Rado is a Swiss luxury manufacturer of watch

Watch

A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...

es, with headquarters in Lengnau

Lengnau

Lengnau may be one of the following municipalities in Switzerland:*Lengnau, Aargau, in the District of Zurzach, Canton of Aargau*Lengnau, Bern , in the district of Büren an der Aare, Canton of Bern...

, Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

. It is noted for its use of scratch-proof materials, a field in which it is considered a pioneer. Today the company produces about half a million watches a year with a staff of about 470 in total.
Rado's watches are obtainable in more than 150 countries, at over 5900 ponts of sale.
The most important markets are Southeast Asia, Japan, China, Middle East as well as countries within Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Italy) and the USA.

History

Formed in 1917 as Schlup & Co., Rado initially produced watch movements only. In 1957 the company launched its first collection of watches under the Rado brand. In 1962 the Rado Diastar, the world's first scratch-proof watch, was launched. It has been in production ever since, now sold as DiaStar The Original.

In 1983 Rado became part of the SMH group which was renamed in 1998 as the Swatch Group. Rado's sister brands within the Group include Breguet, Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Omega, Longines and Tiffany & Co., among others.

Design

RADO differs from the traditional Swiss watch makers in that it leans towards innovative uses of high tech materials in distinct design. RADO has focused on pioneering the use of a number of materials that are unique within the watch making industry, such as e.g. hardmetal(tungsten- and titanium-carbide), ceramic

Ceramic

A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...

s, lanthanum

Lanthanum

Lanthanum is a chemical element with the symbol La and atomic number 57.Lanthanum is a silvery white metallic element that belongs to group 3 of the periodic table and is the first element of the lanthanide series. It is found in some rare-earth minerals, usually in combination with cerium and...

 and sapphire crystal.

In 2004 RADO created a 'high-tech diamond', by the transformation of carbon into a nanocrystalline diamond with a Vickers hardness number of 10,000, thus naming the watch the V10K. It is the hardest watch on Earth, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.

The newer RADO watches are also distinct from the traditional Swiss watch industry in that their aesthetic is unique. Market reaction tends to be mixed to such a strong aesthetic, with many who appreciate the unique and distinct RADO look and those who do not.

During their time, RADO has received more than 20 elite international design awards, from the RED DOT Award to the iF Design Award, for both their product and most recently, their collaboration with Jasper Morrison for an innovative watch box that mimics the shape of the human wrist.

Pricing

RADO watches vary in pricing according to model, age and materials but the core collection of RADO pieces will range from about US$700 to about US$28,000. Models that include pave dials of diamonds and baguette diamonds can cost approximately US $30,000 to $250,000.

External links

• Rado- International Site
• The Swatch Group
• The Company History
• Equation of Time Rado Forum
• Rado-related articles and vintage collection
• Private fan site and vintage collection
• Rado Watch Archive Gallery of Rado Watches with detailed descriptions, brief histories & actual photos