MATERIAL MASTERY

Known as the Master of Materials, Rado has consistently expanded its quest for new medium to incorporate into its watch design and manufacturing.

In its continuous search for new alloys and materials to create outstanding watches, Rado has brought together the best of engineering, chemistry, and physics to create landmark alloys or introduce existing ones into its watches’ designs. One such example is the use of tungsten carbide “Hardmetal” in the 1962 DiaStar 1 model, the first watch ever to combine a scratch-proof case with a sapphire crystal glass—truly exceptional materials in the early ‘60s.

Aside from alloys, one material that is highly synonymous with Rado is, undoubtedly, ceramic. Rado’s enduring association with ceramic timepieces is well-founded, considering that this Swiss watchmaker is the pioneer in the exploration and incorporation of ceramics and composite ceramics into the watchmaking industry.