{"id":45520,"date":"2023-02-09T01:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T09:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/?p=45520"},"modified":"2023-10-26T12:09:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T19:09:17","slug":"dominos-rolex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bobswatches.com\/rolex-blog\/resources\/dominos-rolex.html","title":{"rendered":"Domino’s Rolex Air-King\u00a0Watches: Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Those familiar with the Rolex Air-King collection<\/a> have likely browsed plenty of popular models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a number of these references are common for collectors to have heard of, it’s safe to say that fewer are familiar with the Domino’s Rolex, which isn\u2019t a nickname coined because of a particular color or style, but rather the label given to Rolex watches made especially for the giant pizza chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This merging of two incredibly different brands, where one represents affluence and the other affordability, may surprise some as it is hardly the most expected pairing. However, Domino’s Pizza has been ordering custom Rolex watches from the Swiss watchmaking giant for more than 40 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Domino's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

History of the Domino\u2019s Rolex <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tom Monaghan, the founder of Domino’s Pizza, revealed the origins of the Domino\u2019s Rolex watch in his 1986 autobiography, Pizza Tiger. He wrote, \u201cI started giving away watches in 1977, when I wore a Bulova with our Domino\u2019s logo on its face. A franchisee asked what he had to do to get that watch from me, and I told him, \u2018Turn in a twenty-thousand-dollar sales week.\u2019 He did it, and for the next few years I gave away several Seikos<\/a> and after that hundreds of $800 Rolex watches.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rolex watches he mentioned were in fact, the Air-King ref. 5500. With its stainless steel 34mm Oyster case, steel Oyster bracelet, and time-only dial, the Air-King 5500 is one of Rolex’s most understated watches<\/a>. However, the vibrant Domino\u2019s blue and red logo emblazoned on the dials of the Air-King watches awarded to high-achieving store managers makes the otherwise discreet Rolex stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monaghan understood that the chance to win a Rolex would be a fantastic motivator for store managers, so the pizza company set up the Domino\u2019s Pizza Rolex Challenge. While the original way to win a Domino\u2019s branded Rolex was to hit $20,000 a week in sales, the targets became more ambitious as the pizza chain grew. Additionally, as Rolex\u2019s catalog has also changed, Domino\u2019s branding has not only appeared on various watches, but also in different forms over the years. And yes, the Domino\u2019s Pizza Rolex Challenge is still going on today with the brand new Oyster Perpetual<\/a> 36 ref. 12000 standing in as the coveted prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to emphasize that genuine Domino\u2019s Rolex watches are not aftermarket pieces with custom branding done by Domino’s\u2014 \u2013 these come straight from Rolex and  furnished with necessary logos, some even with paperwork stating \u201cDomino\u2019s Pizza\u201d as the purchaser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Domino's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Features and Variations of the Domino\u2019s Pizza Rolex <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With a history that spans over four decades, there have been several variations of Domino\u2019s branding on Rolex watches. For instance, earlier models included the Domino\u2019s logo on the dial. There are examples with color logos (blue, red, and white) and black and white logos, in addition to larger logos, smaller logos, straight logos, and tilted logos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n