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14000 AIR-KING 34mm build - circa 1992/94

manodeoro

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Pics will come later … I swear :p
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 »

fcf48e5fb390c4a1465d71e75fa6f55f.jpg


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.

66c4b1ddbb1e6f8c294186d9eadefa0c.jpg




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.

f9a4d9ffb8f21934e712e8b727e90c2b.jpg



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

efc11bf201f1fe060d391c77bd71b918.jpg


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"

45fc16c5abe4f00ba4b3abf3bda5b774.jpg
 
Last edited:

hanski

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Nice story and enlightening history on the reference. But hurry up with the pictures all ready! ;)
 
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manodeoro

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Nice story and enlightening history on the reference. But hurry up with the pictures all ready! ;)

I'll do ;)
Unfortunately picr.me is down again so I can't have access to my pics.
I'll download it all on my mobile and post on Tapatalk ... tomorrow the later
 
Last edited:

kilowattore

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I'll do ;)
Unfortunately picr.me is down again so I can't have access to my pics.
I'll download it all on my mobile and post on Tapatalk ... tomorrow the later

Down again? WTF :angry:
a lot of down time lately, I've been using pixelsbin in the meantime.
 

manodeoro

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Down again? WTF :angry:
a lot of down time lately, I've been using pixelsbin in the meantime.
I'm using postimages ... and struggling so that my pics can work both on Tapatalk and web browser version

Envoyé de mon moto g(7) power en utilisant Tapatalk
 

mascob1

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Again a new project !
You're really a factory's projects!
can't wait to see....
 
Last edited:

manodeoro

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Again a new project !
You're really a factory's projects!
can't wait to see....

That one is a "quick" build ... I hope I can post pics tomorrow morning or evening.
 

manodeoro

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manodeoro You're killing me mate... ;)
While you are at it...would you mind to find a way to make a nice 14010? :rolleyes:
Just sourcing the parts would be a long journey ;) ...

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Marclnd

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Pics will come later … I swear :p
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 »

fcf48e5fb390c4a1465d71e75fa6f55f.jpg


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.

66c4b1ddbb1e6f8c294186d9eadefa0c.jpg




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.

f9a4d9ffb8f21934e712e8b727e90c2b.jpg



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

efc11bf201f1fe060d391c77bd71b918.jpg


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"

45fc16c5abe4f00ba4b3abf3bda5b774.jpg

Truly enjoyed reading this as I love AirKing and as much as I wanted a rep of it, I don’t want to go for the 36mm. Looking forward to seeing the pictures and thanks for sharing!
 

BabaNJ

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manodeoro why are you modding the 1500 case? Is it a lot diffrent from 14000 case? I have never seen a gen 14000 case in person but the 15000 cases look almost same except for cyclops crystal. I have wondered about building franken 34mm airking using 15000 case but the damn airking dials are always outrageously overpriced. Do you have a dial already?
 

BabaNJ

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Also here is another option, i built this using gen dial and raffles 34mm rolex case. Honsetly it was very close to 15000 case except for the see through case back and very slightly thicker lugs.
IMG_20180721_200408. jpg

IMG_20180716_150550.jpg

IMG_20180722_083539.jpg

IMG_20180722_084517.jpg
 
Last edited:

manodeoro

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manodeoro why are you modding the 1500 case? Is it a lot diffrent from 14000 case? I have never seen a gen 14000 case in person but the 15000 cases look almost same except for cyclops crystal. I have wondered about building franken 34mm airking using 15000 case but the damn airking dials are always outrageously overpriced. Do you have a dial already?

I'm building that one trying to keep the budget low so I'm not Frankening at all ... everything is Rep

1500 Rep case (engraved 15000)I have had to modd it because the dial I have is Rep and is a little to large, so I have enlarged the dial opening on the rehaut AND the dial seat
I also brushed the flat part of the caseback which was polish (1500 case)
And of course I have ghanged the plexi for a 25.286 sapphire

14000 Rep dial (transitionnal)
It comes from a Silix 14000 36mm so it is too large
I have shaved it but alos modded the case so that it could fit

08-MODDED-CASE.jpg
wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==


10-MODDED-CASE.jpg
wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==



 

manodeoro

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manodeoro why are you modding the 1500 case? Is it a lot diffrent from 14000 case? I have never seen a gen 14000 case in person but the 15000 cases look almost same except for cyclops crystal. I have wondered about building franken 34mm airking using 15000 case but the damn airking dials are always outrageously overpriced. Do you have a dial already?

Next one will receive a Gen 14000 transitionnal dial.
The build will be easier as the dial, being Gen, is the right size so it fits perfectly in a 1500 case.

The dial is scratched but I will renovate it.
It won't be perfect but the scratches are already not as visible in real than on the pics, so I think after renovation it wil be OK.

And I got it for $70 only so the risk is low.

 

manodeoro

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Also here is another option, i built this using gen dial and raffles 34mm rolex case. Honsetly it was very close to 15000 case except for the see through case back and very slightly thicker lugs.
IMG_20180721_200408. jpg

IMG_20180716_150550.jpg

IMG_20180722_083539.jpg

IMG_20180722_084517.jpg

I've seen that one ... relally nice build
But I really don't like the seethrough caseback
I've asked Ken if he could get the same one not seethrough but he said he can't ... too bad as it could be close too perfect without that seethrough
 

manodeoro

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Truly enjoyed reading this as I love AirKing and as much as I wanted a rep of it, I don’t want to go for the 36mm. Looking forward to seeing the pictures and thanks for sharing!

Thank you buddy :)
I first went for a 36mm 14000 Airking ... then modded it in a 5500 Air-King ... then sold it as I wanted a 34mm one.

I hope I can post pics of the final result this week-end.
I consider that build as a "prototype" as I wanted to see how it could look at the end ... if I don't screw anything (won't do) it'll be realllyyyy nice :p

Next step will be 2 other Air-Kings, 14000 and 5500 in 34mm, both with Gen dials and other parts, for my own collection ... but though I already have the Gen dials I won't work on those until November.
 

manodeoro

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Just a quick wristshot ... already nice result and !!! 34 mm !!!

f32f694b318da0ffc0d1cc8579694a49.jpg


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manodeoro

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Nicely done my friend..looks great!!
Thanks J ;)
When back from vacation I'll refinish the dial, age the lume on the hands to better match the colour of the lume dots and that's all.
It's on my wrist since this morning and the Miyota 8215 seems to keep really good time.
Next one will get the Gen 14000 dial I received last week ????

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manodeoro

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Still keeping perfectly good time ;) but it will stay at home while I leave to Corsica

0efb9d1f549e4eda469a3c4cc2dd445d.jpg


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