and it runs reasonably well, but the power reserve is no where near what it should be...with that said, it is still a joy to own.
Love my Connie!
Very pretty watch for an every day watch. I had a white face air king with Roman numeral hands. After I sold,my explorer 2.
Great honest video 😊👍
5:07 before the first problem is discussed. fast forward.
For those who love the look of this watch but don’t have the budget to support purchasing it, there are several Seiko 5 models with a very similar look (SNXS, SNX, etc). Can be had for around $100 and have similar dimensions. They look great.
Getting my Air King, purchased 19 year ago, serviced by Rolex this week. Never had any problem until this past weekend and was instructed at time of purchase by Ben Bridge (sales person) not to service or have the case opened until it stops working. Rolex takes pride in its product and services, whereas independent watch makers take pride in return customers. Always send a Rolex to Rolex for servicing. Just my thoughts
How did the service experience go?
Thanks for a great video! I’m about to buy my first vintage watch, and this one is 70 years old! This very well could be adventure, though I’m hoping it works OK. You’re great attitude about this is the most important part. 👍
Cool, what watch are you about to get?
555 Gear
I’m seriously considering a Omega 1947 (my birth year) caliber 28.10 RA SC in very nice condition.
If the watch runs much too fast, it is the hairspring whose windings stick together. This was caused a hundred years ago by magnetism, but never on a modern watch from the 70 latest years. The reason is a very tiny excess of oil on hairspring, making the turns sticking together. The hairspring just needs to be cleaned carefully, sometimes ten times in a row, until it's completely oil-free.
I like old watches; I don't go for the expensive ones though. I have a Certina Certidate circa 1962, just 4 sec slow a day. And a Seiko Skyliner (1968), less accurate at 20 seconds off per day. Smaller cases at around 34 and 36 mm respectively. Well maintained, in my watch rotation. I'm very pleased with them.
Now you make me searching for 20 year old Air Kings with a black dial... 😉
Still wearing my Oyster Perpetual Chronometer grade from 1977. It is a time only model that I have had since my navy days. It still runs within specs.
Hey mate.
Just started watching this video. Before I completely watch it to the end, I wanted to give you one tip from a videographer perspective. If that is OK.
The lighting is pretty contrasty in the shot in which we can see you. A simple and cost effective solution is some white cardboard or plate of Styrofoam to give a bit of light fill from the bottom. That way the shadows underneath your eyes aren't that deep. It's a really cost efficient and easy way to get a shot slightly better.
OK now I will continue watching the video. 😉
Hey Bo sorry I knew this would kill the videographer types. Sometimes you just need to hit record.
@@555Gear no worries. I know that feeling to just want to hit record. Keep up the good work
Bo Ismono ditto!!
Good Video Andrew. Yeah they can be finicky sometimes , like any other mechanical device of that age hopefully it gets ironed out soon and then its pure enjoyment. Its a beauty of a piece
New to your channel.I watch no pun alot but love the honesty and reality of this video.Had similar issues with a very old Seiko recently.Never ever again! Luckily I don't take myself too seriously .Good stuff ,cheers,Len.
Welcome!
Timex...15 dollars...Wal-Mart
I wear it fearlessly! 😆
Nothing wrong with rocking a Casio brother. They have a watch called the Duo which is an AMAZING watch for 50 bucks
Great video and good lessons for collectors. I like that Air King reference. Have you considered a Seiko SARB033? A close comparison video would get a lot of clicks. Both have sapphire crystal, both have black dials. The SARB has solid end links, signed crown, and milled steel clasp extensions. Cheers.
Thanks, I have an Alpinist whenever I want a Seiko itch. SARB is a nice watch though
Nah, that sarb is a lot bigger and flashier that this airking, but a similar seiko 5 would be a much closer replacement
Cool video!i have the same watch!one year ago I was divided between this and the Tudor bb36..and your instagram posts helped a lot in the decision
Glad to help you Matteo
I just got my 34mm oyster perpetual in green and I love it
Enjoy!
The worst color
That's a lady watch
Shitter!!!
I think it’s a beautiful watch. I love the green dial.
It is a really nice watch after all. The only 20 year old watch that I have is a Rado DiaStar (I know what a great comparison) but still, I treasure it because of the memories. When I buy watches though I usually go with new ones so that I can be sure that all is well. I salute you for takeing the risk.
Thanks for your salutation!
Really appreciate you sharing the lessons learned on this one!
Your comment about giving me the inside scoop definitely stuck in my mind, thanks for stopping by Auston! Cheers, Andrew
I love these older Air-Kings. And I just hate what Rolex have done with the current model (i.e. the one with the clunky oversized case and the messed up dial.) I hope they'll go back to the classic minimalist approach sooner rather than later!
About a year ago I got my 34mm Date factory Rolex serviced which I purchased new in the 90's. It was returned like new (except patina on dial) for $1100. Rarely will it gain or lose more than 30 seconds in a month (that's when it gets magnetized somehow) and one month it was absolutely perfect not gain or lose one second. Keeping for life than pass down to family.
Good honest watch forum on advise on buying, your intent was was good & in the long run you will have life long buddy on your wrist. Thanx. P.S. T .
Rather pricey for a crystal, gears and mainspring. I wonder why it was so damaged internally on the movement. After the service a demangnetise is not a big issue to resolve. It could have also been a sticky hairspring. Again not a big issue to resolve. I feel you just had a bit of bad luck. By all means send it to Rolex but the turn around time will be many months before you see your watch back. Good luck in the future though. Enjoying your stories😀
I didn't listen to the whole story but it seems you bought a cheap watch on ebay, sent it to a non authorized repairer and it doesn't work very well....two very important lessons right there my friend!
Been there as well. Love the design of the watch. I bought a Date new way back which I think is 34mm. Might be small by today's standard but still love to ware it.
Ron Sparks I have a date 1500 34mm from 1974 and its my favourite watch. Modern Rolex are just too big and bulky
I had a similar experience with my Omega Seamaster 2531.80. Bought it used and it was perfect for a year until it wouldn't run. Had it serviced (not by Omega) and all was well for a bit. Now it doesn't seem to wind very well when wearing it. Manual wind works just fine though. Which means if I dont wind it by the crown the power reserve is only like 24 hours after wearing it for 10 hours during the day.
I think these kind of stories are more common than we realize, thanks for commenting
I love vintage watch but I never meet a vintage collector who don't have sad stories to tell... I always tell them to go for re issue, recrafted etc. As long as you will keep buying old Rolexes the new Rolexes will keep rising in prices, because people will be still buying them cause of their resell value and we all know they make more then a fair profit already. Secondly it's never a good idea for using vintage Mercedes for buying grocery and dropping kids to school. You collect them and keep them safe and buy some other affordable NEW car for every day use. There is alot more to it in my opinion. You make great videos and this video tells me alot about you as you discussed your experience and how you feel, usually it's all about products that's why I am commenting for the first time on your channel. You are a cool guy
And it's just my opinion I am not offended with others opinion and I am sorry if I make you feel that
My experience is well with vintage collectors, interesting
We've all tried to save some money (which is a good thing) and had it go pear shaped. It happens sometimes, but a lot of times it works. (and it evens out in the long run) Enjoy your watch!
I had a similar problem with an Air-King here in the UK. Spent bad money after good. That's why I now wear my peerless IWC Flieger Chrono - a perfect runner with no probs at all.
Thanks for your honest tale of getting this watch, and sorry you’ve had the hassles along the way. For me, watches at this price level just aren’t worth it, regardless of brand. Too expensive to begin with and too expensive to look after. But each to their own of course. Hope you get yours properly sorted soon so you can then enjoy it for years to come.
You are welcome, thanks for watching!
Beautiful watch. And now in 2024 this watch is worth triple the price you got it for
Think I will stick with my Seiko and Citizen watches... mkay.
You bent or broke the isolating shaft. A knock will do that every time. I just had my 1993 date just serviced for the first time with no issues. Had full service and pins replaced on the jubilee band. Come out perfect for 350 and got back in 2 weeks. Good video.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm looking forward to finally buying my first Rolex and needed something like this to ground my expectations. Hope I don't get a dog, even from a reputable dealer.
I got a previously owned submariner for High school graduation..it had issues & the local AD Rolex dealer ( Dallas) wanted $100. to fix it ( a lot$$ in 1969) so i returned it & got a Hamilton diver which i wore for decades
.still wish i had the Rolex repaired
This watch is now priceless to you.
No horror story for me. I dug out my rarely worn, 25 year old, GMT II. I decided to get it serviced. Flew to LAX and dropped it at the Service Center and four weeks later I picked it up. They replaced the crystal, insert, crown, and gave light polish. Looks like new and runs perfect with a two year warranty. It was a great experience. Thanks for your honest review.
About how much did it cost to service?
Awesome watch dude!!
Thanks for sharing the story of your Rolex, Andrew. I was somewhat surprised to learn that you’d bought it on eBay. Given that Rolex is one of the most counterfeited brands, I would be wary of purchasing a Rolex from an online source. Is there a good way to authenticate a Rolex from afar?
It's definitely a risk but I was confident having previously owned this watch to be able find an authentic example. there's lots of great research distinguishing authentics from fakes online too. Cheers!
F-91W, bitches
Casio FTW
Lolz
YEAH!
By far the most reliable watch ever!
No nervous wrist syndrome there.
Thanks- lesson for me is to stay within my budget... yes, I’ll buy used to stretch that budget, but “new used”. But will stay away from more vintage pieces ( Except a birth year Timex)
That's definitely a sound strategy
never buy a used Rolex that needs work right off the bat. you never save any money trying to fix it yourself. in most cases it costs more than what you expected
if you don't personally know a reputable watchmaker that's trustworthy.....you better send it to Rolex for service and get it done right
there's a LOT of slimey vintage watch dealers and rip offs. be careful!!! I've seen them all. from guys switching parts, using wrong parts, selling the parts separately for more money, using non OEM Rolex parts, watchmakers that claim to be qualified but aren't
if possible buy the watch from someone you personally know and trust, that has a full service record of the watch. never take someone's word for anything. there's too many dishonest people
I don't trust anyone!! send it to Rolex just for the peace of mind that it's done right, with genuine Rolex parts and a one year guarantee. they'll replace any non Rolex parts with the original parts......if your watch is full of non Rolex parts they won't work on it unless you authorize them to put the watch back to factory original condition. they won't give you back any parts neither
Several years ago in Hong Kong, a Rolex owner took his Roles to an AD for servicing. After he got the watch back he noticed something not right. It was not keeping time properly. He was not comfortable with the people there again, so he sent the watch to the factory for better servicing. To his astonishment, the factory told him there were a few parts inside the watch that was not in the manufacturer's parts list. That brought embarrassment to both the factory and the service center in Hong Kong. Forgot how that story ended.
Nice to hear all that you went through. It is unfortunate that it was not fixed the first time but you gambled and you lost. Sometimes you gamble and you win. It is only money though. They way I see it is that there is a cost in terms of time that I am willing to pay to avoid going back and forth with servicing issues but if you are patient than it is worth saving the money. There is a balance and it is cool that you figured out the market in a way. Lots of people do not and simply just buy a new one with a warranty and deal with the dealer when things go wrong. Hopefully the watch is not cursed and gives you more trouble in the future. I must say it looks classic and timeless on your wrist and lots of people that are not into watches would think it is a new Rolex anyways.
Thanks for your comment Sean you definitely understand where I'm coming from
This is good to know. I just started becoming enamored with mechanical watches via a fascination with classic clothing style. I know a bunch of mistakes are ahead of me. Videos like these can help those who are new to the culture.
Welcome!
What a great and honest review! Thumbs-up, subscribed PLUS hit the bell button!!!
Great titling on this one, keying off the “I bought the cheapest .... on wherever” meme. It is also great story, reminding everyone that every now and then even a well considered , well thought out decision might not be correct. Thanks for sharing.
This makes me think that Rolex isn't all that good quality, my grandpa's watch is over 50 years old and still works fine probably never serviced as well
They're made of the same stuff as any other watch. Incredible marketing mystique. That said they're made very well.
It's just as well that you took the approach you did. Full-priced Rolexes are crap too. The only one I ever owned that I actually wanted to keep is a manual winding Precision model from the 1960s that I got for $1000 less than you paid, although there were no problems. Well, none other than the fact that it's a damn Rolex.
Well, I don't mean crap, exactly, and sorry if I offended anybody who actually likes Rolexes. I meant mass produced and not dramatically better from the perspective of initial quality or durability than any number of other marques. I'm glad I still have the manual winding one, but it needs a new acrylic crystal, as it is now pretty smashed up from wearing it so much, everything I wrote about it being "a damn Rolex" notwithstanding.
The only thing I would have changed from your course is I would have de-magnetized it myself. It is easy to do and risk free. Good luck getting it squared away.
Thanks!
Dope Airking! One of my favorite for sure.
You're right. I resell vintage Rolex watches that way
Great purchase!
Is it just me or sarb033 looks almost EXACTLY like this rolex model?
It’s just you
@@iaxable Imo it's almost spot on. The sarb was clearly inspired.
Sarb is actually in a man size though
Good video and a great looking watch...Thanks.
I’m watching this and I value this experience from your perspective thank you...
Best compromise is to pay extra for a vintage model that's been freshly serviced. I did this with my birth-year Seiko Turtle (if you want vintage horror stories, dip into vintage Seiko. Countless junkers, out of production parts, and 2-3 people ON EARTH who are specialized in servicing)
Definitely sound strategy
Bummer, Andrew ! Thanks for sharing and I hope the next service is successful.
Thanks Will, I appreciate you tuning in.
i have an older watch and makes precision time. Not the end of the world bro.
I have a vintage Tudor where the rotor is held with these crazy little clips and they came loose. It also ended up needing a new case clamp. I bought it from an independent watch shop as restored with a warranty so I didn't pay a penny more for any of the fixes.
Doesn't look small in my opinion.
They do look bigger wearing on hand, have one blue dial air king and op34 both my favourite everyday everywhere watch
Thanks for the info. Ebay is just getting lucky. I bought a old 1960's era oyster perpetual (1005 model) on ebay in 2007 for $1650 winning bid. It was basic with an after market leather band but, has the fluted gold bezel and crown. It runs great no problem, even though the service history is unknown. However it
has the acrylic crystal. The crystal was perfect when I bought it but, it now has a few very faint scratches. I guess when you wear a watch sometimes that happens. I would like to have the crystal upgraded to the sapphire type.
15 mins with toothpaste and a cloth and they will be gone / ps you can't fit saphire to an acrylic watch different shape.
@@paulthorpe766 Thanks for the info.
Interesting. I've had good experience with crown and caliber. A bit more expensive but warrantied, still reasonable prices, and no issues. The used speedy on my wrist has been issue free since purchased more than a year ago
Thanks for the recommendation,!
Great video Andrew ! But it sounds like you simply hit it to hard and the rotor screw came loose. This can happen at any point of a watch’s life, most likely after the 2nd service it was in perfect order. I but it sounds like you’ve been winding it and wearing it and it’s running fine witch makes me assume it’s the screw in the rotor. If you continue to wear it the screw is loose and can scratch up your movement and cause other issues, I recommend taking it to get opened and checked even just by your local watchmaker just the find out. This is just an educated guess I would love to see an update video!
I will definitely check that out thanks for your comment!
You had just bad luck with your Airking. In 2013 I bought a 2002/03 Rolex Sub Date 16610 full set for 4065 Euros in great condition. Never had any trouble with it. It still runs great. In 2014 I bought a 1975 Rolex Day-Date 1803 with president bracelet (hidden clasp) with box for 5400 Euros. Never had any problems with that watch. The same year I also bought a 1978 made Rolex Datejust 1601 with two tone Jubilee bracelet and 1570 movement for 1825 Euros. Also no problems with that watch. I bought all these watches on ebay. You had just bad luck I guess.
Or more specifically, a fake Rolex
A magnetized watch is not unusual and easy to correct with a cheap demagnetizer. Winding manually an automatic watch every three days or so is also not unusual according to most sources online. In fact giving it a boost wind from time to time tightens the mainspring and leads to greater accuracy especially if you're not that active.
What's wrong with that end links? Too much room...
Great video, gave thumbs up. Don't give up on the little guy, it's worth taking to a more professional watchmaker. Sorry form my terrible english.
I would 9/10 always take the watch to the manufacture to get serviced, at least then your have peace of mind that watch has been serviced with correct parts by someone who was trained to work on that specific brand it’s just not worth the risk to save a bit of money.
I would prefer to buy a 15 year old watch with that has never been serviced, than one that’s been serviced by some random watchmaker I have never met.
I agree with your sentiment!
How’s this holding up mate?
@555 Gear Have you opened it up? I’ve had a couple watches with the same problem. I opened the back and found the loud rotor, was just a loose rotor. A couple times it worked and a couple times it didn’t, but I found most of the time the screw holding the rotor was just loose... I tightened it back up and good to go. Just a thought
Good luck
Moral is don’t send to a crap watchmaker. Send it to Rolex
1600? You get what you paid. A nice Seiko will cost more!
I got my airking last year for 2800 euro and it has the more desirable pearl gold sunburst dail. It was freshly serviced from a reputable German watch maker and it runs perfectly one year later. You need a watchmaker that has the right tools and accurately can measure it's time keeping, that person you had obviously doesn't have the right tools. Make sure you buy a Rolex from a proper watch maker.
555 gear 55.5k subs.. pretty dope
I have been searching for a Rolex off and on for years now, but have yet to pull the trigger on anything. Also, not sure about 36 mm or smaller watches. Lastly, I have not had to send in any of my watches for service yet, so have not had the pleasure of experiencing that.