Amongst all the Rolex sports models, the Air-King is arguably the most polarizing timepiece with niche followership. However, for 2022, the Swiss watchmaking giant has revised the three-hand pilot?s watch to give it a much wider appeal it always somehow lacked. It?s very rare for Rolex to introduce such significant updates to a collection. Although you might not able to recognize all the changes received by the 2022 Air-King at the first glance, believe me when I say that all the subtle updates add up to significantly transform the sports model into a more likable timepiece. Here are five things you should know about the new Rolex Air-King ref. 126900 which will soon go on sale with a price tag of $7000.

1. Revised case design

The most noticeable change received by the new Air-King comes in the form of a revised case design. While the stainless steel case still measures 40mm like the predecessor, Rolex has updated the styling significantly to give it a far more athletic stance. The reshaped Oystersteel case gets broader lugs and sharp polished vertical case sides to make it look more muscular than before. However, the more prominent visual update is the crown guards similar to the ones found on the modern Submariner or GMT-Master II.
2. A proper pilot?s watch that?s more unique than you think

Thanks to the updated Oystersteel case of the new Rolex Air-King, it now feels like a proper pilot?s watch. This is further helped by a more substantial fluted crown design ...