Rado - World Travel - Sans prix de réserve - N2 59948 - Homme - 1960-1969

Offered in this auction by Second Vintage This Rado World Travel represents a charming example of mid-century Swiss watchmaking, combining an elegant aesthetic with an impressive mechanical specification. Featuring a striking two-tone dial configuration with a prominent golden chapter ring and the iconic rotating Rado anchor logo, this piece captures the adventurous spirit of 1960s horology. The "57 Jewels" designation on the dial and movement rotor highlights an era when jewel counts were a badge of mechanical prestige. With its well-preserved case and distinctive styling, this World Travel offers collectors a stylish and historically interesting vintage dress watch. Brand: Rado Model: World Travel Serial Number: N2 59948 Movement: Automatic, 57 Jewels Dial: Silvered center with golden ribbed chapter ring, applied indices, showing light, even aging 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 patination Dial and Hands The dial of this Rado World Travel presents a captivating two-tone design, featuring a smooth silvered central section surrounded by a broad, ribbed golden chapter ring. Applied golden indices with faceted profiles mark the hours, catching the light beautifully. The signature rotating Rado anchor logo is positioned beneath 12 o'clock against a deep purple background. The typography is crisp, with "RADO WORLD TRAVEL" cleanly printed in black serif and sans-serif fonts, and "57 JEWELS" printed above 6 o'clock. A framed date window sits at 3 o'clock, displaying red numerals. The golden dauphine hands show gentle oxidation and aging consistent with the watch's era. The dial surface exhibits light, even aging and minor spotting visible under close inspection, presenting an honest and attractive vintage character without significant damage or heavy staining. Case and Crystal The 34mm gold-plated case features elegant, sweeping lugs that retain good definition, though they show expected signs of wear and slight softening typical of vintage gold-plated pieces. The smooth golden bezel frames the dial cleanly. The stainless steel screw-down caseback is deeply engraved with the Rado twin-seahorse logo, "Water-Sealed," and the reference/serial numbers, remaining crisp and legible. The original Rado-signed crown, featuring the anchor logo, is present, though it shows some wear to the plating and minor oxidation around its base. A domed acrylic crystal protects the dial, appearing clear with only superficial handling marks. Movement Powering this World Travel is a striking Rado-signed automatic movement, proudly displaying its impressive "57 JEWELS" specification on the gilded rotor. The movement features a golden finish on the automatic winding bridge and rotor, contrasting with the rhodium-plated mainplate and balance bridge. Close inspection reveals the AS shield logo and caliber number 1861/1641 stamped on the baseplate beneath the balance wheel. The movement appears visually clean, with the jewel bearings and shock protection system clearly visible. Performing well within expected vintage tolerances; running strong and steady. Timegrapher: -19s-25s/day. Strap The watch is fitted with a contemporary black leather strap featuring distinctive white and yellow contrast stitching, complementing the golden tones of the dial and case. The strap is secured with a gold-tone pin buckle. Condition This Rado World Travel is in good vintage condition. The dial is well-preserved, showing only light, even aging and minor spotting that enhances its vintage appeal. The gold-plated case exhibits honest wear, with some minor fading and superficial scratches consistent with careful use over the decades. The stainless steel caseback retains crisp engravings. The hands show natural oxidation. Overall, it is a highly attractive piece that wears its history beautifully. Dimensions Case Size: 34 mm (excluding the crown) Remarks This Rado World Travel stands out for its high jewel count movement and its distinctive, multi-textured dial design. The combination of the ribbed golden chapter ring and the iconic rotating anchor makes it a highly recognizable and desirable piece for collectors of mid-century Swiss watches. History Rado has a long history of innovative design and marketing, often pushing the boundaries of materials and aesthetics. The World Travel line, prominent in the 1960s, was designed to appeal to the growing demographic of international travelers, combining robust automatic movements with elegant, versatile styling. The use of high jewel counts, such as the 57 jewels seen here, was a popular trend during this period, serving as a testament to the watch's mechanical sophistication and reducing friction in the automatic winding mechanism. / Second Vintage SKU: RAD-RWT-0003