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Schild movements)Ī cursory perusal of the breadth of Rado models produced in the 1960s and until the 1970s shows that the brand focused on innovation in design and materials, but less on movement production. Such limited production and their age make the Felsa 4009 day-date watches desirable among the regular production models of Rado.Įst. Schild movement pushed the total to 5000 units made by the time production ceased in 1968. More recent research suggests that later production runs of a version powered by an A.
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11706 Daymasters were produced, beginning in 1962. The watch that is presumably the earlier of the two models features more sedate markers (flamboyant markers are often associated with Rado watches from the late 1960s into the 1970s) and, though the movement is the same Felsa caliber 4009, is the only model of the three examined here with a rotor actually marked "Daymaster." A 2003 exchange of messages with the PR department at Rado headquarters indicated that only 500 Ref. The case back engraving, rotor decoration, and dial markers are noticeably different. The two silver-dial Green Horse Daymaster models shown here are among the earliest styles, yet they exhibit minor differences-often a recurring event when examining Rado models from the same nominal line-that suggest they were produced in different runs. By that time Rado was proud of their day-date watches but earlier in the sixties the Daymaster models were less prevalent and not as widely offered across the brand’s product line.
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Day-date Rados were an integral part of marketing campaigns in the 1960s one magazine ad from 1969 touted six distinct day-date models including the DiaStar, Manhattan & Voyager but also more obscure models such as the Marco Polo. Such models were dubbed "Daymaster" and eventually included references within the Green Horse, Golden Horse, and Starliner model lines, among others. Also in 1962, Rado began offering watches with day and date displays. During that year the young brand introduced their iconic scratch-proof DiaStar model and the trademark emblem found on nearly every automatic Rado watch since: the rotating anchor logo (for more on this see iW’s July 2003 Rado article). 11706).ġ962 was a milestone year in Rado history. The models exhibited here are variations of the Green Horse Daymaster (Ref. The legacy of the Rado horses is still strong and even today one of the earliest Rado automatic models, 1958's "Golden Horse," is being commemorated with three limited-production versions available only in Japan, where it was the brand’s first success in that market. Opening this printed exhibit of Rado watches, just as the previous installment, with a Green Horse seems natural as there were several varieties produced. In this installment, the focus is on some uncommon pieces that are noteworthy-for reasons of design, construction, rarity or some combination of these attributes-yet seem to fly under the radar of the average watch aficionado.Įarly day-date model with uncommon movement The Rado models previously profiled included some of the most famous: the Manhattan, which heralded Rado's 1965 foray into the US market the Captain Cook, a line of diver's watches introduced in the early 1960s and some of the “Horse” models, which include such varieties as the Green Horse, Golden Horse and Purple Horse. This next installment continues that theme-that watches from a brand with a rich history of design and innovation can be found even today in good condition and at good prices-and adds a few twists. The intent was to expose collectors to the variety of Rado models and highlight some attributes for which Rado watches stand apart from myriad other vintage pieces in the same price classes. Originally published in International Watchįollowing the 40th anniversary of Rado's iconic DiaStar scratch-proof watch from 1962, iW ran my first article on vintage Rado automatic watches. Vintage Rado Watches (Part II) Rarities of Bold Style