; Rado celebrates the 60th anniversary of the iconic DiaStar watch by launching a special model designed by Alfredo Häberli.
Rado is a pioneer in using innovative materials in watchmaking. Introduced in 1962, the first DiaStar brought together a case made of “Hardmetal” and a sapphire crystal watch glass for the first time in a single timepiece.
The various DiaStar models through the past sixty years have used this special “Hardmetal” alloy, a blend of tungsten- carbide ceramic with a metal binding agent that is injection moulded, sintered under vacuum and then mechanically finished using diamond tools.
Other processes have come into play at different times, such as the DiaStar The Original’s titanium-nitride CVD treatment, to give the model its distinct gold colour while retaining a tremendous surface hardness that soft and delicate gold could not have provided.
Rado engineers continued to spearhead their research, introducing new materials, such as high-tech ceramic, plasma high-tech ceramic and their very own CeramosTM into specific product lines. The latter was chosen for the case of the new 2022 DiaStar 60-Year Anniversary Edition.
Lighter than the tungsten carbide-based “Hardmetal”, CeramosTM brings the new lightness of titanium carbide to the exceptional characteristics of high-tech ceramic, while also adding the possibility of creating colours with a metallic sheen, in shades of steel, rose gold or yellow gold.
The DiaStar 60-Year Anniversary Edition watch features a metallic grey, circular brushed dial with date and graphical day display in two-colour scheme in grey or natural colour Super-LumiNova® at 6 o’clock.
This commemorative model stands out with its hexagon facetted sapphire crystal and the polished Ceramos™ bezel with radial brushing on the conical part.
The Rado R764 automatic movement with 80 hours of power reserve and an antimagnetic NivachronTM hairspring ensures reliable and precise timekeeping.
The watch is available in both an Anniversary Edition, as well as a standard DiaStar Original model with a parallel-stripe-faceted sapphire crystal, polished and brushed H-link stainless-steel bracelet, and a range of different, exciting dial colours.
The Rado DiaStar Original 60th Anniversary Edition is delivered in a stylish grey pouch with a woven stainless steel mesh bracelet “Milanese”, as well as a textile strap, quickly interchangeable for a different look, thanks to the EasyClip system.
Technical details
Model: Rado DiaStar Original 60th Anniversary Edition, Ref. R12163118
Movement
Rado calibre R764 (gold plated), automatic, 25 jewels, 3 hands, date and graphical day display with 2 colour scheme in grey or natural colour Super-LumiNova® at 6 o’clock, 80-hour power reserve, antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring, exceeds standard test requirements from 3 to 5 positions for higher accuracy
Case
Polished Ceramos™ bezel radially-brushed conical external surface; Polished stainless steel middle part; Polished stainless steel crown, with matt anchor symbol
Hexagon facetted sapphire crystal anti-reflective coating on inside face
Polished stainless steel case back
Special engraving on case back: DIASTAR ORIGINAL 60-YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION, DESIGN ALFREDO HÄBERLI
Water-resistant to 10 bar (100m)
Case dimensions: 38.0 x 45.0 x 12.3 (WxLxH in mm)
Dial
Metallic grey, circular brushed
Dot indexes filled with natural colour Super-LumiNova®
Silver coloured moving anchor symbol on metallic grey background
Grey printed Rado logo
Hands
Rhodium coloured with natural colour Super-LumiNova®
Rhodium coloured second hand with blind hole
Bracelet
EasyClip system
Satin brushed stainless steel “Milanese”, polished sides, satin brushed cover with polished openers
Additional grey textile strap, satin brushed stainless steel extendable folding clasp and polished pushers
Model: Rado DiaStar Original
Ref. R12160213 / R12160103 / R12160303
Movement
Rado calibre R764 (gold plated), automatic, 3 hands, day/date at 6 o’clock, 80-hour power reserve, antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring, exceeds standard test requirements from 3 to 5 positions for higher accuracy, day date background matching the colour of the dial with white printing
Case
Polished Ceramos™ bezel
Stainless steel middle part
Stainless steel crown, with matt anchor symbol
Parallel facetted sapphire crystal anti-reflective coating on inside face
Stainless steel case back
Water-resistant to 10 bar (100m)
Case dimensions: 38.0 x 45.0 x 12.1 (WxLxH in mm)
Dial
Blue / dark grey / green brushed in two directions
Silver coloured moving anchor symbol with red background
White printed DiaStar, Rado and automatic logos
Hands
Rhodium coloured with white Super-LumiNova®
Bracelet
Polished/brushed H-link stainless steel, clasp with openers
