Rolex Air King 9130 Watch - Purpose Built for Aviation

Introduction to the Air King 9130

The Air King 9130 is a historic and highly regarded aviation watch from Rolex. As one of Rolex's tool watches, it was designed for use by pilots and navigators, with characteristics optimized for aviation and celestial navigation.

History of the Air King Series

The Air King line was introduced in 1945 as a tribute to the bravery of British RAF pilots in World War II. The Air King 9130 continues this aviation heritage, providing an accurate and reliable companion for navigating the skies.

Notable Features of the Air King 9130

The Air King 9130 has several defining features that make it an excellent aviation watch:

• Stainless steel oyster case and bracelet for durability
• Black dial with easy-to-read numerals and markers
• Luminous hands and hour markers for legibility in low light
• Caliber 3130 perpetual, self-winding mechanical movement
• 48 hour power reserve when not being worn
• Water resistant to 100 meters (330 feet)
• Smooth bezel to work with a slide rule for calculations
• Screw-down crown and case back for water resistance
• Certified Swiss chronometer for accuracy

Using the Slide Rule Bezel

A unique aspect of the Air King 9130 is its slide rule bezel, used by pilots and navigators to quickly perform calculations during flight. The bezel rotates smoothly to align key indices to make mathematical operations fast and straightforward.

Types of Calculations

Typical calculations made using the Air King slide rule bezel include:

• Fuel consumption rate
• Climb and descent rates
• Speed, distance, time conversions
• Conversions between nautical miles, kilometers, and statute miles

Using the Scales

There are two logarithmic scales on the bezel numbered 0-50. The outer scale moves while the inner scale is fixed. Aligning the 50 markers allows quick multiplication or division. Other alignments of the markers facilitate more complex math.

Accuracy and Precision

As an officially certified Swiss chronometer, the Air King 9130 meets exacting standards for accuracy and precision.

Timing Certification

The COSC (Contrôle officiel suisse des chronomètres) certifies the accuracy of the movement after rigorous testing. The 9130 movement must perform within -4/+6 seconds per day to achieve chronometer status.

Consistency Over Time

The perpetual, self-winding 9130 movement maintains its precision day-after-day. A 48 hour power reserve means the watch keeps accurate time even when not being worn regularly, like over weekends.

The Air King 9130 as an Aviation Watch

With its aviation heritage, navigation focused design, and unmatched precision - the Air King 9130 continues Rolex's tradition of manufacturing industry leading tool watches.

Trusted Partner for Pilots

Easy legibility, calculations via the slide rule bezel, and chronometric timekeeping make the Air King 9130 an excellent choice for professional pilots.

Historic Aviation Watch

As part of the Air King lineage honoring brave RAF pilots, the Air King 9130 maintains and builds upon a meaningful aviation history.

With iconic aviation watch styling in a durable, high performance package - the Air King 9130 is a staple in the Rolex Professional Watches collection.

FAQs

What makes the Air King 9130 an aviation watch?

The Air King 9130 has a slide rule bezel for in-flight calculations of speed, distance, fuel consumption and more, along with easy legibility with its black dial and luminous hands/markers. Its aviation heritage from the original Air King watches produced for RAF pilots also cements it as an aviation watch.

How accurate is the timekeeping on the Air King 9130?

As an officially certified Swiss chronometer, the Air King 9130 has accuracy ratings of -4/+6 seconds per day, thanks to rigorous testing by COSC (Contrôle officiel suisse des chronomètres). This makes it incredibly accurate and reliable.

What size is the Air King 9130?

The stainless steel Air King 9130 uses Rolex's classic 40mm Oyster case paired with the rivet style Oyster bracelet. At 40mm it wears well for most wrist sizes.

Is the Air King 9130 waterproof?

Yes, the Air King 9130 Oyster case provides water resistance to 330 feet (100 meters). The screw-down crown and caseback ensure this level of water resistance is maintained.