Rado - 990 De Luxe Day-Date - No reserve price - 11860 - Men - 1970-1979

Now available at auction from Second Vintage This classic 1970s Rado presents a highly appealing tonneau silhouette characterized by a unique vertical day-date layout. The beautifully preserved, vertically brushed silver dial serves as a striking focal point, complemented perfectly by the presence of the original signed flat-link bracelet and the brand's signature rotating anchor logo. Brand: Rado Model: 990 De Luxe Reference Number: 11860 Serial Number: 1122168 Movement: Automatic, Caliber AS 1859, 25 Jewels Dial: Silver vertically brushed with 6 o'clock vertical day-date Case Size: 34 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Stainless Steel Production Year: 1970s Condition: Good vintage condition. Timegrapher: -60-68s/day, running in operational condition. Dial and Hands The exceptionally well-preserved and striking silver dial features a pronounced vertically brushed finish. Applied faceted indices with black inserts provide clear contrast, matching the original baton hands which feature black central stripes. The dial layout is defined by a distinctive vertical day-date window at 6 o'clock, displaying red day and black date text, alongside the applied rotating Rado anchor logo at 12 o'clock. The dial remains in very clean overall condition with minimal signs of aging or spotting. The hands show age-appropriate patina, with visible oxidation and spotting present on their metal surfaces. Case and Crystal The stainless steel tonneau and cushion shaped case features an integrated design without a separate bezel. The geometry is defined by brushed top surfaces transitioning to polished flanks. The case displays honest wear consistent with age, showing moderate scratches and scuffs throughout, particularly on the polished sides, while the case edges exhibit some softening from normal use. The signed crown bears the Rado anchor logo and shows moderate surface wear along with minor dings. The domed acrylic crystal provides clear visibility of the dial, though light surface scratches are visible in reflections. Movement Powering the watch is a gold-tone automatic movement, Caliber AS 1859, featuring engravings that read RADO, 25 JEWELS, and SWISS. The movement displays noticeable scratches on the winding rotor, with some oxidation and dirt visible on the movement ring and edges. Timegrapher testing indicates a rate of -60-68s/day. Running in operational condition. Maintains the authentic mechanical character of the watch. Strap The watch is fitted with its original signed stainless steel flat-link bracelet. The clasp is signed with the Rado anchor logo and text. The bracelet exhibits normal wear, with moderate scratches and scuffs visible on the links and clasp. The bracelet accommodates a maximum wrist fit of 18cm. Condition Good vintage condition. The dial is beautifully preserved with minimal aging, while the original hands show visible oxidation and spotting. The case and original signed bracelet display moderate scratches, scuffs, and softening consistent with regular use. The crown shows minor dings, and the crystal has light surface scratches. The movement shows scratches on the rotor and oxidation on the edges, and is currently running in operational condition. Dimensions 34 mm (excluding the crown) Remarks The distinctive vertical day-date layout, the beautifully preserved brushed dial, and the presence of the original signed flat-link bracelet make this a highly charming example of 1970s Rado design. It offers excellent visual character for the collector of unique vintage configurations. History During the 1970s, Rado was celebrated for its bold case shapes and creative dial layouts. The 990 De Luxe line offered unique configurations, such as the vertical day-date display seen here, which added visual interest to the classic tonneau silhouette. Powered by reliable automatic calibers like the AS 1859, these watches represent an expressive and highly recognizable era in Swiss watchmaking, appreciated for their distinctive styling. / Second Vintage SKU: RAD-DXX-0006