Rolex Air-King Reference 5500/1002 — Bahrain Royal Coat of Arms Dial

Rolex Air-King Reference 5500/1002 — Bahrain Royal Coat of Arms Dial, circa 1989

Reference 5500 with Bahrain royal crest represents one of Rolex's most exclusive diplomatic commissions. Produced in 1989 for presentation to members of the Bahraini royal family and government officials, these dials feature the national coat of arms—a red shield with white serrated border symbolizing Bahrain—above Arabic script reading "Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa”
Prime Minister of Bahrian from 1970 until 2020.

Historical Context

Rolex produced special-order dials for Middle Eastern governments throughout the 1970s-1990s, creating presentation watches for heads of state, ministers, and distinguished officials. Bahrain examples exist across several references including Datejust, Day-Date, and Air-King models. The Air-King 5500 Bahrain variants are among the rarest, with production believed to be in the low double digits across the reference's 32-year run (1957-1989).

This 1989 example represents late production within the 5500 series, just before Rolex discontinued the reference in favor of the 14000.

Technical Specifications

Stainless steel Oyster case, 34mm diameter. Powered by automatic caliber 1520.
Silver sunburst dial with applied baton hour markers, black sword hands. Oyster bracelet with folded links and Oysterclasp.

Presentation and Condition

Excellent overall condition consistent with careful ownership. Case retains strong definition with original proportions. Dial shows no deterioration to the crest enamel or Arabic script. All lume plots are in place. Movement serviced and functioning properly.

Certification

Every timepiece we offer are certified authentic and thoroughly inspected to ensure excellent working. All watches are authenticated

Collectibility

Middle Eastern royal crest Rolex watches represent a distinct collecting category—state commissions produced in extremely limited quantities for diplomatic purposes. Bahrain examples appear infrequently at auction, with recent results demonstrating strong collector interest in documented royal provenance pieces. The combination of 1989 date, Air-King reference, and complete royal crest execution makes this among the most collectible configurations.