Rolex Air-King-Date Ref. 5700 - Matte Black Dial
Year: 1973.
Movement: Rolex 1535 Automatic Calibre with date.
Case Size: 34mm.
Dial: Matte black dial with tritium hands and markers.
Crystal: Acrylic.
Bracelet: Rolex folded link Oyster Bracelet.
As with all watches bought from Watts On Watches, we offer a 12 month warranty on all purchases.
This watch comes as watch only. It is common for vintage watches to not come with box and papers. In the rare example that a watch does come with box and papers it will be mentioned in the description. All purchases come with bespoke Watts On Watches packaging and purchase documentation.
Want to pay with finance? Click here.
Year: 1973.
Movement: Rolex 1535 Automatic Calibre with date.
Case Size: 34mm.
Dial: Matte black dial with tritium hands and markers.
Crystal: Acrylic.
Bracelet: Rolex folded link Oyster Bracelet.
As with all watches bought from Watts On Watches, we offer a 12 month warranty on all purchases.
This watch comes as watch only. It is common for vintage watches to not come with box and papers. In the rare example that a watch does come with box and papers it will be mentioned in the description. All purchases come with bespoke Watts On Watches packaging and purchase documentation.
Want to pay with finance? Click here.
Year: 1973.
Movement: Rolex 1535 Automatic Calibre with date.
Case Size: 34mm.
Dial: Matte black dial with tritium hands and markers.
Crystal: Acrylic.
Bracelet: Rolex folded link Oyster Bracelet.
As with all watches bought from Watts On Watches, we offer a 12 month warranty on all purchases.
This watch comes as watch only. It is common for vintage watches to not come with box and papers. In the rare example that a watch does come with box and papers it will be mentioned in the description. All purchases come with bespoke Watts On Watches packaging and purchase documentation.
Want to pay with finance? Click here.
The Rolex Air-King has long been celebrated as an iconic entry-level timepiece, originally crafted to honor RAF pilots after World War II. It emerged as part of Rolex’s unique "Air" series in the 1940s, which included the Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, and Air-Giant.
Among these, the reference 5500 Air-King, introduced in 1957, quickly became a beloved staple. Its immense popularity inspired Rolex to launch the Air-King-Date in 1958 (reference 5700), featuring the precise calibre 1535 for its date function. Produced in limited numbers compared to its non-date counterpart, the 5700 remains a rare gem in Rolex’s historical lineup. The combination of "Date" and "Air King" on a single dial is a rare and thrilling find, making it a standout choice for collectors seeking practicality and versatility.
This Rolex Air-King-Date boasts a beautifully preserved matte black dial, adorned with applied baton markers and the iconic 'ROLEX', 'OYSTER PERPETUAL', and 'AIR-KING-DATE' inscriptions. The tritium lume on the plots has aged into a charming creamy yellow patina, perfectly complementing the indexes.
The steel Oyster case retains its original shape with minimal polishing. The original acrylic crystal displays only minor wear marks, while the period-correct folded Oyster bracelet, matching clasp, and end-links are excellently preserved with minimal stretch.
At its heart, the Rolex calibre 1535 automatic movement, introduced in 1957, powers this exceptional timepiece. Featuring 26 jewels, a beat rate of 18,000 A/h, and a 44-hour power reserve, the calibre 1535 was exclusively used in the Air-King-Date 5700 and Explorer Date 5701. T