Rolex Air King Ref. 5500 - Rare Matte Black Dial

£3,500.00

  • Year: 1978.

  • Movement: Rolex automatic 1520 movement.

  • Case Size: 34mm.

  • Dial and bezel: Matte black dial with caramel lume to the hands and markers. Domed bezel.

  • Crystal: Acrylic crystal.

  • Strap: Rolex 78350 Oyster Bracelet.

  • This watch is sold as watch only, which is typical for vintage timepieces. We place greater value on condition, originality, and overall integrity than on whether a box or papers happen to be present. Many vintage watches have lost their packaging over time, and we don’t believe in inflating prices with non-original extras.

    If a watch does include genuine box and papers, this will always be clearly noted in the description. All purchases come with bespoke Watts On Watches packaging and full purchase documentation.

  • Every watch we sell is fully inspected and professionally serviced to meet our exacting standards. We stand by the quality of our stock, which is why every purchase comes with a 12-month warranty as standard.

  • Year: 1978.

  • Movement: Rolex automatic 1520 movement.

  • Case Size: 34mm.

  • Dial and bezel: Matte black dial with caramel lume to the hands and markers. Domed bezel.

  • Crystal: Acrylic crystal.

  • Strap: Rolex 78350 Oyster Bracelet.

  • This watch is sold as watch only, which is typical for vintage timepieces. We place greater value on condition, originality, and overall integrity than on whether a box or papers happen to be present. Many vintage watches have lost their packaging over time, and we don’t believe in inflating prices with non-original extras.

    If a watch does include genuine box and papers, this will always be clearly noted in the description. All purchases come with bespoke Watts On Watches packaging and full purchase documentation.

  • Every watch we sell is fully inspected and professionally serviced to meet our exacting standards. We stand by the quality of our stock, which is why every purchase comes with a 12-month warranty as standard.

Rolex Air King Ref. 5500 – Rare Matte Black Dial – 1978

Few vintage Air Kings stand out like this. The Rolex Air King Ref. 5500 is a classic in its own right, but this version from 1978 takes it to another level with its incredibly rare matte black dial — a configuration that was only produced in limited numbers and is highly sought after by collectors.

The 34mm stainless steel case is fitted with a clean domed bezel, keeping the proportions sleek and balanced. The matte black dial features crisp white text and is free from distractions — no date window, just pure Rolex minimalism. It’s a perfect example of understated refinement, and in a configuration that very few collectors have the chance to own.

Under the hood, it runs on the dependable Rolex Calibre 1520 automatic movement, and comes on a robust Rolex 78350 Oyster bracelet, which adds to its classic everyday versatility.

Why This Matte Dial Matters

Among collectors, matte black dial Air Kings from the 1970s are considered extremely scarce. Most references from this period featured silver or sunburst dials. The matte variant is rarely seen in the wild, especially in this condition, and is believed to have been produced in low quantities for select markets. When these examples surface, they are quickly snapped up by those in the know — making this a superb Rolex and a connoisseur’s choice.

Key Features

  • Year: 1978

  • Reference: 5500

  • Movement: Rolex Calibre 1520 automatic

  • Case Size: 34mm stainless steel

  • Dial: Rare matte black finish

  • Bezel: Domed stainless steel

  • Crystal: Acrylic

  • Bracelet: Rolex 78350 Oyster bracelet

  • Papers: Watch only — as is typical for vintage examples

Condition and Watts On Watches Guarantee

This Air King remains in excellent vintage condition, with sharp case lines and a wonderfully preserved dial. It has been professionally serviced and fully inspected to meet our standards. As with every piece from Watts On Watches, this watch is sold with a 12-month warranty and comes with bespoke packaging and full purchase documentation.

We prioritise originality, condition and historical integrity over box and paper sets — a stance that’s long been shared by serious collectors.