This Superlative Chronometer is made of 904l stainless steel and carries a 3131 movement manufactured completely by Rolex. The movement is equipped with a blue Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorber. The clasp on the oyster bracelet features an Easylink rapid extension, which allows one to adjust the size of the bracelet up to 5mm without removing links.

One of the distinguishing features of the Air-King is the minute scale displayed between the arabic hour markers. This clear display makes it very easy to tell the time at a glance. This model also has the Mercedes hour hand that Rolex is known for as well.

The Air-King is a throwback in terms of style, but it is equipped with the latest technology that Rolex has patented over the past decades. This makes it an interesting addition to their model line up, especially for those who find the professional models excessive.

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2016 Air-King Model Display at Baselworld 2016

Parts of a Rolex Movement

After I figured out what a movement was, I became curious as to how the inner workings of the movement manage to precisely keep track of time. I poured over diagrams and blog posts, but I was still confused about what each part of the movement does.

Why does Rolex advertise their blue Parachrom hairspring technology? What is an escapement and why do they need to make it better? How do you power a self-winding mechanical movement without a battery?

Though I still consider myself a novice when it comes to horology, I do feel that I now have a basic understanding of how a mechanical watch works. The inner workings of a mechanical wristwatch are quite impressive, even in a time where most technology is based on silicon chips and global positioning systems.

The video below was produced by Hamilton Watch Company in 1949 to explain how a watch works. Much of what the video presents is still a part of how mechanical watches work today. It is the most comprehensive, detailed demonstration that I've found on YouTube to explain the mechanics of a watch movement in layman's terms.

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