Collectible! Circa 1970s Rado Manhattan 108 ETA 2798/2780 25J Automatic Watch (OH)

Make: Rado
Type: Automatic
Model: Manhattan
Year of Production: Circa 1970s
Movement: Swiss ETA 2798
BPH: 21,600
Number of Jewels: 25
Hands and Dial: 3D Baton Indices and Hands
Width: 35mm
Height: 41mm
Thickness: 13mm
Lug Width: 20mm
Strap: Brand New Hi-Quality Carbon Fibre Strap with Silver Buckle
Pouch / Box: Brand-New EVA Type Zipper Pouch

Rado was founded in 1917 in Lengnau, Switzerland, by brothers Fritz, Ernst, and Werner Schlup. Initially, the company was called Schlup & Co. It began as a small watch movement manufacturing workshop.

Transformation into Rado: In 1957, the Schlup family rebranded the company as Rado Uhren AG. The name "Rado" is derived from the word "radar," reflecting the brand's commitment to innovation and technology. Rado quickly gained a reputation for its avant-garde approach to watch design and its focus on using new materials and technologies.

In 1962, Rado introduced the world's first scratch-resistant watch, made from a revolutionary material called "Hardmetal." This material, which combines metal with a hardening agent, made Rado watches highly durable and virtually impervious to scratches.

In the 1980s, Rado pioneered the use of high-tech ceramic in watchmaking. The brand introduced the Rado Ceramica in 1986, the first watch to feature a ceramic case. Ceramic became a signature material for Rado, prized for its scratch resistance, lightweight, and hypoallergenic properties. In addition to ceramic, Rado has also explored other innovative materials such as high-tech diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings and ultra-lightweight materials like cermet and plasma high-tech ceramic.

In 1983, Rado was acquired by the Swatch Group, one of the world's largest watch conglomerates. Under Swatch Group ownership, Rado continued to innovate and expand its product lineup, introducing new models and collections while maintaining its focus on high-tech materials and modern design.

Today, Rado is recognised as a leader in high-tech ceramic watchmaking and continues to push the boundaries of innovation in the industry. Its watches are prized by collectors and enthusiasts for their modern design, durability, and technological sophistication.

Here we have a beautifully maintained Rado Manhattan Tank circa 1970s that based its design on the Manhattan skyline.

The original version of the Rado Manhattan was produced from 1965 to 1973, and it was aimed at the American market with the intention of leveraging recent attention gained by the pioneering, ultra scratch-resistant Rado DiaStar.

For Rado Collectors and Vintage fans, the Rado Manhattan is one of the first to use the highly prized Swiss ETA 2798 movement. This watch had gained Collector's status because of its unique rectangular Tank shape and ETA 2798 movement.

The Rado logo, which often features an anchor, is unique and present on the watch dial and crown as well.

Its highly copied timeless silver shaped tank case, dial, 3D indices, hands and date window are in stunning condition after a good deep clean-up. The silver case was given a deep cleaning via ultrasonic immersion and the original crystal was also given a good buff which removed most of the obvious scratches and age marks, and is now in near mint condition.

The movement was carefully stripped and meticulously cleaned via ultrasonic immersion, oiled, re-assembled and calibrated on 20 March 2024. It should be able to operate unhindered until the next servicing thereby providing the owner peace of mind.

The signed crown is original and is located at the 3H position and is neatly tucked in to prevent damage and snags yet easily accessible. The date and hands operate in the traditional manner by pulling out and rotating the crown. The date quickset requires the turning of the crown to and from from 10H to 2H. There is no day quickset.

This Manhattan is equipped with the world-renowned ETA 2798 movement with 25 Jewels that operates at 21,600 beats per hour (BPH) giving it excellent accuracy and longevity. The time-grapher after 60 hours of calibration, shows excellent readings i.e. rate of -4 seconds every 24 hours and amplitude of 159 in a relatively straight line! Such readings are highly exceptional even by brand new modern automatic watch standards whereby the accepted tolerance is -20 to +40 seconds a day! This is a testament to the quality, excellent power reserve and longevity for such a vintage timepiece, the meticulous care provided over the years, and of course the painstaking calibration conducted. 

The case width and height are approximately 35m (without crown) and 41mm respectively. The lug width is 20mm and the bracelet can accommodate wrists up to 20cm; hence, this watch is suitable for men and the modern women.

The watch also comes with a brand new hi-quality black carbon fibre with red underlined straps, red piping and silver buckle.

To the best of our knowledge and expertise when overhauling the timepiece, the watch is 100% original Rado components from this particular watch. No parts were replaced with aftermarket parts or modified thereby it is considered in near MINT condition.

Due to its age, this timepiece has not been water-resistant tested.

The pictures provided shows the watch case in excellent condition, and the movement within squeaky clean and well maintained. It has also been demagnetised to improve parts reliability, minimise wear & tear, and improve accuracy. The only drawback is the lack of documentation and original box. A nice purposeful carrying case or box will be provided instead.

Bear in mind that this watch has seen many of the previous owners’ ups and downs in life, and should be cherished and well taken care of for the next generation to savour such engineering beauty.

Yes, there are many other same / similar models in the market, BUT none has beautifully aged and as well maintained as what you see here. Hence, it is a no-brainer that this one-of-a-kind watch will make an extremely beautiful birthday present for that special someone. Another no-brainer is the fact that the value of this watch will appreciate over time.

Do also bear in mind that it will cost between S$ 180.00 to S$ 200.00 for a proper overhaul, an estimated S$ 80.00 to calibrate (depending on watch condition), and S$ 100.00 to clean and polish the entire watch and tighten bracelet links ~ these costs do not apply when purchasing this timepiece. So, if anyone was to sell such a timepiece at a low price yet claim that it has been serviced, one has to ask what kind of servicing was conducted, if any.

This is a highly sort-after Rado Manhattan 108; so, be unique and wear something that is almost impossible to source.

This is a must-have for the Rado die-hard fan, and in fact, any serious watch collector!