Rado - Musketeer X - No reserve price - RAD-RMX-0065 - Men - 1970-1979

Now available at auction from Second Vintage This Rado Musketeer X is a captivating representation of 1970s watchmaking, characterized by its bold geometric case and an incredibly dynamic dial. During this era, Rado fearlessly experimented with textures, colors, and distinctive branding, creating timepieces that stood entirely apart from traditional Swiss designs. With its signature rotating anchor logo and a highly detailed ribbed dial, this Musketeer X offers exceptional vintage character and robust mechanical reliability, making it a compelling addition to any collection focused on the daring aesthetics of the 1970s. Brand: Rado Model: Musketeer X Movement: Automatic Caliber 2798, 25 Jewels Dial: Gold-tone vertically ribbed dial with faceted applied indices, exceptionally clean and well-preserved Case Size: 36 mm (excluding the crown) Case Material: Stainless Steel Production Year: 1970s Condition: Excellent vintage condition with a pristine dial and honest case wear Dial and Hands The dial of this Musketeer X is a visual standout, featuring a striking gold-tone surface with a deep, vertically corrugated or ribbed texture that catches and reflects light beautifully. It is adorned with tall, faceted gold-tone baton indices featuring contrasting black central inserts and perfectly positioned outer luminous pips. At the 12 o'clock position sits Rado’s iconic free-rotating anchor logo set against a vibrant red circular background, functioning exactly as intended. Below the center pinion, the printed black sans-serif "Musketeer X" text is accompanied by a highly detailed, applied crest and shield logo. A framed day-date aperture resides at 3 o'clock, displaying a red Sunday and black numerals for the date. The matching gold-tone baton hands feature identical black striping, complemented by a slender sweeping seconds hand. Condition-wise, the dial is in stunning vintage condition, appearing exceptionally clean with no visible moisture damage, spotting, or significant degradation to the text or applied furniture. Case and Crystal The watch is housed in a 36mm stainless steel cushion-style case that perfectly encapsulates the integrated, hooded-lug aesthetic of its decade. The case features a broad, polished upper bezel area that slopes down toward the integrated lugs, creating a substantial and comfortable presence on the wrist. The original Rado-signed crown, bearing the anchor emblem, is partially recessed into the right flank. The screw-down stainless steel caseback is deeply engraved with Rado’s classic Water-Sealed seahorse medallion, which remains crisp and clearly defined. The watch is fitted with a domed acrylic crystal that provides clear distortion-free viewing of the textured dial. The case remains in good vintage condition, displaying honest, age-consistent surface scratches and light handling marks across its polished surfaces, without any signs of heavy over-polishing or structural damage. Movement Powering this timepiece is a Rado-signed automatic movement, clearly stamped with the ETA base caliber 2798 near the balance wheel. The movement features 25 jewels and is beautifully finished with a gold-plated rotor and bridges, displaying the Rado name deeply engraved on the winding mass. The mechanism is clean and visually well-maintained. Exhibiting remarkable accuracy and consistency, performing brilliantly for a vintage timepiece. The timegrapher results show an impressive deviation of +8 to +16 seconds per day. Strap The watch is paired with a period-correct black leather strap featuring an embossed alligator grain pattern and contrasting white edge stitching. The strap is supple and complements the bold vintage aesthetic of the steel case, securing to the wrist with a classic stainless steel pin buckle. Condition This Rado is presented in excellent vintage condition. The absolute highlight is the remarkably well-preserved gold ribbed dial, which shows virtually no signs of aging and remains vibrant. The stainless steel case exhibits honest, moderate wear with superficial scratches typical of normal use over several decades, retaining its original geometry and sharp caseback engravings. The movement is running exceptionally well. Dimensions The stainless steel case measures 36 mm in diameter, excluding the signed crown. The tonneau case shape provides a broad, commanding footprint that wears slightly larger than its dimensions suggest. Remarks Finding a vintage Rado from this era with such a pristine, highly textured dial is a rare treat. The Musketeer X perfectly balances the eccentric design language of the 1970s with high-quality Swiss manufacturing. Between the rotating red anchor, the intricate shield logo, and the corrugated gold dial, this piece offers an immense amount of visual intrigue for the discerning vintage enthusiast. History Founded in Lengnau, Switzerland, Rado initially began as the Schlup & Co. movement manufacturing facility in 1917 before launching watches under the Rado name in the 1950s. By the 1960s and 1970s, the brand had carved out a unique niche by focusing on scratch-resistant materials, avant-garde case shapes, and highly distinctive dial layouts. The introduction of the rotating anchor logo became a hallmark of their automatic watches, originally intended to indicate when the movement required service by ceasing to spin freely. Models like the Musketeer X represent Rado’s golden era of creative freedom, appealing to a global market that craved futuristic and expressive timepieces. / Second Vintage SKU: RAD-RMX-0065