Rado - New Golden Horse - No reserve price - 11816 - Men - 1970-1979

Available now on auction by Second Vintage This Rado New Golden Horse is a captivating representation of 1970s Swiss watch design, perfectly capturing the era's shift toward robust cushion cases and charismatic dial accents. With its distinctive brushed finishing, vibrant green seahorse motif, and signature rotating anchor, this timepiece stands as a testament to Rado's fearless approach to aesthetics and enduring mechanical quality. Brand: Rado Model: New Golden Horse Reference Number: 11816 Movement: Automatic ETA Caliber 2789, 25 Jewels Dial: Vertically brushed silver dial, clean overall surface with visible wear and metal exposure on the rotating anchor logo Case Size: 38 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Stainless Steel Production Year: 1970s Condition: Good vintage condition with honest case wear and a well-preserved dial texture Dial and Hands The dial features a striking vertically brushed silver texture that captures the light beautifully, serving as a dynamic backdrop for the applied faceted indices with their distinctive black inserts. A hallmark of Rado's bold design language, the dial displays the applied green twin seahorses at nine o'clock and the signature framed day-date aperture at three o'clock, featuring a green text for the day and red text for the date. The original baton hands mirror the indices with matching black central stripes. Upon close inspection, the dial surface remains exceptionally clean and free of significant staining, though the iconic rotating anchor logo at twelve o'clock exhibits distinct paint loss and metallic exposure consistent with age and mechanical wear. Case and Crystal The 38mm stainless steel cushion case exemplifies 1970s architectural watch design, featuring a robust tonneau profile. The case retains strong factory finishing, with prominent horizontal brushing across the upper surfaces that transitions sharply into polished case flanks. Honest surface scratches and light handling marks are present throughout, commensurate with normal vintage wear, yet the lug profiles remain sharp and well-defined. The watch is fitted with a Rado-signed crown bearing the anchor motif and is protected by a crystal that presents cleanly with only faint superficial wear. The screw-down caseback is structurally sound, displaying typical age-related scuffs. Movement Powering this timepiece is the robust ETA Caliber 2789 automatic movement, proudly signed by Rado and featuring 25 jewels. The movement presents cleanly, with the golden drive wheel and brushed rotor clearly visible through the caseback when opened. Exhibiting remarkable accuracy and consistency, performing brilliantly for a vintage timepiece. The timegrapher testing indicates a healthy performance of +15 to +20 seconds per day. Strap The watch is presented on it's original period correct stainless steel bracelet featuring folded link construction. The clasp is deeply stamped with the original Rado twin seahorse emblem, securing the watch comfortably for a wrist size of up to 18 cm. Condition Presented in good vintage condition, this Rado shows a highly authentic preservation of its original components. The case lines remain crisp despite expected light surface wear. The dial texture is remarkably well-preserved, with the primary condition note being the visible wear to the rotating anchor logo. The movement is running strong and steady. Dimensions The case measures 38 mm in diameter excluding the crown, offering substantial wrist presence. The accompanying stainless steel bracelet accommodates a maximum wrist size of 18 cm. Remarks The New Golden Horse is a fantastic representation of Rado's transition into the bold, experimental designs of the 1970s. The combination of the brushed cushion case, colorful day-date wheels, and distinctive branding makes this a highly charismatic vintage daily wearer for any dedicated collector. History Rado introduced the Golden Horse collection in the late 1950s as a testament to their growing expertise in robust, water-resistant timepieces. By the 1970s, the New Golden Horse evolved the lineage, adopting the era's popular chunky cushion cases and integrating playful, colorful elements like the green seahorse motif and bi-color day-date displays. This era cemented Rado's reputation for combining enduring Swiss mechanical reliability with unapologetically unique and forward-thinking aesthetics. / Second Vintage SKU: RAD-RGH-0079