Rado watches. Your thoughts?

Dont know much about them....my dad has one that was given to him when he got married 30+ yrs ago. I dont know if they get much love from watch people. But I am really digging these two:





Looks like they can be had for under a grand. Thoughts?

I do not know much about them, however, every one I have ever seen has been just ugly. Not my style.

Originally Posted by Lucky7

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I do not know much about them, however, every one I have ever seen has been just ugly. Not my style.

Agreed...most I have seen has been pretty ugly as well:
case in point:




But the ones I posted look pretty good IMHO.

Most Rado's are, as others have said, not very aesthetically pleasing. However, I'm sure they're fairly decent watches overall all the same. Not my cup of tea, though.

Judging by the amount of advertising they do in the Middle and Far East, they must be big sellers in that part of the world.

I think they're mostly quartz movements, but there have been a few interesting models -- the dark metallic grey ceramic one was one of the first timepieces I ever saw to use that material. It's supposedly very scratch- and ding-resistant.

Vintage Rado's are very much appreciated and are know for their exceptional movements. You can read more about them at timezone.

Dshin,


The classic Rado from around 35 years ago is very similar to the photo that you post except simpler, and it had an automatic movement

I had one which I loved and received many compliments on.

Sadly the movement was hard to keep in repair so I gave it away. Hopefully the newer models are more reliable.

Some of their more classically designed watches are very nice, but I've never really been a fan.
For the money you can find many choices that are aesthetically more pleasing and mechanically more interesting.
Cheers,
J

Rado is more of a fashion watch these days, not something for the serious watch afficianado. Fit and finish is generally not what it should be in its price range. If I was looking to acquire something in the sub-$500 are then I'd more likely go for one of the new Seiko auto dress watches, or maybe a Tissot or an Oris. Consider that there is virtually zero secondary market for the new Rados. If you get tired of it, you're going to have to give it away. The same money spent on a more collectible watch can easily be recouped. Or the watch can be traded for your latest fancy.

Hamilton might be another watch to look at. Or maybe one of the Martathon military spec watches --they're cheap. Try to go mechanical (not quartz) whether auto or manual.

I have noticed where the Rados get some love in Southeast Asia. I've seen more Rados in BKK than anywhere else. I have no idea why....

Let me add: have you ever tried *using* a watch with an internal bezel? The kind where you set the hour mark by turning the second stem? In my experience this type of bezel is next to useless. The difficulty required to set the thing means I won't likely be timing my parking meter, my rice, my steak on the grill, how long I'm on hold, etc. A real bezel can be a nice thing. The two Rados in the first post both have the internal bezel. That would be a total deal breaker.

Originally Posted by M. Bardamu

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Judging by the amount of advertising they do in the Middle and Far East, they must be big sellers in that part of the world.
Bingo. Their dated designs look out of place anywhere else. Oddly enough, those same designs are their trademark.

Originally Posted by FidelCashflow

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Their dated designs look out of place anywhere else. Oddly enough, those same designs are their trademark.

Rado is/was known for their innovative use of materials (ceramic, tungstend, diamond) and distinct case shape. Because of the latter, you either love the Rado aesthetic or hate it, with little middle ground.


Another watch brand that is hyoouugeee in Asia is Piaget. I suspect part of the popularity dates back to when a big chunk of the continent was under European colonization.

Originally Posted by TGPlastic

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Rado is more of a fashion watch these days, not something for the serious watch afficianado. Fit and finish is generally not what it should be in its price range. If I was looking to acquire something in the sub-$500 are then I'd more likely go for one of the new Seiko auto dress watches, or maybe a Tissot or an Oris. Consider that there is virtually zero secondary market for the new Rados. If you get tired of it, you're going to have to give it away. The same money spent on a more collectible watch can easily be recouped. Or the watch can be traded for your latest fancy.

Agreed, you can't beat a Japan-market only Seiko (or Citizen) for the price and quality.

Originally Posted by whacked

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Another watch brand that is hyoouugeee in Asia is Piaget. I suspect part of the popularity dates back to when a big chunk of the continent was under European colonization.

I always wondered who was buying all those vintage gold watches... now it all makes sense.

The key thing about RADO is the tungsten carbide material they are made of. It's insanely hard and scratch resistant. If you want a black, shiny watch that will always be black and shiny, get a RADO.