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The world-renowned Rado had a modest beginning in Lengnau, Switzerland, in 1917 when a watchmaking factory called The Schlup & Co. was founded by brothers Ernst, Fritz and Werner in a converted portion of their family home. But even with such humble beginnings, Rado’s future legacy was written in the stars. They became one of the largest producers of watch movements by the end of World War II, and by the 1950s, the Rado brand name had been established. They expanded their presence to over 61 countries by the end of the decade.
The first Rado collection, the exemplary Golden Horse, debuted in 1957 and was followed by the water-resistant Green Horse collection in 1958. Their iconic DiaStar 1, released in 1962 and publicised as “the world’s first scratchproof watch”, was one of the first to bring hardmetal and sapphire crystals into the horological world. This was followed by introducing scratch-resistant high-tech ceramic, which led to a ceramic revolution in watchmaking. High-tech ceramic is now one of their signature materials. Rado’s story is a saga of one innovation to another, a tradition that continues to this day.
Rado is now globally recognised as a ‘master of materials’. Their pioneering innovation in high-tech materials technology sets them apart in the watchmaking world.
The company’s trademark has been high-tech ceramic for nearly three decades. Timepieces made of this material have a smooth, stylish surface that can be metallic or matte. In addition, they are hypoallergenic and lightweight - a true mark of craftsmanship. Taking high-tech ceramic to the next level is the plasma high-tech ceramic, a pioneering invention from Rado. White ceramic is transformed into a material with exemplary metallic shine using gases activated at 20,000 degrees Celsius without using any metal. Rado also uses Ceramos, an alchemical prodigy of high-tech ceramic and metal. Ceramos has the lightness and durability of ceramic as well as the alluring metallic sheen.
Rado has also pioneered high-tech diamond, a product of years of meticulous research and state of the art nanotechnology. Like natural diamonds, high-tech diamond is uniquely resistant and has a hardness of 10,000 Vickers. Fine white Top Wesselton diamonds that meet the criteria of the Kimberley process also feature in several Rado designs. Sapphire Crystal is another unique Radio invention that finds its place in every Rado creation. It’s a convex or flat material, depending on preference, highlighting the dynamism of the timepiece while making for a smooth transition from the crystal to the case and bracelet. Finally, Rado’s novel hardmetal is the basis of the robust durability of several of its timepieces. A scratch-resistant material that is far more durable than platinum, gold or steel, hardmetal is an essential component in the company’s most tenacious models.
Rado’s heritage of innovation has several iconic models upholding its legacy of mastering innovation. Innovations in design and the use of materials are the cornerstones of Rado’s foundation. As a result, the brand frequently collaborates with leading designers worldwide to create timeless watches.
The classic Captain Cook collection builds on the 1962 original and combines the past heritage with modern sophistication. It is an amalgamation of Rado’s most stellar achievements, such as the use of scratch-resistant and hypoallergenic high-tech ceramic for monobloc case construction. In addition, the watch is powered by the Rado calibre R734 featuring an exceptional Nivachron hairspring that protects the timepiece from magnetic fields in everyday life. The other collections in the watches for men and women include Centrix, True, True Square, True Thinline, HyperChrome, and Coupole Classic.
In a first, the slim DiaMaster Ceramos, released in 2018, used rose gold coloured Ceramos to create the watch’s monobloc case lending it a sophisticated finesse. The 8.3 mm, water-resistant beauty uses sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating and has a transparent sapphire case back.
Since the beginning, Rado has been a pioneer, staying true to their brand philosophy - “If we can imagine it, we can make it”. In the Swiss watchmaking world, when it comes to revolutionising materials technology, Rado remains one of the premium pioneers