Vintage Rado DiaStar Alarm Automatic Mens Watch 40mm Hardmetal Arabic Day Date

About this watch

A vintage Rado DiaStar Alarm from the 1970s, combining an automatic movement with a mechanical alarm. The finely brushed silver-white dial is framed by a blue-grey ring and has applied metallic hour markers, a red-tipped alarm hand, the red Rado anchor emblem and a framed day-date display with the day in Arabic.

The angular, faceted tungsten-carbide hardmetal case measures approximately 40mm across and 15mm thick, with two crowns (time and alarm) and a screw-down stainless-steel caseback signed Rado Watch Co. The Rado-signed rotor is marked 6801 and the movement is marked 25 jewels, Swiss. It comes on a stainless steel bracelet, approximately 24mm wide, and with a Rado box.

Brand heritage

Rado grew out of the Schlup & Co. movement workshop founded in Lengnau, Switzerland, in 1917, and began selling watches under the Rado name in the 1950s. The brand became known as the "Master of Materials" for pioneering hardmetal, sapphire crystal and, later, high-tech ceramic in watchmaking. The DiaStar, introduced in 1962, was the first scratch-resistant watch, with a case of tungsten-carbide hardmetal. In the 1970s Rado added an alarm version to the line, with an automatic alarm calibre offering centre seconds, day and date and a mechanical alarm set by the second crown.

Why this one is special

• Rare automatic alarm version of the iconic DiaStar
• Scratch-resistant tungsten-carbide hardmetal case, the DiaStar signature
• Arabic day display, a sought-after Middle East market variant
• Comes with a Rado box

Specifications

• Brand / Model: Rado DiaStar Alarm
• Era: circa 1970s
• Case: tungsten-carbide hardmetal, approx. 40 mm, approx. 15 mm thick, screw-down steel caseback
• Movement: Swiss automatic alarm, Rado-signed rotor marked 6801, 25 jewels
• Functions: hours, minutes, centre seconds, mechanical alarm, day and date
• Calendar: Arabic day, numerical date
• Dial: brushed silver-white with blue-grey surrounding ring, applied markers
• Bracelet: stainless steel, approx. 24 mm

Condition

Pre-owned vintage condition, with visible surface marks on the bracelet and caseback, along with smaller signs of age and use. The dial remains clearly readable, with minor age-related details visible in close-up. As with any vintage watch, it is sold as a collectible, is not guaranteed water resistant, and its timekeeping may differ from a modern watch. Please examine all photos carefully, as they form part of the description.

What's included

The watch with a Rado box (box shows age and wear).

Shipping & Returns

Ships from Cairo, Egypt. Please see the shipping and returns details in this listing.