Rado - World Travel - No reserve price - AS 1701 57J - Men - 1960-1969

Presented for auction by Second Vintage The Rado World Travel stands as a testament to the brand's mid-century design philosophy, combining robust engineering with elegant aesthetics. This particular example, featuring a remarkable 57-jewel movement, highlights the era's fascination with high-jewel count calibers, often a point of pride for Swiss manufacturers. The golden tones and distinctive rotating anchor logo make this a quintessential vintage Rado, offering a charming blend of dress watch elegance and everyday durability. Brand: Rado Model: World Travel Movement: Automatic, AS 1701 base, 57 jewels Dial: Golden sunburst dial with even, stardust-like patina and spotting throughout Case Size: 34 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Gold-plated with stainless steel caseback Production Year: 1960s Condition: Good vintage condition with honest wear and attractive, evenly distributed dial patina Dial and Hands The dial presents a striking golden sunburst finish that has developed a distinct and even stardust-like patina across its entire surface. This spotting is consistent with its age and adds a unique, vintage character to the watch without compromising legibility. The applied, faceted indices feature a grooved texture, catching the light beautifully and complementing the sharp, dauphine-style hands. The iconic Rado rotating anchor logo is positioned prominently at 12 o'clock, set against a vibrant purple background. The date window at 3 o'clock is framed by a subtle, applied golden border. The text "RADO WORLD TRAVEL" and "57 JEWELS" remains crisp and fully legible, while the "SWISS MADE" designation is visible at the very bottom edge. Case and Crystal The 34mm gold-plated case exhibits a classic mid-century profile with gently sweeping lugs. The case shows honest signs of vintage wear, with some softening of the edges and light surface marks consistent with regular use over the decades. The gold plating remains largely intact, though minor wear can be observed upon close inspection, particularly around the lugs and bezel edge. The crystal is domed and features an internal magnifying cyclops over the date window; it remains generally clear, offering a good view of the dial beneath. The stainless steel screw-down caseback is a highlight, featuring the deeply engraved Rado seahorse logo and "Water-Sealed" script, alongside patent numbers. The crown is signed with the Rado anchor logo. Movement Powering this World Travel is a striking 57-jewel automatic movement, based on the reliable AS 1701 caliber. The movement is beautifully finished with a golden hue and features a signed rotor bearing the Rado anchor logo and "WORLD TRAVEL FIFTYSEVEN 57 JEWELS SWISS." The high jewel count was a hallmark of premium Rado models of this era, designed to reduce friction and enhance longevity. Exhibiting remarkable accuracy and consistency, performing brilliantly for a vintage timepiece. The timegrapher indicates a deviation of +5s/day. Strap The watch is fitted with a deep burgundy leather strap featuring contrasting yellow stitching. The strap complements the golden tones of the case and dial perfectly, securing with a gold-tone pin buckle. Condition This Rado World Travel is in good vintage condition. The case shows normal signs of wear for its age, while the dial has developed a heavy but visually appealing stardust patina. The movement is clean and running exceptionally well, as indicated by the timegrapher results. Dimensions Case Size: 34 mm (excluding the crown) Remarks The combination of the high-jewel movement, the iconic rotating anchor, and the beautifully aged golden dial makes this Rado World Travel a compelling piece for collectors of mid-century Swiss horology. History Rado, founded in 1917 as Schlup & Co., began producing watches under the Rado name in the 1950s. The brand quickly established a reputation for innovative designs and the use of unconventional materials. The World Travel line, introduced in the 1960s, was designed for the jet-setting professional, offering reliable automatic movements and robust, water-resistant cases. The inclusion of high-jewel movements, like the 57-jewel caliber seen here, was part of Rado's strategy to position itself as a manufacturer of premium, durable timepieces, a legacy that continues to define the brand today. / Second Vintage SKU: RAD-RWT-0008