Rado Golden Horse 3453602 (1960-1969)

Presented for auction by Second Vintage This Rado Golden Horse is a striking example of mid-century Swiss design, showcasing the brand's distinctive aesthetic and mechanical ambition from the era. Known for their robust builds and unique dial features, vintage Rado timepieces offer tremendous character. This particular example stands out with its incredible, even "stardust" patina across the dial, transforming the watch into a truly unique, one-of-a-kind collector's piece. Complete with the iconic rotating anchor logo and dual seahorse emblem, it is a testament to Rado's golden age of watchmaking. Brand: Rado Model: Golden Horse Reference Number: 3453602 Movement: Automatic, 30 Jewels Dial: Champagne dial exhibiting heavy, even stardust patina, with applied gold-tone indices and rotating anchor logo Case Size: 35 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Gold-plated with stainless steel caseback Production Year: 1960s Condition: Good vintage condition with honest wear and beautiful dial patina Dial and Hands The dial of this Golden Horse has aged gracefully, developing a heavy, uniform "stardust" or freckled patina across its champagne surface, giving it immense vintage character. It features applied, faceted gold-tone hour markers that catch the light beautifully. At the 12 o'clock position sits Rado's signature free-rotating anchor logo against a purple background, while the applied dual seahorse emblem rests proudly above 6 o'clock. The original dauphine hands remain in good condition, showing light oxidation consistent with the dial's aging. A framed date window at 3 o'clock displays the date in striking red numerals. Case and Crystal The 35mm gold-plated case features classically styled sweeping lugs. The case shows honest, clear signs of wear and age, with visible plating loss on the lug edges, the underside of the case, and around the bezel lip, indicative of a watch that has been worn and enjoyed over the decades. The stainless steel screw-down caseback is well-preserved, featuring the deeply engraved Rado "Water Sealed" seahorse medallion, along with clear patent numbers. The domed acrylic crystal features a prominent magnification cyclops over the date window and remains clear, allowing an unobstructed view of the patinated dial. Movement Powering this timepiece is a Swiss-made Rado automatic movement, boasting 30 jewels. The brightly finished rotor is proudly signed "RADO GOLDEN HORSE THIRTY 30 JEWELS SWISS" and features the anchor logo. The movement presents cleanly, with the balance wheel and gear train clearly visible in the provided macro imagery. Running in vintage operational condition. Maintains the authentic mechanical character of the era. The timegrapher reads -52 to -55 seconds per day. Strap The watch is fitted with a handsome black leather strap featuring thick, contrasting gold-toned stitching that perfectly complements the gold case and dial accents. The strap is supple and in excellent condition, securing with a classic gold-tone pin buckle. Condition This Rado is in good vintage condition, presenting a highly attractive, time-earned aesthetic. The heavy stardust patina on the dial is even and visually striking, free from localized moisture damage or disruptive staining. The gold-plated case exhibits expected wear, including softening of the lug edges and noticeable plating loss, particularly on the reverse side and high-friction points. The stainless steel caseback retains its crisp engravings. Dimensions Case Size: 35 mm (excluding the crown) Remarks The Rado Golden Horse is a beloved model among vintage enthusiasts, offering a perfect blend of robust engineering and quirky, distinctive design cues. The combination of the rotating anchor, the applied seahorses, and the roulette-style red date wheel make it a joy to examine on the wrist. The unique patina on this specific example elevates it from a standard vintage watch to a piece of wearable history with an unmistakable personality. History Founded in 1917 as Schlup & Co., Rado originally produced watch movements before launching its own brand of finished watches in the 1950s. The Golden Horse collection, introduced in 1957, was one of Rado's earliest and most successful lines, designed to be durable, water-resistant, and stylish. It was during this era that Rado introduced its now-famous moving anchor logo, which originally served as a visual indicator of when the watch needed servicing (as the anchor would stop spinning when the oils dried up). The Golden Horse paved the way for Rado's future innovations in materials and design, cementing the brand's reputation for creating distinctive, highly capable timepieces. / Second Vintage SKU: RAD-RGH-0021