Just received the Clean 126900, and IMO this new design gives the AirKing a real place in the Rolex "professional" collection.
I always thought the modern AK was a lost watch : too sporty and unbalanced dial to be elegant, too dull of a case to be sporty. With nothing to do with its pilot ancestor on top of that, it just did'nt ring any bell.
Now the addition of the crown guards, the "05" balancing the dial and a proper "technical" clasp gives it a clear sporty appeal.
It wears broader than the Explorer 1, with much more presence than the past 116900 reference.
It still has nothing to do with the vintage AK (it should be renamed Ground King IMO
) but I really like it now !
I loved the Explorer 1 but somehow it did'nt fully fit me, this one does
.
The Clean has very good finishings. The printed fonts are nicely raised and strong, the movement works like a charm and the case just passed several 6ATM pressure tests with success. Great rep !