Last updated on August 15th, 2025 at 02:42 pm
Servicing the Rado
The service of the Rado Green Horse wristwatch, powered by the 17 jewel A. Schild 1700 automatic movement, began with a full disassembly to assess the condition of each component. This mid-century Swiss caliber is known for its robust design, and reliable bidirectional winding system, making it a popular choice in many quality watches of the era. Upon inspection, the movement showed signs of dried lubricants and minor wear in some pivot points. Each part was carefully cleaned—first by hand where needed, then in a professional watch cleaning machine—to remove hardened oils and debris. The jewels were polished, and the gear train inspected for straightness and proper end shake. After reassembly and lubrication, the movement was regulated for accuracy. The case and crystal were cleaned and lightly polished, preserving the watch’s original finish. Once completed, the Rado Green Horse ran smoothly, keeping excellent.
If you would like to initiate the repair of your vintage timepiece, be sure to visit getting started. For additional information on watches we work on please visit these pages: Vintage Rolex repair, Vintage Breitling repair, Vintage Omega repair, and Vintage Heuer repair.
Rado Horse Wristwatch History
The Rado watch company was founded in 1917 under the name Schlup & Co. By the end of World War 2 they had become one of the largest watch movement producers in the world. The horse collection of watches (which includes the Green, Silver, Gold, Purple and Sapphire Horses) was one of the first to be released under the Rado name, and the first to to be advertised as water resistant. This model also introduced the anchor symbol on the dial, releasing hundreds of variations from manual to automatic, non-date to day-date, and different sizes and movements.
From 1957 to 1962 Rado was modestly successful in South America and the Far East. Paul Lüthi of Rado apparently spent time in Asia, and this possibly inspired the ”Horse” models. This line of watches featured a 120 meter water resistance rating, and a unique 1/4 turn unlocking case back. For more information on Rado’s history, the current company’s website has a very extensive section at History of Rado.
