The Rado Golden Horse collection first galloped onto the market way back in 1957 and was, in fact, the first series produced under the Rado brand name. Earlier this year, Rado re-introduced a 37-mm version of the Golden Horse to its vintage-inspired Tradition line (alongside the enduringly popular Captain Cook models); now it offers a larger, 42-mm model with an automatic caliber and in a variety of the high-tech materials for which the Swiss brand has become renowned.
The 42-mm Golden Horse Automatic is offered in stainless steel cases with brushed and polished finishes, with a choice of silver, dark gray, blue, or green dials, and options for a calf leather strap with a stamped crocodile pattern, a three-link steel bracelet, or a Milanese-style “grains of rice” steel bracelet. The watch’s hallmarks include the engraved bezel, the crown with anchor emblem surrounded by red lacquer, the red numeral in the 3 o’clock window, and of course the silhouette image of a pair of seahorses from which the watch takes its name. Under a box-shaped sapphire crystal, the dial is orbited by dauphine hands and punctuated by applied indices at the hour markers. Above the Rado logo at 12 o’clock is another brand-unique feature: a moving anchor logo in a red circle.
With the Golden Horse’s bezels, Rado shows off its mastery of unconventional and ultra-modern materials, including high-tech ceramics. One model’s bezel is made of rose-gold-colored Ceramos, a blend of 90 percent ceramic and 10 percent metal alloy that imparts a shiny finish and a high degree of scratch resistance. Others are finished with a bezel made from polished plasma high tech ceramic, a material that Rado introduced to watchmaking in 1998, whose attributes include lightness, durability, and a long-lasting shine.
Behind a titanium caseback and on display behind a sapphire window is the movement, an ETA C07.611, with automatic winding, 25 jewels, and a respectable 80-hour power reserve. The bracelets and straps are equipped with Rado’s EasyClip quick-change system. Prices range from around $2,000 to $2,100.