Rado celebrates the 60th Anniversary of their iconic Rado DiaStar with four new watches in the DiaStar Original Collection. Including a special Anniversary Edition, designed in collaboration with Alfredo Häbarli.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
The retail pricing for the new Rado DiaStar 60 Year Anniversary Edition is SGD 2,780 inclusive of GST. And the three models of the Rado DiaStar Original is SGD 1,910 inclusive of GST.
This must be the most interesting press release we have received in a long time. Instead of a release document with the story and details of the watches, Rado released a special booklet which spent quite a lot of time in the historical aspects of the DiaStar (12 pages), the designer and his work (8 pages), and only 6 pages (two of which is a double page spread of one photograph of the watch) on the star product – the DiaStar Original 60th Anniversary Edition, and 6 pages on the DiaStar Original. The rest of the 40 page booklet is on the introduction, preamble, words from the CEO and a discussion on Rado’s use of innovative materials.
We must say that the listing of the historical models are interesting. And show four of the pages in the booklet devoted to the list.
There are a total of 4 new novelties in this release. Curiously all called the Rado DiaStar Original. Yes, very confusing. BTW, the Rado catalog has some 35 individual SKUs under the DiaStar collection. The star model is the 60 Year Anniversary Edition piece. It does not show a day and date indication like the other 3, but only shows the date in a small circular aperture at 6 o’clock. The star model also feature a special hexagon facetted sapphire crystal instead of a 4 facets which are set parallel for the other three. And this hexagonal sapphire crystal makes the watch just 0.2mm thicker than the standard models.
The other small distinction is the case middle and crown on the Anniversary Edition is polished stainless steel, and is only specified as stainless steel on the others. In addition, the anniversary edition comes with two strap/bracelet: a satin-brushed steel Milanese bracelet and a grey textile strap. While the three other DiaStar Original models are fitted with H link bracelets.
The bezel has the now iconic 1960s vibe, and is now made in a high tech composite material known as Ceramos. The material has a high (90%) titanium carbide content, and is claimed to be very hard and scratch resistant (1750 Vickers). Rado says that the material has the hardness properties of ceramic and the lustre and resistance of a metal alloy. Thus it is also lighter than its hard metal used in the vintage Diastar and carries superior scratch-resistant properties (1750 Vickers).
The movement on all three watches are the same Rado calibre R764, which is gold plated. This is not a new movement, having been seen in many Rado watches including the Captain Cook. This automatic movement with day-date indication is based on the ETA C07.111, which itself is a derivative and modernised version of the ETA 2824.
Overall, though, we must applaud Rado for the novelties. Both the 60 Year Anniversary model and the three coloured dial models are a throwback to the 60s, with the characteristic chunky design features. And Rado has executed the watches very well, retaining the vintage feel while throughly modernising the watch. Neither are limited editions.
And at the price point of under SGD 2k for the regular models, we can hardly complain, and would hail it as a good value proposition. Only when we consider the 60 Year Anniversary Edition, do we raise our eyebrows. This Edition with the special designer is a piece which commands a hefty price premium of 50% (SGD 870) over the coloured dial versions. What you get for the design is the hexagonal faceted crystal in place of the parallel faceted ones, the deletion of the day of week, the special packaging and the additional fabric strap which comes with the Milanese style bracelet instead of only a H link bracelet for the DiaStar Original.
The DiaStar Original 60-Year Anniversary Edition has been created in collaboration with the Swiss designer Alfredo Häberli. Framed by a radial-brushed Ceramos™ coiffe with polished angles and detailing set over a matching, monochrome stainless steel case, the watch also features a sapphire crystal with hexagonal facets to mark six decades since the original watch. The case and dial are made in a monochromatic colour scheme, whereas the hands and hour markers are coloured with a touch of Super-LumiNova®.
This edition is delivered in a stylish grey pouch with a woven stainless-steel mesh “Milanese” bracelet, as well as a mottled grey textile strap: the EasyClip system makes interchanging for a different look effortlessly quick.
Inside, the Rado R764 automatic movement with 80 hours of power reserve ensures reliable and precise timekeeping. The watch has a diameter of 38 mm and is water resistant to 100 m. It stands for dependability, lasting beauty and endless wearing pleasure.
The unique DiaStar Original has a diameter of 38 mm and is water resistant down to 100 m. Framed by an ultra-shiny Ceramos™ coiffe with polished angles and detailing set over a matching, monochrome stainless-steel case, this beautiful watch is rounded off with a parallel-stripe-faceted sapphire crystal.
Specifications include a green/blue/grey brushed dial with two directions, rhodium coloured hands with white Super-LumiNova®, and a day date display matching the colour of the dial. Inside, the Rado R764 automatic movement with antimagnetic Nivachron™ offers 80 hours of power reserve. The bracelet is made of polished and brushed stainless steel.
Other than the specifications sheet, there is no additional information in the release material on the three other coloured dial options, known simply as DiaStar Original.
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
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)
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
Rhodium coloured with natural colour Super-LumiNova® Rhodium coloured second hand with blind hole
Satin brushed stainless steel “Milanese”, polished sides, satin brushed cover with polished openers, EasyClip system Additional grey textile strap, satin brushed stainless steel extendable folding clasp and polished pushers
Dimensions 38.0 x 45.0 x 12.3 (WxLxH in mm)
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
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)
Blue / dark grey / green brushed in two directions, Silver coloured moving anchor symbol with red background, White printed DiaStar, Rado and automatic logos
Rhodium coloured with white Super-LumiNova®
Bracelet Polished/brushed H-link stainless steel, clasp with openers
Dimensions 38.0 x 45.0 x 12.1 (WxLxH in mm)
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The BR 05 belongs to the family of watches with an integrated bracelet. “This type of design harks back to the Seventies, and when transposed to Bell & Ross, it creates a result with a graphic style which is both striking and modern.”