Rado Purple Horse Automatic 22mm Bicolore

This is a vintage Rado Purple Horse automatic wristwatch featuring a 22mm small-format case, typically designed for women. The timepiece showcases a two-tone (bicolore) aesthetic with a stainless steel base and gold-plated accents on the bezel, crown, and center links of the jubilee-style bracelet. The champagne-colored sunburst dial is highly characteristic of the mid-20th-century aesthetic, likely dating from the 1970s or 1980s. It features applied gold-tone indices, baton hands, and a date window at the 3 o'clock position. A signature element is the rotating anchor logo at the 12 o'clock position, a hallmark of Rado's automatic movements. The lower half of the dial bears the 'Purple Horse' script along with the iconic twin seahorse motif. While the image shows typical vintage wear such as minor surface scratches on the metal and crystal, the overall condition appears well-maintained for its age. The jubilee bracelet utilizes a five-link construction for flexibility and comfort. This piece represents Rado's historic transition into high-precision automatic movements and water-resistant dress watches.

I have carefully examined the provided images of this vintage Rado Purple Horse Automatic 22mm Bicolore. The watch exhibits high visual fidelity to Rado's production standards of the 1970s and 80s, specifically the crisp printing of the 'Purple Horse' script and the distinctive twin seahorse motif. The gold-plating on the jubilee bracelet shows typical thinning on distal edges, and the acrylic crystal displays minor surface abrasions consistent with honest vintage wear. The rotating anchor logo appears positioned correctly, though its functionality—a crucial indicator of movement health—cannot be verified via still image. The market for women's vintage Rados is steady but specialized, generally commanding lower prices than the larger men's 'Green Horse' or 'Golden Horse' counterparts. Recent auction and marketplace comparables for this 22mm bicolore reference range from $200 for pieces requiring service to nearly $500 for those in mint condition with original boxes. While the piece looks authentic, image-based appraisal has inherent limitations. I cannot verify the legitimacy of the internal movement or the caliber's serial number. A physical inspection by a master watchmaker is required to confirm the movement is a genuine Rado-signed ETA base and that no 'franken-watch' parts are present. Furthermore, testing for water resistance and checking for corrosion under the case back gasket would be necessary to finalize this valuation. Provenance or original paperwork would add a 15-20% premium.