Rado Chronograph Chronograph Wristwatch, Valjoux 22 Caliber, Ftn25rad001

RADO Calibre Valjoux 22 FTN25RAD001 Chronograph Wristwatch. A generously sized chronograph watch, produced in the 1950s/60s. Made by the renowned Swiss watchmaker RADO. Swiss Made. Today, Rado remains a luxury Swiss watch company based in Longeau, in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1917 by the three Schlup brothers, Friedrich (1883-1951), Ernst (1887-1958), and Werner (1895-1970), as Schlup & Co., in their family home in Longeau, in the canton of Bern. Located between the watchmaking centers of Biel/Bienne and Grenchen, the brothers' very first workshop was dedicated to creating lever escapement movements with manual winding mechanisms. In the challenging context of the 1920s crisis, the brothers adopted a dual strategy: manufacturing both movements and finished watches. In 1928, the company definitively adopted the name Rado, most likely derived from Esperanto. In this international language, Rado means "wheel," an essential component of any mechanical watch movement. This is a well-maintained watch; for details on its mechanical condition, please see the description. Dimensions: Case dimensions 37 x 43 mm, excluding crown and lugs; Thickness 13 mm; Maximum strap length 20 cm; Lug width 18 mm. This is a beautifully sized watch, suitable for everyday wear; a timeless model. Movement - Mechanical: Hand-wound movement in excellent condition, with no signs of oxidation or internal moisture. Valjoux Caliber 22, corresponding to a 1950s production. VALJOUX logo, see photo. Swiss movement. This watch is in perfect working order and has been serviced. The buttons (which are mismatched but old) perfectly control the start and stop of the chronograph, as well as resetting it. There is noticeable wear on one of the chronograph buttons. The watch is accurate to within a few minutes throughout the day; you should obviously expect to make a small daily adjustment to maintain accurate time. This watch is approximately 75 years old... Dial and Hands: The light champagne-colored dial, marked "RADO 17 jewels incabloc Ebauche suisse," is in fairly good condition, showing some wear (see photos). It features a horizontal tandem minute counter with a small seconds counter at three and nine o'clock. The dial has several minute tracks for the rangefinder, tachymeter, and other functions. The five hands are in good condition, with the large chronograph seconds hand slightly curved (see photos). The 30-minute chronograph counter has markers at 3, 6, and 9 minutes for... cooking eggs. Crown and Pushers: Original crown, functional for setting the time and winding, in good condition. The chronograph pushers work very well, they are of varying sizes, see photos. Case, Bezel, and Caseback: Show acceptable micro-scratches typical of a pre-owned watch from the 1950s. Case in good condition, see the numerous photos. The bezel is in good condition, same remarks as for the case. Screw-down caseback in good condition, with the watch's serial number. Crystal: It is nicely translucent and in good used condition; there is no need to replace it. Strap: This is a very beautiful strap, absolutely new, but from old stock dating back to the 1950s, never worn. With a gold-plated buckle. Therefore, it perfectly matches this watch. Genuine black leather, leather lining. A good investment... Given its age, over 75 years old, this watch should not be submerged in water. We do not guarantee ANY watch against immersion; we sell collector's items, and the buyer must take care of them. Please note that with vintage watches, buyers may need to adjust the time (fastness/loss). This adjustment must be performed exclusively by a professional and is at the buyer's expense. During transport (although the package will be perfectly protected), this simple, classic adjustment may be necessary, even if the watch has already been serviced and is being sold as such). Fast and well-protected shipping worldwide. For example, for mainland France, Mondial Relay delivery is €10 (fully insured), or home delivery via Colissimo is €18. Check if there is a Mondial Relay store near you. Worldwide shipping is available; shipping costs will be determined with the buyer and are at their expense. Delivery is fully insured and perfectly protected. The buyer chooses their delivery method: home delivery or to a relay point. Payment by multiple checks is possible; shipment is made upon receipt of full payment. PayPal is not accepted. Bank transfer is possible.