Rado World Travel 343942 (1960-1969)

Now available at auction from Second Vintage This Rado World Travel presents a fascinating piece of mid-century watchmaking, distinguished by its sought-after 57-jewel automatic movement. Born from the competitive "jewel wars" of the 1960s, this unusual configuration is paired with an exceptionally clean silver sunburst dial and a distinctive red roulette-style date display. While the exterior shows heavy, honest wear from decades of use, the pristine dial and remarkably strong mechanical performance make this a compelling find for enthusiasts of vintage quirks. Brand: Rado Model: World Travel Reference Number: 343942 Movement: Automatic, AS 1701, 57 Jewels Dial: Silver sunburst with gold-tone indices and red date display Case Size: 34 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Gold-tone, stainless steel caseback Production Year: 1960s Condition: Good vintage condition. Timegrapher: +7+10s/day, performing remarkably well. Dial and Hands The silver sunburst dial is exceptionally clean and well-preserved, presenting as a pristine and highly attractive centerpiece. The applied gold-tone faceted indices remain bright, and all printed text is crisp and fully intact. The signature rotating Rado anchor logo is present, perfectly complementing the distinctive red roulette-style date display. The gold-tone dauphine hands are original and show minor surface oxidation and spotting visible under magnification. The sweep seconds hand remains straight and intact. Case and Crystal The gold-tone case displays honest wear, with moderate scratches and handling marks throughout. There is noticeable plating wear and brassing on the lug edges and case flanks, reflecting its age and history of use. The smooth, integrated gold-tone bezel shows surface scratches and minor plating wear consistent with the rest of the case. The signed crown, featuring the Rado 'R' logo, exhibits significant plating loss and wear to the knurling. Turning the watch over reveals a stainless steel caseback featuring a crisp, embossed twin seahorse medallion. The domed acrylic crystal is clear, presenting no major scratches, cracks, or crazing, and provides an undistorted view of the dial. Movement The watch is powered by the 57-jewel A. Schild (AS) 1701 automatic caliber. The movement is visually very clean, featuring bright gold-colored plates and bridges with no visible corrosion, oxidation, or damaged screw heads. The rotor is correctly signed and fully intact, and the movement bears the engravings "RADO WORLD TRAVEL" and "FIFTYSEVEN 57 JEWELS SWISS". Recording +7+10s/day on the timegrapher, the movement is exhibiting remarkable accuracy and consistency, performing brilliantly for a vintage timepiece. Strap The watch is fitted with its original signed gold-tone beads-of-rice bracelet. The bracelet is heavily worn and degraded, showing heavy plating loss and brassing throughout, along with green verdigris oxidation visible between the links and near the endlinks. The clasp features the Rado seahorse logo but is heavily worn with substantial plating loss. The bracelet accommodates a maximum wrist size of 18.5cm. Condition Good vintage condition. This Rado offers a striking contrast between its remarkably well-preserved dial and its heavily worn exterior. The case and original bracelet show significant plating loss, brassing, and oxidation consistent with heavy use, while the crystal and dial remain in excellent visual shape. The 57-jewel movement is remarkably clean and delivers strong timegrapher performance. Dimensions The case measures 34 mm (excluding the crown). Remarks This World Travel is defined by its unusual 57-jewel movement, a highly collectible technical feature from the 1960s. The pristine silver sunburst dial, complete with the rotating anchor logo and red date display, offers immense visual charm despite the heavy wear to the gold-tone case and bracelet. History The Rado World Travel from the 1960s perfectly illustrates the mid-century "jewel wars," a period when watchmakers aggressively increased jewel counts to market their movements as superior in quality and durability. Powered by the A. Schild (AS) 1701 automatic movement, this model features a date complication without a quickset function, typical of the era's mechanical architecture. The watch also displays the Rado twin seahorse logo on its caseback, a hallmark of the brand's mid-century design language. Payment and Shipping Payment must be completed within 1–3 days after purchase. Your watch will be professionally and securely packaged, then shipped with tracking and insurance for your peace of mind. We use fast express shipping, with typical delivery within 1–4 business days, depending on the destination. Please note that vintage watches may show minor signs of wear, aging, or imperfections, which are considered normal for watches of this age. We kindly ask you to review all photos carefully before bidding. We photograph each watch from multiple angles to provide the most accurate representation possible, and the photos form an important part of the description. The timegrapher assessment if provided is seen as an indication of the movement’s condition under fully wound testing conditions. As with all vintage watches, results may vary in daily use. If you have any concerns regarding functionality or defects after delivery, please contact us within 3 days of receiving the watch so we can assist you. As with all used watches, water resistance is not guaranteed. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us after the auction ends. / Second Vintage SKU: RAD-RWT-0005