Rado is one of the most prestigious Swiss watch brands. The feature of a mechanical watch is that it can be used for a long time, but a Rado watch with a scratch-resistant case can truly be called “a watch for a lifetime. In this issue, we will introduce the appeal of Rado, a pioneer in high-tech materials! protid
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What is Rado?
Rado is a watch manufacturer that continues to aggressively pursue new materials. Rado has shown overwhelming superiority in the field of material development in the Swiss watch industry, such as being the first company in the world to use high-tech ceramics in wristwatches by making full use of its outstanding technological capabilities. In recent years, RADO has been developing collections that embody sophisticated designs by famous designers using new materials. The company’s design and material development are one step ahead of the times, and it has established an overwhelming presence in the industry.
History of Rado
Rado founded by three brothers
Rado was founded in 1917. Schlup & Co.” was established in Lengnau, Switzerland, by three brothers, Fritz Schlup, Ernst Schlup, and Werner Schlup. Schlup & Co.” was founded by three brothers, Werner Schlup and Werner Schlup. For several decades after its founding, the company did not make original watches, but was mainly engaged in the production of movements. Although its initial activities were modest, by the end of World War II, the company had become one of the world’s leading movement makers.
Part of the house of the parents of the three brothers was converted into a workshop. The small room became the birthplace of Rado.
Creation of the RADO brand and entry into the wristwatch market
In 1947, economist Dr. Paul Lutherie joined the management of the company. This steered Schlup & Co. toward the development of original wristwatches, and in 1956 the company introduced its first original watch, the “Exacto.” The following year, in 1957, the company changed its name to the current Rado (Rado Watch Co. LTD.) and introduced the legendary ” Golden Horse ” collection. By the end of the 1950s, Rado had become an international watch brand with sales in more than 61 countries.
Leading the watch industry in the field of material development
Rado was one of the first watchmakers to recognize the value of materials in timepieces, and in 1962, it introduced the “Diamond Star,” a watch made of hard metal that became a worldwide hit. In 1986, he introduced the “Integral,” a watch made of high-tech ceramic. In the years that followed, the company continued to develop new materials and employ renowned product designers. The company continued to lead the watch industry with models such as the ” HyperChrome,” which fused hard materials with sophisticated design.
Rado wristwatches were the dream of Japanese men during the high-growth era.
Rado watches arrived in Japan in 1958. This was the year after the company entered the wristwatch market in earnest and changed its name to ” Rado. In Japan, 1958 was a special year, symbolizing the high-growth era of the Showa period, with the Tokyo Tower and the birth of the 10,000 yen bill.
Rado wristwatches came to Japan at that time when Sakata Watch Trading signed a distributorship agreement. At that time, when the exchange rate was 360 yen to the dollar, “imported goods” from abroad were the rage among the common people. Since Sakata Watch Trading was a sponsor of Fuji Television’s horse racing broadcasts, Rado wristwatches attracted attention as prizes for variety shows. The ” Golden Horse ” in particular was a marine watch that fascinated Japanese businessmen of the time, who were supporting Japan’s period of rapid economic growth.
RADO’s “DIASTAR,” which created the concept of the “scratch-resistant wristwatch
Hardmetal ” is a material with extraordinary hardness that is more durable than steel, gold, or platinum. Launched in 1962, the “DiaStar” watch was the first watch to be made of this hard metal, which was sintered in a furnace at 1,450 degrees Celsius and polished with a diamond grinder to give it a toughness, scratch resistance, and texture that was unmatched by conventional watches.
Rado is the first company in the world to use ceramic as a watch material
In the 1980s, Rado turned its attention to a new material, ” high-tech ceramics ” used in space shuttle heat shields and Formula 1 racing cars. This material, made mainly from zirconium oxide and titanium carbide, requires extremely sophisticated technology in the manufacturing process of forming it from powder to mold. However, its practicality is revolutionary: it is much lighter than stainless steel and boasts high hardness. Rado used this material for the bracelet of the ” Integral ” watch launched in 1986. It was the first wristwatch in the world to incorporate high-tech ceramic. The Integral was also the first wristwatch to feature a black color, whereas gold and silver were the mainstream colors at the time. The nonmetallic high-tech ceramics greatly pleased watch fans who had been suffering from metal allergies.
Thirty years after its birth, the Integral series is still part of the Rado collection. Today’s Integral is made of high-tech ceramic, not only for the bracelet but also for the case. The glass is made of highly durable sapphire glass, and the watch boasts of its flawless protection throughout. The seamless and universal form of the design seems to anticipate decades of use by the user.
Rado’s proprietary “V10K” technology boasts diamond-level hardness
Rado’s ” V10K (Vie ten K),” created in 2004, features a high-tech diamond-coated case. Lightweight and easy to wear, the V10K is the result of careful research and cutting-edge nanotechnology that has created a 100% homogenized diamond layer on a hard metal, achieving a hardness of 10,000 Vickers, comparable to that of natural diamonds. Rado, which believes in everlasting beauty, made its technological prowess known by introducing the V10K, the world’s first watch with a high-tech diamond coating.
HyperChrome”, Rado’s flagship collection
The “HyperChrome” series is currently Rado’s most focused collection. The “HyperChrome Ultralight,” presented at Baselworld in 2016, uses a new material called “silicon nitride,” which is harder and more resistant than conventional high-ceramic materials. This magical material is harder than conventional high ceramics, yet lighter than aluminum. The watch weighs an astonishing 56 grams, making it a unique and desirable product that is both comfortable and hard to wear.
Rado’s development of ceramics began with black, and has continued with white ceramic, the first in the industry, as well as pink, gold, and many other colors. Color ceramics are made by mixing pigments at the material stage. Rado has succeeded in creating blue, green, and chocolate-colored ceramics with its “True Colors” line. The luster and beauty unique to ceramics can only be achieved by Rado, a pioneer in this field.
The HyperChrome series also includes a reissue of the “Golden Horse,” a watch once coveted by the baby boomers. The dreams of the men who supported Japan have been revived in the present world with the appearance intact and clad in the materials of the new era.
The most powerful designer to join hands with Rado
Rado puts emphasis not only on the robustness of materials, but also on design. Rado watches, including those created by designers who are both famous and talented, have won more than 30 awards around the world.
Mr. Jasper Morrison “Rado r5.5
Jasper Morrison, a London native born in 1959, launched his design firm ” Office for Design ” in 1986, and since then has designed everything from furniture to transportation systems, while moving to offices around the world, including Tokyo, London, and Paris. He is one of the most influential product designers today, and the theme of his work is “supernormal. From glasses and chairs to pens and Issey Miyake wristwatches, his creations are simple, yet have a mysterious appeal that appeals directly to the brain.
In 2009, Jasper Morrison, known as the “master of modernity,” worked with Rado to design the “r5.5” model. The watch is made of Rado’s patented hard high-ceramic material, but has a softer form. The name “r5.5” comes from the 5.5mm rounded corners of the case. This design-driven high-ceramic watch, the very embodiment of the “supernormal,” created quite a stir when it was unveiled at Baselworld that year.
Rado Ceramica” by Konstantin Grcic
Konstantin Grcic, born in Munich, Germany in 1965, is a product designer. After working for the aforementioned Jasper Morrison’s design office, he became independent in 1991. He is one of the world’s leading industrial designers, having won numerous design awards, including the Compasso d’Oro in 2001, and his work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He is also known as a minimalist, and many of his works are the ultimate in simplicity.
In 2016, one of Rado’s collections, ” Ceramica “, was reborn by Konstantin Grcic. Combining Rado’s cutting-edge technology with Mr. Grcic’s vision, this model is minimalist to the extreme. Whether worn by a man or a woman, it has a sophisticated design that blends in with the owner’s wrist.
Introduction of Rado’s standard models
Rado “Hyperchrome Golden Horse
This legendary model is the origin of Rado and was the high point of Japanese men’s watchmaking. This collection, a reissue of the original model, follows the design of the company’s original founding. Despite its classic appearance, the watch is highly scratch-resistant thanks to the incorporation of CERAMOS, the latest material, into the traditional stainless steel.
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Rado “Daiastar
The DIASTAR pays homage to the design of the early models, showing that the brand has had a high sense of design since the 1960s. The hard hard metal is not even scratched by the slightest impact, allowing the watch to remain beautiful for many years to come.
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Rado “Hyperchrome UTC
This UTC model can display two time zones at the same time. The black ceramic dial, bracelet, and crown give it a colorful look befitting an elite businessman.
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Rado “r5.5
This is a masterpiece by Jasper Morrison, one of the world’s leading product designers. The rounded square face, reminiscent of a retro TV screen, is attractive. The supreme design highlights the high quality texture of black ceramic to the utmost limit.
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Rado “D-STAR 200
This diver’s model is one of Rado’s most popular models with a water resistance of 200 meters. The unidirectional rotating bezel has a black high ceramic insert. The softly bulging domed sapphire crystal glass has a magnifying lens. This is an original diver’s watch that only Rado could have created with such finesse.
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