Rado - Musketeer - No reserve price - 11998 - Men - 1970-1979

Now available at auction from Second Vintage This Rado Musketeer stands as a testament to the highly expressive and experimental watchmaking era of the 1970s. Characterized by its robust case architecture, distinctive dial motifs, and the brand's signature rotating anchor, this timepiece captures the adventurous spirit of mid-century Swiss design. With its honest wear and unmistakable wabi-sabi character, this watch offers a brilliant opportunity to acquire a mechanically sound, highly individual piece of vintage horology that wears its history proudly. Brand: Rado Model: Musketeer Reference Number: 11998 Movement: ETA 2798 Automatic Dial: Silver-tone with applied indices, showing heavy moisture patina, spotting, and localized finish loss Case Size: 36 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Stainless Steel with gold-tone accents Production Year: 1970s Condition: Fair vintage condition with honest case wear and significant dial character Dial and Hands The dial of this Musketeer presents a striking layout that tells a story of decades of use. Set against a silver-tone base, the dial features highly sculptural, applied gold-tone indices with ribbed textures and vivid red central channels. At twelve oclock, the iconic Rado rotating anchor logo provides a dynamic touch of crimson, balancing the framed day-date aperture located at three oclock. The lower hemisphere displays the printed Musketeer II nomenclature alongside the charming graphic of two duelists. Condition-wise, the dial exhibits significant, heavy aging. Clear signs of past moisture ingress have resulted in widespread spotting, localized loss of the silvered finish around the central pinion and lower edge, and a deeply darkened patina throughout. The faceted gold-tone dauphine hands and central sweep seconds hand have aged uniformly alongside the dial, showing moderate surface oxidation but remaining entirely original to the watch. Case and Crystal The thirty-six millimeter stainless steel tonneau case perfectly encapsulates 1970s futuristic styling. The upper surfaces feature a radial brushed finish that contrasts with the polished case flanks. A highly unusual and distinct design element of this reference is the presence of two textured, gold-tone decorative bars affixed to the top and bottom case ledges, framing the dial. The original signed Rado crown is present and features the anchor logo. The case exhibits noticeable, honest vintage wear, including surface scratches, light dings, and handling marks on the polished sides, though it retains its strong structural geometry. The watch is fitted with a thick, raised acrylic crystal with beveled edges. The crystal shows numerous micro-scratches and surface scuffs consistent with active wear, which slightly diffuses the view of the dial beneath. The screw-down caseback prominently displays the Rado triple seahorse Water-Sealed medallion and the reference number stamping. Movement Powering this timepiece is the robust ETA caliber 2798 automatic movement, heavily customized by Rado. Visible through the removed caseback, the movement is a visual treat, featuring a striking gold-finished rotor decorated with a complex guilloché crosshatch pattern and signed with the Rado name and twenty-five jewels indication. The base plate is clearly stamped with the 2798 caliber designation. The movement is clean, with the balance wheel and escapement presenting well under magnification. Running and operational, offering reliable vintage performance (see timegrapher). Timegrapher results reflect current performance with readings of +16s to +22s/day. Strap The watch is fitted with its original Rado stainless steel flat-link bracelet, an essential component for completing the integrated aesthetic of this 1970s piece. The links are finished with a brushed surface, leading to a folding clasp that is deeply stamped with the Rado logo and name. The bracelet exhibits normal stretch, surface scuffs, and desktop diving marks consistent with fair vintage condition, and accommodates a wrist size up to 17.5 centimeters. Condition This watch is presented in fair vintage condition. It is a genuine survivor that displays obvious signs of a life well-lived. The case and original bracelet bear expected scratches and handling wear but remain structurally sound. The dial heavily dictates the condition grade, showing severe moisture spotting, finish degradation, and overall heavy patina. This piece is perfectly suited for the collector who values absolute originality, mechanical health, and the undeniable charm of natural, heavy aging over pristine restoration. Dimensions The stainless steel case measures 36 millimeters in diameter, excluding the signed crown. The tonneau case shape and substantial bracelet integration provide a prominent and highly wearable stance, fitting comfortably on wrists up to 17.5 centimeters. Remarks Vintage Rado watches from this era are celebrated for their fearless design language and excellent build quality. This Musketeer II is a fantastic example of the brand's willingness to experiment with textures, dual-tone accents, and whimsical dial graphics. Despite the heavy dial aging, the robust ETA movement and intact original bracelet make this a mechanically viable and visually fascinating addition to any collection focused on unique 1970s horology. History Rado established itself in the mid-twentieth century as a brand entirely unafraid of convention. While they would later become world-renowned for their pioneering use of high-tech ceramics and scratch-proof tungsten carbide, their 1960s and 1970s catalogs were filled with creatively shaped steel watches bearing imaginative names like the Captain Cook, the Golden Horse, and the Musketeer. The rotating anchor logo, initially conceived as a functional indicator of service intervals for the automatic winding mechanism, quickly evolved into the brand's most beloved aesthetic signature. The Musketeer series remains a cult favorite among Rado enthusiasts, representing a period when Swiss watchmaking fully embraced bold geometry and expressive storytelling. / Second Vintage SKU: RAD-RMX-0004