Rado: the story of a watch brand combining innovation and high-tech ceramics

Since 1917, Rado has been synonymous with innovation and avant-garde in the world of watchmaking. This Swiss brand has captured the present and shaped the future with visionary courage, always pushing traditional boundaries. It's no coincidence that Rado is known as the "Master of Materials," a master in the use of revolutionary materials: it was the first to introduce solutions such as high-tech ceramic (including ultra-light and colorful ones) and innovative alloys such as Ceramos within its designer collections. Thanks to this relentless pursuit, Rado watches have won prestigious international awards, and the brand is now considered one of the most cutting-edge designers in the watchmaking industry. But the Rado story —the story of a brand that has made technological innovation and cutting-edge design its hallmark—has its roots in a dream born over a century ago, in a small Swiss village.

It's a story of family passion, bold technical challenges, and global success. A journey through time that takes us from humble beginnings in 1917 to the iconic Rado collections of today, crossing milestones that have changed the face of watchmaking. Prepare to be moved: the Rado story is a tale of bold visions, futuristic materials, and legendary watches that still make the hearts of enthusiasts around the world beat. Let's take it one step at a time and discover together how a small artisan atelier became a laboratory of revolutionary ideas in the Rado watch scene.

Origins in 1917: a dream born in Lengnau

The Rado story begins in 1917 in Lengnau, a quiet village in Switzerland. It was here that brothers Fritz, Ernst, and Werner Schlup decided to make their dream come true: to become watchmakers and create something new. With determination, the three transformed a section of their parents' home into a small, well-equipped workshop, the starting point of an adventure destined to leave its mark. In that humble provincial workshop, the heart of innovation was already beating: thanks to their inexhaustible energy and ability to seize opportunities, the Schlup brothers launched the Schlup & Co. factory, which soon established agreements with importers around the world. .

As the years passed, the reputation of the small factory grew. By the end of the Second World War, Schlup & Co. was now among the major producers of watch movements, synonymous with Swiss quality. It was a crucial phase: the solid foundations built in those early decades allowed the brothers to dream bigger. The idea of ​​their own watch brand was born, an independent brand that would bring their vision to the world. And so, after forty years of success in the field of movements, the Schlup brothers decided to take the big step: Rado entered the scene. .

The Rado brand is born and the first iconic models (1950s)

It was the 1950s when the Schlup family brought a long-held project to fruition. In 1957, the first watch was launched under the new brand: Rado—a short but evocative name, meaning "gear" in Esperanto, symbolizing the precision mechanics that power each timepiece. Accompanying the brand's debut was a motto destined to become legendary: "If we can imagine it, we can do it. And if we can do it, we will do it!" These words embody Rado's visionary spirit and frame the launch of one of its first watches, the Rado Green Horse, presented in 1957. This was a revolutionary timepiece for its time, marking a new beginning for the Schlup family and laying the foundation for Rado's philosophy: turning bold ideas into tangible reality.

These early years also saw the birth of other models destined to become iconic Rado models. Besides the Green Horse, the Golden Horse deserves mention, another watch from the late 1950s that helped define the identity of the nascent brand. They stood out for their excellent Swiss-made craftsmanship and attention to detail, immediately demonstrating Rado's desire to combine reliability and aesthetic distinction. By the end of the decade, all the watches produced proudly bore the Rado logo, a sign that the company had definitively embarked on its own path. That little “gear” imagined by the Schlup brothers is now in motion: Rado’s history as a global watchmaking brand is beginning.

1962 – The DiaStar revolution: the world's first scratch-resistant watch

At the dawn of the 1960s, Rado was ready to amaze the world with an invention that fully embodied its pioneering spirit. In 1962, the time came to rewrite the rules : the maison launched the Rado DiaStar 1, destined to go down in history as the world's first scratch-resistant watch. Imagine the amazement of enthusiasts of the time in front of a timepiece that promised never to get scratched: it was a disconcerting and fascinating technological breakthrough. To achieve this feat, Rado used a very special material called hardmetal, an extremely hard metal alloy (based on tungsten carbide) capable of resisting abrasion like no watch before it. The DiaStar—named after the hardness of a diamond and the brilliance of a star —features a futuristic design, with its distinctive oval case in polished metal and full sapphire crystal. This forward-thinking approach to design and materials is becoming an integral part of the brand's DNA.

The Rado DiaStar, launched in 1962, was the world's first scratch-resistant watch thanks to the use of a special tungsten carbide hard metal. Its distinctive oval case and exceptional robustness immediately made it an icon of material innovation. .

The Rado DiaStar is not just an exercise in technique, but represents a philosophy: transforming visionary ideas into successful products This model effectively inaugurated a long series of Rado watches designed to last over time, not only stylistically but also materially. Even today, decades later, the DiaStar Original line continues to be produced, a testament to the foresight of that 1962 project and its special place in the hearts of enthusiasts. With the DiaStar, Rado proves to everyone that nothing is impossible: if you can imagine an unalterable watch, they can create it – and they have indeed done so.

Captain Cook and the Rotating Anchor: A Dive into Legend (1962)

The same year, 1962, held another surprise destined to become part of the Rado legend. The Rado Captain Cook, the brand's first diving watch, was launched. Dedicated – as the advertisements of the time stated – to "doctors, engineers, athletes, deep-sea divers and racing drivers", the Captain Cook embodies the adventurous spirit of the 1960s. It has a robust and sporty look, with a rotating bezel and guaranteed water resistance up to 220 meters, an extraordinary figure for the time. Produced in just 8,000 pieces, this diver will prove to be a rarity highly sought after by collectors around the world. .

But what makes it truly unique is a detail that has become iconic: the rotating anchor on the dial. Instead of the usual fixed logo, Rado introduces a moving anchor that rotates freely on the Captain Cook's dial. The function is not just aesthetic: when the anchor stops moving, it means the mechanism's oil has dried up and it's time to take the watch in for service. An ingenious idea combining form and function that literally captured the imagination of the public at the time. It is no coincidence that this very anchor later became the symbol of Rado, more recognizable than the name in some markets. .

The original Captain Cook remained in production for only a few years, but its legacy lives on. So much so that, after more than half a century, Rado decided to revive it : in 2017, a new edition of the Captain Cook – faithful in style to the 1960s one but updated in performance – was presented to enthusiasts, garnering great enthusiasm. And in 2021, Rado even chose the Captain Cook as the basis for a further technological leap, creating a high-tech ceramic version for the 21st century. In short, the Captain Cook perfectly embodies the Rado philosophy: looking to the future without forgetting its icons of the past.

Experimentation and futuristic design in the 70s

The 1970s brought a wave of experimental creativity to Rado. It was the era of the supersonic Concorde and the first personal computers, a decade in which the world looked boldly to the future – and Rado was no exception. Building on the success of its previous innovations, the brand felt free to dare with design like few others. During this period, the Rado research and development team created extraordinarily original watches that challenged the aesthetic conventions of the time.

Among the most unique models created in recent years, the Elegance and the Glissière deserve a mention. The Rado Elegance (1975) features a robust, square shape with an octagonal opening on the dial: taut, modern lines that anticipate future tastes. Even more daring is the Rado Glissière, presented in 1976, a truly unconventional watch: a square case but with unusually curved edges and, above all, no visible hands on the classic dial. The time is in fact read through a small circular opening on a black dial, while the rest remains hidden – almost a preview of digital watches to come. The Glissière also boasts a full-surface sapphire crystal and a special metallization on the dial, elements that would become iconic in Rado design. .

These 1970s watches, produced in limited series or as concepts, demonstrate Rado's desire to explore uncharted territory. Unusual shapes, futuristic materials, unprecedented technical solutions: the Lengnau-based company established itself as a creator of cutting-edge watches during that decade. , capable of capturing the spirit of the times and even anticipating it. Not all of the experimental models will be commercially successful, but each will contribute to building the brand's reputation as a think tank in Swiss watchmaking.

Consecration in the 1980s: high-tech ceramics and “Master of Materials”

As the 1980s approached, Rado consolidated its reputation as a premier innovator, poised for a new leap in technological quality. It was in this decade that the company definitively earned the title of Master of Materials, thanks to the creation of some of the most robust and luxurious watches in the world. Two key events mark this era for Rado: the introduction of high-tech ceramic in watchmaking and the brand's entry into a large international group, which will further accelerate its growth.

The first key event occurred in 1986. In that year Rado launched a model destined to revolutionize the sector, the Rado Integral. At first glance, the Integral strikes with its elegant and modern design, with the case and bracelet integrated in a clean rectangular style. But the real revolution lies in the material: for the first time , scratch-resistant high-tech ceramic is used in the construction of a watch. This special technical ceramic, commonly used even in the manufacturing of hypersonic aircraft due to its resistance and lightness, was adopted by Rado for the case and bracelet inserts, giving the watch a highly polished appearance and exceptional hardness. In one fell swoop, the Integral changed the rules of the game: no more cases that deteriorate over time, the high-tech ceramic guarantees unprecedented brilliance and scratch resistance. The path was now paved for the birth of the iconic Rado Ceramica, launched a few years later, which would be perhaps the first watch in the world with a bracelet, crown and case entirely made of high-tech ceramic. Rado has opened a new chapter: the era of Rado high-tech ceramic watches, a field in which the brand will become the undisputed leader.

A Rado Ceramica model from the early 1990s, a direct descendant of the revolutionary Integral from 1986. Rado pioneered the use of scratch-resistant high-tech ceramic for cases and bracelets, redefining the concept of enduring luxury in watchmaking. .

1986 also brought another important change: Rado became part of the newly formed SMH group, the result of the merger between ASUAG and SSIH (which would later become the Swatch Group in 1998). This entry into a large Swiss watchmaking family offered Rado new resources and stability, allowing it to pursue its path of innovation with even greater momentum. A few years earlier, in 1983, Rado had already demonstrated its creativity with another original model, the Rado Anatom. The Anatom was designed to fit ergonomically on the wrist, offering perfect comfort, and introduced a cylindrical sapphire crystal – a first for those years. The success was immediate and, to crown the launch in New York, none other than Andy Warhol created a celebratory painting measuring one metre by one metre, one of the last works of the famous artist. This anecdote underlines Rado's connection with the world of art and design: its watches are not just technical instruments, but true design objects worthy of inspiring even Pop Art.

With high-tech ceramics and the backing of a large group, Rado experienced a period of further creative ferment in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1990, the Rado Ceramica was launched, the first watch with a case and bracelet entirely made of resistant ceramic. , the result of a sophisticated injection molding process to obtain a perfect monoblock The innovation is such that a few years later, in 1995, Rado will receive an award for technological innovation in Switzerland for the development of the Concept 1 prototype, a watch made of polycrystalline diamond material. In short, over the years, Rado consolidated its identity: innovative materials, sophisticated design, and Swiss-made quality remained its guiding principles. It's no coincidence that design awards also abounded: Rado was awarded the prestigious Red Dot Award, the iF Design Award, and the Good Design Award for its uniquely styled creations. The brand now produces hundreds of thousands of watches a year and has established itself as a cornerstone of the luxury watchmaking scene, without ever giving up its pioneering spirit.

From 2000 to today: world records, high-tech ceramics and creative collaborations

In the new millennium, Rado continues to amaze the world by pushing the boundaries of watchmaking technology. A striking example came in 2002, when the brand introduced the Rado V10K – an acronym that stands for 10,000 (ten thousand) Vickers, the unit of measurement for hardness. This futuristic watch is crafted from high-tech diamond (a synthetic material with properties similar to natural diamond) and boasts a surface hardness of 10,000 Vickers, a previously unseen level. The result? The Rado V10K enters the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most durable watch, virtually impossible to scratch. Once again, Rado is first where others fail, taking the concept of a scratch-resistant watch, pioneered with the DiaStar forty years earlier, to the extreme. This record-breaking model is not only a technical feat, but also a beautiful example of minimalist, modern design, proving that innovation and style can go hand in hand.

At the same time, Rado perfected its mastery of high-tech ceramics, exploring new construction solutions. In 2011, the company presented a true masterpiece of miniaturized engineering: the Rado True Thinline. As the name suggests, it is an ultra-thin watch – the monobloc case in injected high-tech ceramic measures just 4.9 millimetres thick. Holding it in your hand, it seems almost impossible that such a thin and light automatic timepiece could exist. Yet the True Thinline exists, and with its clean, minimalist lines, it demonstrates how Rado's materials technology and construction expertise have reached excellent levels. This model opens up new aesthetic possibilities, allowing for almost impalpable designs without sacrificing the robustness and scratch resistance typical of Rado ceramic.

A modern Rado True Automatic with a black high-tech ceramic case and luxurious dial details. Contemporary models from the brand, such as those in the True and HyperChrome lines, exemplify the combination of technical innovation and elegant design for which Rado is renowned. .

Meanwhile, the Lengnau laboratories continued to experiment with material combinations. Around 2011, Ceramos™ was introduced, a composite material that combines the shine of metal with the durability of high-tech ceramic. . In reality Rado had already started using this ceramic-metal alloy since 1993 on a model called Sintra, but now the formula has been perfected and has become one of the pillars of its production. The evolution of materials goes hand in hand with that of design, and Rado does not fail to involve world-famous designers to create unique pieces. A famous example is the collaboration with British industrial designer Jasper Morrison, who created the Rado r5.5 model, characterized by a square case with rounded corners, a minimalist and modern look. This model, launched in the late 2000s, demonstrates Rado's ability to work hand-in-hand with the greats of contemporary design, infusing watchmaking with ideas from other creative fields.

In recent years, Rado has continued to push the boundaries of aesthetics as well. A case in point is the True Thinline Les Couleurs™ Le Corbusier collection, created in collaboration with the Le Corbusier Foundation in 2019/2020: a series of ultra-thin ceramic watches available in nine brilliant colors inspired by the famous master's architectural palette, a true tribute to the meeting of watchmaking and design. These vibrant and artistic timepieces confirm Rado's leading role in applied design: not just technology, but also aesthetics and culture. And as mentioned, in 2021, Rado brought its history full circle by re-releasing its beloved Captain Cook in a completely new guise – Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic – where an icon of the past is reimagined with the ceramic of the future. The result is a watch that combines nostalgia and avant-garde, celebrating the brand's historical heritage and its constant drive towards the future.

It's worth remembering that Rado doesn't just create watches, but actively promotes creativity and design in other areas as well. For years, the company has hosted the Rado Star Prize, an international competition for young designers held in cities around the world (from Milan to New York, from Paris to Dubai), with the aim of discovering and supporting new design talent in various fields. Furthermore, Rado has linked its name to prestigious events as a partner and official timekeeper: for example, in the world of sport, it has been present at the most important tennis tournaments globally for over 20 years, bringing its precision to both clay and grass courts. These initiatives reflect the soul of the brand, which has always been oriented not only towards the product but also towards a cultural vision of design and time.

And so, here we are today. Rado looks to the future, strengthened by a tradition spanning over a century, but with the same enthusiasm and the same capacity to dream as those three brothers in 1917. Every new model that leaves the Lengnau headquarters embodies a piece of this legacy: the desire to innovate, to amaze, to create something that never existed before. The Rado story continues to evolve, brighter than ever, guided by the Schlup brothers' timeless motto: "If we can imagine it, we can do it. And if we can do it, we will do it!" A philosophy that, then as now, drives Rado to achieve the impossible – and to make us dream with watches that combine technology, design, and emotion in a way unique in the world. The next adventure is just around the corner, because for Rado, time has never been so full of possibilities.

Sources: the history and curiosities about the Rado brand have been reconstructed through the official Rado website , historical documents and authoritative industry publications. Information on innovative materials (high-tech ceramic, Ceramos, synthetic diamond) and iconic models (DiaStar, Captain Cook, Integral, Ceramica, True Thinline, etc.) comes from the History section of the Rado website and from specialized articles, which testify to Rado's impact on the global watchmaking scene. In particular, the official website and the Historical Dictionary of Watchmaking have provided valuable details on the brand's milestones, while industry magazines have analyzed the designer collaborations and design awards received by the brand over the years. This ChronoStory is a tribute to a brand that has imagined the future of the watch—and brought it to life, on all of our wrists.

Credits: Rado.com - Wikipedia