{"id":25979,"date":"2020-04-13T20:26:10","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T20:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/rado-diastar-original-where-scratch-proof-watchmaking-began-53-years-later\/"},"modified":"2021-11-26T15:21:20","modified_gmt":"2021-11-26T15:21:20","slug":"rado-diastar-original-review-price","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/en\/rado-diastar-original-review-price\/","title":{"rendered":"RADO Diastar Original: where scratch-proof watchmaking began…53 years later."},"content":{"rendered":"

A bit\u00a0about Rado\u2019s roots in watchmaking<\/h2>\n

When back in the 60s all watchmakers were still producing steel timepieces, Rado<\/strong><\/span><\/a> had already started to craft the very first scratch-resistant watches; a smart move that most brands wouldn\u2019t even take into consideration at that time and a move that became one of the trademarks of the company from Legnau<\/strong>. Rado<\/strong> was the first manufacturer to ever create its own metallurgy department and today, this department, is still in charge of producing different ceramic compounds; a reality that some of the most famous brands and Rado<\/strong>\u2018s competitors only started to discover 10 or 20 years ago. Rado<\/strong>\u2018s ideas are still so fresh and vibrant that it makes you wonder whether the company only appeared on the market a few years ago, so it is strange to think that the Rado Diastar<\/strong>, the very first scratch resistant timepiece ever created and the very first timepiece featuring a sapphire glass to guard the dial, only came to life in 1962<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Rado<\/p>\n

My first Rado watch was a Rado Ticin<\/h2>\n

My relationship with Rado<\/strong> started when I was young and it is linked to my father, who still wears a Rado Captain Cook<\/strong>, also known as Rado Ticin<\/strong>\u00a0(from the name of the importer of Rado<\/strong> watches in Italy). My father introduced me to this brand when I was only 10; a time when my passion for watches was growing bigger and bigger by the day. Back in those days Rado<\/strong>\u2018s billboards sported ads claiming that its watches were \u201cExtraordinary<\/strong> Watches<\/strong> for Extraordinary Men<\/strong>\u201d and it advertized different watch models, among which was the Rado Captain Cook<\/strong> (the scuba diver\u2019s watch par excellence) and the Rado Diastar<\/strong>, the very first scratch-resistant timepiece in history.<\/p>\n

\"Rado<\/p>\n

Introducing Hardmetal in watchmaking, in 1957<\/h2>\n

Only five years after its foundation in 1957<\/strong>, Rado<\/strong> patented a new type of alloy called \u201cHardmetal<\/em>\u201d, this alloy is created from Tungsten<\/strong> carbide<\/strong> powder<\/strong> that is initially injected into a high temperature oven and \u00a0then transformed into a new mass through a sintering process. If compared to the most traditional surface anti-scratch coatings, the production process used for the Rado Diastar\u00a0Original<\/strong>\u2018s case is a completely different concept:\u00a0DLC<\/strong> and PVD<\/strong> coatings are surface treatments aimed at improving a watch\u2019s scratch-resistance, but they are traditionally applied to a standard steel core, whereas Hardmetal<\/strong>, despite looking like a classic steel watch, is not a coating, but rather a mass in itself.<\/p>\n

\"Rado<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Rado Diastar\u00a0Original in its modern edition<\/h2>\n

The Rado Diastar Original\u00a0<\/strong>is the new edition, which is virtually identical to the original one, of the Rado Diastar<\/strong>; Rado<\/strong>\u2018s milestone but, strangely enough, one of the brand\u2019s least famous timepieces. Unless you were born around the time that this timepiece was originally launched on the market you are probably not too familiar with it and Rado<\/strong>\u2018s ads are usually much more focused on the Hyperchrome<\/strong>, which is definitely its leading collection. If in 1962<\/strong> you were in your 20s<\/em> or 30s<\/em> and you had a few money put away to get yourself a nice watch, your most likely choice would be a Rado Diastar<\/strong>; the Rado Diastar <\/strong>was\u00a0<\/strong>a classic-looking, simple and sturdy timepiece sporting high quality features. Back in those days, opting for a Rado Diastar<\/strong>\u00a0was a controversial choice, but that also meant that you would be wearing the only timepiece featuring a sapphire glass in a time when every other watch\u2019s dial was still covered in plastic.<\/p>\n

\"Rado<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Rado Diastar\u00a0Original \u2013 opinions and price<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0Rado Diastar\u00a0Original<\/strong>\u00a0with its 35mm<\/strong> unconventionally shaped case might look like a woman\u2019s watch, it is actually a bit tiny if you have a thick wrist like mine (the circumference of mine measures 20cm<\/strong>) and you need to get used to its odd look, but the Rado Diastar\u00a0Original<\/strong>\u2018s\u00a0typical 70s style is really unique and I am actually wondering why Rado<\/strong> isn\u2019t producing one with a 40\/41mm<\/strong> case so as to make it more appealing to an even greater audience. The watch\u2019s steel bracelet is a nice feature and it is the exact same as the orginal one, unlike the Rado Diastar\u00a0Original<\/strong>\u2018s\u00a0case it is not made of Hardmetal<\/strong> (I reckon it might be a bit complicated to cast the links using the same production process of the Hardmetal<\/strong>) and it features a clasp that looks modern but it is actually cheapishly made and its double button opening is not the easiest to manage.<\/p>\n

\"RadoIf you are looking into buying a small piece of history of Swiss watchmaking, you can get your hands on the\u00a0Rado Diastar\u00a0Original<\/strong>\u00a0at an accessible price that is just below 1,100<\/strong>\u20ac.<\/p>\n