New: Rado DiaStar Original Skeleton

Rado remakes their iconic 1962 DiaStar by reimagining the watch in an open worked dial. Introducing the new DiaStar Original Skeleton.

Press Release with commentary in italics.

New: Rado DiaStar Original Skeleton

The Rado DiaStar Original Skeleton will retail at SGD 2,950 inclusive of GST.

Commentary

The Rado DiaStar is certainly one of the icons of the 1960s. Growing up in my teen years in the 1970s, I remember lusting for one. The iconic design of the huge, oval bezel and the iconic faceted crystal on the front. Also, in those days, ceramic was a very new material, and the Rado was one of the earlier watches to use the material. It was an amazing watch.

This is the latest model – the DiaStar Original Skeleton adds to the substantial collection of this icon. This brings the DiaStar Original collection to a substantial 57 family members. Last year, in 2022, Rado celebrated the model’s 60th Anniversary with a stunning piece with a hexagonal faceted crystal. And for 2023, Rado again challenges the timeless design in yet another direction by the open worked dial, now showing only the three time indicators. No date. No day of week either for that matter (which the 60th Anniversary also lacks). But it also simplifies the hexagonal crystal to one which features a square flat piece in the middle with 8 sloped sides. Frankly, we find this to be as attractive and fascinating .

The dial is subject to an openwork rework and reveals parts of the automatic movement. The movement is the Rado calibre R808 (base ETA), which is used in many Rado references, including the Captain Cook High Tech Ceramic. The movement is automatic, with a power reserve 80 hours, beating at 21,600 bph. The R808 is somehow perceived as better than the more standard Rado R734 automatic calibre based on ETA C07.611 used in the regular Captain Cook, even though the differences between the R734 and R808 seem to be only visual and cosmetic.

The watch has a decidedly very vintage feel, and looks quite the part of the outfit of a baller hipster. Very cool vibes.

Release information

WE COULD MAKE IT, SO WE DID.

In contrast with other designs of the era, the 1962 DiaStar was a stunning piece of work, breaking new ground. Its unusual and very distinctive shape, its extremely resistant tungsten-carbide case, became signature elements and built the watch a strong following through the decades. The timepiece expressed in the most unequivocal way, the motto of Rado’s founders “If we can imagine it, we can make it. And if we can make it, we will.” To mark the 60th anniversary of this extraordinary watch, the case saw a change from hardmetal to Rado CeramosTM in 2022, and one might say that the revolutionary watch became an evolutionary icon. The design continued its unrelenting journey and progress in the true spirit of Rado’s quest as Master of Materials.

The latest edition continues this pioneering work, alongside other product lines, extending Rado’s creative concept “The Art of Skeletonisation” and featuring yet another variant of the high-quality R808 automatic calibre, anthracite-grey coated in this version and complemented by various elements in its workings, for a lovely visual dance of contrasts. Thanks to sapphire crystal windows on both front and back, the gorgeous automatic movement can be appreciated in full technical elegance, with no need whatsoever to rush, as the new DiaStar Original Skeleton provides 80 hours of power reserve. An antimagnetic NivachronTM hairspring ensures that everything stays extremely precise and reliable, in a movement that has been tested in a full five positions.

The new model echoes the overall character of its forebears, but the current shape is far more refined, its contours a clear reflection of a precise design ambition. The original DiaStar was unquestionably virile, but the latest model reflects a true coming of age; it remains masculine but is also very original and comfortably stylish. Its open structure, and the impressive R808 skeleton movement give a lighter, airier note to the new DiaStar Original, a perfect design counterpoint inside the visual frame created by the CeramosTM bezel. The darker tone is further set off by select coloured elements inside the movement, or bicolour components such as the hands and indices, to add tremendous richness of contrast throughout, in an interesting composition that every watch-lover will appreciate. The floating indices, which add to the open nature of the design, and the hour and minute hands are treated with white Super-LumiNova®, for great readability even in low-light conditions.

No detail was left untouched in the design phase, from smaller ones such as the clever shape of the seconds sweeper to the gorgeous front sapphire crystal, facetted on the external face with a totally eye- catching square motif reminiscent of an earlier model and treated with anti-reflective coating on the inside face. The bracelet is a very comfortable triple-row type in polished stainless steel, with an H-link design and attractive, alternating polished/brushed elements. It is fastened by a triple-fold stainless-steel buckle for reliable safety.

Rado DiaStar Original Skeleton specifications

Ref. R12162153

Movement: Rado calibre R808, automatic, 25 jewels, 3 hands, 80-hour power reserve, antimagnetic NivachronTM hairspring, exceeds standard test requirements from 3 to 5 positions for higher accuracy, movement fully coated in anthracite

Case: Polished CeramosTM bezel / Polished stainless steel middle part / Square faceted sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating inside White printed Rado and DiaStar logos on sapphire crystal inside Transparent case back / Water-resistant to 10 bar (100m)

Dial: Black annular dial with flying yellow gold colour indexes with white Super-LumiNova® White printed minute track / Gold coloured moving anchor symbol on red background

Hands: Yellow gold coloured with white Super-LumiNova® / Yellow gold coloured second hand

Bracelet: Polished and brushed stainless steel / 3-fold clasp / EasyClip system

Dimensions: 38.0 x 45.0 x 11.9 (WxLxH in mm)