The Rolex Air-King has lived two lives: a discreet 34 mm Oyster for decades, then, from 2016, a 40 mm watch with large 3, 6 and 9 numerals that Rolex links to its aviation heritage. We buy, sell and trade pre-owned Air-Kings of both generations in Athens, and our master watchmaker inspects every piece before it is offered. A listing with a price is in stock; one marked "Price upon request" is a reference we can source to order.

Rolex Air-King ref. 126900 — GrecoWatch Athens Rolex Rolex Air-King 126900 Air-King 40 Ref. m126900-0001 8.600,00 € Inquire ->

Buying a Pre-Owned Rolex Air-King in Athens

The Air-King name covers very different watches. The 34 mm line has three main families. The 5500 has an acrylic crystal and calibre 1520 or 1530. The 14000 of 1989 added a sapphire crystal and calibre 3000, moving to calibre 3130 around 2000. The 114200 family from 2007 brought the first chronometer-certified Air-Kings. The 40 mm era began in 2016 with the 116900, built in the Milgauss case with its soft-iron inner case and calibre 3131. The 126900 followed in 2022 on calibre 3230, with about 70 hours of power reserve.

On a 5500 or 14000, look for refinished dials, re-lumed markers and replacement hands, as service dials and parts are common on watches of this period. On the 114200 family the bezel must match the reference: smooth for the 114200, engine-turned for the 114210, fluted white gold for the 114234. On the 40 mm pieces, a 126900 has crown guards, an '05' on the minute scale and luminous 3, 6 and 9 numerals, while a 116900 has no crown guards, a plain '5' and non-luminous white-gold numerals. Features from both generations on one watch point to swapped or replaced parts.

  • 5500: an acrylic crystal, a period-correct calibre 1520 or 1530 and "Precision" or "Super Precision" at 6 o'clock. A sapphire crystal is not original.
  • 14000 and 14010: a movement that fits the production date, calibre 3000 on earlier watches and 3130 on later ones, plus an engine-turned bezel on the 14010.
  • 116900: the soft-iron inner case still fitted, which our watchmaker confirms with the caseback open, plus the green seconds hand in place and a full-wind run of about 48 hours.
  • 126900: a timegrapher reading close to Rolex's after-casing spec of -2/+2 sec/day and a full-wind run of about 70 hours. With no soft-iron shield, a watch running far off may be magnetised or due a service.
  • Corporate-logo dials, such as the Domino's pieces: documented provenance and an expert dial inspection before paying more for one, as scarce dials attract fakes and redials.

What changed between the Air-King 116900 and 126900?

The 126900, introduced in 2022, added crown guards, an '05' on the minute scale and luminous 3, 6 and 9 numerals. It runs on calibre 3230 with about 70 hours of reserve, and its Oyster bracelet gained wider links and an Oysterlock folding safety clasp, neither of which the 116900 had. The 116900 uses calibre 3131, with about 48 hours, inside a soft-iron inner case.

Can I sell or trade in my Air-King in Athens?

Yes. We buy Air-Kings outright and take them in part exchange for another watch. Message us on WhatsApp at +30 697 546 1445 to arrange a private appointment at Spyrou Merkouri 4, Pangrati. We assess every watch in person, never from photos alone, and the box, papers and service records help establish its provenance.

For more detail by reference, read our Rolex Air-King buying guide and the Air-King 14000 vs 14000M comparison. Selling or trading in? See how we buy Rolex watches in Athens. For servicing, our independent watch workshop uses original parts under a written 2-year service warranty.