Rado Watches

Since in the beginning, Rado Watch Company has been a true believer that all imagined can be realistically made. The watchmaker was founded in 1917 by three brothers- Ernst, Fritz, and Werner Schlup as the Schlup & Co watchmaking factory. Though it was in the industry of watchmaking, the brand was producing watch movements for other brands. During its 40th anniversary, Schlup & Co felt it needed to do more and in that year, 1957, it released the lineup of Golden Horse. For a distinctive look from its previous line of work, the brand rebranded its name to Rado Watches Co. Ltd. In the year that followed, 1958, Rado Green Horse marked its appearance to the public as one of the brand’s waterproofed watches. This was one of the major breakthroughs which marked the brand’s international appearances in over 61 countries.

The 1960s was a remarkable and historical moment for Rado. In 1962, the Swiss watchmaker introduced the Diastar 1 watch which became a star in the watchmaking industry with its robustness. In fact, the timepiece became the first scratchproof watch in the globe. The brand came up with the idea to meet the demands by watch enthusiasts for a sturdy, comfortable, and exclusive watch.

During the time of the quartz crisis in 1970/ 80, Rado introduced updates of the Diastar watch in gold-plating. The watchmaker also introduced a new series, Rado Diastar 67, which features a remarkable architecture with an edge-to-edge metalized sapphire crystal. In the mid-1980s, Rado watches were on the rise of robustness, featuring not only the scratch-resistant crystal but hi-tech scratchproof ceramic bracelets. This was a great achievement for the brand which continued boldly in the 1990s with the Rado Ceramica watch.

In 1967, Rado Watches Company created a multipurpose Planning watch which has an elongated case to harbor a dial-like panel for the perpetual calendar.

Now focused on robustness and exclusivity, in 1981 Rado Watches Company introduced the Anatom watch with a curved ergonomic design. To firm its luxury reputation which was now scaling, the squared dial of the Anatom sparkled with a golden brilliance of diamond indexes.

At the beginning of the 21st century, Rado marked the timeline by honoring the women using the Esenza watch which has an oval case and straight strap. The watch received a warm reception from its wearers who regarded it wholly and harmoniously feminine. In 2013, the watch collection received an upgraded Esenza Ceramic Touch which utilizes the contemporary touch technology on its ceramic monobloc case. This was a remarkable accomplishment which ensured the enthusiasts of Rado tradition and smartwatches were served right.

Following the success attached to the collection of its scratchproof technique, Rado Company recreated an updated version of the original Diastar 1. Its creators didn’t want it to look old-fashioned, thus combined the old design with new techniques. At the time, it was in 2011. To ensure those desiring for a new taste from the prestigious brand had it, Rado also introduced the True Thinline collection which redesigned the classic watches with its characteristic ceramic tradition and ultra-thinness. To achieve its less than 5mm thickness, the brand utilizes a very high level of expertise in the construction and assembling.

The technology used on the Thinline in 2011 was reaffirmed on the Hyperchrome series in 2012. Dissimilar to the other ceramic Rado watches which have a stainless steel case construction, the two timepieces have a monobloc one. In 2014, the Switzerland-based watchmaker created an update of the Hyperchrome which combines its previous makeup with the novel touch technology. As a travel timepiece, the crownless watch has a second time-zone dial at six o’clock which is set within seconds while on international borders. In 2016, another upgrade of the watch, Hyperchrome Ultra Light, debuted with three of the lightest materials- silicon nitride, ceramic, and titanium. Crafted with anodized aluminum movement, the Rado timepiece has an overall weight of 56 grams.

In 2017, Rado Watches Company was marking its centenary in the watchmaking industry. To celebrate the day with its esteemed consumers, the watch manufacturer re-launched the Ceramica series with a contemporary new appeal. Alongside its hi-tech ceramic case, the watch featured an automatic movement for the first time. This was a revolutionary breakthrough that opened up a new era of innovativeness for the brand. In 2018, for instance, Rado created its first rose gold model which has a combination of the automation, monobloc case, and the slim technique.

Still on its 100th anniversary, Rado also commemorated its initial origin and created a new collection of Captain Cook. The watch’s design borrows a lot from the original 1962 watch, including the turning bezel and the classical sword and arrow-shaped hands. At its caseback, the self-winding watch has an artistic aquatic engraving of three dancing seahorses and three stars which I assume are starfishes. For more about Rado watches, check out the various collections below which encompass both the vintage and the new releases from the prestigious Swiss brand.