- 13/10/16
- 3,830
- 2,148
- 113
Pics will come later … I swear
Please let me tell you a story first … a story about [/FONT]tears and watches
When I was a young boy I was too fast to shed a tear, and my mother used to tell me again and again « big boys don’t cry »
But as I grew older, teenager and then adult, I discovered that that stereotypical male-gender role sentence was false and and counterproductive.
False because even the toughest men shed a tear from time to time when nobody’s looking.
Counterproductive because « wet eyes » can sometimes soften a women and bring her into your bed.
Same experience about watches …
When I discovered that forum I was already in love with vintage products (even my wife is vintage now) so I quickly fell in love with vintage watches.
About vintages watches in general and 14000 Air-King in particular (YES … 1989 is vintage now) I have read everywhere that « you CANT have a good 14000 rep » just because Factories don’t rep them.
I must admit that here the « reason » is true … the only 14000 models that you can get from Factories are 36mm where they should be 34m.
I’ve even seen some on the forums, made by seasoned and skilled members, coming with 36mm cases and 20mm bracelets so really nice but a little oversized.
But repeating again and again that « you CANT » is counterproductive and false.
Counterproductive because it implies that « nobody ever did that so it can’t be done »
False, IMHO, because … « if nobody do that so it’s up to you to do it »
And that’s what I’ve decided … build a 34mm 14000 Air-King circa 1992/94.
Why a 14000 Air-King ?
Because those models are 34mm, so they fit perfectly my 16,5cm wrist, they are elegant and they stay under the radar so as I wear my watches for my own pleasure and not for a « show of » they are almost perfect.
Why be so specific about the production period ?
It’s all about drilled or plain lugs, coronet positioning, 1 minute or 30 seconds marks and T or no T framing the « swiss made » or the « swiss ».
In 1989 Rolex introduced the 14000 ref, sort of an update of the 5500.
The early 14000 shared many specs with the 5500 … same 34mm case, same dial with a chapter ring showing 1 mark every 1 minute, almost everything in fact but the plexi that was upgraded by a sapphire crystal and of course the movement as the 3000 replaced the old 1520/1530.
Around 1992/94 some updates have been introduced.
Rolex started manufacturing and distributing non lug-holes cases around 2001/2002 for the « tool watch » models, but for the oyster models (Air-King, Date Just, Oyster Perpetual, etc …) that modification occurred around 1994.
In the same time (still 1992/94) the 14000 Air-King dials received some modifications too …
- the coronet slipped down about 1mm so it didn’t cut the chapter ring anymore
- the short 30 seconds marks on the chapter ring were added between the longer 1 minute marks
That’s only around 1998 that the T framing the « swiss made » of « swiss » disappeared, when the Tritium was 100 % replaced by Luminova
So … when ordering a 14000 around 1992/94, and considering the fact that stocks, production and assembly procedures were not 100 % phased, you could indifferently get a case with or without drilled lugs, and a dial with the old or new design.
I have spent hours and hours searching on the net and the only 14000 models I found that had both the old case (drilled lugs) and the new dial design (with low coronet and 30 seconds marks) were all dated circa 1992/94.
Members who have read some of my threads or posts already know I’m a fan of drilled lugs.
Thus, as I had a « new design » 14000 dial waiting for a case plus a 34mm 1500 case to be reworked, I have decided that I should try to « marry » them to make a new baby … circa 1992/94 so a 26 years old one.
And you know what ?
"Big Boys CAN cry" and "You CAN get a 34mm 14000 Air-King Rep"
Please let me tell you a story first … a story about [/FONT]tears and watches
When I was a young boy I was too fast to shed a tear, and my mother used to tell me again and again « big boys don’t cry »
But as I grew older, teenager and then adult, I discovered that that stereotypical male-gender role sentence was false and and counterproductive.
False because even the toughest men shed a tear from time to time when nobody’s looking.
Counterproductive because « wet eyes » can sometimes soften a women and bring her into your bed.
Same experience about watches …
When I discovered that forum I was already in love with vintage products (even my wife is vintage now) so I quickly fell in love with vintage watches.
About vintages watches in general and 14000 Air-King in particular (YES … 1989 is vintage now) I have read everywhere that « you CANT have a good 14000 rep » just because Factories don’t rep them.
I must admit that here the « reason » is true … the only 14000 models that you can get from Factories are 36mm where they should be 34m.
I’ve even seen some on the forums, made by seasoned and skilled members, coming with 36mm cases and 20mm bracelets so really nice but a little oversized.
But repeating again and again that « you CANT » is counterproductive and false.
Counterproductive because it implies that « nobody ever did that so it can’t be done »
False, IMHO, because … « if nobody do that so it’s up to you to do it »
And that’s what I’ve decided … build a 34mm 14000 Air-King circa 1992/94.
Why a 14000 Air-King ?
Because those models are 34mm, so they fit perfectly my 16,5cm wrist, they are elegant and they stay under the radar so as I wear my watches for my own pleasure and not for a « show of » they are almost perfect.
Why be so specific about the production period ?
It’s all about drilled or plain lugs, coronet positioning, 1 minute or 30 seconds marks and T or no T framing the « swiss made » or the « swiss ».
In 1989 Rolex introduced the 14000 ref, sort of an update of the 5500.
The early 14000 shared many specs with the 5500 … same 34mm case, same dial with a chapter ring showing 1 mark every 1 minute, almost everything in fact but the plexi that was upgraded by a sapphire crystal and of course the movement as the 3000 replaced the old 1520/1530.
Around 1992/94 some updates have been introduced.
Rolex started manufacturing and distributing non lug-holes cases around 2001/2002 for the « tool watch » models, but for the oyster models (Air-King, Date Just, Oyster Perpetual, etc …) that modification occurred around 1994.
In the same time (still 1992/94) the 14000 Air-King dials received some modifications too …
- the coronet slipped down about 1mm so it didn’t cut the chapter ring anymore
- the short 30 seconds marks on the chapter ring were added between the longer 1 minute marks
That’s only around 1998 that the T framing the « swiss made » of « swiss » disappeared, when the Tritium was 100 % replaced by Luminova
So … when ordering a 14000 around 1992/94, and considering the fact that stocks, production and assembly procedures were not 100 % phased, you could indifferently get a case with or without drilled lugs, and a dial with the old or new design.
I have spent hours and hours searching on the net and the only 14000 models I found that had both the old case (drilled lugs) and the new dial design (with low coronet and 30 seconds marks) were all dated circa 1992/94.
Members who have read some of my threads or posts already know I’m a fan of drilled lugs.
Thus, as I had a « new design » 14000 dial waiting for a case plus a 34mm 1500 case to be reworked, I have decided that I should try to « marry » them to make a new baby … circa 1992/94 so a 26 years old one.
And you know what ?
"Big Boys CAN cry" and "You CAN get a 34mm 14000 Air-King Rep"
Last edited: