Page 135 - Sharp Winter 2023

BACK TO THE FUTURE
RADO’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY DIASTAR IS PUSHING BOUNDARIES YET AGAIN
By Justin Mastine-Frost
T HE WATCH WORLD IS BY NO MEANS SHY ON HERITAGE PLAYS
lately, but for the most part, watch brands remain fixated on the halcyon days of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Rado’s beloved DiaStar, on the other hand, is a different beast altogether.
The aesthetic was ahead of its time for 1962 — these UFO-style cases didn’t really come into favour until the following decade. It wasn’t a watch to rest on its style alone, however, as the DiaStar marked the beginnings of Rado’s push into the use of alternative materials. Made of a special tungsten alloy, and fitted with a sapphire crystal (decades before its broader adoption in watchmaking), the DiaStar was marketed as the first “life-proof” watch. Waterproof, scratchproof, shock-resistant, and temperature-proof — this was the sales pitch, and the watch more than lived up to it.
To celebrate the DiaStar’s 60th anniversary, Rado enlisted a designer from outside the watch space to reimagine its icon — an
unorthodox choice, but given Alfredo Häberli’s passion for watches, a perfect fit. Having designed everything from chairs and lamps, to homes, to retail showrooms, it was Häberli’s ability to respect history while embracing modern minimalism that made him an ideal fit for the project.
Häberli let form and texture do the talking, rather than relying on bold colour. The sapphire crystal of the watch is faceted to add depth and dimension. The dial has an almost-raw circular brushing that borders on an industrial finish. This brushing pattern changes from circular to radial on the case — a classic UFO-shaped case, like the original DiaStar from 1962, this time crafted out of Ceramos. Rado’s proprietary material is an alloy that delivers a steel-like appearance, crafted from 90 per cent high-tech ceramic and 10% metal alloy. Completing the package, the anniversary model is sold with both a Milanese-style mesh bracelet, as well as a textured, soft-fabric strap.
Following the current trend towards more compact sizing, the new model’s oblong case measures 38 mm across and 45 mm from lug-to-lug, dimensions that prove versatile by modern standards. Powered by an automatic movement, you’ll notice a date indication at six o’clock and an additional narrow opening just above it. Häberli decided to get playful with the indication of the day of the week, so consider this display a bit of a “progress bar” that advances with each passing day of the week.
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