Hello everyone, today I bring you a watch review from Clean Factory, featuring the latest Rolex Air-King, officially designated as the Rolex Air-King series M126900.

▼ The 2023 model of the Explorer I features a return to the mainstream 40mm diameter, no longer limiting choice due to size. Moreover, the new Air-King has added sporty crown guards, aligning with higher-end professional models like the Submariner; it also upgrades from the long-used Cal.3131 movement to the latest generation Cal.3230, improving its performance.

▼ To focus on today’s main subject, the Clean Factory Rolex Air-King, the most notable enhancement in appearance is the crown guard. Previously, Rolex used this design only in professional watches with bezels, such as the Submariner, Yacht-Master, and Daytona. The new Air-King is Rolex’s first “smooth bezel” model with crown guards, indicating an intention to elevate the Air-King’s professional status.

▼ Additionally, the new Air-King slightly adjusts the hour markers. A significant “breakthrough” is changing the number “5” on the dial to “05” for symmetry with “55” on the left, enhancing the dial’s symmetry. The previous generation Air-King Ref.116900 had 18K material hour markers (replicas use stainless steel), lacking luminosity. The new Air-King covers its hour markers with Chromalight luminous material (Clean Factory also uses stainless steel), enhancing its overall luminosity.

▼ The thickness and texture of Clean Factory’s hands are rich and finely polished, with no excess burrs, and the central axis is almost indistinguishable from the original by eye.

▼ The scales and the inverted triangle edges are finely polished, with rounded corners on the inverted triangle, matching the authentic details. The dial logo and English text are clearly printed without excess spillage, providing a full three-dimensional feel. The inner shadow English engraving is clear and aligned with the scale.

▼ Another “unexpected” feature in the new Air-King is the addition of crown guards on both sides, giving it a more sporty look. Previously, Rolex used this design only in models with bezels. The new Air-King is the first Rolex “smooth bezel” model to incorporate crown guards, further enhancing its professional appeal.

▼ The sapphire crystal ensures excellent transparency and hardness.

▼ The new Air-King’s crown guards protect the crown and align it with the design of sports models, further reflecting the Air-King name. This is an important change in the new Air-King, making it look more harmonious, with the crown part not feeling too protruding.

The new 40mm Oyster case of the Air-King ensures water resistance up to 100 meters, a robust and reliable classic. The middle case is made from a solid block of Oyster steel, corrosion-resistant. Rolex watchmakers use a special tool to tightly screw the finely fluted case back, making the case seal and accessible only to Rolex watchmakers.

The watch’s double-lock winding crown system securely screws onto the case. The crown guards are integrated with the middle case to protect the winding crown. The Oyster waterproof case provides optimal protection for the movement.

▼ The new generation Air-King is paired with an Oyster bracelet. Introduced in the late 1930s, the three-piece link Oyster bracelet is sturdy, reliable, and the most frequently used bracelet in the Oyster collection.

▼ The new watch’s Oyster bracelet comes with Rolex’s patented folding Oysterlock safety clasp, preventing accidental opening. The clasp also features the brand-developed Easylink comfort extension link, allowing wearers to easily extend the bracelet by about 5mm. The concealed attachment system ensures a seamless connection between the bracelet and case. Clean Factory also uses 904L stainless steel with excellent brushing and polishing, and the clasp features the iconic crown shape, adhering to Clean’s craftsmanship.

▼ The latest cal.3230 movement: The new Air-King is equipped with the 3230 movement, developed and manufactured by Rolex in 2020 and mounted in this series in 2022. This self-winding movement has several patents, embodying Rolex’s innovative technology and exquisite watchmaking skills, and further enhancing accuracy, power reserve, shock and magnetic resistance, and ease of use.

▼ The 3230 movement is equipped with Rolex’s patented Chronergy escapement, efficient and reliable, made of nickel-phosphorus, and impervious to magnetic interference. The movement is fitted with a blue Parachrom hairspring made from a unique paramagnetic