There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
-1982 Rado dress automatic (unamed but I contacted Swatch group info and they say it was modeled or classified under a men's slim line based on an elegance model).
-classic dress watch dimensions, case /dial probably about 33/34 mm
-gold (tone) on gold (tone) gold (dial/case/bracelet).
-crystal or diamond markers at 12 3 6 9 w Rado (in polished gold to contrast flat gold dial) at top, automatic low center, tiny swiss marking at bottom.
-case is technically an octagon but this comes across as a tank/square-ish since only the corners of the square are 'clipped' dial is mostly round w flat sides
-case is so unique/quirky, it is a 'gold mirror' under the crystal again providing some visual pop and contrast
-movement is ETA 2671, which is rock solid. Rado uses this movement *(to my best knowledge) even today in women's smaller modes, and men's slim like the Integral. There are even COSC certified versions of the movement.
this little one had some issues when i got it, damaged crown (been replaced with authentic eta new crown, though unsigned, necessary for proper function etc), had a COA (clean,oil, and adjust) new gaskets, etc.
left the dial and crystal alone, no real scratches or trauma but the mirror is aging nicely (like old antique mirrors when a little clouding or oxidation begin to be visible), some patina on the dial.