Rolex Air King 

Reference 5500

Circa 1979

Serial Number 591,XXX

Size 34mm

Custom Stella Turquoise Dial Birth Box

Condition Excellent

One Year Warranty

Oyster Bracelet

Smooth Bezel

In the 1970's Rolex produced a very limited DayDate with hand mixed colored enamels. These are known as "Stella Dials." There are four stories:

My favorite is that these dials were named after Frank Stella the prominent artist who worked with brightly hued enamels throughout the '70's. Another is that the dial manufacturer was named "Stella". the third is that "Stella" is a type of varnish and finally in Latin "Stella" means Star or Star Like. Choose your favorite.

Manufactured primarily for the Middle Eastern Market, these brightly hued dials were not popular and Rolex end up destroying most of these dials, making them extremely rare highly collectible. Green, is the identifying of Rolex and represents success and prosperity.