Rado - Golden Horse - No reserve price - 11675 - Men - 1960-1969

Offered in this auction by Second Vintage The Rado Golden Horse stands as a proud testament to mid-century Swiss watchmaking, capturing the essence of an era when robust engineering met distinctive, character-driven design. Introduced as one of Rado's pioneering collections, the Golden Horse quickly became renowned for its reliability and striking aesthetic signatures. This specific example beautifully showcases the brand's iconic free-spinning anchor logo and dual seahorse emblem, offering collectors a mechanically sophisticated thirty-jewel automatic timepiece that carries the genuine charm and authentic wear of a life well-lived. Brand: Rado Model: Golden Horse Reference Number: 11675 Movement: Automatic, Caliber AS 1700/01, 30 Jewels Dial: Silver sunburst dial with applied faceted indices and signature rotating anchor logo, showing visible peripheral aging Case Size: 35 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Stainless Steel Production Year: 1960s Condition: Good vintage condition with honest wear and attractive original character Dial and Hands The dial presents a brilliant silver sunburst finish that radiates beautifully under the light, providing a dynamic backdrop for the intricate dial furniture. Applied faceted double-baton hour markers anchor the layout at six, nine, and twelve o'clock, complemented by single batons at the remaining hours. At twelve o'clock sits Rado's signature rotating anchor logo, crafted in silver-tone metal over a deep purple circular background. Above six o'clock, the applied dual seahorse emblem is positioned above crisp, italicized Golden Horse script. The date aperture at three o'clock is framed in silver and features a striking red numeral. The dial shows clear signs of its age, most notably localized discoloration and spotting along the extreme outer periphery and crystal tension ring near the ten and eleven o'clock positions. The steel dauphine hands exhibit a central ridge and show minor surface oxidation consistent with the vintage nature of the timepiece. Case and Crystal The thirty-five millimeter stainless steel case features a smooth polished bezel and elegantly curved lugs that sit comfortably on the wrist. The case exhibits honest handling marks, superficial scratches, and general wear throughout, yet it retains solid geometry without the softened edges typical of heavy over-polishing. The original crown is deeply signed with the Rado R and anchor motif. Turning the watch over reveals a screw-down caseback prominently engraved with the Rado seahorse emblem, accompanied by Water-Sealed text, patent numbers, and the 11675 reference stamp. The caseback shows typical surface scratches from regular use and historical opening. The domed acrylic crystal is equipped with an internal date magnifier and shows light surface wear, with some visible aging along the outer edge. Movement Powering this timepiece is the robust automatic Caliber AS 1700/01, clearly stamped beneath the balance wheel. The rhodium-plated movement is a visual delight, featuring a prominent rotor elegantly engraved with Rado Golden Horse and proudly declaring its thirty-jewel specification in gold-filled text. The mechanical architecture remains clean, with its ruby jewels and Incabloc shock protection system clearly visible. Running in vintage operational condition. Maintains the authentic mechanical character of the era. The timegrapher results reflect a current performance of -48 to -53 seconds per day. Strap The watch is fitted with a period-correct black leather strap featuring a subtle textured pattern, tonal edge stitching, and a classic stainless steel pin buckle. Condition This Rado is presented in good vintage condition. It displays normal wear indicative of regular and honest use over the decades. The dial retains its striking central sunburst texture while exhibiting noticeable peripheral aging and spotting. The case preserves its structural integrity and original engravings, showing expected surface scratches and handling marks consistent with its age. Dimensions Case width: 35 mm (excluding the crown). Remarks The Golden Horse is a true cornerstone of Rado's mid-century catalog, celebrated for its high-jewel count and instantly recognizable design elements. This example offers a fantastic opportunity to acquire a distinctive and historically significant Swiss timepiece that perfectly encapsulates the adventurous spirit of 1960s horology. History Introduced in 1957, the Golden Horse marked a highly significant milestone for Rado as one of the brand's first major collections released under its own name. It established Rado's reputation for producing highly reliable, water-resistant watches with a unique visual identity, paving the way for the brand's future innovations in unconventional materials and avant-garde design. The rotating anchor logo, introduced shortly after the model's debut, became an enduring hallmark of Rado's automatic watches. Originally conceived as a clever visual indicator of service intervals, the anchor would eventually stop spinning as the pivot lubricants dried out, reminding the owner that it was time for a mechanical service. Today, it remains one of the most charming and interactive features in vintage watch collecting. / Second Vintage SKU: RAD-RGH-0085