Short answer: The Oyster Perpetual, Air-King and Explorer are Rolex's time-only entry watches, and from 36 to 41 mm all three use calibre 3230 with about 70 hours of power reserve. The Oyster Perpetual is the plain one: five sizes from 28 to 41 mm, a domed bezel and colour dials. The Air-King is 40 mm only, with a black aviation dial, crown guards and an Oysterlock safety clasp. The Explorer has a black 3-6-9 dial in 36 or 40 mm, with the Oysterlock clasp but no crown guards. Rolex lists the Oyster Perpetual 41 at $7,050, the Air-King at $8,150 and the Explorer 36 or 40 at $7,900 or $8,350. On October 19, 2026 Bizak asked from $8,730 for a pre-owned Air-King 126900, $10,229 for a new Oyster Perpetual 41 and $6,975 for a pre-owned Explorer 36.
Last reviewed on October 19, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Specifications and US list prices come from Rolex's 2026 catalogue on rolex.com, read that day; Bizak prices are that day's asking prices, not quotes. Bizak & Co. is independent and not affiliated with Rolex.
Shop by model: Air-King · Oyster Perpetual · Oyster Perpetual 41 · Oyster Perpetual 36 · Explorer · Explorer 40
Air-King vs Oyster Perpetual vs Explorer at a glance
| Oyster Perpetual | Air-King | Explorer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel references | 276200, 277200, 124200, 126000, 134300 | 126900 | 124270, 224270 |
| Diameter | 28, 31, 34, 36 or 41 mm | 40 mm | 36 or 40 mm |
| Bezel | Domed | Smooth | Smooth |
| Crown guards | No | Yes, since 2022 | No |
| Dial | Choice of colours | Black: 3, 6, 9 and minute scale | Black: 3, 6, 9 and batons |
| Movement | 3230 (36, 41 mm); 2232, about 55 h (28 to 34 mm) | 3230, about 70 h | 3230, about 70 h |
| Clasp | Oysterclasp | Oysterlock safety clasp | Oysterlock safety clasp |
| Other metals | Yellow Rolesor (31, 36, 41 mm); 18 kt gold (28, 34 mm) | None | Yellow Rolesor (124273, 36 mm) |
| Rolex US list, steel | $6,200 to $7,050 | $8,150 | $7,900 (36), $8,350 (40) |
| Bizak ask from, Oct 19 | $5,765 new (276200, 28 mm) | $8,730 pre-owned | $6,975 pre-owned (124270, 36 mm) |
The rest is shared: an Oyster case waterproof to 100 m (330 ft) with a screw-down Twinlock crown, sapphire crystal, no date, blue-glowing Chromalight lume, Superlative Chronometer certification to -2/+2 seconds a day, and an Oyster bracelet with the Easylink 5 mm extension. On rolex.com the Air-King and Explorer sit with the Professional watches, the Oyster Perpetual with the classic ones.
Oyster Perpetual vs Air-King: what the extra $1,100 buys
The closest match is the steel Oyster Perpetual 41 (134300) against the 40 mm Air-King (126900), both on calibre 3230. The Air-King lists at $8,150, $1,100 more than the Oyster Perpetual 41 and $1,400 more than the 36. That buys three things the Oyster Perpetual lacks:
- Crown guards. Since 2022 the Air-King's case has protective shoulders, which Rolex calls a crown guard, around the winding crown.
- An Oysterlock safety clasp, which stops the bracelet opening by accident, where the Oyster Perpetual has the Oysterclasp.
- The instrument dial: large 3, 6 and 9 numerals inside a five-minute scale from 05 to 55, made for navigational time readings, a green seconds hand and the Air-King name in the italic script that, Rolex says, Hans Wilsdorf chose himself.
The Oyster Perpetual answers with choice. Rolex's 2026 US catalogue offers the steel 41 with eight dials (silver, medium blue, green, beige, pistachio, lavender, candy pink and a multicoloured Jubilee motif) and the 36 with ten, adding black and turquoise blue. The Air-King comes one way: black dial, Oystersteel. Buy the Oyster Perpetual for the plainest Rolex or for colour, the Air-King for a tool watch at the same size.
Air-King vs Explorer: two takes on 3, 6 and 9
The two share smooth bezels, black dials with Chromalight-filled 3, 6 and 9 numerals and a triangle at 12, calibre 3230 and the Oysterlock clasp. The Explorer's layout is the original, which Rolex gave the first Explorer after the 1953 Everest ascent: numerals at 3, 6 and 9, baton markers and the triangle. The Air-King swaps the batons for its minute scale and adds green and yellow details and crown guards.
The Explorer comes in 36 mm (124270, $7,900, or 124273 in yellow Rolesor, $14,600) and 40 mm (224270, $8,350), so the Air-King's $8,150 sits between the steel Explorers. Choose the Explorer for the quieter dial or a 36 mm case.
Oyster Perpetual vs Explorer
At 36 mm the Oyster Perpetual 126000 and the Explorer 124270 share diameter and calibre, so you are choosing a dial and a clasp: colour and the Oysterclasp at $6,750, or the 3-6-9 dial and Oysterlock at $7,900. At 40 to 41 mm the gap is $1,300: $7,050 for the Oyster Perpetual 41 against $8,350 for the Explorer 40.
Sizes and movements
Only the Oyster Perpetual goes below 36 mm. Its 28, 31 and 34 mm models use calibre 2232 with a silicon Syloxi hairspring; every other model here uses calibre 3230 with a blue Parachrom hairspring. Rolex publishes no thickness figures, so try them on; our watch size guide shows how to measure your wrist.
Prices: Rolex list vs Bizak asks
| Reference | Model | Rolex US list | Bizak ask from, Oct 19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 126900 | Air-King, 40 mm | $8,150 | $8,730 pre-owned; $11,280 new |
| 134300 | Oyster Perpetual 41 | $7,050 | $10,229 new |
| 126000 | Oyster Perpetual 36 | $6,750 | $9,114 pre-owned; $9,945 new |
| 124200 | Oyster Perpetual 34 | $6,400 | $6,974 new |
| 277200 | Oyster Perpetual 31 | $6,300 | $6,509 new |
| 276200 | Oyster Perpetual 28 | $6,200 | $5,765 new |
| 124270 | Explorer 36 | $7,900 | $6,975 pre-owned; $10,277 new |
| 224270 | Explorer 40 | $8,350 | $9,735 pre-owned; $10,514 new |
| 124273 | Explorer 36, yellow Rolesor | $14,600 | $11,114 pre-owned; $12,003 new |
New, every steel 36 to 41 mm model was asked above list, from $9,945 for the Oyster Perpetual 36 to $11,280 for the Air-King, the dearest new although the Explorer 40 lists higher. Pre-owned, the Explorer 36 at $6,975 was $925 under list and the lowest ask for any current 36 to 41 mm model here. The yellow Rolesor Oyster Perpetuals added in 2026 list from $7,700.
Earlier references for less
The Air-King 116900, made from the 2016 redesign until 2022, is 40 mm with a black dial but no crown guards; Bizak asked from $8,640 pre-owned, $90 below a pre-owned 126900. The Oyster Perpetual 41 124300, which the 134300 has replaced in Rolex's catalogue, started at $7,625 pre-owned, the 39 mm Oyster Perpetual 114300 at $6,974 pre-owned, and the 39 mm Explorer 214270 (2010 to 2021) at $8,141 pre-owned.
Which should you buy?
- Oyster Perpetual 36 or 41 for the plainest Rolex, a colour dial or the lowest list price at your size; the 28, 31 or 34 for a smaller wrist.
- Air-King 126900 for the aviation dial, crown guards and a safety clasp at 40 mm.
- Explorer 36 or 40 for the classic 3-6-9 dial and the Oysterlock clasp; pre-owned, the 36 was the lowest ask from 36 mm up.
Quick answers
Is the Air-King better than the Oyster Perpetual?
Neither is better made: the Air-King and the Oyster Perpetual 36 and 41 share calibre 3230, 100 m water resistance and chronometer certification. The Air-King adds crown guards, an Oysterlock clasp and its aviation dial; the Oyster Perpetual offers five sizes, colour dials and a lower list price.
What is the difference between the Rolex Air-King and the Explorer?
Both have smooth bezels, black 3, 6 and 9 dials, calibre 3230 and an Oysterlock clasp. The Air-King is 40 mm with a minute scale and crown guards; the Explorer has baton markers and no crown guards, in 36 or 40 mm.
Which is cheapest: the Air-King, Oyster Perpetual or Explorer?
The Oyster Perpetual: Rolex lists it from $6,200 (28 mm) to $7,050 (41 mm) in steel, against $7,900 for the Explorer 36, $8,150 for the Air-King and $8,350 for the Explorer 40. On October 19, 2026 Bizak asked from $5,765 for a new Oyster Perpetual 28.
Do they use the same movement?
Mostly. The Air-King, the Explorer and the Oyster Perpetual 36 and 41 use calibre 3230, with about 70 hours of power reserve; the Oyster Perpetual 28, 31 and 34 use calibre 2232, with about 55 hours.
Which one has crown guards?
Only the Air-King, since 2022. The Oyster Perpetual and the Explorer have none.
Is the Oyster Perpetual 41 bigger than the Air-King?
By 1 mm: 41 mm against 40 mm. Rolex publishes no thickness figures.
Do the Air-King, Oyster Perpetual or Explorer have a date?
No, all three show hours, minutes and seconds only. In the Explorer family the date comes with the Explorer II; see our Explorer vs Explorer II comparison.
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Looking for a particular dial, size or earlier reference? Send the details through our sourcing enquiry form.
Related reading: Air-King guide · Oyster Perpetual 41 guide · Oyster Perpetual buying guide · Explorer 36 124270 guide · Explorer 40 224270 guide · Explorer vs Explorer II · Cheapest Rolex · Best first Rolex
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