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

369mafia

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Dang that looks sharp nicely done ! It fits you perfectly!
 

stufuse

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Lovely watch


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manodeoro

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Hi guys ... I'm back ... REALLY back ...

Some of you noticed I've not been really involved on RWI after my summer vacation in Corsica ...
Some friends here know the reasons ...
And I've not done any watchmaking or modding for almost 4 months now, so I thought I would never finish that genspecs 14000 Air King ... but ...

BINGO !!!
Tonight that 34mm is OK ... completed and working smoothly and it sits on my wrist !!!

Pics are not really good cause size is limited by Tapatalk (not VIP) but I'll post better pics next Monday ...

14000-Final-01.jpg


14000-Final-02.jpg


14000-Final-03.jpg
 
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riderocket

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Congratulations, it turned out to be a really nice watch.

I'm also thinking about building a 34mm Air-King. Looking for the best case candidate, but it's hard to find a decent one.
Options include Raffles 34mm case and the Yuki 15000 case which according to my understanding is the same as a 14000 case (sans cyclops).

Anyone has experience with the Yuki 15000 case? Is it worth the $200 premium over the Raffles case?
 

369mafia

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Congratulations, it turned out to be a really nice watch.

I'm also thinking about building a 34mm Air-King. Looking for the best case candidate, but it's hard to find a decent one.
Options include Raffles 34mm case and the Yuki 15000 case which according to my understanding is the same as a 14000 case (sans cyclops).

Anyone has experience with the Yuki 15000 case? Is it worth the $200 premium over the Raffles case?

I have both the rafffles case and the yuki case. They’re quite different from each other. Well my 15000 case set is from Silix but it looks identical to the one offered by Yuki. It also came with the proper 19 mm bracelet ( not shown) as a completed watch from Silix with 21 j for $116
I believe their out of stock. Last I checked. But worth the pick up from yuki.

The yuki is accurate for a 6694 /1500 / 150000 however I am using it for my Tudor 7966. It came with an acrylic crystal. The caseback uses the large case back tool to open
The engravings are accurate and well done Comes with a 5.3 crown

4a6898f5111245d2c0f098c317af0c3d.jpg



The raffles I used in my 6084 build with a 2824 movement

The raffles case has a sapphire crystal that I swapped a domed yuki acrylic. I had to modify the bezel to fit
The case profile is thinner and more svelte the casebacks use the caseback tool that is one size smaller have a modified Tudor flat caseback on this watch to resemble the 50’s style casebacks. The rolex style caseback is presentation style with a window

The yuki case has a bigger feel on the wrist than the raffles it might be the taller caseback. The flat crystal

Quick pics for comparison
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369mafia

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Beautiful job Manderano. Clean and classic.


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riderocket

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369mafia Sincerely thank you for the great and detailed explanation. Both builds are beauties and very much like what I try to achieve. I think I'm leaning towards a modded Raffles case.
 
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369mafia

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369mafia Sincerely thank you for the great and detailed explanation. Both builds are beauties and very much like what I try to achieve. I think I'm leaning towards a modded Raffles case.

The raffles case is good value. the case is well made..and includes a crown and movement holder look fwd to seeing your build!
 

manodeoro

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369mafia Sincerely thank you for the great and detailed explanation. Both builds are beauties and very much like what I try to achieve. I think I'm leaning towards a modded Raffles case.

I've emailed Michelle and it seems the 15000 Silix is available again ... waiting for a confirmation so I'll let you know.


BTW ... if you want to build and Air-King startinf from a 15000 case you'll have 2 options ... 14000 or 5500

14000
01.jpg


5500
01-5500-PIC.jpg


14000 build :
It could be "easy" if you can source a Gen 14000 dial as everything else can be Rep ... but 14000 dials are not that easy to source in good condition
Other option is to buy a 36mm 14000 Rep from Silix (if still available) and mod the dial

5500 build :
5500 dials are easier to source and you can get one for a fair price if you're ready to wait
BIG problem will be the handset which is really specific (pointed H and MN hands) an not available in Rep (as far as I know) ... you'll have to source a Gen handest and they come for much too $$$
I've been lucky enough to buy a complete Gen handset last June for$60 shipped but at the moment the only I can see on eBay are sold $140 + shipping
 
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riderocket

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manodeoro Thanks for the explanation. I'm looking into building the 14000 as it seems easier - except sourcing a gen dial. Also it's more practical with the modern sapphire crystal. Having said that 5500 has it's own charm, but those hands are elusive and even if I would be able to source a set, fitting it to an ETA movement is out of my comfort zone.

Pls. let me know if you have more info on the Silix case availability. Thanks.
 

369mafia

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I wonder if with a delicate hand and patience one could shape the ends to a pointed tip with some sanding
 

manodeoro

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I wonder if with a delicate hand and patience one could shape the ends to a pointed tip with some sanding

I've tried that ... :wacko: ... uneasy but doable and not worthy nevertheless ...
The 14000 hands are "sort of 3D" and the 5500 are flat ... plus the lume holes would be incorrect
 

manodeoro

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manodeoro Thanks for the explanation. I'm looking into building the 14000 as it seems easier - except sourcing a gen dial. Also it's more practical with the modern sapphire crystal. Having said that 5500 has it's own charm, but those hands are elusive and even if I would be able to source a set, fitting it to an ETA movement is out of my comfort zone.

Pls. let me know if you have more info on the Silix case availability. Thanks.

Sourcing a Gen dial won't be easy but doable ... I bought one (damaged but restorable) for $100 shipped to France ... still in my drawers unfortunately ...

If you really can find one you can ask Silix if ROL014 is available ... about $94 shipped
Capture.jpg

The case is 36mm so not Genspecs but you can use it for a cheap 1016 build ... you'll have to drill the lugs from scratch for that :p
Remove the dial, gently sand it down to 27mm diam (you'd better remove all the indexes before so that they can't fly be satellised) ... you just need a thick toothpick you put in the center hole and a dremel
You will laso have to enlarge the dial opening on the rehaut, for about 1/2mm, what you would not have to do with a Gen 14000 dial (fits perfectly on the 15000 case).
 

riderocket

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ve tried that ... :wacko: ... uneasy but doable and not worthy nevertheless ...
The 14000 hands are "sort of 3D" and the 5500 are flat ... plus the lume holes would be incorrect

Mind blown... That determination. Impressive.

I have experience with the Raffles 34mm Tudor case, and considered that an option too. Other than the caseback, everything else is fine for a 14000 build. Of course after cyclops removal and crown swap. Perhaps the rollie 34mm case is the same with less things to swap (transparent caseback WTF).

I'd stick to the correct 34mm case size as IMO it's the essence of this build.
 

manodeoro

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I'd stick to the correct 34mm case size as IMO it's the essence of this build.

Definitely YES !!!


My first Air-King build was a 5500 based on a 36mm case

22-FINISHED.jpg



Though I really loved the custom made patina dial (I've spent so much hours on that one :p) the wear and look were really different from the original
So I've sold it to get funds for my next 5500 project ... which will house that Gen dial

08-5500-GEN-DIAL.jpg


09-5500-GEN-DIAL.jpg


10-5500-GEN-DIAL.jpg


Fitting the handset to an ETA won't be a big problem as the holes of the hands are smaller than the pivots ... so I'll just sand the pivots until I can fit the hands on (already done that mod)
Fitting the Gen dial without cutting the dial feets will be much more tricky ... my idea is to drill the mainplate to make place for the Gen dial feets then use adhesive dial dots to keep everything in place ... at least I'll try
Of course I'll use a "low beat ETA" as the Rolex 1520 movement ran 19.800bph ... probably an Asian 2824-2 in which I'll graft Gen ETA 2840 parts
 

manodeoro

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manodeoro Thanks for the explanation. I'm looking into building the 14000 as it seems easier - except sourcing a gen dial. Also it's more practical with the modern sapphire crystal. Having said that 5500 has it's own charm, but those hands are elusive and even if I would be able to source a set, fitting it to an ETA movement is out of my comfort zone.

Pls. let me know if you have more info on the Silix case availability. Thanks.

Here is a Gen dial for sale https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Rolex-Air-King-Precision-Silver-Dial-Ref-5500/123610005855
It's advertised as a 5500 dial but IMHO it's a 14000 one
$250 is not cheap but you still can contact the seller for a bargain ...

s-l1600.jpg
 

riderocket

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Fitting the Gen dial without cutting the dial feets will be much more tricky ... my idea is to drill the mainplate to make place for the Gen dial feets then use adhesive dial dots to keep everything in place ... at least I'll try
Of course I'll use a "low beat ETA" as the Rolex 1520 movement ran 19.800bph ... probably an Asian 2824-2 in which I'll graft Gen ETA 2840 parts

This is way out of my league. I thought you would broach the handset which would be on the same level as clipping dial feet. Bad mojo, puppies killed, ..

That's a fantastic dial BTW, congrats!

I'll also try to share my experiences once I gather parts. Not very soon I recon. Thanks a lot for the tips, keep us posted on your new build please, love the pictures!